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 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]
