وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ فَٱخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ ۗ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ مُرِيبٍ 45
Translations
And We had already given Moses the Scripture, but it came under disagreement. And if not for a word [i.e., decree] that preceded from your Lord, it would have been concluded between them. And indeed they are, concerning it [i.e., the Qur’ān], in disquieting doubt.
Transliteration
Wa laqad ātaynā Mūsā al-kitāba fa-ikhtulifa fīh. Wa law lā kalimatun sabaqat min rabbika laqudiya baynahum. Wa innahum lafī shakkin minhu murīb.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah granted the Torah to Musa (Moses), yet the Children of Israel disputed and differed regarding its teachings and laws. Had it not been for Allah's prior decree of respite and delayed punishment, Allah would have judged between them immediately for their disputes. Ibn Kathir notes that despite receiving clear guidance, they remained in grave doubt about the Scripture—a manifestation of their spiritual blindness and arrogance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Fussilat (a Meccan chapter) which addresses the Quran as a detailed explanation of divine guidance. The context references the historical pattern of the Children of Israel's rejection and distortion of previous scriptures, serving as a warning to the Meccan disbelievers who similarly rejected the Quranic message. The surah emphasizes that God's signs are clear, yet people choose to turn away.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those in my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them' (Sahih Bukhari). This relates to the theme of the Israelites' later generations losing clarity of their scripture. Also relevant: 'Verily, you will follow the ways of those before you' (Sunan Ibn Majah), warning against repeating the mistakes of previous communities.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that possessing divine guidance is insufficient without sincere acceptance and application; the Children of Israel's disputes over the Torah demonstrate that knowledge without certainty of heart leads to misguidance. For Muslims today, it serves as a warning against sectarian divisions and encourages us to seek unity upon the clear teachings of the Quran and authentic Sunnah.
Related Ayahs
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ
And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allāh and does righteousness and says, "Indeed, I am of the Muslims."
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا لَا يَخْفَوْنَ عَلَيْنَآ ۗ أَفَمَن يُلْقَىٰ فِى ٱلنَّارِ خَيْرٌ أَم مَّن يَأْتِىٓ ءَامِنًا يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۚ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ مَا شِئْتُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
Indeed, those who inject deviation into Our verses are not concealed from Us. So, is he who is cast into the Fire better or he who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do whatever you will; indeed, He is Seeing of what you do.
لَّا يَسْـَٔمُ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مِن دُعَآءِ ٱلْخَيْرِ وَإِن مَّسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ فَيَـُٔوسٌ قَنُوطٌ
Man is not weary of supplication for good [things], but if evil touches him, he is hopeless and despairing.
وَيَوْمَ يُحْشَرُ أَعْدَآءُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], the Day when the enemies of Allāh will be gathered to the Fire while they are [driven], assembled in rows,