when they came to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), said, ‘O Muhammad, have you not mentioned our companion?’ He asked, ‘Who is your companion?’ They replied, ‘Jesus.’ He said, ‘What should I say of him? He is Allah’s servant.’ They said, ‘Rather, he is Allah.’ He replied, ‘It is no disgrace for him to be a servant of Allah.’ They said, ‘Yes, it is.’ So Allah revealed this verse.”

In both Sahīh collections, the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is reported to have said:

“No one is more patient than Allah with the offensive things he hears: they ascribe to Him a child and a partner, yet He grants them well-being and provides for them.”

It is also reported in both Sahīh collections that he said:

“Allah says: ‘The son of Adam insults Me, though he has no right to do so, and the son of Adam calls Me a liar, though he has no right to do so. His insult against Me is his claim that I have taken a child, whereas I am the One, the Self-Sufficient, who neither begets nor was begotten, and none is equal to Me. His calling Me a liar is his statement, “He will not bring me back as He first created me,” although creating him the first time is no easier for Me than bringing him back.’”

Mu‘ādh ibn Jabal used to say of the Christians: “Do not show them mercy, for they have insulted Allah as no other human beings have.”

These people disparage the Creator, yet resent a created being being described as he deserves. They regard this as disparaging him, whereas it merely gives him his due and lowers him from the rank of divinity, which none but Allah deserves. Such is also the condition of those who resemble them in certain respects.

Another is his assumption that any act of devotion may be pursued by any means.