What is the cause behind the revelation of verse in regards to Uzair (9:30)?

Sources

• ✓ 9:30 · At-Tawba

  9:30 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  وَقَالَتِ ٱلْيَهُودُ عُزَيْرٌ ٱبْنُ ٱللَّهِ وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَٰرَى ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ ٱللَّهِ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ قَوْلُهُم بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ ۖ يُضَٰهِـُٔونَ قَوْلَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ قَٰتَلَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ

  And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah, and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah. That is their saying with their mouths. They imitate the saying of those who disbelieved of old. Allah (Himself) fighteth against them. How perverse are they!

• ✓ Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 9:30

  Sunni

  Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 9:30

  This verse serves as a divine provocation from Allah to the believers, urging them to fight the polytheist disbelievers among the Jews and Christians, who uttered this heinous statement and a slander against Allah Almighty. Regarding the Jews, they claimed about 'Uzair (Ezra) that he was the son of Allah—a claim that is utterly false and beyond Allah’s greatness. Al-Suddi and others narrated an account explaining how this suspicion arose: When the Amalekites overcame the Children of Israel, killing their scholars and capturing their leaders, 'Uzair wept lamenting the loss of knowledge among his people until his eyelids became heavy. One day, as he passed a graveyard, he saw a woman crying at a grave, saying ‘Fed him? Clothed him?’ He asked her who provided these before, and she replied Allah. He then said Allah is Alive and never dies. She questioned who taught the scholars before the Israelites, to which he replied Allah. She asked why he then weeps over their loss. Realizing this was a lesson, 'Uzair was later instructed to go to a certain river, bathe, and pray two rak’ahs where he would meet an old man who would feed him. After following these instructions, the old man threw something like a burning coal into 'Uzair’s mouth three times. 'Uzair, known as a Torah scholar, then approached the Children of Israel claiming to bring them the Torah. They did not doubt him, and he wrote the whole Torah with a pen tied to his finger. Eventually, when their scholars returned and learned of 'Uzair’s deeds, they retrieved the scriptures hidden in the mountains and compared them with what 'Uzair brought, finding it correct. Some of their ignorant members then said that this was because 'Uzair was the son of Allah. As for the Christians’ error regarding the Messiah, it is obvious—hence Allah denied the claims of both groups in this verse by stating: "That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before. May Allah punish them! How are they turned away from the truth while it is clear and persuade others to falsehood?" The declaration that they took their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah is supported by traditions narrated by Imam Ahmad and others from 'Adi ibn Hatim. When he heard the Prophet’s invitation, he fled to Syria, where he had become Christian in the time of ignorance. His sister was captured but was later given back by the Prophet as a mercy, who encouraged 'Adi to embrace Islam. When 'Adi came to Medina, still wearing a silver cross, the Prophet recited this verse and explained that although they do not worship their scholars and monks literally, they followed their legal rulings of what was forbidden and permitted, thus obeying them in worship. The Prophet also invited 'Adi to acknowledge the greatness of Allah alone and to testify there is no deity but Allah, leading to his acceptance of Islam. Companions like Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman and Abdullah ibn Abbas, among others, interpreted this verse as indicating that the Jews and Christians followed their leaders’ rulings in what they declared lawful or unlawful, thus practically making them lords besides Allah. Al-Suddi added that they sought guidance from men and abandoned the Book of Allah, turning their backs to it. Therefore, Allah commanded that they worship none but the One God who, when He forbids anything, it is forbidden; when He permits something, it is permitted; and whose laws must be followed and executed. He is far exalted above what they associate with Him in partnership: no deity but Him, no lord but Him, glorified and free from partners, helpers, equals, rivals, or offspring.