The keyword system I setup on this site, for the Jan 2025 edition, is interesting to browse through as it attempts to merge in references found “all around” about different topics. Were you looking for Tafisr references about socks? Great news! It’s here: https://ibnsabala.com/keywords/?file=socks, and believe it or not, it’s an interesting read on the concept of wiping over socks.
But that’s not what this post is for, I wanted to take a look at references to our beloved Prophet Jesus (PBUH) and pull out some fascinating highlights. This is not an AI highlight reel, these are my own findings from the translated work, and if you want to read the entire text then head over to:
https://ibnsabala.com/keywords/?file=jesus
Critical!
Remember, for the translations themselves, I did not alter them; here I also changed no meanings, but I did summarize, leave out redundant notes, skip over some items, insert my opinions and comments, etc. at my discretion as this is my own highlight review. Further, in most cases I put the original Tafsir translation in green text, although for highlighting purposes I might use other colors at time.
In the opening narrations an interesting segment is found.
“Every book that was revealed to a prophet before our book was revealed in only one language. If it were translated into another language, it would be considered an interpretation or translation, not a recitation of the original text as revealed by Allah.” This is interesting because that is true even of the Arabic-to-English translation work here. It’s interesting to see that once anything leaves its native language, there becomes differences in interpretation or translation, though it can essentially mean the same thing, for example:
Furthermore, even in the same language, such as English, you still can have different dialects and meanings. See Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dialects_of_English, a simple example might be American “apartment” vs. British “flat,” which are the same thing, as are “elevators” and “lifts.” Thus, it is no surprise that the Quran was released in 7 different modes of recitation.
This is the meaning behind the Prophet’s statement: “The first book was revealed in one dialect, while the Quran was revealed in seven dialects.” As for Allah’s statement: “The first book was revealed from one door, while the Quran was revealed from seven doors.” This means that the first book, which was revealed to the prophets before Muhammad, contained only some of the meanings and concepts that are found in our book.
Which brings us to our first part about Jesus from the Tafsir:
For example, the Psalms of David contain reminders and advice, while the Gospel of Jesus contains praise and commendation, as well as encouragement towards forgiveness and tolerance.
I would note that when it states, “Gospel of Jesus” this does not mean the Bible, I am not an Islamic scholar, but I know enough to be cognizant of this. Here, this refers to the original revelation from Jesus himself which was not well preserved and certainly isn’t in the original likely Aramaic or Hebrew language Jesus potentially spoke. But that is outside the scope of this article.
Quran Interpretation Guidance
“…And among them are things whose interpretation is known only to Allah, the One and Only, such as news about future events and times; like the time of the Hour, the blowing of the Trumpet, and the descent of Jesus son of Mary. These are matters whose limits no one knows, nor does anyone understand their interpretation except through reports about their signs, due to Allah’s exclusive knowledge of them…”
Jesus Teaches the Alphabet
Tafsir of Al-Basmalah Yahya narrated from Ibn Abi Mulaykah, who was informed by someone, that Ibn Mas’ud and Mish’ar bin Kadam said: ‘Atiyyah reported from Abu Sa’id that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed, Jesus son of Mary’s mother handed him over to the scribes to teach him. The teacher told him, ‘Write in the name.
Jesus asked, ‘What is “in the name”?’ The teacher replied, ‘I do not know.’ Then Jesus said: ‘The Baa (ب) is the glory of Allah, the Seen (س) is His majesty, and the Meem (م) is His kingdom.'” However, I fear that this might be an error on the part of the narrator. Perhaps he meant to say “Bism” (بسم), which is a common phrase used when teaching children the alphabet.
This interpretation does not make sense if we consider the verse: “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.” This is what the reciter says in the book of Allah, and it would be impossible to understand its meaning if interpreted in this way.
Interestingly, the first glaring item here is, “who was informed by someone.” Though, this isn’t surprising in al-Tabari’s work, citing this article: https://icehm.org/upload/8387ED0115073.pdf
Consideration to authentic reports: Ibn Jarir Al-Tabari relies mainly on the reports traceable to companions of the Prophets. Next to this are the parts coming from Tabi‟un, these two reports are the yardstick always used to determine his stand as far as interpretation of a verse is concerned. Precisely, when opinions differ, there is a usual statement from the author thus: “Al-Qawl fi Ta‟wil Qawlihi kadha wa kadha.” This will be followed by the opinion chosen by him after his personal assessment of different views. Next to this would be to buttress his chosen view with the chain of interpretation from either Sahabah or Tabici as the case may be. He adheres so strictly to this method that any interpretation based on self effort void of an authentic report of either Sahabah or al Tabici Al-Tabari would reject it outrightly. The reason being that Ibn Jarir al-Tabari has respect for opinions of companions and followers which he regarded as most accurate and genuine. . . Ibn Jarir Al-Tabari samples so many opinions in relation to the above verse before reaching the conclusion on the opinion. . . when Tabari makes reference to Isnad he might not necessarily mention the status of the transmitters with a view to verifying whether or not the transmission is Sahih or Dacif (sound or weak). . .
Basically, this means al-Tabari would consider multiple viewpoints, even if one might have been weak. Although, with regards to this story of Mary, may Allah be pleased with her, taking Jesus to teachers, it is repeated again. So a modern day scholar would have to attest to reading it better to know how valid it is. Nonetheless, the story is fascinating as it shows him teaching the teacher.
In another narration it is said:
“Indeed, Jesus’ mother handed him over to the scribes to teach him. The teacher told him to write: ‘Allah’. Jesus asked, ‘Do you know what Allah is?’ Allah is the God of gods.” This means that it can be said: “Allah, glory be to Him, is the God of the servant, and the servant is His worshipper.
It also goes on to show Muhammad, PBUH, citing Jesus, PBUH, directly in his own Prophethood:
“…the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘Jesus son of Mary said: The Rahman is merciful to both this world and the hereafter, while the Rahim is specifically merciful in the hereafter…'”
The depth to Jesus’ description of the name of God (Allah specifically) is impressive.
Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus son of Mary) said: “How can they disbelieve in Him when they speak with His names and live by His provision?” He said: “The Alif is the key to His name Allah, the Lam is the key to His name Latif (Gentle), and the Mim is the key to His name Majid (Glorious). The Alif represents Allah’s blessings, the Lam represents His gentleness, and the Mim represents His glory. The Alif represents one year, the Lam represents thirty years, and the Mim represents forty years.”
This brings up fascinating questions, when you add up the 1+30+40=71, why did he even mention that?
Origin of Nasara Name
…the name ‘Nasara’ (Christians) comes from the village of Nasirah, where Jesus son of Mary used to reside. His companions were called “al-Nasiriyyun,” and Jesus was referred to as “al-Nasiri… They were called ‘Nasara’ because they resided in a village called Nasirah, where Jesus son of Mary used to stay. This was the name by which they were known, and not one that they were commanded to use…
Believers Reward Related to 2:62
[First, 2:62 per Quran.com:]
Regarding the interpretation of the verse “and the Sabi’un” (Quran 2:62), it is said that the term “Sabi’un” refers to those who have changed their religion from one to another. In Arabic, this is referred to as “saba’,” and it can also mean the rising of stars. . . It means that those who believe, the Jews, Christians, and Sabians – whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day – will have their reward with their Lord. . .
Monk Teaches Islam
There is a neat gem in the Tafsir with this story. It’s not directly about Jesus, but it’s about his teachings that influenced people later, and I believe before Islam. Thus, it’s important to understand that Islam means, “In Arabic, Islam (Arabic: إسلام, lit. ‘submission [to God]’) is the verbal noun of Form IV originating from the verb سلم (salama), from the triliteral root س-ل-م (S-L-M), which forms a large class of words mostly relating to concepts of submission, safeness, and peace.” Per Wikipedia. As naturally I would assume someone might think it to be the now understood religion itself, when this Islam, for this story, means the concept of submitting to God.
Once, a group of people came to a monk and asked him about a certain teaching. The monk looked at them and replied, “Whoever wants to know about it should not stand in your place. If you want to learn what’s inside, come down and I’ll teach you.”
[Here, I assume they are asking the “monk” about religion, and I tend to personally read this as the monk inviting them to have a seat and talk.]
So, the people moved closer and sat at his feet, eager to hear what he had to say. The monk began, “This book has come from Allah [God], commanding obedience to Him and forbidding disobedience. It instructs: do not commit adultery, do not steal, and do not take people’s money unjustly.” He continued, “It was the Gospel that Allah had revealed to Jesus. It touched their hearts and they followed him, becoming Muslims.”
[Mind you, I am not a scholar, but the monk says, “becoming Muslims” which I think can be read as also “becoming those that submit to God” but using a singular word like Islam, is certainly easier to say. For example, it also works if you were to say becoming. . . servants . . . disciples . . . believers . . . So the concept works here regardless, these people submitted to God. I cite text from the Tafsir interpreting Quran on this as well to back that, “Say, ‘We believe in God and what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants, and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him[God].”]
Then, the monk told them, “The sacrifices of your people are forbidden to you.” The people listened intently, absorbing his words. They continued learning from him for some time. One day, a festival was prepared by the king. A grand feast was arranged, and the people and nobles gathered. The king sent messengers to invite his son to join the feast. When the messengers arrived, they asked the king’s son to come and eat with the people. However, the young man refused, saying, “I’m busy, you eat with your companions.” The messengers returned to the palace and repeated the invitation. The young man once again refused, saying, “I will not eat from your sacrifices. You are disbelievers, and your sacrifices are not permissible.”
[This makes me wonder if the feast had food that was sacrificed in a name other than God, for example, a Jewish community would ask if the food was Kosher, and an Muslim would ask if the food was Halal, understanding if it allowable under God’s laws essentially to consume.]
The king, puzzled and concerned, summoned his son and asked, “What is wrong with you? Why won’t you join us?” The young man replied, “We do not eat from your sacrifices because you are disbelievers.” The king, frustrated, demanded to know who had taught his son this. The young man responded, “The monk.” The king, now furious, summoned the monk to his court. The monk arrived, and the king confronted him. “Is it true?” the king demanded. “Did you teach my son to refuse our food?” The monk calmly replied, “Yes, I did. He speaks the truth.” The king, though angry, recognized their kinship ties and chose to spare the monk’s life, but he ordered him to leave the land. “You must leave before sundown,” the king declared.
As the monk prepared to leave, he turned to those present and said, “If you’re sincere, we have a meeting with sixty men in Mosul where we worship Allah. Join us there.” Salman, who had been standing with the young man, turned to him and said, “Let us go, together. Come with me.” The young man hesitated but eventually agreed. “Yes, let us go.” And so, they left to follow the monk’s path to Mosul.
Faith and Righteous Deeds
The faith of the Jews was to hold onto the Torah and the Sunnah of Moses until Jesus came. If they held onto the Torah and followed the Sunnah of Moses but did not follow Jesus, they would have been lost. Similarly, the faith of the Christians was to hold onto the Gospel and its laws until Muhammad (peace be upon him) came. Whoever did not follow Muhammad along with Jesus would not have been a believer or accepted.
Jesus and Gospel
…Among them are those who abandoned the way of Jesus and the Gospel, and thus were lost… The Prophet then said, “Whoever dies upon the religion of Jesus or upon Islam before hearing about me will be on good terms. But whoever hears about me today and does not believe in me has indeed perished…”
Friday Prayers Virtue
…when Jesus son of Mary commanded the Christians to observe Friday prayers, they asked him, “Why do you command us to observe Friday when the first day is better than all others? Is not Allah one, and is not the first day superior?” Allah revealed to Jesus that He should leave them to Sunday but instruct them to perform certain actions on that day. However, they did not comply, and Allah recounted their stories in the Book as an example of disobedience…
Sabbath Transgression Punished
[I had the AI use economy of language to re-word this smoothly See the original if you want from the link above.]
They were near the sea when they transgressed the Sabbath. A large fish came to them on the Sabbath, but not on other days. Some scholars forbade catching the fish on Saturday, saying, “You are only allowed to catch it on Sunday.” Others said, “We caught it on Sunday when we took it out.”
A man dug a canal and opened it on Saturday, bringing the fish in. The fish tried to escape but couldn’t. On Sunday, the man took the fish out. Scholars said, “You are only allowed to catch it on Saturday, not Sunday.” Some argued, “We caught it on Sunday when we took it out.” The scholars replied, “No, you caught it on Saturday when you opened the canal.”
Some rebuked them, saying, “Why advise a people whom Allah will destroy or punish severely?” Others said, “This is an excuse before your Lord, perhaps they will fear Him.” When they refused to listen, the Muslims said, “By Allah, we will not live with you in one town.” So, they divided the town by a wall. The Muslims opened one gate, and the transgressors opened another.
David cursed them, and the Muslims came out of their gate while the disbelievers came out of theirs. One day, the disbelievers did not open their gate. The Muslims climbed over the wall and found the disbelievers had turned into monkeys, jumping on each other. They opened the gate for them, and they went away in the land.
Allah said: “When they exceeded the limits of what they were prohibited, We said to them: ‘Be apes, despised.'” (Al-A’raf 7:166) Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus, son of Mary. . .
Jesus Given Clear Signs
…Allah gave Jesus, son of Mary, miracles and proofs that demonstrated his prophethood. These miracles included bringing the dead back to life, healing the blind and lepers, and other signs that showed his truthfulness and the authenticity of his message. As narrated by … Ibn Abbas: ‘And We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear signs’ means the miracles that were placed in his hands, such as bringing the dead back to life, creating a bird from clay and then breathing into it so that it becomes a living creature by Allah’s permission, healing diseases, and informing them about what they had hidden in their homes…
Holy Spirit Interpretation
The Interpretation of the Statement of Allah, the Exalted: “And We strengthened him with the Holy Spirit” (Quran 2:87) As for the meaning of His statement, “We strengthened him,” it means that We empowered him and supported him [and/or] “We aided him.” It is said that when Allah says, “May Allah strengthen you,” it means may Allah empower you. A person who has strength is described as having “aids” (a’id), meaning he has power.
Statement of Al-‘Ajaj: “I have exchanged the strength of my youth for the strength of old age.” And from this also comes the statement of a poet: “When the archers gather, they are led by one who is strong and has powerful arms.” Here, “arms” (a’id) refers to strength. The scholars of interpretation differed regarding the meaning of “the Holy Spirit.” Some said that the spirit with which Allah strengthened Jesus is Gabriel, peace be upon him.
. . . al-Sahhak regarding the verse “And We strengthened him with the Holy Spirit”. He said: The Holy Spirit is Gabriel. Ibn Abi Ja’far narrated to us from his father, from al-Rabi’, saying: You strengthened Jesus with the Holy Spirit. Jesus was aided by Gabriel, and he is the Holy Spirit.
. . .al-Ash’ari [said] that a group of Jews asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: Inform us about the Spirit. He said: “I adjure you by Allah and His days among the Children of Israel, do you know that it is Gabriel, who comes to me?” They said: Yes.
. . .Others said that the Spirit with which Allah strengthened Jesus is the Gospel. . .Ibn Zaid said . . . Allah strengthened Jesus with the Gospel as a spirit, just as He made the Quran a spirit from Him. . .Both are the spirit of Allah. . .Others said that the Spirit is the name by which Jesus used to bring the dead back to life. . .It is the name by which Jesus used to bring the dead back to life. . .
The most correct interpretation in this regard is the statement of those who said that the Spirit in this context is Gabriel. This is because Allah, glory be to Him, informed us that He strengthened Jesus with [Gabriel]. . .in His statement: . . . [God said,] ‘O Jesus, son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and your mother when I supported you with the Holy Spirit’ [Quran 5:110]. If the Spirit with which Allah strengthened Jesus was the Gospel, then His statement would be: “When I supported you with the Holy Spirit”
[The repetition of Holy Spirit on the end there might be an error from the AI. al-Tabari’s Tafsir was clear that the finding that Gabriel is the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, that is consistent with Quran.com, see below:]
[The Tafsir on Quran.com from Ibn Kathir, etc. confirms Gabriel as well. Further, later in the Tafsir al-Tabari for Quran 2:253, just chalks it up to being already done and discussed…]
The phrase “and supported him with the Holy Spirit” means that Allah strengthened and aided Jesus with the spirit of God, which is Gabriel (peace be upon him). We have previously discussed the different opinions among scholars regarding the meaning of “the Holy Spirit”, and we do not need to repeat it here.
Disbelief in Jesus [and/or] Muhammad
…Then they will be punished with a painful punishment, on top of another… refers to those who disbelieved in Jesus and Muhammad. Ikrima said: This is a reference to two types of disbelief: disbelief in Jesus and disbelief in Muhammad. . .and thus will be punished twice. Al-Sha’bi said:
On the Day of Judgment, people will be divided into four groups:
1. Those who believed in Jesus and then believed in Muhammad; they will receive two rewards.
2. Those who did not believe in Jesus but believed in Muhammad; they will receive one reward.
3. Those who disbelieved in both Jesus and Muhammad; they will be punished twice, once for each disbelief.
4. Those who were polytheists from the Arabs and died before the advent of Muhammad; they too will be punished.
. . . The verse “Faba’u wa bighadabin ‘ala ghadab” means that Allah’s wrath upon them is doubled due to their disbelief in both the Gospel (Injil) and Jesus, as well as their disbelief in the Quran and Muhammad. . .
Jesus Foretold Ahmad [Muhammad]
By the Book that you recite, do you find me [mentioned] as one whom Jesus foretold would come to you, a messenger whose name is Ahmad? They replied, “Yes, we have found you mentioned in our book, but we dislike you because you make lawful the taking of wealth and the shedding of blood.”
[I’m not sure if this AI rendering of this is perfect or not. However, a later Tafsir states…]
Under, “Abraham’s Prayer”
[2:129 states, per Quran.com]
The statement of Abraham and Ishmael, “Our Lord, send among them a messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses” (Quran 2:129), is specifically a prayer for the Prophet Muhammad. This is the same prayer that the Prophet Muhammad referred to when he said, “I am the prayer of my father Abraham and the good news of Jesus.”
[Also reported elsewhere in the Tafsir…]
Khālid ibn Ma’dān al-Kalā’ī reported that a group of companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) asked him, “O Messenger of Allah, tell us about yourself.” He replied, “Yes, I am the prayer of Abraham and the good news of Jesus, son of Mary (peace be upon them).
Allah’s Transcendence and Innovation in Religion Forbidden
[2:116 per Quran.com:]
…and they say, ‘Allah has taken a son.’ They are the Christians who claim that Jesus is the son of Allah. Allah, the Exalted, said, refuting their statement: “And they attributed to Allah what they uttered, and their tongues asserted a lie against Him…
How can Jesus be a son of Allah when he must exist in one of these places – either in the heavens or on the earth? And Allah has dominion over what is in them, and if Jesus were a son as they claim, he would not be like the rest of creation in the heavens and the earth, which are His servants, with clear signs of craftsmanship…
[In our modern age, we might consider DNA which has information of craftmanship and more too.]
…This is because Allah refuted those who claimed that He had a son by saying: “To Him belongs what is in the heavens and the earth” (Quran 2:116). Then He informed us that everything in the heavens and the earth bears witness to its Lord and Creator, and that Allah is the One Who created them.
Even if some of them deny this with their tongues, they are still obedient to Him, bearing witness to the signs of creation within themselves. And Jesus is one of them, so how can he be a son of God when this is His attribute?
… Glory be to Allah! How can He have a son when He is the owner of everything in the heavens and the earth? All of creation bears witness to His uniqueness and submits to Him, for He is their creator and sustainer. He created them without any prior example or model. This is an announcement from Allah to His servants that Jesus, whom they claim is the son of God (24:4), also testifies to this truth. And it is a declaration from Allah to them that the One who created the heavens and the earth without any prior example or model is the same One who created Jesus without a father by His power …
…When [God] decrees something and wants to create it, He simply says, “Be,” and it exists as He wills. The Creation of Jesus: Similarly, Allah’s creation of Jesus was without a father when He willed his creation…
[The following is an interesting story which discusses that it was not only Jesus who, with God’s permission, revived people, but perhaps Ezekiel may have as well. On a side note, as far as I understand, Moses also revived someone by striking them with a piece of meat. Also, Muhammad (pbuh) stated that even the anti-Christ would revive someone, although that person when revived would be abundantly aware of his lie. So, evidence does suggest it was not just Jesus who performed this feat.]
Reviving Dead People
[First 2:243 per Quran.com:]
Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 243 One of them asked his companion: “Is this the one?” They replied: “We find in our book that a horn made of iron will be given to Ezekiel (Hazqil), who revived the dead by Allah’s permission.
“Umar said: “We do not find Hazqil in the Book of Allah, nor anyone reviving the dead with Allah’s permission except Jesus.” They replied: “Do you not find in the Book of Allah: ‘And messengers about whom We have related to you before’ (An-Nisa 4:164)?” Umar said: “Yes.” They said: “As for reviving the dead, we will tell you. The children of Israel were afflicted with a plague, and a group of them left until they reached a distance of one mile.
[4:164 per Quran.com]
Allah caused them to die, and they built a wall over them. When their bones had decayed, Allah sent Ezekiel, who stood over them and said what Allah willed. Allah then revived them for him, and He revealed: ‘Have you not considered those who left their homes in the thousands’ (Al-Baqarah 2:243)?” We were told by Ibn Hamid, who said that Hakkam told us from Anbasah, from Al-Hajjaj bin Arta’ah, who said: They were four thousand. From As-Suddi: Musa bin Harun told me, saying that Amr told us, saying that Asbat told us, saying: “Have you not considered those who left their homes in the thousands” until His statement: “and He will revive them.”
He said: There was a village called Dawar Dan near Wasit, which was afflicted with the plague. Most of its inhabitants fled and settled nearby. Those who remained in the village perished, while the others were saved. None of the latter died, and when the plague subsided, they returned safely.
Those who had stayed behind said: “Our companions have been resurrected.”
Jesus Human Nature (Regarding Quran 3:2)
[First Quran.com per 3:2:]
They asked, “O Muhammad, who is his [Jesus] father?” The Messenger of Allah remained silent and did not respond to them. Then Allah revealed a part of their statement and the difference in their matter, which is the beginning of Surah Al-Imran up to eighty verses. Allah said, “Allah! There is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence.” He began the surah by declaring His innocence from what they said, and His oneness in creation and command, with no partner in it. This was a response to their innovation of disbelief and their making equals with Him.
[This might be part of Muhammad’s discussion with the people of Najran.]
The Prophet said, “Do you not know that a child does not resemble anyone but his father?” They replied, “Yes.” He asked, “Do you not know that our Lord is the one who does not die, while Jesus will face death?” They replied, “Yes.” He asked, “Do you not know that our Lord is the one who takes care of everything, protects it, and provides for it?” They replied, “Yes.” He then asked, “Does Jesus have any power over these things?” They replied, “No.” The Prophet said, “Do you not know that Allah, the Exalted, is not unaware of anything on earth or in heaven?” They replied, “Yes.” He asked, “Does Jesus know anything except what he has been taught?” They replied, “No.”
The Prophet then said, “Our Lord created Jesus in the womb as He willed.” He also said, “Do you not know that our Lord does not eat food or drink?” They said, “Yes.” He asked, “Do you not know that Jesus was carried by a woman just as any other woman carries her child? Then she gave birth to him just as any other woman gives birth to her child. Then he was fed just like any other infant is fed. He used to eat food and drink liquids, and he would relieve himself?” They said, “Yes.” He asked, “How can this be as you claim?” They realized the truth but refused to accept it out of stubbornness.
[Further Tafsir later states regarding 3:6]
…Jesus, son of Mary, who was also created and shaped in his mother’s womb as Allah willed. If Jesus were a god, he would not have been carried in his mother’s womb, for the Creator of what is in the wombs cannot be carried in them; rather, they carry only the created beings. al-Zubayr said: “He is the one who shapes you in the wombs as He wills.” Jesus was among those shaped in the womb, and they do not deny this or reject it.
Just like others of Adam’s children were shaped, how can he be a god when he was created in this way? al-Rabi’ said: “He is the one who shapes you in the wombs as He wills.” This means that Allah shaped Jesus in the womb as He willed. Others have said, Ibn Abbas said: “When the sperm drop falls into the womb, it is shaped by Allah’s will.”
[Later…]
…This statement is a declaration of Allah’s transcendence above having any partner or equal in His lordship, and a refutation of those who said about Jesus what they said, specifically the delegation from Najran who came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and others like them who held similar views about Jesus…
[Next, regarding 3:18. This is interesting because it shows God “glorifying Himself,” I have heard Christians say that the “Father and Son” glorify each other, and here is a simple statement demonstrating God can glorify himself, without partner.]
…Allah, the Exalted, intended to negate what the Christians who debated with the Messenger of Allah about Jesus added regarding sonship, and what the polytheists attributed to Him as having a partner… So, Allah began by mentioning Himself, glorifying Himself, and purifying Himself from what the polytheists attributed to Him…
Unclear Verses in Quran
…Others said that the clear verses of the Quran are those whose interpretation is known to scholars, and they understand their meaning and explanation. The unclear verses are those for which no one has a way to interpret them from what Allah has kept exclusive knowledge of, apart from His creation… This includes news about the time of Jesus son of Mary’s departure, the time of the sun rising from the west, the Day of Judgment, the end of the world, and similar things…
The Disciples [of Jesus] ask for a Table Spread
God informs us that the disciples said to Jesus: “O Jesus, son of Mary, can your Lord send down to us a table spread with food from heaven?” (Al-Ma’idah 5:112). However, this is actually a request, just like when someone says, “Will you suffice for us?” meaning “Suffice for us.” Or when someone says to another person, “Where? Where?” meaning “Stay and do not move.” For this reason, it is permissible to use the interrogative form in place of a command.
Jesus Born Without Satan’s Touch
Ibn Abbas said, “No newborn is born except that Satan touches him, except for Jesus the son of Mary. Satan did not have power over him and did not touch him.” When Jesus was born, the devils came to Iblis (Satan) and said, “The idols have been overturned.” He replied, “This is a new event.” Then he flew until he reached the edges of the earth but found nothing. Then he went to the seas and still found nothing.
After that, he flew again and found Jesus born near a manger for donkeys, surrounded by angels. He returned to his companions and said, “A prophet has been born last night. No female has ever carried or given birth except in my presence, except for this one.” They lost hope that idols would be worshipped after that night.
But you, O children of Adam, are prone to haste and impulsiveness. It is narrated from Qatadah that the Prophet said, “I will protect her (Mary) and her offspring from the accursed Satan.” It was mentioned to us that the Prophet used to say, “Every son of Adam has been touched by Satan in his side, except for Jesus the son of Mary and his mother. A barrier was placed between them and him, so the touch reached the barrier but did not penetrate to them.”
[Another passage for 3:36 reads, and also the Quran.com of 3:36:]
It is mentioned that Jesus and his mother were not afflicted by sins as the rest of Adam’s children are. It was also mentioned that he used to walk on water just like he walked on land, due to the certainty and sincerity granted to him by Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Every child of Adam is touched by Satan in his side when his mother gives birth to him, except for Jesus son of Mary. When Satan tried to touch him, he struck the veil instead. “Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Do you see this cry that a newborn baby makes? That is because Satan touches him in his side when he is born.”
Prophets Methodology (Regarding 3:39)
Quran.com reports 3:39 as:
It was narrated . . . from Ar-Rabi’, regarding the verse “confirming a word from Allah” (3:39). He said: The first man to believe in Jesus was John the Baptist, and he was a word from Allah and a spirit. It was narrated to by . . . As-Suddi, regarding the verse “confirming a word from Allah” (3:39). He said: John the Baptist confirmed Jesus.
… Ad-Dahhak [said], regarding the verse “Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him” (3:39): John the Baptist was the first to believe in Jesus and testified that he was a word from Allah. John the Baptist was the son of Elizabeth, the sister of Mary, and he was older than Jesus. It was narrated to us by … Ibn Abbas, regarding the verse “confirming a word from Allah” (3:39). He said: “Jesus, the son of Mary, is the word from Allah, and his name is the Messiah.”
It was narrated to us by … Ibn Abbas … [regarding] “confirming a word from Allah” (3:39). [He said,] “Jesus and John the Baptist were cousins, and Elizabeth would say to Mary: I feel that what is in my womb is prostrating to what is in your womb.”
[Another Report States…]
…The womb of Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the first to believe in him and prostrate before him while still in her womb. This is because John (Yahya) was greater than Jesus. Ibn Abbas narrated that Allah informed Zakariyya (the father of John) about the birth of a son who would be a believer in the word of Allah, which refers to Jesus. A narration from As-Suddi states that when Mary and Elizabeth (the mother of John) met while both were pregnant, they felt their unborn children moving.
[I wonder if the above paragraph was an AI translation issue, or perhaps a report that al-Tabari collected just to reflect on, because as I understand all Prophets should be viewed without making distinction, but they might make a distinction between themselves in a manner we perhaps do not understand. God knows best here.]
Elizabeth said to Mary, “I feel my child prostrating before what is in your womb.” This is a reference to the verse where Allah says, “And [mention] when the angels said, ‘O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary’.” Another narration from Al-Hasan states that John was a believer in Jesus, the son of Mary. Some scholars from Basra interpreted this verse to mean that John’s belief in Jesus was a sign of his greatness.
Jesus Birth Story (Tafsir 3:45)
Quran.com reports 3:45 as:
[An] interpretation of [3:45 plus] the interpretation of this statement: “You were not present, O Muhammad, when the angels said to Maryam (Mary), ‘Indeed, Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, and his name is al-Masih (the Messiah) Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus son of Mary).
Some people have said, and this is the opinion of Qatadah [is this him?], that the “word” mentioned in the verse refers to Allah’s statement “(Kun)” or “Be!” which is the word that brought Jesus into existence. This was narrated by … Qatadah, regarding the statement “(Kun)” which is the word that brought Jesus into existence. Allah called Jesus “His word” because he was created through His word, just as something that Allah has decreed is referred to as “the decree of Allah.” Similarly, when Allah says “(Wa kana amrullahi maf’ulan)” or “And the command of Allah is always executed,” it means that what Allah commands is carried out.
Others have said that “His word” refers to Jesus himself, and that Allah gave him this name just as He gives names to all His creations. Ibn Abbas was reported to have said: “The word” refers to Jesus. This was narrated by … Ibn Abbas, regarding the statement … “He is the one when the angels said to Maryam, ‘Indeed, Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him.'” Ibn Abbas said: Jesus is the word from Allah.
In my opinion [al-Tabari], the most correct interpretation is that the angels gave Maryam the good tidings of Jesus as a messenger and word from Allah, which He commanded them to convey to her.
[Additional Tafsir]
Allah created a son from her [Mary] without a male or female partner, and thus He said: “His name is the Messiah.” (Quran 3:45) He mentioned it as masculine, but did not say “her name,” because the word “Kalmat” (word) is feminine. However, in this context, it does not refer to a name, but rather to the announcement or message, similar to how one would use a pronoun for something like “al-Dhurriyyah” (the offspring), “al-Dabbah” (the beast), or “al-Aqab” (the successors). The interpretation of this verse is that Allah is giving glad tidings of a son whose name is the Messiah.
Some grammarians from Basra believed that when it says “His name is the Messiah,” it means that the word “Kalmat” refers to Jesus, because in meaning, it is similar to how one would say “Dhu al-Nudayyah” (the one with short arms), where his arm was close to his body, and thus it was referred to as if its name was “Thadyah”. Similarly, some grammarians from Kufa shared the same view regarding the word “Kalmat”, but differed in their interpretation of why it was mentioned as masculine. They believed that since “Kalmat” comes before “His name,” it should have been referred to as feminine, but instead, it was referred to as masculine. This is because Arabs often use this pattern when referring to attributes or titles that are not used for identification, such as “al-Dhurriyyah” (the offspring) or “al-Khalifah” (the successor). Therefore, it is acceptable to say “Dhurriyyatun Tayyibah” (good offspring) or “Dhurriyyatan Tayyiban” (a good offspring).
[Jesus’ High Status]
The Interpretation of the Verse: “And he will be honored in this world and the Hereafter, and he will be among those brought near [to Allah].” (Quran 3:45) This verse means that Jesus will have a high status and rank with Allah, and he will be granted honor and dignity.
The word “wajih” (وجيه) is used to describe someone who has a high social standing and is respected by people. It is said that the word “jaha” (جاه) comes from the root word “wajh” (وجه), which means face or appearance. In Arabic, it is common to use the phrase “wajah” (وجه) to describe someone’s reputation or social standing. The verse also mentions that Jesus will be among those brought near to Allah, which means he will have a special relationship with Him.
According to Muhammad bin Ja’far, this verse means that Jesus will have honor and dignity in both this world and the Hereafter, and he will be among those who are close to Allah.
[Jesus Speaks in Cradle, 3:46]
Regarding the statement “and he will speak to people in the cradle and as an adult, and he will be one of the righteous” [3:46]. As for the statement “he will speak to people in the cradle”, it means that Allah will give you good news of a word from Him, whose name is Jesus son of Mary, honored by Allah, and who will speak to people in the cradle. Note that the verb “yukallimu” (will speak) is in the passive voice, even though it appears to be in the active voice, because it is in the form of “yaf’al” which indicates a state of being. This is similar to the poet’s statement: [Poem not translated]
[I guess the AI decided not to translate the poem, or it wasn’t there, or such, unfortunately. In any event, additional Tafsir states:]
The word “مهد” (cradle) refers to the place where a child is nursed, as stated by Ibn Abbas. As for the phrase “وكهلا”, it means being mature and strong, but not yet old. It is said that a person can be described as “كهل” (mature) or “كهلة” (mature woman). The poet Al-Rajaz says: “I will return to her with my children, I am the companion of the mature woman and the young boy.”
The verse means that Jesus will speak to people as a child in the cradle, which is a sign of his innocence and a proof of his prophethood. He will also speak as a grown man, after he has reached maturity, with the revelation from God, His commands, prohibitions, and the book that was sent down to him. God informed His servants about Jesus’ ability to speak in this way, despite the fact that most people do not speak until they are old. This is an argument against those who deny Jesus’ prophethood, particularly the Christians.
[Further:]
As narrated by … Muhammad ibn Ja’far ibn al-Zubayr: “And he will speak to people in the cradle and as an adult, and be one of the righteous” (Quran 3:46). He informs them about his states, which he experiences throughout his life, like other human beings experience changes from childhood to adulthood. However, Allah granted him the miracle of speaking in the cradle as a sign of his prophethood and to introduce himself to the servants.
[Further:]
…reported from Mujahid that the phrase ‘and as a grown man’ means ‘as a wise and mature person.’ … Ibn Jurayj said, ‘He will speak to them as an infant, as a grown man, and as a wise and mature person.’
Ibn Jurayj and Mujahid both stated that the phrase “and as a grown man” means “as a wise and mature person.” …Al-Hasan said regarding the verse, “And he will speak to the people in the cradle and as a grown man,” “He spoke to them as an infant in the cradle and as a grown man.”
Others have said that the phrase “and as a grown man” means that Jesus (peace be upon him) will speak to them when the Dajjal (Antichrist) appears, and at that time he will be a wise and mature person …Ibn Zayd said regarding the verse, “And he will speak to the people in the cradle and as a grown man,” [means] Jesus has already spoken to them in the cradle, and he will speak to them when the Dajjal is killed, and at that time he will be a wise and mature person.
[Furthermore] the phrase “and as a grown man” is an appositive to the phrase “and he will speak to the people.” The phrase “and from among the righteous” means that Jesus (peace be upon him) is one of them and their ally, for the righteous are united in their faith and virtue.
Jesus Receives Revelation
From Quran.com for 3:48:
This verse is a continuation of the previous one, where Allah tells Maryam that He will create a son for her without a father. Here, Allah explains what kind of son this will be.
The phrase “And He will teach him the Book” refers to the knowledge and wisdom that Jesus (peace be upon him) will receive from Allah. The word “Book” here means the revelation or scripture that Allah sends down to His prophets. Some of the Companions, including Ibn Kathir, Abu Amr, Ibn Amir, Hamza, and Al-Kisa’i, read this verse with a slight variation: “And We will teach him the Book”. This reading is also acceptable, as it emphasizes the fact that Allah is the one who teaches Jesus.
The phrase “and wisdom” refers to the ability to understand and apply the knowledge received from Allah. Wisdom is not just about knowing something, but also about being able to use that knowledge in a practical way. The Torah mentioned here is the scripture revealed to Moses (peace be upon him), while the Gospel is the scripture revealed to Jesus himself. The fact that Jesus will receive both the Torah and the Gospel indicates that he will have a deep understanding of the previous scriptures and will be able to build upon them.
Allah’s statement “And He will teach him the Book” is a sign of the high status and honor that Jesus will receive from Allah. It shows that Jesus will be a prophet who will receive revelation directly from Allah, just like Moses and other prophets before him.
Jesus Creates a Bird
Quran.com for 3:49:
The word “bird” is a collective noun for “flying creature”. There was a difference in recitation among the readers regarding this verse. Some people from Hijaz read it as: “(I will create) like the shape of a flying creature, then I will breathe into it and it will become a flying creature.” (on the basis of Tawhid). [Tawhid defined from Wikipedia.]
Others read it as: “Like the shape of a bird, then I will breathe into it and it will become a bird” (on the basis of Jam’ah). [Jam’ah here might mean community, that is “the community consensus,” is my personal non-scholar guess.] The most astonishing recitation to me is that of those who read: “Like the shape of a bird, then I will breathe into it and it will become a flying creature” (on the basis of both Tawhid and Jam’ah). This is because this was one of the characteristics of Jesus, that he would do such things with God’s permission. And following the script of the Mushaf (the written Quran) along with the correctness of the meaning and the widespread recitation of it, is more astonishing to me than deviating from the Mushaf.
[I ran this above paragraph through AI to try and get a sense of what the amazement is, it reported: The speaker is amazed by the Quranic verse describing how Jesus could create a bird and make it fly with God’s permission. What impresses them more than any changes to the Quran is how this verse is recited correctly, both in the written form of the Quran and in its meaning, and how widely it is accepted.
This is interesting to me personally, because it would suggest during al-Tabari’s time, assuming it is still him speaking there, this appeared to be common knowledge about the birds. Yet Christian’s debated this story perhaps to this day, Infancy Gospel of Thomas | Apocrypha, Jesus’ Childhood, Clay Birds, & Studies | Britannica. In any event, the Tafsir continues…]
**The Story of Jesus Creating a Bird** Jesus used to create birds out of clay as …Ibn Ishaq narrated to us that Jesus sat one day with some young boys from among the scribes. He took some clay and said: “Shall I make a bird for you out of this clay?” They said: “Can you do such a thing?” He replied: “Yes, with God’s permission.” Then he shaped it until when he made it in the shape of a bird, he breathed into it and said: “Be a flying creature by God’s permission!” It came out flying between his hands.
The boys went out with this news from him, told their teacher, who spread it among the people. The news reached the Children of Israel, and when Jesus’ mother feared for him, she took him and fled.
Jesus’ Miracles Explained from 3:49
…leprosy has no cure, and only someone with divine knowledge can heal it. This was one of the signs of Jesus’ prophethood, along with other miracles given to him by Allah.
[This is obviously from their perspective at those times as to whether or not a particular illness can be healed and how. Keep in mind penicillin wasn’t developed until 1929 and that wouldn’t have ‘cured’ it either, it wasn’t until dapsone was used in the 1940s to begin to offer relief to people, and not until the 1980s that MDT treatment came into effect. So something to the tune of 1,100 or so years after al-Tabari’s time!]
However, some people like Ikrima and Mujahid have misinterpreted the word “al-kamah” (leprosy) as referring to a person who is blind or has poor eyesight at night. This interpretation is incorrect because Allah would not use something that humans can easily dispute as evidence of Jesus’ prophethood. If Jesus had claimed to heal people who are blind or have poor eyesight, the Israelites could have argued that they too have people who can treat such conditions and are not prophets or messengers of Allah. Therefore, it is clear that “al-kamah” refers to a person who is completely blind, unable to see anything, day or night.
This interpretation is supported by Qatadah’s statement that the person born with this condition is more likely to be the one referred to in the verse. Only someone given divine knowledge and power by Allah can claim to heal such a condition, just like Jesus was able to do. The next part of the text explains the verse “And I bring the dead to life by Allah’s permission, and I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses.” (Quran 3:49) It is said that Jesus would bring the dead back to life through his prayers to Allah, who would then respond to his request.
This is supported by a narration from … Wahb ibn Munabbih said that when Jesus was twelve years old, Allah revealed to his mother, Maryam, while she was in Egypt, to take him to the land of Sham (Syria). She did as she was instructed.
[3:49 and 61:6 are interrelated per Tafsir, so providing 61:6 per Quran.com next:]
[Quran.com refers to the Gospel of Barnabas, it is outside the scope of this presentation to discuss it, you can find copies of it in many places, for example here is one: The gospel of barnabas : Lonsdale; Ragg, Laura : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive]
Jesus, the son of Mary, said to his people, “I am a messenger from God to you, confirming what came before me in the Torah and bringing good news of a messenger who will come after me, whose name is Ahmad.” (Quran 61:6) It was narrated that Wahb said, “Jesus would often gather with fifty thousand sick people at one time. Some of them were unable to walk, while others could. He would heal them through his supplications to God.”
Regarding Jesus’ statement, “I will inform you of what you eat and what you store in your homes,” (Quran 3:49) it means that he would tell them about the food they ate without being present with them at the time, as well as what they hid away and did not eat. This was a sign of his prophethood, along with the miracles he performed, such as creating birds from clay, healing the blind and lepers, and bringing the dead back to life by God’s permission.
These were things that no human could do except those whom God had given the ability to do so. It was a proof of Jesus’ truthfulness and a sign of his prophethood, as well as an indication of his knowledge of the unseen, which is beyond human comprehension. If someone asks, “What is the significance of Jesus’ statement about telling people what they eat and store in their homes? We have seen astrologers and fortune-tellers do similar things and get it right.” The response would be that astrologers and fortune-tellers are known to use certain methods to gain knowledge, whereas Jesus did not use such means.
He [Jesus] was a prophet of God, and his knowledge came from God.
[3:49 continued.]
The knowledge (of Jesus) was not acquired through any means or trickery, but rather it was a direct revelation from Allah, without any prior foundation or basis. This is what distinguishes the knowledge of the Prophets about the unseen and their reports about it from the knowledge of those who falsely claim to have such knowledge.
Ibn Ishaq said: When Jesus was around nine or ten years old, his mother took him to a school where he would learn. He would sit with one of the teachers who taught him like other students. However, whenever the teacher tried to teach him something, Jesus would already know it before being taught. The teacher would say: “Don’t you wonder about this widow’s son? I try to teach him something, but he already knows more than me!” … Asbat said: When Jesus grew up, his mother took him to learn the Torah. He would play with other children in the village where he lived and tell them about what their parents did.
[It’s interesting the AI translated this above as ‘this widow’s son’, it could be an error, or purposeful, but it’s outside the scope of this right now to investigate. Nonetheless, 3:49 additionally:]
…You eat and do not store food in your homes. Jesus, son of Maryam, used to say to a servant boy: “O so-and-so, your family has stored such-and-such amount of food for you, will you feed me?” This is how the prophets and their signs worked.
They came with what they had from the signs that could be connected to some generation, not in the way others did, but from the perspective that creation knows cannot be reached by any means except through Allah… Mujahid [stated that Jesu said,] “What you ate yesterday and what you stored from it. Jesus, son of Maryam, used to say this.”
[3:49 further discusses from the Tafsir…]
Thana Asbat, who said: Jesus, the son of Maryam (Mary), used to tell the boys while he was with them in the book about what their parents did, and what they raised for them, and what they ate. He would say to a boy: Go, your family has raised such and such for you, and they are eating such and such.
The boy would go and cry over his family until they gave him that thing. They would ask him: Who told you this? He would say: Jesus. This is the statement of Allah, the Exalted: “And you know what they eat and what they store in their homes” (Quran 3:49). So they imprisoned their boys and said: Do not play with this magician.
They gathered them in a house, and Jesus came looking for them. They said: They are not here. He said: What is in this house? They said: Pigs. Jesus said: That’s what they will become.
They opened the door to find pigs inside. This is the statement of Allah: “If only it had been on the tongue of David and Jesus, son of Maryam” (Quran 5:78). It was narrated to me by Muhammad bin Sinan, who said: Thana Abu Bakr Al-Hanafi, from Abbad, from Al-Hasan, regarding the verse: “And what they store in their homes” (Quran 3:49). He said: What they hide, fearing that it will be taken away.
Jesus and the Torah (3:50)
[Quran.com reports for 3:50:]
[This is Jesus speaking in 3:50, as revelation from God to Muhammad, usually via Gabriel, about what happened before Muhammad’s time.]
This verse means that Jesus is a confirmation of the Torah that came before him, and that he has come to make permissible for his people some things that were previously forbidden to them.
[Then further for 3:50:]
They [all Prophets] all confirm every book of Allah and His messengers that came before them, even if some of their laws differed due to Allah’s will. According to what has been reported to us, Jesus was a follower of the law of Moses, peace be upon him, and he would face towards the Temple in Jerusalem during prayer. He said to the Children of Israel: “I have not come to call you to anything that contradicts the Torah, except to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you and to remove from you some of the burdens.”
[Regarding 3:50, Jesus Lenient Law]
It is said that Jesus brought a more lenient law compared to Moses. In the Torah, which was revealed to Moses, certain foods were prohibited such as camel meat, qurub (a type of fat), and certain types of birds and fish.
Al-Rabi’ narrated that Ibn Abi Ja’far said: “Jesus came with a more lenient law than Moses.” He also said: “In the Torah, which was revealed to Moses, camel meat and qurub were prohibited. However, Jesus made them lawful for his people.” It is also mentioned that in the Torah, certain types of fish and birds were prohibited due to their sharp bones or feathers.
However, Jesus allowed these foods in the Gospel. …Ibn Jurayj said: ‘And to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you’ refers to camel meat and fat. When Jesus was sent, he made them lawful for his people, but the Jews disagreed and split into different groups… Muhammad ibn Ja’far ibn al-Zubayr: “And to confirm what came before me in the Torah” means to confirm what was revealed before him.
[Concluding 3:50 where Jesus Permits Forbidden Things]
[Jesus said,] “And I will permit for you some of what was forbidden to you.” This means that I will inform you that it was previously forbidden to you, but then I will make it permissible for you as a relief from the hardship, so that you may attain ease and be free from its burden… Al-Hasan: And I will permit for you some of what was forbidden to you. He said: Some things were forbidden to them, and then Jesus came to make permissible for them what was previously forbidden, seeking their gratitude.