Is the Attribution of a Son to the Creator Correct?

In the name of Allah, the Lord of All creations…

🔍 In order to know which party is correct, we need to consider the answer to the following question:

1- For example, the existence of a son implies that a father would expect his son to inherit his possessions and position after him which necessitates that the father may eventually lose his attribute of self-sufficiency.

To this effect, the Quran makes the following statement:

{قَالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ وَلَدًا سُبْحَانَهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ إِنْ عِنْدَكُمْ مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ بِهَذَا أَتَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ} [يونس: 68]

They (Jews, Christians and pagans) say, “Allâh has begotten a son.” Glory to Him! He is Rich (Free of all needs). His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. No warrant you have for this (statement). Do you say against Allâh that which you know not?” (10: 68)

2- The existence of a son implies that Allah does not own the whole universe because his son will have a part in controlling his kingdom which is a declaration that the father will have a supporter and partner, implying dependency and weakness.

The Quran contains the following challenge for those who make such statements:

﴿ لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ۚ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا إِنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُهْلِكَ ٱلْمَسِيحَ ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُۥ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴾[سورة المائدة 17]

Surely, in disbelief are they who say that Allâh is the Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary). Say, who then has the least power against Allâh if He were to destroy the Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary), his mother, and all those who are on the earth together?” And to Allâh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them. He creates what He wills, and Allâh is able to do all things. ( 5:17)

3- The existence of a son implies that the father will not be completely independent because his son will help him to manage the universe, implying that Allah does not or will not have complete power and is not the sole disposer of all affairs. However, it is not possible for the Lord of the universe to be dependent.

4- The existence of a younger son implies that the father will get older. Since the process of aging entails a loss of power, whoever believes that Allah has a son, also believes that He is not all-powerful, and this contradicts his attribute of omnipotence.

5- The existence of a son implies that the father and son are subject to the same cycles of life and death as created beings and that the father will eventually lose the attributes of living and existing.  Therefore, if one believes that Allah has a son, he also assumes that Allah will not be alive forever, experience death one day and eventually vanish.

6- If it is possible for Allah to have a son, it is also possible for him to have a wife and relatives.

The creator addresses this line of reasoning in the Quran by saying:

﴿ .. وَخَرَقُوا۟ لَهُۥ بَنِينَ وَبَنَـٰتٍۭ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ (100) بَدِيعُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُۥ صَـٰحِبَةٌ ۖ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴾ [سورة الأنعام 100-101]

“He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. How can He have children when He has no wife? He created all things and He is the All-Knower of everything” (6:100)

📌 After considering these arguments, we should realize that if we were to believe that Allah has a son, we have likened Him to His finite creations and negated many of His divine attributes. Those who believe that Allah does not have a son know that Allah is the creator who cannot be compared to any of his creations.

⚠️ It is forbidden in Islam to dishonor, curse, or hate Jesus and disbelief in Jesus and his message is considered to be disbelief in the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

❓ Let us take the time to consider the answers to the following questions:

1- What do Christians have to lose if they were to believe that Jesus, peace be upon him, is a messenger of Allah and not his son?

2- Why do some people insist on believing that Jesus is God after becoming aware of the evidence of his humanity and prophethood?

3- Does a belief in Allah’s begetting a son contradict with him being distinguished from his creations as the creator of the whole universe?

📖 We should bear witness to Allah’s uniqueness and complete divinity by declaring that there is no god worthy of worship but Him and that he has no partners.

﴿ وَقَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ وَلَدًا (88) لَّقَدْ جِئْتُمْ شَيْـًٔا إِدًّا (89) تَكَادُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْهُ وَتَنشَقُّ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَتَخِرُّ ٱلْجِبَالُ هَدًّا (90) أَن دَعَوْا۟ لِلرَّحْمَـٰنِ وَلَدًا (91) وَمَا يَنۢبَغِى لِلرَّحْمَـٰنِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا (92) إِن كُلُّ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّآ ءَاتِى ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ عَبْدًا (93) لَّقَدْ أَحْصَىٰهُمْ وَعَدَّهُمْ عَدًّا (94) وَكُلُّهُمْ ءَاتِيهِ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فَرْدًا ﴾[سورة مريم 88-95]

And they say: “The Most Gracious (Allâh) has begotten a son. Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing. The heavens are almost torn, the earth split asunder, and the mountains made ruins (from this statement) that they ascribe a son to the Most Gracious. But, it is not suitable for (the Majesty of) the Most Gracious (Allâh) that He should beget a son (or offspring or children). There is none in the heavens and the earth but approaches the Most Gracious (Allâh) in servitude. Verily He is fully aware of them, and knows their exact numbers. And every one of them will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection (without any helper, protector or defender). (19: 88- 95).