Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-Masīh - Ibn Taimiya - (3/454)

Section: The Torah verse, “He said to me, ‘You are My son; today I have begotten you.’”

They say:

“We cite, fourthly, that He said in the second Psalm:

‘He said to me: You are My son; today I have begotten you.’”

The reply has several aspects:

First: The verse does not label any of God’s attributes—such as His knowledge or His life—as “son,” nor does it mention the three hypostases. Consequently, it furnishes no proof whatsoever for what you claim.

Second: The text actually refutes them, for God there called David His “son.” It is therefore evident that the title “son” is not exclusive to the Messiah, peace be upon him; rather, He has applied it to other servants as well. Thus the term “son” is not a designation for any divine attribute, but for one whom God has reared and favored among His servants.

[فَصْلٌ: قَوْلُهُ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ الَّذِي قَالَ لِي أَنْتَ ابْنِي وَأَنَا الْيَوْمَ وَلَدْتُكَ] قَالُوا: نَذْكُرُ رَابِعًا، وَقَالَ فِي الْمَزْمُورِ الثَّانِي: (الَّذِي قَالَ لِي: أَنْتَ ابْنِي وَأَنَا الْيَوْمَ وَلَدْتُكَ) . وَالْجَوَابُ مِنْ وُجُوهٍ: أَحَدُهَا: أَنَّ هَذَا لَيْسَ فِيهِ تَسْمِيَةُ صِفَاتِ اللَّهِ - عِلْمِهِ وَحَيَاتِهِ - ابْنًا، وَلَا فِيهِ ذِكْرُ الْأَقَانِيمِ الثَّلَاثَةِ، فَلَيْسَ فِيهِ حُجَّةٌ لِشَيْءٍ مِمَّا تَدَّعُونَهُ. وَالثَّانِي: أَنَّ هَذَا حُجَّةٌ عَلَيْهِم، فَإِنَّهُ هُوَ سَمَّى دَاوُدَ ابْنَهُ، فَعُلِمَ أَنَّ اسْمَ الِابْنِ لَيْسَ مُخْتَصًّا بِالْمَسِيحِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، بَلْ سَمَّى غَيْرَهُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ابْنًا، فَعُلِمَ أَنَّ اسْمَ الِابْنِ لَيْسَ اسْمًا لِصِفَاتِهِ، بَلْ هُوَ اسْمٌ لِمَنْ رَبَّاهُ مِنْ عَبِيدِهِ.