Tafsir of An-Nisa' 4:156

An-Nisa (4:156)

And for their disbelief and their saying against Mary a grave slander.

The fifth point is His saying: {And for their disbelief and their saying against Mary a grave slander} (4:156).

Know that when they attributed fornication to Mary, it was due to their denial of Allah's power to create a child without a father. Whoever denies Allah's power to do this is a disbeliever, because it necessitates affirming that every child born must have a preceding father, which leads to affirming the eternity of the world and time, and casts doubt upon the existence of the choosing Creator.

Thus, the people (the Jews) first denied Allah's power to create a child without a father, and secondly, they attributed fornication to Mary.

Therefore, what is meant by {And for their disbelief} is their denial of Allah's power, and what is meant by {and their saying against Mary a grave slander} is their accusation of her with fornication. Since a change occurred (from disbelief to slander), the conjunction (wa, "and") is appropriate.

This accusation became a grave slander because, upon the birth of Jesus (peace be upon him), there appeared miracles and signs that proved her innocence from any defect, such as His saying: {And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; [fresh, ripe] dates will fall upon you} (Maryam: 25), and the speech of Jesus (peace be upon him) while he was an infant separated from his mother. All of these were decisive proofs of Mary's innocence from any suspicion.

Consequently, Allah described the Jews' attack on her as a grave slander. Similarly, He described the slander of the hypocrites against Aisha as a grave slander, where He said: {Exalted are You! This is a grave slander} (An-Nur: 16). This indicates that the Rafidah (Shi'a sect) who attack Aisha are in the position of the Jews who attack Mary (peace be upon them both).

{And for their saying: "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah." But they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but [the resemblance was] made to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except following conjecture. And they certainly did not kill him, but rather Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.} (4:157)