وَيُعَلِّمُهُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ 48
Translations
And He will teach him writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel
Transliteration
Wa yuallimuhul-kitaba wal-hikmata wat-Tawrata wal-Injil
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's gift to Jesus ('Isa) of knowledge encompassing the Scripture (al-Kitab), wisdom (al-Hikma), the Torah, and the Gospel. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as Allah teaching Jesus both divine revelation and practical wisdom, equipping him to guide his people. The mention of Torah and Gospel together emphasizes Jesus's role as a messenger who came to confirm previous scriptures while bringing new revelation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the broader context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of Jesus's miraculous birth and divine mission (ayat 42-55). It follows the announcement of Jesus's birth to Maryam and forms part of the Quranic narrative establishing Jesus's prophetic station and unique qualities, addressing both believers and those who disputed his nature.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of mankind are three: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus' (Tirmidhi). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim describing Jesus's return, where he will judge by the law of the Quran, connecting to his role as a teacher and judge.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that true knowledge combines both sacred revelation and practical wisdom, and that all prophets were divinely equipped with understanding needed for their respective missions. For Muslims, it reinforces respect for Jesus as a messenger while emphasizing that ultimate guidance comes through divine instruction.
Related Ayahs
رَّبَّنَآ إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِى لِلْإِيمَـٰنِ أَنْ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَـَٔامَنَّا ۚ رَبَّنَا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّـَٔاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ ٱلْأَبْرَارِ
Our Lord, indeed we have heard a caller [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] calling to faith, [saying], 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed. Our Lord, so forgive us our sins and remove from us our misdeeds and cause us to die among the righteous.
قَالَتْ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِى بَشَرٌ ۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ ٱللَّهُ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ
She said, "My Lord, how will I have a child when no man has touched me?" [The angel] said, "Such is Allāh; He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is.
فَٱسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ أَنِّى لَآ أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَـٰمِلٍ مِّنكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ ۖ بَعْضُكُم مِّنۢ بَعْضٍ ۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا۟ وَأُخْرِجُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِمْ وَأُوذُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِى وَقَـٰتَلُوا۟ وَقُتِلُوا۟ لَأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ وَلَأُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ثَوَابًا مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥ حُسْنُ ٱلثَّوَابِ
And their Lord responded to them, "Never will I allow to be lost the work of [any] worker among you, whether male or female; you are of one another. So those who emigrated or were evicted from their homes or were harmed in My cause or fought or were killed - I will surely remove from them their misdeeds, and I will surely admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow as reward from Allāh, and Allāh has with Him the best reward."
وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَمْوَٰتًۢا ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَآءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ
And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allāh as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision,