وَمَا تَفَرَّقُوٓا۟ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى لَّقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُورِثُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ مُرِيبٍ 14
Translations
And they did not become divided until after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord [postponing the penalty] until a specified time, it would have been concluded between them. And indeed, those who were granted inheritance of the Scripture after them are, concerning it, in disquieting doubt.
Transliteration
Wa mā tafarraqū illā min ba'da mā jāahumu al-'ilmu baghyan baynahum. Wa lawlā kalimah sabaqat min rabbika ilā ajal musammā laqudiya baynahum. Wa inna alladhīna ūrithū al-kitāba min ba'dihim lafī shakkin minhu murīb.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the reality that people of earlier scriptures divided into sects not out of ignorance, but from envious rivalry (baghy) after knowledge came to them. The verse explains that only Allah's prior decree delaying final judgment prevented immediate punishment for their divisions. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari note this refers particularly to the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) who split into various groups despite receiving clear revelation, and warns that subsequent generations who inherited the Scripture remain in grave doubt and uncertainty about it.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ash-Shuraa, a Meccan surah addressing the universal pattern of human religious sectarianism. The broader context discusses how Allah sent Messengers with clear Signs, yet people divided into parties even after receiving knowledge. This ayah specifically illustrates how doctrinal divisions among Jews and Christians arose from worldly motives rather than lack of clarity, serving as a warning to the Muslim community to maintain unity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) warned: 'My ummah will divide into seventy-three sects, all of them in the Fire except one' (Sunan Ibn Majah and Sunan At-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith emphasizing consultation (shura) in Surah 42's opening verses relates to preventing such divisions through proper community deliberation.
Themes
Key Lesson
Divisions in religion typically stem not from ignorance but from ego, envy, and worldly interests—believers must guard against letting personal desires override scriptural unity. Additionally, the inheritance of sacred knowledge without inner conviction and sincere belief leads only to doubt and uncertainty rather than spiritual benefit.
Related Ayahs
فَلِذَٰلِكَ فَٱدْعُ ۖ وَٱسْتَقِمْ كَمَآ أُمِرْتَ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ ۖ وَقُلْ ءَامَنتُ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن كِتَـٰبٍ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ لِأَعْدِلَ بَيْنَكُمُ ۖ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمْ ۖ لَنَآ أَعْمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ ۖ لَا حُجَّةَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ ۖ ٱللَّهُ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَنَا ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
So to that [religion of Allāh] invite, [O Muḥammad], and remain on a right course as you are commanded and do not follow their inclinations but say, "I have believed in what Allāh has revealed of scripture [i.e., the Qur’ān], and I have been commanded to do justice among you. Allāh is our Lord and your Lord. For us are our deeds, and for you your deeds. There is no [need for] argument between us and you. Allāh will bring us together, and to Him is the [final] destination."
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِ ٱلْجَوَارِ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ كَٱلْأَعْلَـٰمِ
And of His signs are the ships in the sea, like mountains.
عٓسٓقٓ
ʿAyn, Seen, Qāf.
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ ٱلْغَيْثَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا قَنَطُوا۟ وَيَنشُرُ رَحْمَتَهُۥ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْوَلِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ
And it is He who sends down the rain after they had despaired and spreads His mercy. And He is the Protector, the Praiseworthy.