There is an ayah in the Quran whose true meaning
has been overshadowed by hadith interpretations,
altering its intended purpose.
This ayah is 3:61.
The Traditional Interpretation:
The Event of Mubahala
The commonly accepted meaning, influenced by hadith, is that 3:61 refers to the “Event of Mubahala,” where Prophet Muhammad supposedly challenged Christian scholars to invoke Allah’s curse upon the liars in a theological dispute.
According to the hadith (Muslim 31:5915), when the Christian delegation accepted the challenge, they saw Muhammad accompanied by his family—Ali, Fatima, Hassan, and Hussein. As they sat under a tree, the Christians allegedly realized his prophethood and withdrew.
The hadith can be found in
Muslim 31:5915 ( http://hadith.islamicevents.sg/muslim/hadith/31/5915 )
However, this interpretation does not emerge from the Quran itself.
Instead, by examining the surrounding context, it becomes evident that 3:61 is part of a revelation given to Maryam (Mary) regarding her son, Isa (Jesus), and the challenges she would face.
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Maryam is a Messenger
To begin with, Maryam is explicitly identified as a messenger in the Quran.
23:50
And We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign,
and We gave them refuge on high ground,
a place for resting and with a flowing stream.
23:51
O messengers, eat from what is good, and do good work.
I am aware of what you do.
This passage is particularly striking.
It not only presents Maryam and her son as divine signs
but also situates Maryam within the context of messengers.
The command in 23:51, addressed to messengers in the plural,
follows immediately after a reference to Maryam,
reinforcing her inclusion among them.
A natural question arises:
If Maryam is indeed a messenger, what message did she bring?
The answer lies in the revelation given to her.
Below is the divine communication bestowed upon Maryam,
marking her role as a recipient of sacred guidance.
Context: A Divine Revelation to Maryam
To understand 3:61, we must follow the passage from the beginning,
where the angel brings news to Maryam.
The Angel Announces the Birth of Isa
“When said the Angels,
‘O Maryam! Indeed, Allah gives you glad tidings of a word from Him,
his name (is) the Messiah, Isa, son (of) Maryam,
honored in the world and (in) the Hereafter, and of those brought near (to Allah).
And he will speak (to) the people in the cradle and (in) maturity;
and (he will be) of the righteous.’”
(3:45-46)
Maryam, shocked, responds:
“She said, ‘My Lord how is [it] for me a boy, and (has) not touch(ed) me any man?’
He said, ‘Thus Allah creates what He wills.
When He decrees a matter then only He says to it,
“Be,” and it becomes.’”
(3:47)
At this moment, the angel does not simply announce her pregnancy and leave.
Instead, he reveals a prophecy about Isa’s future
what he will say, do, and experience.
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Isa’s Future Described to Maryam
“And He will teach him the Book, and [the] wisdom, and the Taurat, and the Injeel.
And (make him) a Messenger to (the) Children (of) Israel,
‘Indeed, I [surely] [I] (have) come (to) you with a sign from your Lord
that I [I] design for you from [the] clay like the form (of) the bird,
then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by (the) permission (of) Allah.
And I cure the blind, and the leper, and I give life (to) the dead by (the) permission (of) Allah.
And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses.
Indeed, in that (is) surely a sign for you, if you are believers.
And confirming that which (was) before me of the Taurat,
and so that I make lawful for you some (of) that which was forbidden to you.
And I (have) come to you with a sign from your Lord.
So fear Allah and obey me. Indeed, Allah (is) my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him.
This (is) the straight path.’”
(3:48-51)
At this point, Isa has not yet spoken these words,
this is a revelation to Maryam describing what he will say in the future.
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Isa’s Struggles Foretold
“Then when perceived Isa from them [the] disbelief he said,
‘Who (will be) my helpers to Allah?’
Said the disciples ‘We (will be the) helpers (of) Allah, we believe[d] in Allah
and bear witness that we (are) Muslims.’”
(3:52)
The first words here are:
“Falamma ahssa Isa min’hummu l-kuf’ra qala…”
“Then when perceived from them disbelief he said…”
This means Maryam is being told about her son’s distress and his plea to his disciples.
The revelation continues:
“Our Lord, we believe[d] in what You revealed and we follow[ed] the Messenger,
then write us among the witnesses.”
(3:53)
“And they schemed, and Allah planned.
And Allah (is the) best (of) the planners.”
(3:54)
This informs Maryam that Isa’s disciples will believe in him,
but there will also be conspiracies against him.
Allah reassures Maryam that He is the best of planners.
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Isa’s Fate and Allah’s Promise
“When Allah said ‘O Isa! Indeed, I (will) take you and
raise you to Myself and purify you from those who disbelieve[d],
and I will make those who follow[ed] you superior
(to) those who disbelieve[d] on (the) Day (of) [the] Resurrection.
Then to Me (is) your return and I will judge between you about what you were [in it] differing.
Then as for those who disbelieve[d], then I will punish them
(with) a punishment severe in the world and (in) the Hereafter.
And not for them any helpers.
And as for those who believe[d] and did [the] righteous deeds
then He will grant them in full their reward.
And Allah (does) not love the wrongdoers.’”
(3:55-57)
Maryam is being assured that Isa will be taken by Allah
and that those who follow him will ultimately prevail.
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The Revelation is Confirmed to Maryam
“That (is what) We recite [it] to YOU of the Verses
and the Reminder - [the] Wise.”
(3:58)
The “you” here refers to Maryam, not the final prophet.
“Indeed, (the) likeness (of) Isa near Allah (is) like (the) likeness (of) Adam.
He created him from dust then
He said to him,
‘Be,’ and he was.” (3:59)
This serves to reassure Maryam that Isa’s birth is not unnatural
Adam himself was created without parents.
“The truth (is) from your Lord,
so (do) not be among the doubters.”
(3:60)
This is spoken directly to Maryam
reassuring her that all she has been told is the truth.
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3:61: The Ayah in Question
Now we arrive at the disputed ayah:
“Then whoever argues (with) you concerning it
after what came to you of the knowledge
then say,
‘Come, let us call our sons and your sons,
and our women and your women,
and ourselves and yourselves,
then let us pray humbly,
and [we] invoke the curse (of) Allah on the liars.’”
(3:61)
Who is Speaking and Why?
This is still the angel speaking to Maryam, instructing her on how to respond when people challenge her about Isa’s miraculous birth.
Why is the Language Masculine?
The Quran frequently grants Maryam a masculine grammatical position
(e.g., Isa is called “Isa, son of Maryam” in a traditionally male lineage structure).
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The Final Confirmation
“Indeed this, surely it (is) the narration - [the] true.
And (there is) no god except Allah.
And indeed, Allah, surely He (is) the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.
And if they turn back, then indeed, Allah (is) All-Knowing, of the corrupters.”
(3:62-63)
This confirms that everything Maryam has been told is the truth.
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Conclusion
• Mariyam is identified as a messenger in 23:50-51
• 3:46-63 is a revelation to Maryam,
not a conversation between the final prophet and Christians.
• The angel informs Maryam of Isa’s future
and how to respond to challenges.
• The claim that 3:61 refers to the final prophets debate
is an interpretation based on hadith, not the Quran itself.
Theese passages empowers Maryam with
knowledge, reassurance, and guidance
not as a passive figure,
but as a woman Messenger entrusted with divine wisdom.