Surah Al-Anbiya 21:26
سُورَةُ الأَنبِيَاءِ · Meccan · Verse 26 of 112
وَقَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ وَلَدًۭا ۗ سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ ۚ بَلْ عِبَادٌۭ مُّكْرَمُونَ
Translation
And they say, ‘The Lord of Mercy has taken offspring for Himself.’ May He be exalted! No! They are only His honoured servants:
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse begins by unveiling a grave misconception held by some disbelievers:
The Accusation
The verse opens with, "وَقَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ وَلَدًۭا" (And they said, "The Most Merciful has taken a son."). The "they" here refers to polytheists, specifically some from the tribe of Khuzāʿah and others among the Arabs, who falsely claimed that the angels were daughters of Allah. The word "walad" (ولد) in Arabic is a general term for offspring, encompassing both male and female children. By asserting that Allah, "The Most Merciful," had taken a child, they were attributing a profound deficiency to Him. As Imam al-Razi explains, having a child implies a resemblance to the parent and a need for that child, suggesting imperfection or a lack of self-sufficiency. Such a notion fundamentally contradicts Allah's absolute perfection and His unique status as the Ever-Living, the Sustainer.
Divine Purity
Immediately following this baseless claim, Allah responds with a powerful and concise purification: "سُبْحَانَهُۥ" (Exalted is He). This single word, "Subhanahu," means "Glory be to Him," or "He is absolutely free from all imperfections." It is a declaration that Allah is far above any flaw, need, or resemblance to His creation. Ibn Ashur highlights that taking a child implies a need to complete a lack, but Allah is "Al-Ghaniyy" (The Self-Sufficient), utterly free from any want. This divine response corrects the misconception by asserting Allah's transcendent purity and perfect independence.
The True Status of Angels
The verse then clarifies the true nature of the angels with an emphatic "بَلْ عِبَادٌ مُّكْرَمُونَ" (Rather, they are honored servants). The particle "bal" (بل), meaning "rather," serves as a strong rebuttal, shifting from the falsehood to the undeniable truth. The angels are not divine offspring, but "عباد" (servants), creatures who are entirely subservient to Allah. This servant-status, as al-Jalalayn notes, directly contradicts the idea of them being Allah's children.
The word "مُكْرَمُونَ" (honored or exalted) acknowledges their high status and immense favor with Allah. Scholars like al-Razi and al-Zamakhshari explain that angels are indeed distinguished and preferred over many other creations due to their profound obedience and unique qualities. However, this honor does not elevate them to a divine partnership or sonship. It simply underscores that their esteemed position is a gift from their Creator, firmly rooting them in their role as His devoted, obedient servants. This precise wording dispels the error while still affirming the angels' special rank within creation.
Sources: al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Anbiya 21:26 is discussed in 10 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Anbiya 21:26 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.