Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 76

(Ayah 76) ➊ { اِنَّ هٰذَا الْقُرْاٰنَ يَقُصُّ …:} Mufassir Razi has stated the connection of this verse with the previous verses as follows: After Allah Almighty discussed the affirmation of the beginning of creation and its resurrection, now the discussion on prophethood begins, and since the Qur’an itself is the greatest proof of your (Prophet Muhammad’s) prophethood, it is mentioned first. That is, this Qur’an is among your miracles, which are proof that you have been sent by Allah Almighty. For the Children of Israel, who are scholars of the Torah and the Gospel, this is proof because it mentions most of those things in which they used to differ, and it also clarifies what is the truth and correct matter among them.

➋ { اَكْثَرَ الَّذِيْ هُمْ فِيْهِ يَخْتَلِفُوْنَ:} The Jews and Christians were divided into many sects, and because of this, there were severe differences among them. For example, the Jews called Jesus (peace be upon him) a liar and illegitimate. The Christians went to such extremes that they made him the very essence of divinity or the son of God. (We seek refuge with Allah) Similarly, there were many other matters in which there were severe differences among them. The Qur’an clarified the path of truth and moderation among them, which is proof of the truth of the Qur’an. (See Ma’idah: 48) If they had adopted this path, there would never have been any differences among them, and all their sectarianism would have ended.

➌ As for the statement that the Qur’an mentions most of those things for the Children of Israel in which they differ, this indicates that it did not mention many matters in which they differed, because mentioning them would not have served any important purpose, and also because in this there is concealment of some of their mistakes and slips that they committed. Elsewhere, Allah Almighty has described not mentioning these things as forgiveness from Himself, as He said: «{ يٰۤاَهْلَ الْكِتٰبِ قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُوْلُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ كَثِيْرًا مِّمَّا كُنْتُمْ تُخْفُوْنَ مِنَ الْكِتٰبِ وَ يَعْفُوْا عَنْ كَثِيْرٍ قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ نُوْرٌ وَّ كِتٰبٌ مُّبِيْنٌ}» [ المائدۃ : ۱۵ ] “O People of the Book! Surely Our Messenger has come to you, clarifying for you much of what you used to hide from the Book, and overlooking much. Surely there has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book.”

76-1. The People of the Book, that is, the Jews and Christians, were divided into different sects and groups. Their beliefs also differed from one another. The Jews used to insult ʿĪsā (علیہ السلام), while the Christians exaggerated in his status, to the extent that they declared him to be Allah or the son of Allah. The Noble Qur'an mentioned such things about them, through which the truth becomes clear, and if they accept the facts stated by the Qur'an, then their doctrinal differences and division and discord could be reduced.

Surely, this Qur'an explains to the Children of Israel most of those matters in which they differ. [80]

[80]
The Quran’s Indication Regarding the Mutual Differences of Bani Israel:

These differences were not only in beliefs but also in rulings and stories. The differences in beliefs were such that, for example, one sect among the Jews became deniers of the Hereafter. Then, among them, some sects had completely incorrect concepts regarding the Hereafter, which the Quran has mentioned on several occasions. Among the Christians, there were differences regarding Isa (Jesus) ؑ; some considered him the son of Allah, some regarded him as Allah Himself. Some considered the son to be eternal like the father, while others regarded him as created and temporal. Some said that Allah had handed over all His powers to His son. Some say that he is the third of three. And the differences in rulings were due to their distortions of words and meanings. They would conceal many verses and alter the meanings of many verses, and such actions of theirs are clearly mentioned at numerous places in the Quran. The result of all these differences was that they split into seventy-two sects. The Quran came and not only mentioned these differences but also determined the correct path among them, stating that in such-and-such matter, the real truth is this, and in such-and-such, the truth is that much. The purpose of mentioning this verse here is that, at this time, the differences between the disbelievers of Makkah and the Muslims the Quran is also indicating the correct path in these as well.