ذَٰلِكَ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ۚ قَوْلَ ٱلْحَقِّ ٱلَّذِى فِيهِ يَمْتَرُونَ 34
Translations
That is Jesus, the son of Mary - the word of truth about which they are in dispute.
Transliteration
Dhalika Isa ibnu Maryam; qawlul haqqi allathi fihi yamtarun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms the true status of Jesus son of Mary, identifying him with emphasis as a figure of absolute truth regarding whom people dispute. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that 'qawl al-haqq' (the word of truth) refers to the correct understanding of Jesus's nature—neither divine nor the son of God in the Christian sense, but rather a servant and messenger of Allah. The ayah concludes Surah Maryam's narrative about Jesus by establishing that despite widespread disagreement about his identity, the Quranic account represents the ultimate truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the conclusion of Surah Maryam, which was revealed in Mecca during a period when the Muslim community faced intense questioning and debate from Christian and pagan Arabs about the nature of Jesus. The surah comprehensively addresses Christian theological claims while affirming Jesus's prophetic mission within Islamic monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The most truthful word spoken by a poet is the verse of Labid: Verily everything besides Allah is vanity' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, regarding Jesus specifically, the hadith in Sahih Muslim describes Jesus descending in the latter days and breaking the cross, establishing the Islamic understanding of his true status as a messenger rather than divine.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to hold firmly to the Quranic truth about Jesus and other matters of faith, despite widespread disagreement and confusion in society. It reminds us that truth remains truth regardless of how many people dispute it, and that clarity comes through revelation rather than human speculation.