(17, 18) “Those who say, ‘Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary,’ have certainly disbelieved. Say, ‘Who could prevent Allah in the least if He intended to destroy the Messiah, son of Mary, his mother, and everyone on earth? To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them. He creates whatever He wills, and Allah has power over all things.’”

After Allah Most High mentioned the covenant He had taken from the people of the two scriptures, and that they had failed to uphold it and had instead broken it, He mentioned their heinous statements.

He first mentioned the Christians’ statement—a statement made by no one else—that Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary. The basis of their specious argument was that he had been born without a father, and so they adopted this false belief concerning him. Yet Eve was analogous to him, for she was created without a mother, while Adam presented an even stronger case, having been created without either father or mother. Why, then, did they not claim divinity for both of them as they did for the Messiah?

This demonstrates that their statement was merely the pursuit of desire, unsupported by any proof or even plausible argument. Allah therefore refuted them with clear rational evidence, saying: “Say, ‘Who could prevent Allah in the least if He intended to destroy the Messiah, son of Mary, his mother, and everyone on earth?’”

Since those mentioned have no power of resistance that could protect them if Allah intended to destroy them, ⦗227⦘ nor any ability to avert it, this demonstrates the falsity of ascribing divinity to one who cannot withstand destruction and has no power whatsoever to escape it.

Another proof is that the “dominion of the heavens and the earth” belongs to “Allah” alone. He governs all within them through His decree governing creation, His revealed law, and His judgment of recompense, while they themselves are owned and governed. How, then, could an owned, needy servant fittingly be a deity who is worshipped and self-sufficient in every respect? This is among the greatest impossibilities.

There is no reason for them to find it remarkable that the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was created without a father, for Allah “creates whatever He wills.” If He wills, He creates from a father and mother, as with the rest of Adam’s descendants; if He wills, from a father without a mother, as with Eve; if He wills, from a mother without a father, as with Jesus; and if He wills, without either father or mother, [as with Adam] (1).