سُوْرَةُ الْجَاثِيَةِ
Surah Al-Jaathiya (45) — Ayah 17
وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُم بَيِّنَـٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ ۖ فَمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوٓا۟ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقْضِى بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ ﴿17﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And gave them clear proofs in matters [by revealing to them the Taurât (Torah)]. And they differed not until after the knowledge came to them, through envy among themselves. Verily, Your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection about that wherein they used to differ.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُم
waātaynāhum
And We gave them
بَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ
bayyinātin
clear proofs
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلْأَمْرِ ۖ
l-amri
the matter
فَمَا
famā
And not
ٱخْتَلَفُوٓا۟
ikh'talafū
they differed
إِلَّا
illā
except
مِنۢ
min
after
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
مَا
mā
[what]
جَآءَهُمُ
jāahumu
came to them
ٱلْعِلْمُ
l-ʿil'mu
the knowledge
بَغْيًۢا
baghyan
(out of) envy
بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ
baynahum
between themselves
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
رَبَّكَ
rabbaka
your Lord
يَقْضِى
yaqḍī
will judge
بَيْنَهُمْ
baynahum
between them
يَوْمَ
yawma
(on the) Day
ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ
l-qiyāmati
(of) the Resurrection
فِيمَا
fīmā
about what
كَانُوا۟
kānū
they used to
فِيهِ
fīhi
therein
يَخْتَلِفُونَ
yakhtalifūna
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.
And We gave them clear commandments regarding religion [22]. Yet they did not differ except after knowledge had come to them, out of mutual envy and rivalry [23]. And your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ [24].
[22] Here, by "command" is meant the establishment of the religion; that all instructions had been given to them to establish and implement Allah's religion in the world, and these instructions were absolutely clear.
[23]
The Real Causes of Sectarianism: Carnal Desires
That is, the reason for differences or sectarianism is not that there are no clear instructions from Allah Almighty to decide any dispute, and the matter becomes contentious. Rather, the causes of these differences and sectarianism are something else entirely. To fully understand these causes, just look at the current sects among Muslims. The Book and Sunnah are the same, and they are present with all the sects, and every sect tries to prove the specific beliefs and practices of its sect as correct by reasoning from the Book and Sunnah. Then, some interpret the Book of Allah incorrectly and make it conform to their own ideology. Some place the Book and Sunnah under the sayings of their imams and derive only those meanings from them which are in accordance with the sayings of their imam. Then, personal interests, such as the pursuit of wealth and status, are also included in this. Everyone is concerned with raising their own flag. Then, the mutual pulling and stubbornness among the sects further widens the gulf of differences among them. Some differences are religious in nature, and some are political. The result is that, despite the Book and Sunnah being one, the Muslim Ummah has been divided into dozens of sects. This was also the condition of the Children of Israel.
[24]
No One Is Willing to Abandon Prejudice
These sects become so extreme in their specific ideologies and beliefs, and such prejudice develops among them, that it becomes impossible for them to end the differences. In this world, far from abandoning these differences, they are not even willing to listen to the idea that such-and-such belief or issue of theirs is wrong according to the Book and Sunnah. On the Day of Resurrection, Allah Almighty will make it absolutely clear to them that I had given this command in such a way, and you distorted the words of this command to suit your own interests, or the real reason for your difference was not the propagation of religion but something else. Then, at that time, they will not be able to utter a word in objection to Allah's decision.
[22] Here, by "command" is meant the establishment of the religion; that all instructions had been given to them to establish and implement Allah's religion in the world, and these instructions were absolutely clear.
[23]
The Real Causes of Sectarianism: Carnal Desires
That is, the reason for differences or sectarianism is not that there are no clear instructions from Allah Almighty to decide any dispute, and the matter becomes contentious. Rather, the causes of these differences and sectarianism are something else entirely. To fully understand these causes, just look at the current sects among Muslims. The Book and Sunnah are the same, and they are present with all the sects, and every sect tries to prove the specific beliefs and practices of its sect as correct by reasoning from the Book and Sunnah. Then, some interpret the Book of Allah incorrectly and make it conform to their own ideology. Some place the Book and Sunnah under the sayings of their imams and derive only those meanings from them which are in accordance with the sayings of their imam. Then, personal interests, such as the pursuit of wealth and status, are also included in this. Everyone is concerned with raising their own flag. Then, the mutual pulling and stubbornness among the sects further widens the gulf of differences among them. Some differences are religious in nature, and some are political. The result is that, despite the Book and Sunnah being one, the Muslim Ummah has been divided into dozens of sects. This was also the condition of the Children of Israel.
[24]
No One Is Willing to Abandon Prejudice
These sects become so extreme in their specific ideologies and beliefs, and such prejudice develops among them, that it becomes impossible for them to end the differences. In this world, far from abandoning these differences, they are not even willing to listen to the idea that such-and-such belief or issue of theirs is wrong according to the Book and Sunnah. On the Day of Resurrection, Allah Almighty will make it absolutely clear to them that I had given this command in such a way, and you distorted the words of this command to suit your own interests, or the real reason for your difference was not the propagation of religion but something else. Then, at that time, they will not be able to utter a word in objection to Allah's decision.
