وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ فَٱخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ ۗ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ مُرِيبٍ 45
Translations
And We had already given Moses the Scripture, but it came under disagreement. And if not for a word [i.e., decree] that preceded from your Lord, it would have been concluded between them. And indeed they are, concerning it [i.e., the Qur’ān], in disquieting doubt.
Transliteration
Wa laqad ātaynā Mūsā al-kitāba fa-ikhtulifa fīh. Wa law lā kalimatun sabaqat min rabbika laqudiya baynahum. Wa innahum lafī shakkin minhu murīb.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah granted the Torah to Musa (Moses), yet the Children of Israel disputed and differed regarding its teachings and laws. Had it not been for Allah's prior decree of respite and delayed punishment, Allah would have judged between them immediately for their disputes. Ibn Kathir notes that despite receiving clear guidance, they remained in grave doubt about the Scripture—a manifestation of their spiritual blindness and arrogance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Fussilat (a Meccan chapter) which addresses the Quran as a detailed explanation of divine guidance. The context references the historical pattern of the Children of Israel's rejection and distortion of previous scriptures, serving as a warning to the Meccan disbelievers who similarly rejected the Quranic message. The surah emphasizes that God's signs are clear, yet people choose to turn away.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those in my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them' (Sahih Bukhari). This relates to the theme of the Israelites' later generations losing clarity of their scripture. Also relevant: 'Verily, you will follow the ways of those before you' (Sunan Ibn Majah), warning against repeating the mistakes of previous communities.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that possessing divine guidance is insufficient without sincere acceptance and application; the Children of Israel's disputes over the Torah demonstrate that knowledge without certainty of heart leads to misguidance. For Muslims today, it serves as a warning against sectarian divisions and encourages us to seek unity upon the clear teachings of the Quran and authentic Sunnah.
Related Ayahs
إِذْ جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلرُّسُلُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّنَا لَأَنزَلَ مَلَـٰٓئِكَةً فَإِنَّا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِۦ كَـٰفِرُونَ
[That occurred] when the messengers had come to them before them and after them, [saying], "Worship not except Allāh." They said, "If our Lord had willed, He would have sent down the angels, so indeed we, in that with which you have been sent, are disbelievers."
ذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ أَعْدَآءِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّارُ ۖ لَهُمْ فِيهَا دَارُ ٱلْخُلْدِ ۖ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ
That is the recompense of the enemies of Allāh - the Fire. For them therein is the home of eternity as recompense for what they, of Our verses, were rejecting.
فَإِنْ أَعْرَضُوا۟ فَقُلْ أَنذَرْتُكُمْ صَـٰعِقَةً مِّثْلَ صَـٰعِقَةِ عَادٍ وَثَمُودَ
But if they turn away, then say, "I have warned you of a thunderbolt like the thunderbolt [that struck] ʿAad and Thamūd.
وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَـٰهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتْهُ لَيَقُولَنَّ هَـٰذَا لِى وَمَآ أَظُنُّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَآئِمَةً وَلَئِن رُّجِعْتُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّىٓ إِنَّ لِى عِندَهُۥ لَلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ فَلَنُنَبِّئَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٍ
And if We let him taste mercy from Us after an adversity which has touched him, he will surely say, "This is [due] to me, and I do not think the Hour will occur; and [even] if I should be returned to my Lord, indeed, for me there will be with Him the best." But We will surely inform those who disbelieved about what they did, and We will surely make them taste a massive punishment.