The Holy Quran 42:14 — Surah Ash-Shuraa

Arabic text

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

Translation

(However, despite the command not to be divided,) They (many of the followers of the Ambiyaa) divided only after knowledge (of their Deen) came to them, because of the animosity between themselves (mutual dissent). If it were not for a decree that issued forth from your Rabb (allowing them grace) until a prescribed (appointed) term, their matter would have been decided (they would have been punished ﷺ immediately). Indeed, those (the Arabs during the time of Rasulullaah ﷺ) who were given the Book (the Qur'aan) after them (the previous nations) are in grave doubt concerning it.

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The wisdom of creation in the differences over beliefs: that is, those who brought difference into tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and the fundamentals of religion and distorted the heavenly Scriptures did not do so out of any misunderstanding or confusion.

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