that inhere in Him—“a child,” “a son,” or something “begotten”—is simply unknown in any of the recognized languages of humankind.

A man may, of course, adopt another person’s child, treating him as his own and granting him the standing of a true son even though the boy was not born of him. This was the practice of the Arabs and other peoples in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance. For that very reason Allah, exalted is He, has declared Himself utterly transcendent above both begetting and adopting a child, saying:

“Indeed, it is from their fabrication that they say, ‘Allah has begotten a son,’ and they are truly liars” (Ṣāffāt 37:151).

He also says:

“They ascribe to Allah partners from among the jinn—though He created them—and they invent for Him sons and daughters without any knowledge. Glorified and exalted is He above what they attribute to Him! Originator of the heavens and the earth—how could He have a child when He has no consort? He created everything, and He is, of all things, All-Knowing” (Anʿām 6:100–101).

And He says:

“He neither begets nor is begotten, and there is none comparable to Him” (Ikhlāṣ 112:3–4).

As for the notion of ‘taking’ a child, the Qur’an negates it in numerous passages, such as His words:

“Say, ‘Praise be to Allah, who has never taken a child and who has no partner in sovereignty’” (Isrāʾ 17:111),

and His saying: