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
فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ وَأَنۢبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا ۖ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا ٱلْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزْقًا ۖ قَالَ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ أَنَّىٰ لَكِ هَـٰذَا ۖ قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
So her Lord accepted her with good acceptance and caused her to grow in a good manner and put her in the care of Zechariah. Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, "O Mary, from where is this [coming] to you?" She said, "It is from Allāh. Indeed, Allāh provides for whom He wills without account."
ضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلذِّلَّةُ أَيْنَ مَا ثُقِفُوٓا۟ إِلَّا بِحَبْلٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَحَبْلٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَبَآءُو بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَسْكَنَةُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلْأَنۢبِيَآءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ يَعْتَدُونَ
They have been put under humiliation [by Allāh] wherever they are overtaken, except for a rope [i.e., covenant] from Allāh and a rope [i.e., treaty] from the people [i.e., the Muslims]. And they have drawn upon themselves anger from Allāh and have been put under destitution. That is because they disbelieved in [i.e., rejected] the verses of Allāh and killed the prophets without right. That is because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed.
ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ لِإِخْوَٰنِهِمْ وَقَعَدُوا۟ لَوْ أَطَاعُونَا مَا قُتِلُوا۟ ۗ قُلْ فَٱدْرَءُوا۟ عَنْ أَنفُسِكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
Those who said about their brothers while sitting [at home], "If they had obeyed us, they would not have been killed." Say, "Then prevent death from yourselves, if you should be truthful."
بَلَىٰ مَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِعَهْدِهِۦ وَٱتَّقَىٰ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
But yes, whoever fulfills his commitment and fears Allāh - then indeed, Allāh loves those who fear Him.