What does it mean when Prophet Isa is referred to as the ‘Word of Allah’?
In the Quran, verses such as 3:39, 3:45, and 4:171 describe Prophet Isa (Jesus) as the “Word of Allah.
” Additionally, other verses like 4:171, 15:29, 21:91, and 66:12 refer to Isa as the “Spirit of Allah.”
Misinterpretation by Some Christians:
Certain Christians misinterpret these terms to claim that Prophet Isa is the son of God. They argue that the Quran supports this notion. However, this claim is baseless, as the Quran explicitly refutes the idea that anyone can be a child of Allah.
Verses Clearly Rejecting Allah Having a Son:
Numerous Quranic verses—2:116, 4:171, 10:68, 17:111, 18:4, 19:35, 19:88-93, 21:26, 23:91, 25:2, 37:149-153, 39:4, 43:81—emphatically declare that neither Isa nor anyone else can be a child of Allah.
Why Prophet Isa is Called the ‘Spirit of Allah’:
Normally, human birth requires both the egg from a woman and the sperm from a man. However, Isa was created without a father, purely through the command of Allah. Hence, the Quran refers to him as Allah’s “Word” or “Spirit.”
The heavens, the earth, and countless creations came into existence through Allah’s command, “Be.” Similarly, Isa was created through Allah’s word. This does not imply a familial relationship, as creations cannot become Allah’s offspring.
When we say “my hand” or “my pen,” the possessive pronoun “my” has different implications. “My hand” implies that the hand is a part of oneself, while “my pen” indicates ownership. The Quran uses “My Spirit” in the latter sense, indicating that the spirit belongs to Allah but is not a part of Him.
The term “Spirit of Allah” means a spirit created by Allah and belonging to Him, not a fragment of His being. This clarification negates any interpretation suggesting Isa is a part of Allah or His son.
The Quran also refers to Prophet Adam as having Allah’s spirit in 15:29 and 38:72, yet Christians do not claim that Adam is the son of Allah. This reasoning applies equally to Isa.
Verse 3:59 explicitly states that the creation of Isa is akin to the creation of Adam. Both were created by Allah’s command, “Be,” and were brought into existence without a father.
Interpreting Ambiguous Terms:
To understand ambiguous phrases like these, one should refer to established interpretations. For a detailed explanation, see Note 86 in related tafsir (PJ Translation Quranic exegesis).