❀ The Qur’anic Claim and the Modern Objection
In Surah At-Tawbah, verse 30, the Qur’an states:"وَقَالَتِ ٱلْيَهُودُ عُزَيْرٌ ٱبْنُ ٱللَّهِ وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَى ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ ٱللَّهِ..."
“The Jews say, ‘Uzair is the son of Allah,’ and the Christians say, ‘The Messiah is the son of Allah.’…”
There is no dispute that Christians historically hold this belief about Jesus (ʿĪsā عليه السلام). However, modern-day Jews deny ever having believed that ʿUzair (Ezra) is the son of God. Based on this, atheists and critics allege a contradiction in the Qur’an.
❖ Key Responses to the Objection
① Argument from Silence in Jewish Texts
Critics claim that since the Bible or Jewish records don’t contain this belief, the Qur’an must be incorrect.However, this claim ignores the possibility of:
- Doctrinal shifts over centuries
- Lost or deliberately suppressed records
- The existence of sects whose beliefs later vanished
Not every historical belief survives in modern canonical form. Silence in existing Jewish scriptures does not refute the possibility that a Jewish sect once held this view.
② Absence of Jewish Rebuttal in the Prophet’s Time
The Jews of Medina and Khaybar, well-known for their religious debates with the Prophet ﷺ, never objected to this Qur’anic claim.The absence of protest implies that:
- Some group among them did indeed hold this belief, or
- The statement reflected a theological trend they did not contest
This silence from Qur’anic-era Jews, who were otherwise active in challenging Islam, is itself a strong historical indication.
③ Sectarian Variation and Extinction
Throughout Jewish history, various sects have arisen and vanished, such as:- The Essenes, active during ʿĪsā عليه السلام’s time
- The Pharisees and Sadducees, no longer functioning
- The Karaites and Samaritans, drastically diminished
Similarly, a sect that exalted ʿUzair to divine status may have existed and later disappeared.
Disappearance ≠ Non-existence
④ ʿUzair and the Rewriting of the Torah
Historical sources suggest that:- The Torah was lost during the Babylonian exile
- ʿUzair عليه السلام (Ezra) was said to have restored it from memory
This miraculous act may have led some Jews to deify him, or describe him metaphorically as a "son of God", similar to how some Christians revere saints and apostles.
⑤ Historical Reports from the Prophet’s Era
According to ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه, certain Jewish elders once approached the Prophet ﷺ and said:“How can we follow you when you don’t believe ʿUzair is the son of Allah?”
This incident triggered the revelation of Surah Tawbah:30.
Such reports demonstrate that the belief was known and expressed by some Jewish groups at that time.
⑥ Dead Sea Scrolls and Modern Archaeological Evidence
Dr. Mahmood Ahmad Ghazi cited the discovery of ancient Jewish scrolls near the Dead Sea about two millennia old. These:- Mentioned sects that exaggerated the status of ʿUzair
- Condemned the notion of calling him "son of God", implying it existed
- Corroborated the Qur’anic assertion of this deviant belief
Such archaeological findings bolster the claim that the belief once existed, though it is now marginalized or erased.
❖ Conclusion: Historical Truth Reaffirmed
The objection that Jews never believed ʿUzair was the son of Allah fails for several reasons:✔ The absence of the belief today does not prove it never existed
✔ The silence of contemporaneous Jews strengthens the Qur’anic position
✔ Historical reports, sectarian variation, and archaeological findings point to its existence
✔ The Qur’an mentions what was present in a specific context — not a blanket statement about all Jews at all times
Hence, the Qur’an’s claim is both contextually accurate and historically validated.
و الله أعلم
(And Allah knows best)
