Tafseer of Consultation · Ash-Shura · 42:14
And they did not become divided until after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord [postponing the penalty] until a specified time, it would have been concluded between them. And indeed, those who were granted inheritance of the Scripture after them are, concerning it, in disquieting doubt.
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 explanation of the saying of the Exalted: وَمَا تَفَرَّقُوا إِلا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ وَلَوْلا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِنْ رَبِّكَ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى لَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُورِثُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ لَفِي شَكٍّ مِنْهُ مُرِيبٍ (42:14) — ("And they did not become divided except after the knowledge had come to them, out of mutual envy. And were it not for a word that had preceded from your Lord until an appointed term, judgment would already have been passed between them. And indeed, those who inherited the Book after them are in disquieting doubt concerning it.")
The Exalted, whose praise is exalted, says: and those who associate partners with Allāh did not become divided in their religions, so that they became (different) factions, except after the knowledge had come to them — namely, that what Allāh has commanded them and with which He sent Nūḥ is the establishment of the true religion, and that you should not become divided therein.
Ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: Ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda: وَمَا تَفَرَّقُوا إِلا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ ("And they did not become divided except after the knowledge had come to them"), whereupon he said: beware of division, for it is destruction. بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ ("out of mutual envy") — He says: out of the unlawful transgression of some of you against others, and out of jealousy and enmity for the sake of pursuing the world. وَلَوْلا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِنْ رَبِّكَ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى ("And were it not for a word that had preceded from your Lord until an appointed term") — the Exalted, whose praise is tremendous, says: and were it not for a word that has preceded, O Muḥammad, from your Lord, that He would not hasten the punishment upon them, but rather that He has deferred that to an appointed term — and that appointed term is, according to what has been mentioned, the Day of Resurrection.
* Mention of who said that:
Muḥammad related to us, saying: Aḥmad related to us, saying: Asbāṭ related to us, on the authority of al-Suddī: وَلَوْلا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِنْ رَبِّكَ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى ("And were it not for a word that had preceded from your Lord until an appointed term") — he said: the Day of Resurrection.
And His saying: لَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ ("judgment would already have been passed between them") — He says: then your Lord would have settled the judgment between these who disagree concerning the truth with which He sent His prophet Nūḥ, after they had known it, by destroying the perpetrators of falsehood among them and granting victory to the adherents of the truth over them.
And His saying: وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُورِثُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ ("And indeed, those who inherited the Book after them") — He says: and indeed, those to whom Allāh gave His Book after these who disagreed concerning the truth — the Tawrāt and the Injīl. لَفِي شَكٍّ مِنْهُ مُرِيبٍ ("are in disquieting doubt concerning it") — He says: are in disquieting doubt concerning the religion which Allāh commanded to Nūḥ, which He revealed to you, O Muḥammad, and which He commanded both of you to establish.
And in agreement with what we have said concerning the meaning of His saying: وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُورِثُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ ("And indeed, those who inherited the Book after them"), spoke the exegetes (of the Qurʾān).
* Mention of who said that:
Muḥammad related to us, saying: Aḥmad related to us, saying: Asbāṭ related to us, on the authority of al-Suddī, concerning His saying: وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُورِثُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ ("And indeed, those who inherited the Book after them"), he said: the Jews and the Christians.
