Indeed, the example of 'Isa is like the example of Adam. And His saying, "He created him from dust," is a clarifying statement for the reason for which he is likened to 'Isa. That is, Adam was created from dust and there was no father or mother, and likewise the case of 'Isa. If you say: How is he likened to him when he was born without a father, and Adam was created without a father and mother? I say: He is his equal in one aspect, so his uniqueness in the other aspect does not prevent his being likened to him. This is because similarity involves sharing in some attributes, and he is likened to him because he came into existence outside of the usual norm. They are similar in that regard. Furthermore, existence without a father and mother is stranger and more extraordinary than existence without a father. Thus, the stranger is likened to the more extraordinary to make the argument against the opponent stronger and to cut off the basis of his comparison when he considers what is more extraordinary than what he finds strange. And some scholars reported that he whispered to the Romans, saying to them: Why do you worship 'Isa? They said: Because he has no father. He said: Adam is more deserving because he has no parents. They said: He brought the dead to life. He said: Then Hizqil is more deserving, for 'Isa revived four men, while Hizqil revived eight thousand. They said: He used to cure the blind and the leper. He said: Then Jurjus is more deserving, for he was cooked and burned and then rose up safe. "He created him from dust" means that He fashioned him as a body from clay, then said to him, "Be," meaning He created him as a human, as in His saying, "Then We created him as another creation." So it will be a narration of a past state.