their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allah, and the Messiah, son of Mary.” He has stated that this imitates the words of those who disbelieved before them.
It has been said that these were their own predecessors. It has also been said that they were the Arab polytheists. Both interpretations are open to question: the Arab polytheists who said this did not precede the Jews and Christians, while their own predecessors belonged to those same communities. Perhaps, then, the reference is to the polytheistic Sabians who lived before Moses and the Messiah in Syria, Egypt, and elsewhere, and who regarded the angels as His offspring, as we shall explain.
He, Most High, says:
“They attribute to Allah what they themselves dislike, and their tongues falsely claim that the best is theirs.”
This refers to the claim of those Arabs who said that the angels were Allah’s daughters.
He, Most High, says:
“They assign to what they do not know a share of what We have provided for them. By Allah, you will surely be questioned about what you used to fabricate.”
“They attribute daughters to Allah—glory be to Him—while they have what they desire.”
“When one of them is given news of a daughter, his face darkens, and he is choked with grief.”
“He hides from his people because of the bad news he has received. Should he keep her in humiliation or bury her in the dust? Evil indeed is their judgment!”
“To those who do not believe in the Hereafter belongs the description of evil, while to Allah belongs the highest description. He is the Almighty, the All-Wise.”
He, Most High, says:
“Yet they have made some of His servants a part of Him. Indeed, man is clearly ungrateful.”
“Or has He taken daughters from among those He creates and favored you with sons?”
“When one of them is given news of what he attributes to the Most Merciful, his face darkens, and he is choked with grief.”
“Or one brought up amid ornaments, unable to argue clearly in a dispute?”
“They have made the angels, who are servants of the Most Merciful, females. Did they witness their creation? Their testimony will be recorded, and they will be questioned.”