I ask you to explain the following verses in detail: (Say, "If the Most Merciful has a son, then I am the first of those who worship him")

The questioner : I ask the honorable Shaykh (may Allah preserve him) to explain the following verses in detail: I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan. The first verse: from Surat al-Zukhruf.

The Shaykh : His saying, Exalted is He: This is a challenge to those who said that Allah has a son. The Jews said, "Ezra is the son of Allah," the Christians said, "The Messiah is the son of Allah," and the polytheists said, "The angels are the daughters of Allah." So Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says to His Prophet: meaning, to these claimants that Allah has a son, meaning, then I am the first to worship this son, and I will not be ashamed of worshipping him. But it is impossible for Him to have a son, because Allah the Exalted said: And if that is the case, then it is impossible for Allah to have a son. So He says, if the Most Merciful had a son, I would not let you get ahead of me, or I would not let you get ahead of me to Him; I would be the first to worship him. But He has no son. Therefore, I deny to you taking a son for Allah. Yes.