إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ ءَادَمَ ۖ خَلَقَهُۥ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ 59
Translations
Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allāh is like that of Adam. He created him from dust; then He said to him, "Be," and he was.
Transliteration
Inna mathala 'Isa 'inda Allah kamathali Adam, khalaqahu min turab, thumma qala lahu kun fayakun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that the creation of Jesus ('Isa) is comparable to the creation of Adam—both were created without a father through Allah's direct command. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that just as Adam was created from dust and brought to life by Allah's word 'Be' (kun), Jesus was created from a mother without a father, yet both demonstrate Allah's absolute power and uniqueness in creation. The comparison refutes Christian claims of Jesus's divinity by emphasizing that his miraculous birth does not elevate him beyond being a created servant of Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina during discussions with Christian delegations (likely the Christians of Najran mentioned in earlier verses of Surah Ali 'Imran) who disputed the nature of Jesus. It appears in the broader context of Surah Ali 'Imran (verses 3:33-59) which discusses the lineage of prophets and clarifies Islamic doctrine regarding Jesus ('Isa) against Christian theological claims.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (SAW) said: 'The first of the creation is Adam,' and also: 'No child is born except on the fitrah (natural disposition of monotheism)' (Sahih Muslim 2658). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3437) affirms that Jesus is a servant and messenger of Allah, reinforcing the message of this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that miraculous births do not confer divinity—only Allah is eternal and uncreated, while all creation, regardless of how extraordinary, remains subject to His command and dependent upon His will. For believers, it reinforces humble acceptance of Allah's creative power and the necessity of recognizing all prophets as honored servants, not divine beings.
Related Ayahs
وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱبْيَضَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ فَفِى رَحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
But as for those whose faces turn white, [they will be] within the mercy of Allāh. They will abide therein eternally.
وَإِنَّ مِنْهُمْ لَفَرِيقًا يَلْوُۥنَ أَلْسِنَتَهُم بِٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِتَحْسَبُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not from the Scripture. And they say, "This is from Allāh," but it is not from Allāh. And they speak untruth about Allāh while they know.
لَا يَغُرَّنَّكَ تَقَلُّبُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْبِلَـٰدِ
Be not deceived by the [uninhibited] movement of the disbelievers throughout the land.
قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَـٰمٌ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِىَ ٱلْكِبَرُ وَٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرٌ ۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ
He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when I have reached old age and my wife is barren?" He [the angel] said, "Such is Allāh; He does what He wills."