Surah al-Anbiya' (The Prophets ) 21 : 26

Overview (Verses 25 - 29)

Claiming a Son for God
 
The sūrah then states the nature of what was revealed to all messengers sent to different communities before the Prophet Muhammad’s time: “Before your time We never sent a messenger without having revealed to him that there is no deity other than Me. Therefore, you shall worship Me alone.” (Verse 25) God’s oneness is indeed the basic essential element in divine faith, ever since God sent His first messenger to mankind. Nothing has changed in that. God, the Creator who must be worshipped is One, without partners. The truth of Godhead and Lordship over the universe is a single issue that cannot be separated. God has no partners, whether in the sphere of Godhead or in that of worship. This fact ranks alongside the basic essential laws of the universe and is classified with them. Like them, its truth is unassailable.
 
The sūrah then picks up the claims of the unbelievers alleging that God has a son. This is one of the absurdities of ignorance:
 
They say: ‘The Most Merciful has taken to Himself a son!’ Limitless is He in His glory! No; they are but His honoured servants. They do not speak until He has spoken, and they act at His behest. He knows all that lies before them and all behind them. They do not intercede for any but those whom He has already graced with His goodly acceptance, since they themselves stand in reverent awe of Him. If any of them were to say, I am a deity beside Him,’ We shall requite him with hell. Thus do We reward the wrongdoers. (Verses 26-29)
 
The claim that God – limitless is He in His glory – has a son took several forms in the different communities that deviated from the path of truth. The pagan Arabs alleged that the angels were God’s daughters, while unbeliever groups among the Jews alleged that Ezra was God’s son. Similarly, deviant Christians alleged that Jesus Christ was God’s son. All these are ignorant claims that deviate from the clear truth.
 
The sūrah is here especially concerned with the Arabs’ claim that the angels were God’s daughters. This claim is rebuffed by clarifying the nature of angels. They are not God’s female offspring, rather, they are only His servants whom He has honoured. The angels do not suggest anything to God, because they know their limits and abide by them. They do what God bids them, without argument. God’s knowledge encompasses all their affairs. They do not try to intercede on behalf of anyone other than those to whom He has gracefully granted His acceptance. Only on behalf of these does He accept intercession. By nature, the angels are in awe of God, revering Him, even though they are pure, honoured and obedient to Him. Needless to say, none of them ever makes a claim to Godhead. Had any of them, for argument’s sake, made such a claim, they would have suffered the same fate as anyone else who makes such a claim. That fate is hell where goes everyone guilty of the worst type of wrongdoing, which is to make such a claim which runs against all right and is unjust to all creation.
 
The same applies to the unbelievers’ false claims. They are hollow, absurd and irrational. Should anyone make such a claim, the same terrible fate will befall him.
 
The sūrah contrasts its image of the angels in obedience and awe of God with that of the unbelievers who make such absurd and impudent claims.