So these are three Qur’an verses that make clear He said to him,

“kun fa-yakūn” (Be! and he is),

and this explains why he is described as “a word from Him.”

He also said, “His name will be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary,” informing us that he is the son of Mary, that he is held in honor in this world and the Hereafter, and that he is among those brought near. All of these are attributes of a created being, whereas none of them can be said of Allah—exalted is He—or of His speech, which is His attribute.

Mary said, “How can I have a child…?” Thus He clarified that the Messiah, who is the Word, is the son of Mary, not the son of Allah, glorified and exalted.

In the chapter al-Nisāʾ He says:

“People of the Scripture, do not go to excess in your religion and do not say anything about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, is only the messenger of Allah, His word that He cast to Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and do not say, ‘Three.’ Desist—it is better for you. Allah is only one God. Glory be to Him—far above having a son! To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth, and Allah suffices as Guardian. The Messiah would never disdain to be a servant of Allah, nor would the angels who are brought near. Whoever disdains His worship and grows arrogant, He will gather them all to Himself. As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, He will grant them their rewards in full and increase them out of His bounty. But those who disdain and grow arrogant—He will punish them with a painful punishment, and they will find for themselves no protector or helper apart from Allah.” ⦗al-Nisāʾ 4:171–173⦘

Thus, He forbade the Christians to be extreme in their religion or to speak of Allah anything but the truth, and He made clear that the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, is the messenger of Allah and His word that He cast to