O ye people of the Book! overstep not bounds in your religion;31 and of God, speak only truth.  The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, is only an apostle of God, and his Word which he conveyed into Mary, and a Spirit32 proceeding from himself.  Believe therefore in God and his apostles, and say not, “Three:”  (there is a Trinity)-Forbear-it will be better for you.  God is only one God!  Far be it from His glory that He should have a son!  His, whatever is in the Heavens, and whatever is in the Earth!  And God is a sufficient Guardian.

The Messiah disdaineth not to be a servant of God, nor do the angels who are nigh unto Him.

And whoso disdaineth His service, and is filled with pride, God will gather them all to Himself.

And to those who believe and do the things that are right, will He pay them their due recompense, and out of His bounty will He increase them:  but as for those who are disdainful and proud, with a grievous chastisement will He chastise them;

And none beside God shall they find to protect or to help them.

O men! now hath a proof come to you from your Lord, and we have sent down to you a clear light.  As to those who believe in God and lay fast hold on Him, these will He cause to enter into his mercy and grace, and along the straight way unto Himself will He guide them.

They will consult thee.  Say:  God instructeth you as to distant kindred.  If a man die childless, but have a sister, half what he shall have shall be her’s; and if she die childless he shall be her heir.  But if there be two sisters, two-third parts of what he shall have shall be theirs; and if there be both brothers and sisters, the male shall have the portion of two females.  God teacheth you plainly, that ye err not!  God knoweth all things.

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1 Most of the events alluded to in this Sura fall between the end of the third and the close of the fifth year after the Flight to Medina.

2 Muhammad assumed to himself the privilege of having a yet greater number of wives.  But in doing so, he was probably actuated by a desire for male offspring.  Chadijah was his only wife until quite a late period of his career.  Comp.  Arbah Turim.  Ev.  Hazaer 1, “A man may marry many wives, for Rabba saith it is lawful to do so, if he can provide for them.  Nevertheless, the wise men have given good advice, that a man should not marry more than four wives.”  See also Yad Hachazakah Hilchoth Ishuth. 14, 3.

3 Verses 8 and 12 are said by the commentators to have been revealed in consequence of the complaints of Omm Kuhha that, in accordance with the ante-Islamitic custom, she had been excluded from any portion of her deceased husband’s property.  The unsatisfactory nature of the Muhammadan traditions may be inferred from the fact, that no less than six different names are assigned to him.  It is, however, probable that these and similar laws relative to inheritances were given at a time when many heads of families had fallen, as at Ohod, in battle.  This remark applies to verses 33-45.