Tafsir al-Baghawi - Al-Baghawi - (2/313)

Tafsir al-BaghawiAl-Baghawi

“O People of the Book, do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not say anything about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word, which He conveyed 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 but One God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and Allah is sufficient as a Guardian. (171)”

“Indeed, those who disbelieve and commit wrongdoing”: It is said that the words “and commit wrongdoing”—although their wrongdoing lies in their disbelief—are added for emphasis. It is also said that the meaning is that they disbelieved in Allah and wronged Muhammad, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, by concealing his description. “Allah would never forgive them, nor would He guide them to any way”—that is, to the religion of Islam.

“Except the way of Hell”—that is, Judaism—“where they will abide forever. And that is easy for Allah.” This applies to those concerning whom the decree had already preceded that they would not believe.

“O people, the Messenger has come to you with the truth from your Lord, so believe; that is better for you.” Its implied meaning is: Believe, and faith will be better for you. “But if you disbelieve, then surely to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”

“O People of the Book, do not exceed the limits in your religion”: This was revealed concerning the Christians, who are of various sects: the Jacobites, the Melkites, the Nestorians, and the Marcosians. The Jacobites said, “Jesus is Allah,” and so did the Melkites. The Nestorians said, “Jesus is the son of Allah,” while the Marcosians said, “He is the third of three.” So Allah Most High revealed this verse. (1)

It is also said that the Melkites hold that Jesus is Allah, the Jacobites hold that he is the son of Allah, and the Nestorians hold that he is the third of three. They were taught this by a Jewish man called Paul. This will be discussed in Surah al-Tawbah, if Allah Most High wills.

(1) Asbab al-Nuzul (Occasions of Revelation), by al-Wahidi, p. 218. For the Christian sects and their doctrines, see Lectures on Christianity, by Shaykh Muhammad Abu Zahrah, pp. 183-196.

﴿يَا أَهْلَ 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 إِنَّمَا اللَّهُ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ سُبْحَانَهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ وَكِيلًا (١٧١) ﴾ ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَظَلَمُوا﴾ قِيلَ: إِنَّمَا قَالَ "وَظَلَمُوا" -مَعَ أَنَّ ظُلْمَهُمْ بِكُفْرِهِمْ -تَأْكِيدًا، وَقِيلَ: مَعْنَاهُ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَظَلَمُوا مُحَمَّدًا ﷺ بِكِتْمَانِ نَعْتِهِ، ﴿لَمْ يَكُنِ اللَّهُ لِيَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ وَلَا لِيَهْدِيَهُمْ طَرِيقًا﴾ يَعْنِي: دِينَ الْإِسْلَامِ. ﴿إِلَّا طَرِيقَ جَهَنَّمَ﴾ يَعْنِي الْيَهُودِيَّةَ، ﴿خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرًا﴾ وَهَذَا فِي حَقِّ مَنْ سَبَقَ حُكْمُهُ فِيهِمْ أَنَّهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ. ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَكُمُ الرَّسُولُ بِالْحَقِّ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ فَآمِنُوا خَيْرًا لَكُمْ﴾ تَقْدِيرُهُ: فَآمِنُوا يَكُنِ الْإِيمَانُ خَيْرًا لَكُمْ، ﴿وَإِنْ تَكْفُرُوا فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا﴾ ﴿يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ﴾ نَزَلَتْ فِي النَّصَارَى وَهُمْ أَصْنَافٌ: الْيَعْقُوبِيَّةُ وَالْمَلْكَانِيَّةُ والنُّسْطُورِيَّةُ وَالْمَرْقُوسِيَّةُ فَقَالَتِ الْيَعْقُوبِيَّةُ: عِيسَى هُوَ اللَّهُ، وَكَذَلِكَ الْمَلْكَانِيَّةُ، وَقَالَتِ النُّسْطُورِيَّةُ: عِيسَى هُوَ ابْنُ اللَّهِ، وَقَالَتِ: الْمَرْقُوسِيَّةُ ثَالِثُ ثَلَاثَةٍ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ (١) . وَيُقَالُ الْمَلْكَانِيَّةُ يَقُولُونَ: عِيسَى هُوَ اللَّهُ، وَالْيَعْقُوبِيَّةُ يَقُولُونَ: ابْنُ اللَّهِ، والنُّسْطُورِيَّةُ يَقُولُونَ: ثَالِثُ ثَلَاثَةٍ. عَلَّمَهُمْ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ يُقَالُ لَهُ بَوْلَسُ، سَيَأْتِي فِي سُورَةِ التَّوْبَةِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى.

(١) أسباب النزول للواحدي ص (٢١٨) . وعن فرق النصارى ومذاهبها انظر: محاضرات في النصرانية للشيخ محمد أبو زهرة ص (١٨٣ - ١٩٦) .