Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-Masīh - Ibn Taimiya - (2/15)

the Maryamiyyūn, who claim that Mary is a deity and that Jesus is a deity.

As for the first interpretation, it is indeed conceivable, for the Christians who are united upon the Creed all maintain that Allah is the third of three. Yet Allah, exalted is He, has forbidden them to say that, declaring:

“O People of the Scripture, do not exaggerate in your religion, nor say about Allah anything but the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a 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; that is better for you.” (4:171)

In this verse He, glorified be He, mentions both the trinity and the doctrine of union, forbids them, and makes clear that the Messiah is nothing but a messenger of Allah, His word that He conveyed to Mary, and a spirit from Him. He also says:

“So believe in Allah and His messengers” (4:171),

and then:

“And do not say, ‘Three.’ Cease; that will be better for you.” (4:171)

الْمَرْيَمِيُّونَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ مَرْيَمَ إِلَهٌ وَإِنَّ عِيسَى إِلَهٌ. وَأَمَّا الْأَوَّلُ فَمُتَوَجَّهٌ، فَإِنَّ النَّصَارَى الْمُتَّفِقِينَ عَلَى الْأَمَانَةِ كُلَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَاثَةٍ وَاللَّهُ تَعَالَى قَدْ نَهَاهُمْ عَنْ أَنْ يَقُولُوا ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ - تَعَالَى -: {يَاأَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْحَقَّ إِنَّمَا الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَى مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِنْهُ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَلَا تَقُولُوا ثَلَاثَةٌ انْتَهُوا خَيْرًا لَكُمْ} [النساء: ١٧١] فَذَكَرَ سُبْحَانَهُ فِي هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ التَّثْلِيثَ وَالِاتِّحَادَ وَنَهَاهُمْ عَنْهُمَا وَبَيَّنَ أَنَّ الْمَسِيحَ إِنَّمَا هُوَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَى مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِنْهُ. وَقَالَ: {فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ} [النساء: ١٧١] ثُمَّ قَالَ {وَلَا تَقُولُوا ثَلَاثَةٌ انْتَهُوا خَيْرًا لَكُمْ} [النساء: ١٧١]