Quran Issues:
The Christian Trinity
Question: Does the Quran present the Christian Trinity as God, Jesus and Mary?
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Overview
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Christians are addressed in the Quran and warned not to say 'Three' when speaking about God (4:171). However, the Quran makes a fundamental error when specifying the 'Three' that Christians apparently believe in. According to the Quran (5:72-77 & 5:116-118), Christians have falsely elevated Jesus and Mary as two gods alongside God (hence the 'Three' - God, Jesus and Mary). This is incorrect from a Christian perspective. The 'Three' Persons of the Christian Trinity are (and always have been) ‘Father, Son and Holy Spirit’ and not ‘God, Jesus and Mary’. It should be noted that Ibn Abbas (Tafsir - Quran 4:171), Ibn Kathir (Tafsir - Quran 4:171) and Al-Jalalayn (Tafsir - Quran 4:171) say that the 'Three' being referred to in Quran 4:171 are God, Jesus and Mary. This means that the Quran has either purposefully misrepresented the Christian Trinity or accidentally misunderstood it, either of which is problematic and challenges the authenticity of the Quran as a revelation from God.
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It is likely that Muhammad misunderstood phrases like 'Son of God' when applied to Jesus and 'Mother of God' when applied to Mary, and wrongly thought that Christians had elevated Jesus and Mary to be gods alongside Allah. Several factors support this. Firstly, the Quran never mentions the worship of the Holy Spirit in connection with Christians. In other words, false worship is applied to Jesus and Mary when criticising Christianity and not to the Holy Spirit as the Third Person of the Trinity. The Quran seems unaware that Christians worship the Holy Spirit. Secondly, the Quran apparently denies the idea that God fathered a son through Mary. For instance, Ibn Abbas (Tafsir - Quran 4:171), Ibn Kathir (Tafsir - Quran 4:171) and Al-Jalalayn (Tafsir - Quran 4:171) all state that the 'Three' of Quran 4:171 are God, Jesus and Mary, and Ibn Abbas labels them as son, father and wife from a Christian perspective. In addition, Ibn Kathir quotes other passages in the Quran (6:101 & 19:88-95) when explaining Quran 4:171 to reinforce the idea that God has no son or wife. The flaw is that this is not what Christians believe. Christians do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God physically or that God had relations with Mary or that worship should be given to God, Jesus and Mary as a trio of gods (father, son and wife/mother).
These considerations (the absence of the Holy Spirit when critiquing the Trinity and the inclusion of Mary when articulating the Trinity) highlight that the Quran has misunderstood what Christians believe when attempting to address Christian beliefs.​
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Quran Passages
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The Quran 4:171 (Sahih International)
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(171) O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.​
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The Quran 4:171 (Abdul Haleem)
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(171) People of the Book, do not go to excess in your religion, and do not say anything about God except the truth: the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was nothing more than a messenger of God, His word, directed to Mary, a spirit from Him. So believe in God and His messengers and do not speak of a ‘Trinity’ - stop [this], that is better for you - God is only one God, He is far above having a son, everything in the heavens and earth belongs to Him and He is the best one to trust.
The Quran 5:72-77 (Sahih International)
(72) They have certainly disbelieved who say, "Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary" while the Messiah has said, "O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Indeed, he who associates others with Allah - Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers. (73) They have certainly disbelieved who say, "Allah is the third of three." And there is no god except one God. And if they do not desist from what they are saying, there will surely afflict the disbelievers among them a painful punishment (74) So will they not repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (75) The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on before him. And his mother was a supporter of truth. They both used to eat food. Look how We make clear to them the signs; then look how they are deluded. (76) Say, "Do you worship besides Allah that which holds for you no [power of] harm or benefit while it is Allah who is the Hearing, the Knowing?" (77) Say, "O People of the Scripture, do not exceed limits in your religion beyond the truth and do not follow the inclinations of a people who had gone astray before and misled many and have strayed from the soundness of the way."​
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The Quran 5:72-77 (Abdul Haleem)
(72) Those who say, ‘God is the Messiah, son of Mary,’ have defied God. The Messiah himself said, ‘Children of Israel, worship God, my Lord and your Lord.’ If anyone associates others with God, God will forbid him from the Garden, and Hell will be his home. No one will help such evildoers. (73) Those people who say that God is the third of three are defying [the truth]: there is only One God. If they persist in what they are saying, a painful punishment will afflict those of them who persist. (74) Why do they not turn to God and ask His forgiveness, when God is most forgiving, most merciful? (75) The Messiah, son of Mary, was only a messenger; other messengers had come and gone before him; his mother was a virtuous woman; both ate food [like other mortals]. See how clear We make these signs for them; see how deluded they are. (76) Say, ‘How can you worship something other than God, that has no power to do you harm or good? God alone is the All Hearing and All Knowing.’ (77) Say, ‘People of the Book, do not overstep the bounds of truth in your religion and do not follow the whims of those who went astray before you - they led many others astray and themselves continue to stray from the even path.’
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The Quran 5:116-118 (Sahih International)
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(116) And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?'" He will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen. (117) I said not to them except what You commanded me - to worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them; but when You took me up, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things, Witness. (118) If You should punish them - indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them - indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
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The Quran 5:116-118 (Abdul Haleem)
(116) When God says, “Jesus, son of Mary, did you say to people, ‘Take me and my mother as two gods alongside God’?” he will say, “May You be exalted! I would never say what I had no right to say - if I had said such a thing You would have known it: You know all that is within me, though I do not know what is within You, You alone have full knowledge of things unseen - (117) I told them only what You commanded me to: ‘Worship God, my Lord and your Lord.’ I was a witness over them during my time among them. Ever since You took my soul, You alone have been the watcher over them: You are witness to all things (118) and if You punish them, they are Your servants; if You forgive them, You are the Almighty, the Wise.”
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The Quran 6:101 (Sahih International)
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(101) [He is] Originator of the heavens and the earth. How could He have a son when He does not have a companion and He created all things? And He is, of all things, Knowing.
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The Quran 6:101 (Abdul Haleem)
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(101) the Creator of the heavens and earth! How could He have children when He has no spouse, when He created all things, and has full knowledge of all things?
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The Quran 19:88-95 (Sahih International)
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(88) And they say, "The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son." (89) You have done an atrocious thing. (90) The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation (91) That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son. (92) And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son. (93) There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant. (94) He has enumerated them and counted them a [full] counting. (95) And all of them are coming to Him on the Day of Resurrection alone.​​​​​
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The Quran 19:88-95 (Abdul Haleem)
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(88) The disbelievers say, “The Lord of Mercy has offspring.” (89) How terrible is this thing you assert: (90) it almost causes the heavens to be torn apart, the earth to split asunder, the mountains to crumble to pieces, (91) that they attribute offspring to the Lord of Mercy. (92) It does not befit the Lord of Mercy [to have offspring]: (93) there is no one in the heavens or earth who will not come to the Lord of Mercy as a servant - (94) He has counted them all: He has numbered them exactly - (95) and they will each return to Him on the Day of Resurrection all alone.
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Tafsir Commentaries
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Ibn Abbas (Tafsir - Quran 4:171)
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Allah then revealed about the Nestorian Christians of Najran who claimed that Jesus was the son of Allah and that Jesus and the Lord are partners, saying: (O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate) do not be extreme (in your religion) for this is not the right course (nor utter aught concerning Allah save the Truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary) and through His word he became a created being, (and a spirit from Him) and through His command, Jesus became a son without a father. (So believe in Allah and His messengers) all the messengers including Jesus, (and say not “Three”) a son, father and wife. (Cease!) from making such a claim and repent ((it is) better for you!) than such a claim. (Allah is only One God) without a son or partner. (Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that he should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth) are His servants. (And Allah is sufficient as Defender) as Lord of all created beings and He is witness of what He says about Jesus.
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Ibn Kathir (Tafsir - Quran 4:171)
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Allah's statement, (nor say of Allah except the truth.) means, do not lie and claim that Allah has a wife or a son, Allah is far holier than what they attribute to Him. Allah is glorified, praised, and honored in His might, grandure and greatness, and there is no deity worthy of worship nor Lord but Him.
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Allah said, (so believe in Allah and His Messengers.) believe that Allah is One and Alone and that He does not have a son or wife. Know and be certain that `Isa is the servant and Messenger of Allah. Allah said after that, (Say not: "Three!") do not elevate `Isa and his mother to be gods with Allah. Allah is far holier than what they attribute to Him. In Surat Al-Ma'idah (chapter 5), Allah said, (Surely, disbelievers are those who said: "Allah is the third of the three.'' But there is none who has the right to be worshipped but One God.) Allah said by the end of the same Surah, (And (remember) when Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O `Isa, son of Maryam! Did you say unto men: `Worship me''') and in its beginning, (Surely, in disbelief are they who say that Allah is the Messiah, son of Maryam.) The Christians, may Allah curse them, have no limit to their disbelief because of their ignorance, so their deviant statements and their misguidance grows. Some of them believe that `Isa is Allah, some believe that he is one in a trinity and some believe that he is the son of Allah. Their beliefs and creeds are numerous and contradict each other, prompting some people to say that if ten Christians meet, they would end up with eleven sects!
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Allah said, (Cease! (it is) better for you.) meaning, it will be better for you, (For Allah is (the only) One God, hallowed be He above having a son.) and He is holier than such claim, (To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs,) for all are creatures, property and servants under His control and disposal, and He is the Disposer of the affairs. Therefore, how can He have a wife or a son among them, (He is the originator of the heavens and the earth. How can He have children.) and (And they say: "The Most Gracious (Allah) has begotten a son. Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing.'') Up to His saying, (Alone.)
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Al-Jalalayn (Tafsir - Quran 4:171)
O People of the Scripture, the Gospel, do not go to extremes, do not go beyond the bounds, in your religion and do not say about God except, the saying of, the truth, such as exalting Him above any associations with a partner or a child: the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was only the Messenger of God, and His Word which He cast to, [which] He conveyed to, Mary, and a spirit, that is, one whose spirit is, from Him: he [Jesus] is here attached to God, exalted be He, as an honouring for him, and not as you claim, that he is the son of God, or a god alongside Him, or one of three, because one that possesses a spirit is compound, while God transcends being compound and the attribution of compounds to Him. So believe in God and His messengers, and do not say, that the gods are, ‘Three’, God, Jesus and his mother. Refrain, from this and say what, it is better for you, [to say], which is the profession of His Oneness. Verily, God is but One God. Glory be to Him, transcending [the possibility], that He should have a son! To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth, as possessions, creatures and servants, and such sovereignty is not compatible with [that] prophethood [of Jesus]. God suffices as a Guardian, a Witness to this.
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