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
Translations
And We gave them clear proofs of the matter [of religion]. And they did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. Indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
Transliteration
Wa-ataynāhum bayyinātin min al-amr famā ikhtalafu illā min ba'da mā jāʾahum al-ʿilm baghyan baynahum. Inna rabbaka yaqdī baynahum yawm al-qiyāmah fīmā kānū fīhi yakhtalifūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah granted the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) clear proofs and guidance from His religion, yet they did not differ except out of jealousy and spite after knowledge had come to them. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah illustrates that their disagreement was not due to lack of clarity in the message, but rather from wilful rejection and tribal rivalry (baghyan). On the Day of Judgment, Allah will judge between them regarding all their disputes and make manifest the truth of the matter.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Jathiyah's discussion of Allah's signs and the rejection of disbelievers despite clear evidence. It specifically addresses the historical pattern of the People of the Book receiving divine knowledge yet choosing to dispute over it from motives of arrogance and worldly rivalry, setting the stage for the final judgment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The most hated of all people to Allah is the most quarrelsome' (reported in various forms in adab literature). Related thematically: 'Whoever follows a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise' (Sahih Muslim 2699), contrasting those who seek knowledge sincerely versus those who dispute after receiving it.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that possessing religious knowledge is not sufficient without sincere intention; disputes rooted in ego, jealousy, and desire for worldly gain contradict the purpose of revelation. We should examine our own disagreements in faith and scholarship to ensure they stem from genuine seeking of truth rather than pride or sectarian interests, knowing that Allah will ultimately judge all our disputes with perfect justice.
Related Ayahs
وَبَدَا لَهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And the evil consequences of what they did will appear to them, and they will be enveloped by what they used to ridicule.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَٱلسَّاعَةُ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا قُلْتُم مَّا نَدْرِى مَا ٱلسَّاعَةُ إِن نَّظُنُّ إِلَّا ظَنًّا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُسْتَيْقِنِينَ
And when it was said, 'Indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth and the Hour [is coming] - no doubt about it,' you said, 'We know not what is the Hour. We assume only assumption, and we are not convinced.'"
أَفَرَءَيْتَ مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُۥ هَوَىٰهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِۦ وَقَلْبِهِۦ وَجَعَلَ عَلَىٰ بَصَرِهِۦ غِشَـٰوَةً فَمَن يَهْدِيهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Have you seen he who has taken as his god his [own] desire, and Allāh has sent him astray due to knowledge and has set a seal upon his hearing and his heart and put over his vision a veil? So who will guide him after Allāh? Then will you not be reminded?
وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَفَلَمْ تَكُنْ ءَايَـٰتِى تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فَٱسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ وَكُنتُمْ قَوْمًا مُّجْرِمِينَ
But as for those who disbelieved, [it will be said], "Were not Our verses recited to you, but you were arrogant and became a criminal people?