The Meaning of Kun Faya Kun

Kun fayakoon (Kun fayakoon) (كُن فَيَكُونُ) is a Qur’anic term which occurs in the Qur’an in various different places. The word ‘Kun’ means to ‘be’, manifest or exist. ‘Kun fayakoon’ when translated means ‘Be, And it is’. It is used in reference to Allah’s Glorious creation powers.

The places in the Qur’an where this phrase occurs are:-

>> Surah Baqarah 2:117

بَدِيعُ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ وَإِذَا قَضَى أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ

117. The Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it: “Be! ـ and it is.

The above verse refers to Allah’s Creation of the Universe.

>> Surah An’aam 6:73

وَهُوَ الَّذِى خَلَقَ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ بِالْحَقِّ وَيَوْمَ يَقُولُ كُن فَيَكُونُ قَوْلُهُ الْحَقُّ وَلَهُ الْمُلْكُ يَوْمَ يُنفَخُ فِى الصُّوَرِ عَـلِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَـدَةِ وَهُوَ الْحَكِيمُ الْخَبِيرُ

73. He is the One who created the heavens and the earth, truthfully. Whenever He says, “Be,” it is. His word is the absolute truth. All sovereignty belongs to Him the day the trumpet is blown. Knower of all secrets and declarations, He is the Most Wise, the Cognizant

>> Surah Ya-Sin 36:81-82

أَوَلَـيْسَ الَذِى خَلَقَ السَّمَـوتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ بِقَـدِرٍ عَلَى أَن يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُم بَلَى وَهُوَ الْخَلَّـقُ الْعَلِيمُ  إِنَّمَآ أَمْرُهُ إِذَآ أَرَادَ شَيْئاً أَن يَقُولَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ

81. Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth, able to create the like of them Yes, indeed! He is the All-Knowing Supreme Creator.

82. Verily, His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, “Be!” — and it is!

>> Surah An-Nahal 16:40

إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَىْءٍ إِذَآ أَرَدْنَاهُ أَن نَّقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ

40. Verily, Our Word to a thing when We intend it, is only that We say unto it: “Be!” – and it is.

>> Surah Ghafir 40:68

هُوَ الَّذِى يُحْىِ وَيُمِيتُ فَإِذَا قَضَى أَمْراً فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُن فيَكُونُ

68. It is He Who gives life and causes death. And when He decides upon a thing He says to it only: “Be!” – and it is.

>> Surah Al-‘Imran 3:45-47

These are the set of verses where Mary the mother of Jesus (AS) is addressed by Angels, who gave her the glad tidings of a ‘Word from Him (Allah)’ i.e. to give her the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ (Isa Al-Masih), the son of Mary (Maryam).

إِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلَـئِكَةُ يمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنْهُ اسْمُهُ الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيهًا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالاٌّخِرَةِ وَمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ

45. (Remember) when the angels said: “O Maryam! Verily, Allah gives you the glad tidings of a Word from Him, his name will be Al-Masih, `Isa, the son of Maryam, held in honor in this world and in the Hereafter, and he will be one of those who are near to Allah.”

وَيُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِى الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلاً وَمِنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ

46. “He will speak to the people, in the cradle and in manhood, and he will be one of the righteous.”

In reply, Maryam (Mary) asks, that how can she have a son, when no man has ever touched her, i.e, she has been unmarried and hasn’t been indecent.

قَالَتْ رَبِّ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لِى وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِى بَشَرٌ

47. She said: “O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me.”

Then, the Angels gave her Allah’s reply,

قَالَ كَذَلِكَ اللَّهُ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ إِذَا قَضَى أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ

47.(contd). He said: “So (it will be) for Allah creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: `Be! ـ and it is.”

>> Surah Al-‘Imran 3:59

إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَى عِندَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ ءَادَمَ خَلَقَهُ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ

59. Verily, the likeness of `Isa before Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then said to him: “Be!” and he was.

Allah created Jesus just like he had created Adam – from dust. If Jesus not having a father makes him anything more than what he was, or makes him God or Son of God, then what does that make Adam, for neither did he have a father,  nor did he have a mother?!

>> Surah Maryam 19:35

مَا كَانَ للَّهِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ مِن وَلَدٍ سُبْحَـنَهُ إِذَا قَضَى أَمْراً فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ

35. It befits not (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glorified be He. When He decrees a thing, He only says to it: “Be!” — and it is.

Begetting a child is an animal act. It’s a need of men’s animal nature. Allah is independent of all such needs. Allah does not beget, nor is he begotten. It is derogatory to attribute such an act to him. According to Islam, Jesus is NOT Allah’s son in the sense that people take it to be. What if he doesn’t have a father? Can’t there be a birth without a father (just like Adam)? We believe that Jesus’ birth was miraculous, without any male intervention. It was a miracle of Allah. It’s easy for him. For whenever he decrees a matter, all he says is to ‘Be’, and it is!!