لَّوْ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ أَن يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا لَّٱصْطَفَىٰ مِمَّا يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ ۖ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْوَٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّارُ 4
Translations
If Allāh had intended to take a son, He could have chosen from what He creates whatever He willed. Exalted is He; He is Allāh, the One, the Prevailing.
Transliteration
Law arada Allahu an yattakhiza waladan la-istafa mimma yakhluqu ma yasha. Subhanahu, huwa Allahu al-Wahidu al-Qahhar.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refutes the Christian claim that Allah has a son by presenting a logical argument: if Allah intended to take a child, He would have chosen from His creation whatever He pleased. However, Allah is far beyond such needs, being the One and Only (Al-Wahid) and the Irresistible Force (Al-Qahhar). Ibn Kathir explains that this verse emphasizes Allah's absolute perfection and self-sufficiency, making the attribution of children to Him incompatible with His divine nature. The declaration of Subhanahu (Glory be to Him) underscores the absurdity of such claims.
Revelation Context
Surah Az-Zumar is a Meccan chapter revealed during the early period of Islam when the Prophet faced accusations and theological disputes from Christians and polytheists. This particular ayah addresses the Christian doctrine of Jesus being the Son of God, refuting it through rational theological argumentation that appeals to monotheistic principles. The surah's theme of correcting false beliefs about Allah's nature and attributes is central to this verse.
Related Hadiths
The concept is reinforced in various hadiths about Allah's attributes. For example, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said that Allah has 99 names, and this verse exemplifies Allah's attribute of being Al-Wahid (The One) and Al-Qahhar (The Subduer/Irresistible), which are among these divine names.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize and articulate the logical foundations of Islamic monotheism: Allah's complete self-sufficiency and perfection make any association with Him—whether through children, partners, or equals—rationally and theologically indefensible. For contemporary Muslims, it provides an intellectually robust framework for understanding and defending the doctrine of Tawhid in interfaith dialogues.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَحَدًۢا
Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone."
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا۟ بَأْسَنَا قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَحْدَهُۥ وَكَفَرْنَا بِمَا كُنَّا بِهِۦ مُشْرِكِينَ
And when they saw Our punishment, they said, "We believe in Allāh alone and disbelieve in that which we used to associate with Him."
قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ
[Moses] said, "The Lord of the heavens and earth and that between them, if you should be convinced."
لَهُۥ دَعْوَةُ ٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ لَا يَسْتَجِيبُونَ لَهُم بِشَىْءٍ إِلَّا كَبَـٰسِطِ كَفَّيْهِ إِلَى ٱلْمَآءِ لِيَبْلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَـٰلِغِهِۦ ۚ وَمَا دُعَآءُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ
To Him [alone] is the supplication of truth. And those they call upon besides Him do not respond to them with a thing, except as one who stretches his hands toward water [from afar, calling it] to reach his mouth, but it will not reach it [thus]. And the supplication of the disbelievers is not but in error [i.e., futility].