union could be conceived only in this fashion; yet its falsity is manifest to every sound mind. If, therefore, such an absurdity necessarily follows from the Christians’ doctrine—and its absurdity is self-evident—then the falsity of the consequence proves the falsity of the premise. For the essence of that doctrine is that the very one who ate and drank, who urinated and defecated, who was struck, spat upon, and crowned with thorns, is the Lord of all worlds.

The mere conception of this claim is enough to know its invalidity, to declare Allah far above it, and to realize that whoever utters it is among the greatest liars against Allah. The Exalted said:

“And they say, ‘The Most Merciful has taken a child.’” ⦗19:88⦘ (88)

“You have indeed brought forth a monstrous thing!” ⦗19:89⦘ (89)

“At it the heavens are almost rent asunder, the earth split open, and the mountains collapse in ruins” ⦗19:90⦘ (90)

“that they should ascribe a child to the Most Merciful.” ⦗19:91⦘ (91)

“It is not befitting to the Most Merciful that He should take a child.” ⦗19:92⦘ (92)

“There is none in the heavens and the earth but will come to the Most Merciful as a servant.” ⦗19:93⦘ (93)

“He has enumerated them and counted them precisely.” ⦗19:94⦘ (94)

“And each one of them will come to Him on the Day of Resurrection alone.” ⦗19:95⦘ (95)

Fifth Approach: Their claim that Christ addressed the people just as Allah addressed Moses from the bush entails that those whom Christ spoke to—whether believers or unbelievers—are placed on the same level as Moses son of ʿImrān, to whom Allah spoke directly. Yet it is well known that Allah’s direct speech to Moses, peace be upon him, is one of the distinctions by which He favored him over the other prophets. If any ordinary person were put on a par with Moses son of ʿImrān in this regard, it would follow that every ordinary person would share Moses’ rank—something whose falsehood is necessarily known in the religion of the messengers.