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
إِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمُ ۗ وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ
Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allāh is Islām. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allāh, then indeed, Allāh is swift in [taking] account.
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ ۚ أَفَإِي۟ن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ ٱنقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْقَـٰبِكُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَنقَلِبْ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَن يَضُرَّ ٱللَّهَ شَيْـًٔا ۗ وَسَيَجْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ
Muḥammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels [to unbelief]? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allāh at all; but Allāh will reward the grateful.
إِن يَمْسَسْكُمْ قَرْحٌ فَقَدْ مَسَّ ٱلْقَوْمَ قَرْحٌ مِّثْلُهُۥ ۚ وَتِلْكَ ٱلْأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَيَتَّخِذَ مِنكُمْ شُهَدَآءَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
If a wound should touch you - there has already touched the [opposing] people a wound similar to it. And these days [of varying conditions] We alternate among the people so that Allāh may make evident those who believe and [may] take to Himself from among you martyrs - and Allāh does not like the wrongdoers -
بَلِ ٱللَّهُ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلنَّـٰصِرِينَ
But Allāh is your protector, and He is the best of helpers.