The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 391
PT. 7 R. 16. AL-MĀ'IDAH CH. 5 وَإِذْ قَالَ اللهُ يُعِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأَنتَ And when Allah will say. 117 “O Jesus, son of Mary, didst قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ الْهَيْنِ thou say to men, Take me and مِنْ دُونِ اللهِ قَالَ سُبْحَنَ مَا يَكُونُ my mother for two gods beside Allah?", he will answer, "Holy لِي أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقِّ إِنْ art Thou. I could never say that to which I had no right. If I had have كُنْتُ قُلْتُهُ فَقَدْ عَلِمْتَه تَعْلَمُ مَا في said it, Thou would نَفْسِي وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ إِنَّكَ surely known it. Thou knowest انْتَ عَلامُ الْغُيُوبِ what is in my mind, and I know not what is in Thy mind. "It is only Thou Who art the Knower of hidden things. 744 descending from on high. a5:110; 9:78; 34:49. The punishment referred to in the verse is the same as is mentioned in 19:91. Christians did "disbelieve afterwards" and the threatened punishment has already made its appearance. The last and the present World War, along with their repercussions, constitute one phase of the fulfilment of this prophecy, and God knows what dreadful forms the fulfilment of this great prophecy is decreed to take in future and what dire visitations are yet in store for Christians in this world and in the next. 744. Important Words: The words (I could not) may be interpreted in various ways, such as, it was not fitting or proper for me to do so; or it did not behove me; or it was beyond my power or position; or it was 831 impossible for me; or I had no right to do so, etc. See also 3:80. or (mind) means, among other things, knowledge; purpose intention (Lane). See also 3:29. Commentary: The expression, Holy art Thou, besides hinting that it is only God Who is free from error, embodies a beautiful reply on the part of Jesus to the question put to him by God in the words, didst thou say to men, 'Take me and my mother for two gods', which seemed to imply a sort of reproach and an expression of displeasure. The reply of Jesus appears to be something like this: "I was only a humble Messenger, O God, therefore I could not ask men to take me and my mother as gods beside Thee, for if I had done so, that would have been a reflection on Thee