Al-Mulakhkhas fi Sharh Kitab al-Tawhid - Salih Al-Fawzan - (64)

And His statement, the Exalted: “They have taken their rabbis and monks as lords instead of Allah—together with the Messiah, son of Mary—yet they were commanded to worship none but one God. There is no deity but Him. Transcendent is He above what they associate with Him.” [al-Tawbah: 31] (1)

— Ittakhadhū (they took): that is, the Jews and Christians made.
— Aḥbārahum (their rabbis): their scholars.
— Ruhbānahum (their monks): their ascetics and worshippers.
— Arbāban (as lords): meaning as legislators who declare things lawful and unlawful; legislation is a prerogative of the Lord alone, so whoever obeys a created being in this matter has taken him as a lord.
— Al-Masīḥ ibn Maryam (the Messiah, son of Mary): they likewise took Jesus, peace be upon him, as a lord by worshipping him.
— Subḥānahu ʿammā yushrikūn (Exalted is He above what they associate): Allah is far removed and sanctified from partners or equals.

Overall meaning of the verse: Allah, glorified be He, informs about the Jews and the Christians—

(1) The Messenger of Allah explained this verse to Adi ibn Hatim when he came to him and heard him reciting it. Adi said, “They did not worship them!” The Messenger of Allah replied, “Rather, they forbade for them what was lawful and made lawful for them what was forbidden, and they followed them; that was their worship of them.” Recorded by al-Tirmidhi, no. 3094; it is a hasan (sound) hadith. Also recorded by Ibn Abi Shaybah in his Musannaf, 7:167, no. 34925.

وقوله تعالى: ﴿اتَّخَذُواْ أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا أُمِرُواْ إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُواْ إِلَهًا وَاحِدًا لاَّ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ﴾ [التوبة: ٣١] (١) . ــ اتخذوا: أي جعل اليهود النصارى. أحبارهم: أي علماءهم. ورهبانهم: أي عبّادهم. أرباباً: أي مشرِّعين لهم يحلِّلون ويحرِّمون؛ لأن التشريع من خصائص الرب فمن أطاع مخلوقاً فيه فقد اتخذه رباً. والمسيح ابن مريم: أي واتخذوا عيسى ﵇ رباً بعبادتهم له. سبحانه عما يشركون: أي تنزه الله تعالى وتقدّس عن الشركاء والنُّظراء. المعنى الإجمالي للآية: يخبر الله سبحانه عن اليهود والنصارى

(١) فقد فسَّر هذه الآية رسول الله ﷺ لعدي بن حاتم عندما دخل على رسول الله ﷺ فسمعه يقرأ هذه الآية، فقال عدي: إنهم لم يعبدوهم؟! فقال رسول الله ﷺ: "بلى إنهم حرّموا عليهم الحلال وحلّلوا لهم الحرام فاتبعوهم فذلك عبادتهم إياهم". أخرجه الترمذي برقم (٣٠٩٤) وهو حديث حسن. وابن أبي شيبة في مصنفه (٧/١٦٧ رقم ٣٤٩٢٥) .