لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ 3
Translations
He neither begets nor is born,
Transliteration
Lam yalid wa lam yūlad
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah neither begets nor is begotten, refuting the Christian doctrine of the Trinity and Jesus as the Son of God, as well as pre-Islamic Arab beliefs attributing offspring to Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize this verse's role in establishing Allah's absolute uniqueness (tawhid) and transcendence beyond human categories of reproduction and kinship. The negation of both begetting and being begotten underscores that Allah is self-sufficient and eternally independent, without any genealogical relationships whatsoever.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ikhlas was revealed in Mecca in response to the Quraysh's questions about Allah's nature and to counter false theological claims about His attributes. This specific verse addresses the common misconceptions of the time—particularly Christian and Jewish theological errors—that attributed parentage or offspring to the Divine. The entire surah serves as a concise declaration of pure monotheism (tawhid) and Allah's transcendence.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever recites Surah Al-Ikhlas ten times, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise' (Sunan An-Nasa'i). Additionally, Jabir ibn Abdullah reported that the Prophet said this surah is equivalent to one-third of the Qur'an due to its comprehensive statement of tawhid (Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize that Allah is utterly transcendent and free from human limitations and familial relationships, which should inspire profound reverence and correct understanding of His nature. For contemporary Muslims, it provides a foundation for rejecting syncretistic beliefs and affirming pure monotheism against any theological deviation.
Related Ayahs
لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ۚ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا إِنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُهْلِكَ ٱلْمَسِيحَ ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُۥ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
They have certainly disbelieved who say that Allāh is Christ, the son of Mary. Say, "Then who could prevent Allāh at all if He had intended to destroy Christ, the son of Mary, or his mother or everyone on the earth?" And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them. He creates what He wills, and Allāh is over all things competent.
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۖ يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ ۖ مَا مِن شَفِيعٍ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ إِذْنِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Indeed, your Lord is Allāh, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne, arranging the matter [of His creation]. There is no intercessor except after His permission. That is Allāh, your Lord, so worship Him. Then will you not remember?
قُلْ مَن رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ ٱلسَّبْعِ وَرَبُّ ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
Say, "Who is Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the Great Throne?"
وَلَهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ كُلٌّ لَّهُۥ قَـٰنِتُونَ
And to Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and earth. All are to Him devoutly obedient.