وَرَسُولًا إِلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَنِّى قَدْ جِئْتُكُم بِـَٔايَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ أَنِّىٓ أَخْلُقُ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطِّينِ كَهَيْـَٔةِ ٱلطَّيْرِ فَأَنفُخُ فِيهِ فَيَكُونُ طَيْرًۢا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَأُبْرِئُ ٱلْأَكْمَهَ وَٱلْأَبْرَصَ وَأُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا تَأْكُلُونَ وَمَا تَدَّخِرُونَ فِى بُيُوتِكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ 49
Translations
And [make him] a messenger to the Children of Israel, [who will say], 'Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay [that which is] like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by permission of Allāh. And I cure the blind [from birth] and the leper, and I give life to the dead - by permission of Allāh. And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.
Transliteration
Wa rasūlan ilā banī Isrā'īl annī qad ji'tukum bi-āyatin min rabbikum, annī akhluqu lakum min aṭ-ṭīni ka-hay'ati aṭ-ṭayr fa-anfukhu fīhi fa-yakūnu ṭayran bi-idhn Allāh, wa-ubrī al-akma wa-al-abraṣa wa-uḥyī al-mawtā bi-idhn Allāh, wa-unabbī'ukum bi-mā ta'kulūn wa-mā taddakhirūn fī buyūtikum. Inna fī dhālik la-āyatan lakum in kuntum mu'minīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the miracles of Prophet Isa (Jesus) as signs to the Children of Israel: creating a bird from clay by breathing life into it, healing the blind and the leper, reviving the dead, and informing people of what they eat and store in their homes. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that these miracles were performed solely by Allah's permission and serve as evidence of Isa's prophethood, while Al-Qurtubi notes that the ability to reveal hidden matters (knowing what they eat and store) was unique to this prophet among messengers.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran (Medinan), which discusses the miraculous birth of Jesus and his signs. It responds to those who denied Jesus's prophethood and miracles, presenting concrete evidence of his divine mission to the Israelites. The context follows the announcement of Jesus's birth to Mary.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) mentioned Isa's miracles in his teachings, including healing the blind and leper. A related theme appears in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet speaks of the signs of the Last Hour, acknowledging the reality of Isa's previous miracles. Tirmidhi transmits hadiths concerning the supernatural knowledge granted to prophets.
Themes
Key Lesson
All extraordinary abilities and knowledge belong to Allah alone, and even the greatest miracles require His permission—reminding believers that true power rests with the Creator, not creation. These miracles were not ends in themselves but signs to test faith; believing in prophets should be grounded in recognizing these evidences while maintaining humility before Allah's will.
Related Ayahs
إِذْ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ يَـٰعِيسَىٰٓ إِنِّى مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَىَّ وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَجَاعِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوكَ فَوْقَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَىَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ فِيمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ
[Mention] when Allāh said, "O Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify [i.e., free] you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you [in submission to Allāh alone] superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ.
قَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ ءَايَةٌ فِى فِئَتَيْنِ ٱلْتَقَتَا ۖ فِئَةٌ تُقَـٰتِلُ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَأُخْرَىٰ كَافِرَةٌ يَرَوْنَهُم مِّثْلَيْهِمْ رَأْىَ ٱلْعَيْنِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُؤَيِّدُ بِنَصْرِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ
Already there has been for you a sign in the two armies which met [in combat at Badr] - one fighting in the cause of Allāh and another of disbelievers. They saw them [to be] twice their [own] number by [their] eyesight. But Allāh supports with His victory whom He wills. Indeed in that is a lesson for those of vision.
فَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كُذِّبَ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِكَ جَآءُو بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَٱلزُّبُرِ وَٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلْمُنِيرِ
Then if they deny you, [O Muḥammad] - so were messengers denied before you, who brought clear proofs and written ordinances and the enlightening Scripture.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ لَن تَمَسَّنَا ٱلنَّارُ إِلَّآ أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَٰتٍ ۖ وَغَرَّهُمْ فِى دِينِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ
That is because they say, "Never will the Fire touch us except for [a few] numbered days," and [because] they were deluded in their religion by what they were inventing.