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mā kāna li-basharin ʾan yuʾtiyahu llāhu l-kitāba wa-l-ḥukma wa-n-nubuwwata thumma yaqūla li-n-nāsi kūnū ʿibādan lī min dūni llāhi wa-lākin kūnū rabbāniyyīna bi-mā kuntum tuʿallimūna l-kitāba wa-bi-mā kuntum tadrusūna
It does not behoove any human that Allah should give him the Book, judgement and prophethood, and then he should say to the people, ‘Be my servants instead of Allah.’ Rather [he would say], ‘Be a godly people, because of your teaching the Book and because of your studying it.’
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah 'Ali-Imran, Verse 79
79. " It is not for a human being that Allah should give him the Book, the judgement and prophet hood, then he should say to people: 'Be my servants rather than Allah's'; but rather, (he would say): 'Be godly because of your constant teaching the Book and your constant studying (it yourselves)."
Occasion of Revelation
Upon the occasion of the revelation of this verse and the following one, it is cited that once a person came to the Prophet of Islam (S) and said that people greeted him (S) as they did unto others, while they thought that kind of ordinary greeting was not enough for them to respect him. The man asked the Prophet (S) to allow people honour him (S) somehow privileged, and, for example, prostrate before him. The Prophet (S) said that prostration was not authorized before anybody other than Allah. So, they would respect their prophet only as a human being, but they ought to know his due and follow him.
This verse continues stating to nullify and improve the vain thoughts of a group of the People of the Book. It specially reminds the Christians that never Jesus (as) claimed divinity. It also clearly responds the request of those who wanted to repeat those kinds of claims about the Prophet of Islam (S). It says:
Neither the Prophet of Islam (S) nor either of other prophets is rightful to say such a statement. Therefore, the qualities of this kind attributed to prophets were totally made and finished by some unaware persons who had been far from the prophets ' trainings. Then, it adds:
Yes, the Messengers of Allah never exceeded the limits of servitude and worship and they were always humble before Allah more than that others were. It is understood from the aforementioned sentence that the aims of prophets were not only to educate individuals but also to train some godly, virtuous and learned scholars among the societies who could enlighten their environments with their knowledge.