The Messiah and the Angels Brought Near

Qur’an 4:172 · Al-Nisāʾ · With other exegetes

لَّن يَسْتَنكِفَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ أَن يَكُونَ عَبْدًا لِّلَّهِ وَلَا ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ٱلْمُقَرَّبُونَ ۚ وَمَن يَسْتَنكِفْ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِۦ وَيَسْتَكْبِرْ فَسَيَحْشُرُهُمْ إِلَيْهِ جَمِيعًا

“The Messiah would never disdain being a servant of God, nor would the angels brought near [to Him]. And whoever disdains His worship and is arrogant, He will gather them all toward Him.” (4:172)

The question

Since the verse names the angels brought near after the Messiah, are they above him in rank, and is the Holy Spirit superior to him?

Views answered: an argument reported in Majmaʿ al-Bayān; Tafsīr al-Manār

Jawādī Āmulī’s argument

Āyatullāh Jawādī Āmulī holds that comparing prophets and angels is neither necessary nor beneficial, but discusses it to explain why the angels are joined to the Messiah here. The argument from the verse’s order may fit the exalted angels who did not prostrate to Adam, but not all angels; and the two reasons given for the Holy Spirit’s superiority confuse a means with a giver of the spirit. Neither superiority can easily be asserted.

Views compared

The arguments are given as al-Tasnim reports them. Each point opens al-Tasnim at that place.

The order of the verse Read →

An argument reported in Majmaʿ al-Bayān

Joining the angels brought near to the Messiah is only correct if they are not lower than him, and is most fitting if they are above him.

Jawādī Āmulī

This may fit the exalted angels (al-ʿālīn, 38:75) who were not commanded to prostrate to Adam, but not all angels; and whoever was taught the names is above the angels who prostrated to him.

Is the Holy Spirit above the Messiah? Read →

Tafsīr al-Manār, among some exegetes

Yes: Jesus was born through his breathing, and healed the leper and the blind with his support.

Jawādī Āmulī

An agent “through which” is not an agent “from which”: what prepared Jesus’ body in the womb did not give the Messiah his spirit, and the same is true of his support.

Jawādī Āmulī

Neither is it easy to assert the superiority of one over the other, nor are these arguments complete proof that a particular angel is above a perfect human like the Messiah. Read →

Reading guide

Each step opens al-Tasnim at that point.

1. Those taught the names, and the angels who prostrated
2. The argument from the order of the verse
3. The exalted angels
4. Is the Holy Spirit above the Messiah?
5. Conclusion

The whole commentary on 4:172 →