One of the most striking linguistic subtleties of the Qur’an appears in the way it speaks about the prophets and their peoples.
Throughout the Qur’an, many prophets address those they were sent to with the expression “O my people”.
Noah says: “We certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said: O my people, worship Allah.”
(Al-A‘raf 7:59)
Hud addresses his people: “And to ‘Ād We sent their brother Hud. He said: O my people, worship Allah.”
(Hud 11:50)
Salih says the same to his people: “And to Thamud We sent their brother Salih. He said: O my people, worship Allah.” (Hud 11:61)
Lot also speaks to his people: “And [We sent] Lot, when he said to his people: Do you commit immorality such as no one in the world has done before you?”
(Al-A‘raf 7:80)
Moses, likewise, repeatedly addresses his people: “And when Moses said to his people: O my people, you have wronged yourselves…” (Al-Baqarah 2:54)
Moses was sent to the Children of Israel, and the Qur’an consistently refers to them as his people.
But what about Jesus, peace be upon him?
Jesus was also sent to the Children of Israel. Yet, remarkably, there is not a single verse in the Qur’an where Jesus addresses anyone by saying “O my people.”
Instead, every time he speaks, he says: “O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.”
(Al-Ma’idah 5:72)
And:
“And when Jesus, son of Mary, said: O Children of Israel, indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you…”
(As-Saff 61:6)
Throughout the entire Qur’an, the words “Jesus” or “the Messiah” are never combined with the word “people.”
The only verse where the word people appears alongside Jesus is: “And when the son of Mary was presented as an example, your people suddenly raised an outcry.” (Az-Zukhruf 43:57)
But here, “your people” refers to the people of Muhammad ﷺ, because the verse is addressed directly to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ — not to Jesus.
So once again, Jesus himself is not described as having a people.
Why does Jesus have no ‘people’?
In human lineage, a person is traditionally attributed to their father, who belongs to a tribe, a people, or a nation. The child inherits that belonging.
Noah belonged to his people through his father.
Abraham belonged to his people through his father, Azar.
The same applies to all prophets.
So the question arises: to whom does Jesus belong?
The answer is clear in the Qur’an: Jesus was born miraculously, without a father.
Therefore, he does not belong to any people in the traditional sense.
For this reason, it would have been incorrect for Jesus to say: “O my people.”
Instead, the Qur’an shows him addressing them correctly as:
“O Children of Israel.”
And not a single verse deviates from this rule.
What about Adam, peace be upon him?
Adam was created without a father or a mother.
Does the Qur’an ever mention “the people of Adam”?
No.
Throughout the Qur’an, we find “Children of Adam”, but never the people of Adam — another striking precision.
A profound conclusion
Thus, among all of humanity, only two noble prophets have no ‘people’ attributed to them:
Adam, created without parents
Jesus, born without a father
And the Qur’an explicitly connects them in one powerful verse: “Indeed, the example of Jesus in the sight of Allah is like that of Adam. He created him from dust, then said to him, ‘Be,’ and he was.” (Aal ‘Imran 3:59)
This is the only verse in the Qur’an where Adam and Jesus are mentioned together, sealing this truth with remarkable clarity.
Such precision is not accidental.
It is one of the subtle miracles of the Qur’an — a testament to its divine origin and perfect coherence.
Glory be to Allah, the All-Wise, the All-Knowin
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