وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا ٱلْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَـٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِلَّا ٱتِّبَاعَ ٱلظَّنِّ ۚ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًۢا 157
Translations
And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, the messenger of Allāh." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.
Transliteration
Wa-qawlihim inna qatalna al-masīḥa ʿīsā ibna maryama rasūla allāhi wa-mā qatalūhu wa-mā ṣalabūhu wa-lākin shubbihla lahum wa-inna alladhīna ikhtarafū fīhi lafī shakkin minhu mā lahum bihi min ʿilmin illā ittibāʿa al-ẓanni wa-mā qatalūhu yaqīnan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refutes the false claim of the Jews that they killed Jesus (Isa), son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah. The Quran categorically denies both his killing and crucifixion, stating instead that it was made to appear so to them (shubbihla lahum), while Jesus was raised by Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that this verse establishes the Islamic doctrine of Jesus's survival and elevation to Allah, rejecting the Christian and Jewish narratives of his death, and emphasizes that those who disputed about Jesus acted merely upon conjecture without true knowledge.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina as part of Surah An-Nisa, which addresses various theological and legal matters facing the early Muslim community. The verse responds to disputes with the People of the Book (Christians and Jews) regarding the nature of Jesus Christ and the circumstances of his life. It came in a period when the Muslim community needed clear theological guidance to distinguish Islamic belief from Christian and Jewish doctrines.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'There is no prophet between me and Jesus, and he will descend (in the latter times)' (Sahih Bukhari 3448). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim 2937 describes Jesus descending and breaking the cross, killing the pig, and establishing justice, which relates to the Quranic affirmation of Jesus's survival and future return.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to rely on Quranic truth and divine revelation rather than historical claims or popular narratives that contradict Islamic doctrine, and reminds us that certainty in faith comes from authentic knowledge, not mere speculation or cultural inheritance.
Related Ayahs
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.
وَٱبْتَلُوا۟ ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغُوا۟ ٱلنِّكَاحَ فَإِنْ ءَانَسْتُم مِّنْهُمْ رُشْدًا فَٱدْفَعُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوهَآ إِسْرَافًا وَبِدَارًا أَن يَكْبَرُوا۟ ۚ وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيًّا فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فَأَشْهِدُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ حَسِيبًا
And test the orphans [in their abilities] until they reach marriageable age. Then if you perceive in them sound judgement, release their property to them. And do not consume it excessively and quickly, [anticipating] that they will grow up. And whoever, [when acting as guardian], is self-sufficient should refrain [from taking a fee]; and whoever is poor - let him take according to what is acceptable. Then when you release their property to them, bring witnesses upon them. And sufficient is Allāh as Accountant.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ خُذُوا۟ حِذْرَكُمْ فَٱنفِرُوا۟ ثُبَاتٍ أَوِ ٱنفِرُوا۟ جَمِيعًا
O you who have believed, take your precaution and [either] go forth in companies or go forth all together.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا سَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِمْ نَارًا كُلَّمَا نَضِجَتْ جُلُودُهُم بَدَّلْنَـٰهُمْ جُلُودًا غَيْرَهَا لِيَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا
Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses - We will drive them into a fire. Every time their skins are roasted through, We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment. Indeed, Allāh is ever Exalted in Might and Wise.