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.