21. Surah Al Anbiya'

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَقَالُوا اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمَنُ وَلَدًا...  

21: 26.  And they say: "(Allah) Most Gracious has begotten offspring."

C2686. This refers both to the Trinitarian superstition that Allah has begotten a son, and to the Arab superstition that the angels were daughters of Allah. All such superstitions are derogatory to the glory of Allah.

The prophets and the angels are no more than servants of Allah: they are raised high in honour, and therefore they deserve our highest respect, but not our worship.

...سُبْحَانَهُ...

Glory to Him!

...بَلْ عِبَادٌ مُّكْرَمُونَ ﴿٢٦﴾

they are (but) servants raised to honor.

لَا يَسْبِقُونَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ ...

21: 27.  They speak not before He speaks,

C2687. They never say anything before they receive Allah's command to say it, and their acts are similarly conditioned.

This is also the teaching of Jesus as reported in the Gospel of St. John (12:49-50):

"For I have not spoken of myself: but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak."

If rightly understood, "Father" has the same meaning as our "Rabb", Sustainer and Cherisher, not Begetter or Progenitor.

... وَهُم بِأَمْرِهِ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٢٧﴾

and they act (in all things) by His command.

Asad’s Version:

21:26

And [yet,) some say, "The Most Gracious has taken unto Himself a son"! Limitless is He in His glory!" Nay, [those whom they regard as God's "offspring"" are but His] honoured servants:

(21:27) they speak not until He has spoken unto them, 35 and [whenever they act,] they act at His behest.

[[ Asad’s note - 35 Lit., "they do not precede Him in speech" - meaning that they proclaim only what He has revealed to them and bidden them to proclaim. ]]