I was struck by this awkward rendering of بكلمة منه اسمه المسيح and found that a few others besides Adil Salahi did this, inc. M. Ali, M. Asad, T.B. Irving. Most translators and exegetes understood that the Word *is* called Jesus (pbuh).
M. Ali (Lahore Ahmadiyya) actually accepted both possibilities but found it strange that كلمة is being referred back to with a masculine pronoun. But this is straightforward, as it’s all referring to a male person. Instead he must explain what اسمه refers back to (he doesn’t!).
Alusi’s tafsir mentions this view, but rightly points out that Jesus is called a “word” in other verses where the same manoeuvre can’t be applied. So it makes sense to understand it the same here in 3:45.
Moreover, it’s unclear what’s added by the phrase “through/with a word from Him”. Is there some other form of giving good news? This reading isn’t in line with general Quranic usage.
Since Ali used Imam Razi (unsuccessfully) to make his point, let me share Razi explaining elsewhere why this name is used for Jesus (pbuh):
Finally, I should point out that Salahi’s translation started life embedded in Sayyid Qutb’s commentary, and in this case, contradicts it! Sayyid is very explicit that Jesus *is* that Word.
المسيح بدل من الكلمة في العبارة، وهو الكلمة في الحقيقة
المسيح بدل من الكلمة في العبارة، وهو الكلمة في الحقيقة
Loading suggestions...