سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 105
وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا۟ وَٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿105﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them. It is they for whom there is an awful torment.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تَكُونُوا۟
takūnū
be
كَٱلَّذِينَ
ka-alladhīna
like those who
تَفَرَّقُوا۟
tafarraqū
became divided
وَٱخْتَلَفُوا۟
wa-ikh'talafū
and differed
مِنۢ
min
from
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
مَا
mā
what
جَآءَهُمُ
jāahumu
came to them
ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ ۚ
l-bayinātu
the clear proofs
وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ
wa-ulāika
And those
لَهُمْ
lahum
for them
عَذَابٌ
ʿadhābun
(is) a punishment
عَظِيمٌۭ
ʿaẓīmun
great
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.
105. And do not be like those who became divided [96] and differed among themselves after clear proofs had come to them. It is they who will have a tremendous punishment.
[96]
The Foundation of Every Deviant Sect is an Innovative Belief, and the Saved Sect:
In this verse, "those people" refers to the People of the Book, i.e., the Jews and Christians, who were divided into countless sects. And each sect calls the other a disbeliever. It is mentioned in a hadith that the Jews were divided into seventy-one (71) sects, the Christians into seventy-two (72) sects, and my Ummah will be divided into seventy-three (73) sects, of which all but one will be destined for Hell. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) asked: Which is the saved sect? He ﷺ replied: "Ma ana 'alayhi wa as-habi"—that is, the sect that will follow the path upon which I and my Companions are.
[ترمذی۔ کتاب الإیمان۔ باب افتراق ھذہ الامۃ]
From this hadith, it is understood that the foundation of every deviant sect is some innovative belief or practice. Therefore, it is necessary for the Muslims of every sect to investigate whether any of their beliefs or practices are such that they did not exist in the time of the Prophet or the Companions. And if, in reality, they are not found, then they should understand that they are involved in misguidance. Here, it should be kept in mind that the leaders or founders of deviant sects are usually religious scholars and intelligent, clever people who have mastery over deduction and interpretation. These people usually deduce from the ambiguous verses and, by misinterpreting the clear verses, try to prove their innovative belief as derived from the Book and Sunnah, and their purpose in this is only to gain leadership of a sect and some other material benefits. Therefore, it is obligatory upon every Muslim not to be content merely with the fact that the leader of his sect is a great scholar—how could he be wrong or mislead others? Rather, every person must investigate for himself.
[96]
The Foundation of Every Deviant Sect is an Innovative Belief, and the Saved Sect:
In this verse, "those people" refers to the People of the Book, i.e., the Jews and Christians, who were divided into countless sects. And each sect calls the other a disbeliever. It is mentioned in a hadith that the Jews were divided into seventy-one (71) sects, the Christians into seventy-two (72) sects, and my Ummah will be divided into seventy-three (73) sects, of which all but one will be destined for Hell. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) asked: Which is the saved sect? He ﷺ replied: "Ma ana 'alayhi wa as-habi"—that is, the sect that will follow the path upon which I and my Companions are.
[ترمذی۔ کتاب الإیمان۔ باب افتراق ھذہ الامۃ]
From this hadith, it is understood that the foundation of every deviant sect is some innovative belief or practice. Therefore, it is necessary for the Muslims of every sect to investigate whether any of their beliefs or practices are such that they did not exist in the time of the Prophet or the Companions. And if, in reality, they are not found, then they should understand that they are involved in misguidance. Here, it should be kept in mind that the leaders or founders of deviant sects are usually religious scholars and intelligent, clever people who have mastery over deduction and interpretation. These people usually deduce from the ambiguous verses and, by misinterpreting the clear verses, try to prove their innovative belief as derived from the Book and Sunnah, and their purpose in this is only to gain leadership of a sect and some other material benefits. Therefore, it is obligatory upon every Muslim not to be content merely with the fact that the leader of his sect is a great scholar—how could he be wrong or mislead others? Rather, every person must investigate for himself.
