سُوْرَةُ يُوْنُسَ
Surah Yunus (10) — Ayah 19
وَمَا كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ إِلَّآ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً فَٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ ۚ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ فِيمَا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ ﴿19﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Mankind were but one community (i.e. on one religion - Islâmic Monotheism), then they differed (later); and had not it been for a Word that went forth before from your Lord, it would have been settled between them regarding what they differed.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
And not
كَانَ
kāna
was
ٱلنَّاسُ
l-nāsu
the mankind
إِلَّآ
illā
but
أُمَّةًۭ
ummatan
a community
وَٰحِدَةًۭ
wāḥidatan
one
فَٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ ۚ
fa-ikh'talafū
then they differed
وَلَوْلَا
walawlā
And had (it) not been
كَلِمَةٌۭ
kalimatun
a word
سَبَقَتْ
sabaqat
(that) preceded
مِن
min
from
رَّبِّكَ
rabbika
your Lord
لَقُضِىَ
laquḍiya
surely, it (would) have been judged
بَيْنَهُمْ
baynahum
between them
فِيمَا
fīmā
concerning what
فِيهِ
fīhi
[therein]
يَخْتَلِفُونَ
yakhtalifūna
they differ
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.
19. Mankind was [once] a single community, then they differed among themselves [30]. And had it not been for a word that had already gone forth from your Lord [31], the matter in which they differed would have been settled between them.
[30] That is, after Sayyiduna Adam (peace be upon him), for a long time people remained upon one religion, then they differed and became sects. Some of them, after accepting the influence of celestial bodies on human life, became their worshippers, and some people made idols of their elders and began to worship them. Thus, leaving the straight path of monotheism, they set out upon the ways of polytheism.
[31]
What is the Preordained Word?
That preordained matter was that since this world is a place of action and a place of trial, therefore, no one will be punished immediately for his crime. If this matter had not already been in the Divine Will, then whenever some people formed a new sect, Allah's punishment would have immediately destroyed them, and thus this world would have ended long ago. And if some people had survived and they had brought faith, then such compelled faith would have been of no benefit.
[30] That is, after Sayyiduna Adam (peace be upon him), for a long time people remained upon one religion, then they differed and became sects. Some of them, after accepting the influence of celestial bodies on human life, became their worshippers, and some people made idols of their elders and began to worship them. Thus, leaving the straight path of monotheism, they set out upon the ways of polytheism.
[31]
What is the Preordained Word?
That preordained matter was that since this world is a place of action and a place of trial, therefore, no one will be punished immediately for his crime. If this matter had not already been in the Divine Will, then whenever some people formed a new sect, Allah's punishment would have immediately destroyed them, and thus this world would have ended long ago. And if some people had survived and they had brought faith, then such compelled faith would have been of no benefit.
