فَتَقَطَّعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَهُم بَيْنَهُمْ زُبُرًا ۖ كُلُّ حِزْبٍۭ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ 53
Translations
But they [i.e., the people] divided their religion among them into portions [i.e., sects] - each faction, in what it has, rejoicing.
Transliteration
Fataqattaʿū amrahum baynahum zubaran, kullu ḥizbin bimā ladayhim fariḥūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how people divided their religion into fragments and sects, with each group rejoicing in what they possessed of their own doctrines and interpretations. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to the fragmentation of the original monotheistic message into various conflicting schools of thought and beliefs, where each faction became arrogant about their particular understanding. The term 'zubaran' (fragments/pieces) emphasizes the scattered and divided nature of their religious adherence, warning against sectarianism and the departure from unified divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-Mu'minun, which addresses the characteristics of true believers and contrasts them with those who reject or distort divine messages. The broader context discusses how previous nations divided their religion, serving as a historical lesson for the Quraysh and early Muslims about the dangers of religious fragmentation and sectarian pride.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'This Ummah will split into 73 sects, all of them will be in the Fire except one.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2641). Additionally, the hadith on the importance of following the Sunnah and avoiding innovations (bid'ah) relates to maintaining religious unity against sectarian division.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims should remain united upon the Quran and authentic Sunnah, avoiding arrogant attachment to personal opinions or sect-based identities; this ayah reminds us that true belief requires humility and adherence to divine guidance rather than prideful adherence to human-invented doctrines.