Al-Maidah 5:72 delivers a powerful refutation of Christian claims of Christ's divinity: 'Those who say "Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary" have certainly disbelieved. The Messiah himself said: "O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Whoever associates others with Allah - Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and his refuge is the Fire. There are no helpers for the wrongdoers."' This verse establishes that Jesus (Isa ibn Maryam) explicitly taught pure monotheism (Tawhid), calling people to worship Allah alone. The Arabic phrase 'ubudu Allaha rabbi wa rabbakum' (worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord) demonstrates Jesus's acknowledgment of his servitude to Allah and rejection of any divine status for himself. According to classical Islamic scholarship, this verse addresses various Christian sects including Monarchites, Jacobites, and Nestorians who developed different forms of Christological beliefs. The first words Jesus spoke as a baby were 'Inni Abdullah' (I am the servant of Allah), not claiming divinity. The verse's warning about shirk (associating partners with Allah) is absolute: Paradise is forbidden (harrama Allahu alayhi al-jannah) for those who commit this sin, with Hell as their destination. The phrase 'wa ma li-zzalimina min ansar' (no helpers for wrongdoers) emphasizes that no intercession will benefit those who die in shirk. This establishes the fundamental Islamic principle that salvation requires pure monotheism, and that Jesus himself taught this essential truth to his followers.
This definition is based on classical Islamic scholarship and authentic interpretations from recognized scholars.
Find answers to common questions about the meaning, interpretation, and significance of this verse in Islamic teachings and daily life.
❓What did Jesus actually teach about worship according to Al-Maidah 5:72?
According to this verse, Jesus explicitly commanded: 'O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.' This demonstrates that Jesus taught pure monotheism (Tawhid), instructing people to worship Allah alone and acknowledging his own servitude to Allah. He never claimed divinity for himself but consistently directed worship to Allah.
❓Why does Allah call those who say 'Christ is Allah' disbelievers in this verse?
Allah declares them disbelievers because claiming Christ is Allah directly contradicts Jesus's own teachings and constitutes shirk (associating partners with Allah). The verse shows that Jesus himself refuted such claims by commanding worship of Allah alone, making it clear that he was a servant and messenger, not divine.
❓What are the severe consequences of shirk described in this verse?
The verse states that whoever associates partners with Allah, 'Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and his refuge is the Fire.' This establishes that shirk is an unforgivable sin if one dies without repenting from it, resulting in eternal exclusion from Paradise and punishment in Hell.
❓How does this verse refute the Christian Trinity doctrine?
The verse refutes Trinity by showing that Jesus himself taught pure monotheism, saying 'worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.' If Jesus was part of a Trinity, he would not have referred to Allah as 'my Lord' or commanded exclusive worship of Allah. His first words as a baby were 'I am the servant of Allah,' not claiming divinity.
❓What is the significance of Jesus saying 'my Lord and your Lord'?
This phrase demonstrates Jesus's acknowledgment of his servitude to Allah and establishes equality between himself and his followers in their relationship to Allah. By saying 'my Lord,' Jesus clearly indicates he is not divine but a servant. By saying 'your Lord,' he establishes that the same Allah who is his Lord is also the Lord of all humanity.
❓Why is Paradise specifically forbidden for those who commit shirk?
Paradise is forbidden for those who commit shirk because it represents the ultimate betrayal of Allah's fundamental right to exclusive worship. Shirk violates the primary purpose of human creation - to worship Allah alone. As stated elsewhere in the Quran, 'Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him,' making shirk the one unforgivable sin if one dies without repentance.
❓What does 'there are no helpers for the wrongdoers' mean in this context?
This phrase means that those who commit shirk will have no intercession, support, or assistance on the Day of Judgment. No prophet, saint, or created being can help someone who dies in the state of shirk. It emphasizes the absolute justice of Allah and the futility of relying on anyone other than Allah for salvation.
❓How does this verse prove that Jesus taught pure monotheism throughout his mission?
The verse proves Jesus taught pure monotheism by quoting his direct command to worship Allah alone. It shows consistency with his first words as a baby ('I am the servant of Allah') and his message throughout his prophethood. Jesus explicitly warned against shirk and directed all worship to Allah, demonstrating that monotheism was the core of his message.
❓What does this verse teach about the relationship between all prophets and their message?
This verse demonstrates that all prophets, including Jesus, taught the same fundamental message of pure monotheism (Tawhid). Just as previous messengers commanded worship of Allah alone, Jesus continued this tradition, showing the consistency of divine revelation across time. All prophets were servants of Allah who directed worship exclusively to Him.
Translations & Commentary
Loading...
Resources & References
Related verses, scholarly sources, and contextual information.