Tafseer of Mary · Maryam · 19:69
Then We will surely extract from every sect those of them who were worst against the Most Merciful in insolence.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The Exalted says: then We shall surely take from every group of them the one who was most rebellious (ʿutuww) and insolent toward Allah, and We shall begin with them.
In accordance with what we have said concerning this, the people of tafsīr also spoke.
* Mention of who said that:
Ibn Bashshār related to us, saying: ʿAbd al-Raḥmān related to us, saying: Sufyān related to us, on the authority of ʿAlī ibn al-Aqmar, on the authority of Abū al-Aḥwaṣ — concerning ثُمَّ لَنَنـزِعَنَّ مِنْ كُلِّ شِيعَةٍ أَيُّهُمْ أَشَدُّ عَلَى الرَّحْمَنِ عِتِيًّا (then We shall surely drag forth from every group the one who was most rebellious toward the All-Merciful): he said: We begin with the great ones in crime, one after the other.
Muḥammad ibn Saʿd related to me, saying: my father related to me, saying: my uncle related to me, saying: my father related to me, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās — concerning His word ثُمَّ لَنَنـزِعَنَّ مِنْ كُلِّ شِيعَةٍ أَيُّهُمْ أَشَدُّ عَلَى الرَّحْمَنِ عِتِيًّا : he says: whoever of them was most disobedient to the All-Merciful — and that disobedience is disobedience to Him through shirk (ascribing partners to Allah).
ʿAlī related to me, saying: ʿAbdullāh related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to us, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās — concerning His word أَيُّهُمْ أَشَدُّ عَلَى الرَّحْمَنِ عِتِيًّا : he says: whoever of them was most disobedient (ʿaṣiyyan).
Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us — and al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us — all on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid — concerning His word مِنْ كُلِّ شِيعَةٍ (from every group): he said: from every community (umma). And concerning His word عِتِيًّا : he said: unbelief (kufr).
Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, on the authority of Mujāhid — to the same effect; and Ibn Jurayj added: then We begin with them.
Abū Jaʿfar says: Al-shīʿa are the people who help one another in a matter. One says: "tashāyaʿa al-qawm" when they help one another; hence they say of a brave man: "he is mushāyaʿ" — that is: aided. The meaning of the words is therefore: then We shall surely drag forth from every group (jamāʿa) that helped one another in unbelief (kufr) in Allah the one who was most rebellious toward Allah, and then begin by casting him into Hell (jahannam). In other contexts al-tashāyuʿ has the meaning of division (tafarruq); hence His word وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا (and they were divided into groups), that is: into separate parties. And hence also the word of Ibn Masʿūd or Saʿd: "I do not like to come to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and have him then say: you have sown division (shayyaʿta) in my community" — in the sense of: you have divided them.
