43. Zuhruf · verses 56–59

فَجَعَلۡنَٰهُمۡ سَلَفٗا وَمَثَلٗا لِّلۡأٓخِرِينَ

FajaAAalnahum salafan wamathalan lilakhireena

And We made them (a people) of the Past and an Example to later ages.

۞ وَلَمَّا ضُرِبَ ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ مَثَلًا إِذَا قَوۡمُكَ مِنۡهُ يَصِدُّونَ

Walamma duriba ibnu maryama mathalan itha qawmuka minhu yasiddoona

When (Jesus) the son of Mary is held up as an example, behold, thy people raise a clamour thereat (in ridicule)!

وَقَالُوٓاْ ءَأَٰلِهَتُنَا خَيۡرٌ أَمۡ هُوَۚ مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلَّا جَدَلَۢاۚ بَلۡ هُمۡ قَوۡمٌ خَصِمُونَ

Waqaloo aalihatuna khayrun am huwa ma daraboohu laka illa jadalan bal hum qawmun khasimoona

And they say, "Are our gods best, or he?" This they set forth to thee, only by way of disputation: yea, they are a contentious people.

إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا عَبۡدٌ أَنۡعَمۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ وَجَعَلۡنَٰهُ مَثَلٗا لِّبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ

In huwa illa AAabdun anAAamna AAalayhi wajaAAalnahu mathalan libanee israeela

He was no more than a servant: We granted Our favour to him, and We made him an example to the Children of Israel.