إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا۟ دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا۟ شِيَعًا لَّسْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِى شَىْءٍ ۚ إِنَّمَآ أَمْرُهُمْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْعَلُونَ 159
Translations
Indeed, those who have divided their religion and become sects - you, [O Muḥammad], are not [associated] with them in anything. Their affair is only [left] to Allāh; then He will inform them about what they used to do.
Transliteration
Inna alladhina farraqoo deenaham wa kanoo shiyaan lasta minhum fee shay'in innama amruhum ilallah thumma yunabbihum bima kanoo yaf'aloon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who fragment and divide their religion into competing sects and factions, declaring that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has no association with such divisiveness. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Allah alone will judge these people for their schisms and will inform them of their deeds on the Day of Judgment. The verse emphasizes religious unity as a fundamental principle while reserving final judgment to Allah, who sees all intentions and actions.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Mecca during a period when the Prophet was consolidating the Muslim community's identity. The ayah addresses the tendency of people to create sects based on ego, cultural differences, or misunderstanding of doctrine—a concern that would intensify after the Prophet's time. It occurs within Surah Al-An'am's broader theme of monotheism and rejecting idolatry and false divisions in faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'My ummah will be divided into seventy-three sects, all of which will be in the Fire except one.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2641). Also related: 'The best of you are my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them' (Sahih Bukhari 2509), emphasizing adherence to united principles.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims must prioritize religious unity and reject unnecessary sectarian divisions while maintaining core Islamic principles—our responsibility is to follow truth together, while Allah's role is to judge our intentions and deeds.
Related Ayahs
وَمَا نُرْسِلُ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ ۖ فَمَنْ ءَامَنَ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
And We send not the messengers except as bringers of good tidings and warners. So whoever believes and reforms - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
فَالِقُ ٱلْإِصْبَاحِ وَجَعَلَ ٱلَّيْلَ سَكَنًا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ حُسْبَانًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ
[He is] the cleaver of daybreak and has made the night for rest and the sun and moon for calculation. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.
وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَفِسْقٌ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِهِمْ لِيُجَـٰدِلُوكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ إِنَّكُمْ لَمُشْرِكُونَ
And do not eat of that upon which the name of Allāh has not been mentioned, for indeed, it is grave disobedience. And indeed do the devils inspire their allies [among men] to dispute with you. And if you were to obey them, indeed, you would be associators [of others with Him].
وَذَرُوا۟ ظَـٰهِرَ ٱلْإِثْمِ وَبَاطِنَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْسِبُونَ ٱلْإِثْمَ سَيُجْزَوْنَ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَقْتَرِفُونَ
And leave [i.e., desist from] what is apparent of sin and what is concealed thereof. Indeed, those who earn [blame for] sin will be recompensed for that which they used to commit.