Quran Issues: The Christian Trinity
Overview
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Christians are addressed on several occasions 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 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 & 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’. This means that the Quran has either purposefully misrepresented the Christian Trinity or accidentally misunderstood it, either of which is problematic.
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The Quran 4:171
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Quran 4:171 warns Christians not to commit excess in religion or to say anything false about God. In particular, Christians are told that Jesus (the son of Mary) was nothing more than a human messenger. It is therefore inappropriate for Christians to say 'Three' when speaking about God because there is only One God and God is far above having a son. ​It is clear from Quran 4:171 that two of the 'Three' being referred to are God and Jesus, with the warning that Jesus is not divine. It is also significant that Mary is mentioned in Quran 4:171, although no argument is presented against her divinity except from the instruction not to say 'Three'.
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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
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Quran 5:72-77 rejects the idea that God is the Messiah and warns Christians not to associate others with God or to say that God is the third of 'Three'. This is because there is only One God. An argument is then presented against the divinity of Jesus and Mary (hence the ‘Three’ - God, Jesus & Mary). The fact that Jesus and Mary ate food is a sign that Jesus and Mary were mortal and should not be given a divine status alongside God. Those who believe otherwise are deluded and follow those who went astray.
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.’
The Quran 5:116-118
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Quran 5:116-118 narrates a future conversation between God and Jesus on the Day of Judgment. God will ask Jesus whether he had told his followers to consider himself and his mother as two gods alongside God. Jesus will respond with denial and by confessing his mortality in contrast to the greatness of God.
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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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