Tafsir Ibn Kathir -> Surah Al-'Imran -> The Similarities Between the Creation of Adam and the Creation of `Isa

Allah said,

﴿إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَى عِندَ اللَّهِ﴾

(Verily, the likeness of `Isa before Allah) regarding Allah's ability, since He created him without a father,

﴿كَمَثَلِ ءَادَمَ﴾

(is the likeness of Adam), for Allah created Adam without a father or a mother. Rather,

﴿خَلَقَهُ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ﴾

(He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: "Be!'' and he was.)

Therefore, He Who created Adam without a father or a mother is able to create `Isa, as well, without a father. If the claim is made that `Isa is Allah's son because he was created without a father, then the same claim befits Adam even more. However, since such a claim regarding Adam is obviously false, then making the same claim about `Isa is even more false.

Furthermore, by mentioning these facts, Allah emphasizes His ability, by creating Adam without a male or female, Hawa' from a male without a female, and `Isa from a mother without a father, compared to His creating the rest of creation from male and female. This is why Allah said in Surah Maryam,

﴿وَلِنَجْعَلَهُ ءَايَةً لِّلْنَّاسِ﴾

(And We made him a sign for mankind) ﴿19: 21﴾.

Allah said in this Ayah,

﴿الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَلاَ تَكُنْ مِّن الْمُمْتَرِينَ ﴾

((This is) the truth from your Lord, so be not of those who doubt.) meaning, this is the only true story about `Isa, and what is beyond truth save falsehood Allah next commands His Messenger to call those who defy the truth, regarding `Isa, to the Mubahalah (the curse).