Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:72

The Disbelief of the Christians; `Isa Only called to Tawhid

Allah states that the Christians such sects as Monarchite, Jacobite and Nestorite are disbelievers, those among them who say that `Isa is Allah. Allah is far holier than what they attribute to Him. They made this claim in spite of the fact that `Isa made it known that he was the servant of Allah and His Messenger. The first words that `Isa uttered when he was still a baby in the cradle were, "I am `Abdullah (the servant of Allah)." He did not say, "I am Allah," or, "I am the son of Allah." Rather, he said,

(Verily, I am a servant of Allah, He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet.) until he said,

("And verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So worship Him (Alone). That is the straight path.") He also proclaimed to them when he was a man, after he was sent as a Prophet, commanding them to worship his Lord and their Lord, alone without partners,

(But the Messiah said, "O Children of Israel! worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Verily, whosoever sets up partners with Allah...) in worship;

(. ..then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode.) as He will send him to the Fire and forbid Paradise for him. Allah also said;

(Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills.) and,

(And the dwellers of the Fire will call to the dwellers of Paradise; "Pour on us some water or anything that Allah has provide you with." They will say: "Allah has forbidden both to the disbelievers.") It is recorded in the Sahih that the Prophet had someone proclaim to the people,

(Only a Muslim soul shall enter Paradise.) In another narration,

(Only a believing soul...) This is why Allah said that `Isa said to the Children of Israel,

(Verily, whosoever sets up partners with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode. And there are no helpers for the wrongdoers.) There is no help from Allah, nor anyone who will support or protect them from the state they will be in. Allah's statement,

(Surely, they have disbelieved who say: "Allah is the third of three.") Mujahid and several others said that this Ayah was revealed about the Christians in particular. As-Suddi and others said that this Ayah was revealed about taking `Isa and his mother as gods besides Allah, thus making Allah the third in a trinity. As-Suddi said, "This is similar to Allah's statement towards the end of the Surah,

(And (remember) when Allah will say: "O `Isa, son of Maryam! Did you say unto men: `Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah' He will say, "Glory be to You!")5:116. Allah replied,

(But there is no god but One God.) meaning there are not many worthy of worship but there is only One God without partners, and He is the Lord of all creation and all that exists. Allah said next, while threatening and admonishing them,

(And if they cease not from what they say, ) their lies and false claims,

(verily, a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them.) in the Hereafter, shackled and tormented. Allah said next,

(Will they not repent to Allah and ask His Forgiveness For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) This demonstrates Allah's generosity, kindness and mercy for His creatures, even though they committed this grave sin and invented such a lie and false allegation. Despite all of this, Allah calls them to repent so that He will forgive them, for Allah forgives those who sincerely repent to Him.

`Isa is Allah's Servant and His Mother is a Truthful Believer

Allah said,

(The Messiah, son of Maryam, was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him.) `Isa is just like the previous Prophets, and he is one of the servants of Allah and one of His honorable Messengers. Allah said in another Ayah,

(He `Isa was not more than a servant. We granted Our favor to him, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel.) Allah said next,

(His mother was a Siddiqah) for she believed in Allah with complete trust in Him. This is the highest rank she was given, which proves that she was not a Prophet. Allah said next,

(They both used to eat food) needing nourishment and to relieve the call of nature. Therefore, they are just servants like other servants, not gods as ignorant Christian sects claim, may Allah's continued curses cover them until the Day of Resurrection. Allah said next,

(Look how We make the Ayat clear to them. ) making them unequivocal and plain,

(yet look how they are deluded away (from the truth).) look at the opinions, misguided ideas, and claims they cling to, even after Our clarification and plain, unequivocal explanation.

Allah menegaskan dengan sesungguhnya bahwa orang Nasrani adalah orang-orang kafir karena mereka berkeyakinan bahwa Allah adalah Isa Almasih anak Maryam. Pendirian inilah yang menjadikan mereka itu kafir dan sesat, karena mereka berlebih-lebihan memuji Isa a.s, sebagaimana orang Yahudi keterlaluan pula menghina Isa, terutama terhadap Maryam. Pendirian orang-orang Nasrani terhadap nabi Isa a.s. tersebut adalah suatu pendirian yang dianut oleh mayoritas golongan Nasrani dan siapa saja di antara mereka yang menyimpang dari pendirian tersebut dianggap murtad. Orang-orang Nasrani berpendirian bahwa Tuhan itu terdiri dari unsur-unsur yang mereka namakan tiga oknum, yaitu Bapak, Putra dan Rohulkudus. Isa adalah putra, Allah adalah Bapak yang menjelma pada anak yang merupakan Rohulkudus dan mereka adalah tiga kesatuan yang tidak terpisah-pisah. Dengan demikian Allah itu adalah Isa dan Isa itu adalah Allah. Pendirian mereka ini sangat menyimpang dari kebenaran, karena Isa sendiri berkata kepada Bani Israil supaya mereka menyembah Allah yaitu Tuhan bagi Isa dan Tuhan bagi Bani Israil. Jadi ayat ini jelas menunjukkan pengakuan langsung dari Isa bahwa Tuhan yang disembah itu adalah Allah semata. Tegasnya seruan-seruan Nabi Isa kepada Bani lsrail seperti yang diterangkan oleh ayat ini untuk menegaskan agama Tauhid. Hal itu dapat dilihat di dalam kitab-kitab Injil yang asli. Dalam Perjanjian Baru, Markus xii. 28-30, ketika seorang ahli Taurat bertanya kepada Yesus, "Hukum yang terutama ialah : Dengarlah, hai orang Israel, Tuhan Allah kita, Tuhan itu Esa. Kasihilah Tuhan, Allahmu dengan segenap hatimu dan dengan segenap kekuatanmu." Begitu juga Matius iv.10, Yesus memarahi setan karena mau menyembah yang selain Allah, Lukas xviii. 19 dan Yohanes xx.17.

Selanjutnya Allah menerangkan bahwa Isa dengan tegas berkata bahwa orang-orang yang mempersekutukan Allah dengan sesuatu baik dengan malaikat atau dengan bintang atau dengan batu, maka orang itu tidak akan mendapat surga dan tempatnya adalah di dalam neraka, karena orang yang mempersekutukan Allah itu adalah orang yang berbuat zalim kepada diri mereka itu sendiri yang karenanya tidak wajar mendapat pembelaan dari pertolongan Allah.