Refutation of the Church’s quoting the Qur’aan to prove that ‘Eesa is the “son of God”
Question

                I read that the Church quotes some verses of the Qur’aan to prove that ‘Eesa (peace be upon him) is the “son of God.” Their evidence is that when Allaah was alone He said, “Verily, I am Allaah! Laa ilaaha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I)” [Ta-Ha 20:14 – interpretation of the meaning], in the singular; but when He created ‘Eesa the style used in some verses changed to the plural, as in the verses (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’aan)” [al-Hijr 15:9] and “And certainly We! We it is Who give life, and cause death” [al-Hijr 15:23]. And they say, God is speaking in the plural, i.e., in the sense of “God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit”.
Praise be to Allah.
    The variation in style in the Qur’aan, and the fact that 
    Allaah sometimes speaks of Himself in the singular and sometimes in a plural 
    form used by way of respect, does not prove that ‘Eesa (peace be upon him) 
    is the son of God, or that he is divine. This is for a number of reasons: 

    -1- 

    The variation in styles used in the Qur’aan, both singular 
    and plural, occurs with reference to events that took place thousands of 
    years before the creation of ‘Eesa (peace be upon him) and his mother Maryam 
    (Mary), and when they were created and after that. Their existence has no 
    effect on the variation in styles, rather that is due to another reason 
    which may be explained as follows: 

    Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “And indeed, We created man from dried (sounding) clay of 
    altered mud.
 And the jinn, We created aforetime from the smokeless 
    flame of fire”

    [al-Hijr 15:26]

    “And (remember) when We said to the angels: ‘Prostrate 
    yourselves unto Adam.’ So they prostrated themselves except Iblees (Satan). 
    He was one of the jinn; he disobeyed the Command of his Lord. Will you then 
    take him (Iblees) and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me 
    while they are enemies to you?”

    [al-Kahf 18:50]

    The style used (singular vs. plural) varied before ‘Eesa and 
    his mother (peace be upon them both) existed. Allaah said: 

    “Verily, We did send down the Tawraat (Torah) [to Moosa 
    (Moses)], therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, who 
    submitted themselves to Allaah’s Will, judged for the Jews. And the rabbis 
    and the priests [too judged for the Jews by the Tawraat (Torah) after those 
    Prophets], for to them was entrusted the protection of Allaah’s Book, and 
    they were witnesses thereto. Therefore fear not men but fear Me (O Jews) and 
    sell not My Verses for a miserable price. And whosoever does not judge by 
    what Allaah has revealed, such are the Kaafiroon (i.e. disbelievers — of a 
    lesser degree as they do not act on Allaah’s Laws).

    And We ordained therein for them: Life for life…

    And in their footsteps, We sent ‘Eesa (Jesus), son of 
    Maryam (Mary), confirming the Tawraat (Torah) that had come before him, and 
    We gave him the Injeel (Gospel)…

    And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (this 
    Qur’aan) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and Muhaymin 
    (trustworthy in highness and a witness) over it (old Scriptures)”

    [al-Maa'idah 5:44-48]

    “Verily, We sent Nooh (Noah) to his people”

    [Nooh 71:1]

    And Allaah said concerning His Khaleel (Close Friend) 
    Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “So when he had turned away from them and from those whom 
    they worshipped besides Allaah, We gave him Ishaaq (Isaac) and Ya’qoob 
    (Jacob), and each one of them We made a Prophet.

    And We gave them of Our Mercy (a good provision in 
    plenty), and We granted them honour on the tongues (of all the nations, i.e. 
    everybody remembers them with a good praise)”

    [Maryam 19:49-50]

    And He said concerning Moosa (peace be upon him) 
    (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “and made him draw near to Us for a talk with him [Moosa 
    (Moses)].

    And We granted him his brother Haaroon (Aaron), (also) a 
    Prophet, out of Our Mercy”

    [Maryam 19:52-53]

    And He said (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “Verily, We have sent the Revelation to you (O Muhammad) 
    as We sent the Revelation to Nooh (Noah) and the Prophets after him…”

    [al-Nisa’ 4:163] 

    “And she who guarded her chastity [Virgin Maryam (Mary)], 
    We breathed into (the sleeves of) her (shirt or garment) [through Our Rooh — 
    Jibreel (Gabriel)], and We made her and her son [‘Eesa (Jesus)] a sign for 
    Al-‘Aalameen (the mankind and jinn)”

    [al-Anbiya’ 21:91] 

    “(Remember) when Allaah will say (on the Day of 
    Resurrection). O ‘Eesa (Jesus), son of 
    Maryam (Mary)! Remember My Favour to you and to your mother”

    [al-Maa'idah 5:110]

    And there are many other verses in which the style varies 
    between singular and plural, where the verses speak of the creation of 
    ‘Eesa, or Allaah’s words to him, and before he was created. From this it is 
    clear that the style did not change after the creation of ‘Eesa (peace be 
    upon him) as a sign that he is the “son of God” or that he is “divine”, 
    rather it is for another reason as we shall see below. 

    -2- 

    Everyone who knows the Arabic language and its styles will 
    know that the pronoun Ana (I) and the first person is used in the singular 
    when speaking of oneself. The first person plural Nahnu (we) is used to 
    refer to two or more. But it may be used by an individual of high standing 
    as a sign of his greatness, and the context and circumstances help the 
    reader or listener to understand what is meant. Whoever disagrees with that 
    is either ignorant and does not know what he is talking about or he is 
    stubborn and wants to twist the meaning of the words, following his whims 
    and desires. But Allaah will establish and make apparent the truth by His 
    Words, however much the sinners hate that [cf. Yoonus 10:82]. This will be 
    explained further below. 

    -3- 

     The Qur’aan is a Book the Verses whereof are perfected (in 
    every sphere of knowledge), and then explained in detail from One (Allaah), 
    Who is All-Wise Well-Acquainted (with all things) [cf. Hood 11:1] and 
    Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it, (it is) sent down 
    by the All‑Wise, Worthy of all praise 
    (Allaah) [cf. Fussilat 41:42]. Parts of it explain and confirm other 
    parts. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “And they say: ‘The Most Gracious (Allaah) has begotten a son 
    (or offspring or children) [as the Jews say: ‘Uzayr (Ezra) is the son of 
    Allaah, and the Christians say that He has begotten a son [‘Eesa (Jesus)], 
    and the pagan Arabs say that He has begotten daughters (angels and 
    others)].’

    Indeed you have brought 
    forth (said) a terrible evil thing.

    Whereby the heavens are 
    almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in 
    ruins,

    That they ascribe a son 
    (or offspring or children) to the Most Gracious (Allaah).

    But it is not suitable 
    for (the Majesty of) the Most Gracious (Allaah) that He should beget a son 
    (or offspring or children).

    There is none in the 
    heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Gracious (Allaah) as a slave”

    [Maryam 19:88-93]

    “Say (O Muhammad): He 
    is Allaah, (the) One. 

    Allaah‑us‑Samad [Allaah 
    — the Self‑Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor 
    drinks)].

    He begets not, nor was 
    He begotten. 

    And there is none 
    co‑equal or comparable unto Him”

    [al-Ikhlaas 112:1-4] 

    “Verily, the likeness 
    of ‘Eesa (Jesus) before Allaah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from 
    dust, then (He) said to him: ‘Be!’ — and he was”

    [Aal ‘Imraan 3:59]

    So whoever believes in Him must study the verses of the 
    Qur’aan in the light of one another, not in isolation, the one who quotes 
    from Qur’aan should be fair in his quotation. He should not quote verses and 
    turn away from others, and he should not confuse truth with falsehood or use 
    some verses against others in order to promote falsehood, as our 
    predecessors the Jews did with the Torah, for which Allaah denounced them 
    when He said (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “Then do you believe in 
    a part of the Scripture and reject the rest? Then what is the recompense of 
    those who do so among you, except disgrace in the life of this world, and on 
    the Day of Resurrection they shall be consigned to the most grievous 
    torment. And Allaah is not unaware of what you do”

    [al-Baqarah 2:85] 

    Based on this, those who quote the Qur’aan as evidence should 
    accept its evidence that ‘Eesa (peace be upon him) is not the “son of God” 
    and that he is not divine along with God, and they should affirm the Oneness 
    of God, because of what is mentioned in its verses, and because Allaah says 
    (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “Surely, they have 
    disbelieved who say: ‘Allaah is the Messiah [‘Eesa (Jesus)], son of Maryam 
    (Mary).’ But the Messiah [‘Eesa (Jesus)] said: ‘O Children of Israel! 
    Worship Allaah, my Lord and your Lord.’ Verily, whosoever sets up partners 
    (in worship) with Allaah, then Allaah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the 
    Fire will be his abode. And for the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) 
    there are no helpers.

    Surely, disbelievers 
    are those who said: ‘Allaah is the third of the three (in a Trinity)’”

    [al-Maa'idah 5:17]

    And there are many similar verses in the Qur’aan. 

    Otherwise they should stop playing with the words, because 
    that will only lead them to shame and will make the wise laugh at them in 
    derision.