كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فِيمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ فَهَدَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ 213
Translations
Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allāh sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over it [i.e., the Scripture] except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allāh guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allāh guides whom He wills to a straight path.
Transliteration
Kāna an-nāsu ummatan wāḥidatan fa-ba'atha Allāhu an-nabiyyīna mubashshirīna wa-mundhirīna wa-anzala ma'ahumu al-kitāba bil-ḥaqqi liyaḥkuma bayna an-nāsi fīmā ikhtalafu fīh. Wa-mā ikhtalafu fīhi illā alladhīna ūtūhu min ba'da mā jā'athum al-bayyinātu baghyan baynamhum. Fa-hadā Allāhu alladhīna āmanū limā ikhtalafu fīhi mina al-ḥaqqi bi-idhnih. Wa-Allāhu yahdī man yashā'u ilā ṣirāṭin mustaqīm.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that humanity was originally united upon one creed (Tawhīd), and Allah sent prophets as bearers of good tidings and warners to guide them, along with scriptures containing truth to adjudicate their disputes. The scholars of tafsīr, including Ibn Kathīr and Al-Ṭabarī, emphasize that differences arose only among those who received clear signs yet rejected them out of worldly spite and jealousy. Allah then granted those who believed guidance to the truth regarding their disagreements, demonstrating that faith and submission to divine guidance leads to certainty and unity.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the Medinan section of Surah Al-Baqarah and addresses the historical pattern of human deviation from divine guidance. It provides theological context for the Mission of the Prophet (ﷺ) and explains why Allah sent multiple prophets throughout history—a theme prominent in Medina where the Prophet encountered differing religious communities (Jews, Christians, and polytheists).
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of people are those of my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them' (Sahih Al-Bukhari 2652). This relates to the ayah's emphasis on following prophetic guidance. Additionally, the hadith on the '73 sects' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2641) illustrates how humanity divides despite receiving clear guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that religious discord arises not from ambiguity in divine guidance, but from the human heart's tendency toward arrogance and vested interests. For modern believers, it emphasizes that unity in faith comes through sincere adherence to prophetic teachings and the Quran, requiring both intellectual acceptance and a heart purified from envy and worldly ambition.