سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْعَامِ
Surah Al-An'aam (6) — Ayah 159
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا۟ دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا۟ شِيَعًا لَّسْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِى شَىْءٍ ۚ إِنَّمَآ أَمْرُهُمْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْعَلُونَ ﴿159﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into sects (all kinds of religious sects), you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) have no concern in them in the least. Their affair is only with Allâh, Who then will tell them what they used to do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
فَرَّقُوا۟
farraqū
divide
دِينَهُمْ
dīnahum
their religion
وَكَانُوا۟
wakānū
and become
شِيَعًۭا
shiyaʿan
sects
لَّسْتَ
lasta
you are not
مِنْهُمْ
min'hum
with them
فِى
fī
in
شَىْءٍ ۚ
shayin
anything
إِنَّمَآ
innamā
Only
أَمْرُهُمْ
amruhum
their affair
إِلَى
ilā
(is) with
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
يُنَبِّئُهُم
yunabbi-uhum
He will inform them
بِمَا
bimā
of what
كَانُوا۟
kānū
they used to
يَفْعَلُونَ
yafʿalūna
do
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 159){اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ فَرَّقُوْا دِيْنَهُمْ …… :} That is, the original religion has always been one, whose foundation is the oneness of Allah, belief in the Day of Judgment, belief in the prophets, and obedience to them. See Surah Al-Mu’minun (52, 53), Surah Yunus (19), Surah Al-An’am (153), and Surah Al-Baqarah (213). There may be some differences in rulings according to their respective times, but the essence of all is one Islam. With the advent of the Last Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, Allah Almighty has made it obligatory for every person until the Day of Judgment to believe in him and to follow his way. Now, whoever adopts a separate path and forms a separate group, whether he is an atheist, a polytheist, a Jew, or a Christian, Allah Almighty is commanding His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, that you are free from them and you have no connection with them. Similarly, among your Ummah, after accepting Islam, those who, apart from the commands of Allah and His Messenger, that is, apart from the Qur’an and Sunnah, adopt a new way, that is, innovation, and form their own separate group, you are free from them, you have no connection with them. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The Jews split into seventy-one or seventy-two sects, and the Christians also split into the same number of sects, and my Ummah will split into seventy-three (73) sects.” [ أبو داوٗد، السنۃ، باب شرح السنۃ : ۴۵۹۶۔ ترمذی : ۲۶۴۰۔ ابن ماجہ: ۳۹۹۲۔ ابن حبان : ۶۷۳۱ ] Mu’awiyah bin Abi Sufyan, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, stood among us and said: “Be aware, those before you from the People of the Book split into seventy-two sects, and this Ummah will split into seventy-three sects, seventy-two will be in the Fire and one in Paradise, and that is the Jama’ah.” [ أبو داوٗد، السنۃ، باب شرح السنۃ : ۴۵۹۷۔ أحمد : 102/4، ح : ۱۶۹۴۰ ] In the narration of Abdullah bin Amr, may Allah be pleased with them both, it is stated: “All of them will be in the Fire except one sect.” The people asked: “O Messenger of Allah! Who are they?” He, peace and blessings be upon him, said: [ مَا أَنَا عَلَيْهِ وَ أَصْحَابِيْ ] “That which I and my companions are upon.” [ ترمذی، الإیمان، باب ما جاء فی افتراق ھٰذہ الأمۃ : ۲۶۴۱ ] For further references and authenticity of this hadith, see [السلسلة الصحيحة : 402/1 to ۴۱۴، ح : ۲۰۳، ۲۰۴ ]
Remember that differences in thought and ijtihad, or differences due to lack of knowledge, were also found among the Companions and the Followers, but they were all one group; they did not form sects for the sake of following any personality. What is meant are those people who made their own separate leader and, by declaring every right and wrong thing of his as religion, formed a separate sect. This thing did not exist in the three best generations of Muslims; it was this very thing that destroyed the previous nations of the prophets, and it also became the cause of corruption in the Ummah of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, that even after the clear command of the Qur’an and Hadith, some people, due to their faction, stubbornly clung to the wrong statements of their imam or spiritual guide and separated, and the gathering of Muslims on the Book and Sunnah, leaving the sects based on personalities, remained only a dream, the fulfillment of which now seems possible only through a powerful caliph or Mahdi or ‘Isa, peace be upon him.
Remember that differences in thought and ijtihad, or differences due to lack of knowledge, were also found among the Companions and the Followers, but they were all one group; they did not form sects for the sake of following any personality. What is meant are those people who made their own separate leader and, by declaring every right and wrong thing of his as religion, formed a separate sect. This thing did not exist in the three best generations of Muslims; it was this very thing that destroyed the previous nations of the prophets, and it also became the cause of corruption in the Ummah of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, that even after the clear command of the Qur’an and Hadith, some people, due to their faction, stubbornly clung to the wrong statements of their imam or spiritual guide and separated, and the gathering of Muslims on the Book and Sunnah, leaving the sects based on personalities, remained only a dream, the fulfillment of which now seems possible only through a powerful caliph or Mahdi or ‘Isa, peace be upon him.
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
159. 1 Some people take this to refer to the Jews and Christians who were divided into different sects. Some take it to refer to the polytheists, that some polytheists worshipped angels, some worshipped stars, and some worshipped various idols. But this verse is general, that all those people are included in it, including disbelievers and polytheists, who, leaving the religion of Allah and the path of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, adopt another religion or another way, thus choosing the path of division and discord. The meaning of "Shi'a" is sects and groups, and this applies to every nation that was united in matters of religion, but then various individuals among them, considering the opinion of one of their leaders as authoritative and final, separated their path, even if that opinion was against the truth and correctness.
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
159. As for those who have divided their religion and become sects [182], you have no concern with them. Their matter is with Allah alone. Then He will inform them about what they used to do.
[182]
The Foundation of Sectarianism is the Love of Status and Wealth:
Sectarianism is such a curse that it shatters the unity of the nation, and the reputation and dignity of such a people fall in the eyes of the world. For this reason, Allah Almighty has described sectarianism as a form of punishment, and in another place, sectarians are mentioned with the word "mushrikeen" (polytheists). The reason is that the beginning of any religious sect is from some innovative belief or practice. For example, elevating a prophet, messenger, elder, or saint from their true status and associating them with the attributes of Allah Almighty, or exaggerating someone's rank, or harboring malice and enmity towards someone, etc. This is the very excess in religion (ghuluw fid-deen) from which Allah Almighty has strictly forbidden, and most innovative acts are related to the Sunnah of the Messenger. Abandoning any Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ or introducing a new act into the religion with the intention of reward, which means that there was a deficiency in the religion that is now being fulfilled. Then, these sectarianisms are generally of two types: one religious, such as extremism in following a particular Imam, or making a minor difference important and an important difference minor; and the other political, such as forming sects on regional, national, linguistic, or color-based grounds. In short, in the foundation of all the sects that are formed, you will find two things at work: the love of wealth and the love of status. That is why the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Two hungry wolves do not cause as much destruction to a flock of sheep as the love of wealth or the love of status destroys a person's faith." [ترمذي بحواله مشكوٰة۔ كتاب الرقاق الفصل الثاني]
Also, Hudhaifah bin Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Prophet ﷺ said, "Hold fast to the congregation of Muslims and their Imam." I asked, "If there is no congregation and no Imam, what should I do?" He replied, "Then keep away from all those sects, even if you have to chew the roots of trees, until death comes to you in that state." [بخاري۔ كتاب الفتن۔ باب كيف الا مر اذا لم تكن جماعة مسلم۔ كتاب الامارة باب وجوب ملازمة المسلمين عند ظهور الفتن]
Also, the Prophet ﷺ said, "My Ummah will split into seventy-two sects, of which one will be saved and the rest will be in Hell." The Companions asked: "Which will be the saved sect?" He replied, "The one which follows the path on which I and my Companions are." [ترمذي۔ كتاب الايمان۔ باب افتراق هذه الامة]
[182]
The Foundation of Sectarianism is the Love of Status and Wealth:
Sectarianism is such a curse that it shatters the unity of the nation, and the reputation and dignity of such a people fall in the eyes of the world. For this reason, Allah Almighty has described sectarianism as a form of punishment, and in another place, sectarians are mentioned with the word "mushrikeen" (polytheists). The reason is that the beginning of any religious sect is from some innovative belief or practice. For example, elevating a prophet, messenger, elder, or saint from their true status and associating them with the attributes of Allah Almighty, or exaggerating someone's rank, or harboring malice and enmity towards someone, etc. This is the very excess in religion (ghuluw fid-deen) from which Allah Almighty has strictly forbidden, and most innovative acts are related to the Sunnah of the Messenger. Abandoning any Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ or introducing a new act into the religion with the intention of reward, which means that there was a deficiency in the religion that is now being fulfilled. Then, these sectarianisms are generally of two types: one religious, such as extremism in following a particular Imam, or making a minor difference important and an important difference minor; and the other political, such as forming sects on regional, national, linguistic, or color-based grounds. In short, in the foundation of all the sects that are formed, you will find two things at work: the love of wealth and the love of status. That is why the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Two hungry wolves do not cause as much destruction to a flock of sheep as the love of wealth or the love of status destroys a person's faith." [ترمذي بحواله مشكوٰة۔ كتاب الرقاق الفصل الثاني]
Also, Hudhaifah bin Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Prophet ﷺ said, "Hold fast to the congregation of Muslims and their Imam." I asked, "If there is no congregation and no Imam, what should I do?" He replied, "Then keep away from all those sects, even if you have to chew the roots of trees, until death comes to you in that state." [بخاري۔ كتاب الفتن۔ باب كيف الا مر اذا لم تكن جماعة مسلم۔ كتاب الامارة باب وجوب ملازمة المسلمين عند ظهور الفتن]
Also, the Prophet ﷺ said, "My Ummah will split into seventy-two sects, of which one will be saved and the rest will be in Hell." The Companions asked: "Which will be the saved sect?" He replied, "The one which follows the path on which I and my Companions are." [ترمذي۔ كتاب الايمان۔ باب افتراق هذه الامة]
