قُلْ إِن كَانَ لِلرَّحْمَـٰنِ وَلَدٌ فَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلْعَـٰبِدِينَ 81
Translations
Say, [O Muḥammad], "If the Most Merciful had a son, then I would be the first of [his] worshippers."
Transliteration
Qul in kana lir-rahmani walad fa-ana awwalu al-abideen
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to declare that if the Most Merciful (Allah) had a child, he would be the first to worship that child—a rhetorical statement that absurdly refutes the pagan claim that Allah has offspring. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a powerful rhetorical device (istidlal) proving the impossibility of Allah having children, since no rational person would accept such a premise. The ayah emphasizes Allah's absolute oneness (tawhid) and transcendence from any partnership or familial relationships.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Az-Zukhruf, which addresses pagan Arab beliefs, particularly the Christian and polytheistic claims about Jesus being the son of God, and Arab idol-worship attributing daughters to Allah. The surah was revealed in Mecca to counter these false theological concepts and reinforce strict monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The broader context relates to numerous hadiths about tawhid (monotheism), such as the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet emphasizes that the greatest sin is shirk (associating partners with Allah). Additionally, Surah Al-Ikhlas (112), which states 'There is nothing like unto Him,' complements this message structurally.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to approach false theological claims with decisive clarity and logical refutation, reminding us that Allah's oneness is so fundamental that accepting His having children would be absurd and contradictory. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of understanding and defending Islamic creed with both intellectual conviction and clear communication.
Related Ayahs
وَرَبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ إِذْ قَامُوا۟ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَن نَّدْعُوَا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَـٰهًا ۖ لَّقَدْ قُلْنَآ إِذًا شَطَطًا
And We bound [i.e., made firm] their hearts when they stood up and said, "Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. Never will we invoke besides Him any deity. We would have certainly spoken, then, an excessive transgression.
قَالَ لَهُۥ صَاحِبُهُۥ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُۥٓ أَكَفَرْتَ بِٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكَ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ سَوَّىٰكَ رَجُلًا
His companion said to him while he was conversing with him, "Have you disbelieved in He who created you from dust and then from a sperm-drop and then proportioned you [as] a man?
إِنَّمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْثَـٰنًا وَتَخْلُقُونَ إِفْكًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ لَكُمْ رِزْقًا فَٱبْتَغُوا۟ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرِّزْقَ وَٱعْبُدُوهُ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لَهُۥٓ ۖ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
You only worship, besides Allāh, idols, and you produce a falsehood. Indeed, those you worship besides Allāh do not possess for you [the power of] provision. So seek from Allāh provision and worship Him and be grateful to Him. To Him you will be returned."
سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْأَزْوَٰجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تُنۢبِتُ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَمِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Exalted is He who created all pairs - from what the earth grows and from themselves and from that which they do not know.