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Ayah
Word by Word
فَتَقَطَّعُوٓاْ
But they cut off
أَمۡرَهُم
their affair (of unity)
بَيۡنَهُمۡ
between them
زُبُرٗاۖ
(into) sects
كُلُّ
each
حِزۡبِ
faction
بِمَا
in what
لَدَيۡهِمۡ
they have
فَرِحُونَ
rejoicing
فَتَقَطَّعُوٓاْ
But they cut off
أَمۡرَهُم
their affair (of unity)
بَيۡنَهُمۡ
between them
زُبُرٗاۖ
(into) sects
كُلُّ
each
حِزۡبِ
faction
بِمَا
in what
لَدَيۡهِمۡ
they have
فَرِحُونَ
rejoicing
Translation
But they [i.e., the people] divided their religion among them into portions [i.e., sects] - each faction, in what it has,1 rejoicing.
Footnotes
1 - Of beliefs, opinions, customs, etc.
Tafsir
But they, the followers, split into sects regarding their affair, their religion (zuburan, 'sects', is a circumstantial qualifier of the subject of the verb taqatta'oo, 'they split'), in other words, [they became] opposing parties, the likes of the Jews and the Christians and others, each party rejoicing in, exultant with, what they had, that is, with the religion they had.
`Isa and Maryam
Allah tells:
وَجَعَلْنَا ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُ ايَةً
And We made the son of Maryam and his mother as a sign,
Allah tells us about His servant and Messenger `Isa bin Maryam, peace be upon them both, and that He made them as a sign for mankind, i.e., definitive proof of His ability to do what He wills. For He created Adam without a father or a mother, He created Hawwa' from a male without a female, and He created `Isa from a female without a male, but He created the rest of mankind from both male and female.
وَاوَيْنَاهُمَا إِلَى رَبْوَةٍ ذَاتِ قَرَارٍ وَمَعِينٍ
and We gave them refuge on high ground, a place of rest, security and flowing streams.
Ad-Dahhak reported that Ibn Abbas said:
Ar-Rabwah is a raised portion of land, which is the best place for vegetation to grow.
This was also the view of Mujahid, Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Qatadah.
Ibn Abbas said,
ذَاتِ قَرَارٍ
(Dhat Qarar) A fertile place.
وَمَعِينٍ
(and Ma`in) means water running on the surface.
This was also the view of Mujahid, Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Qatadah.
Mujahid said:
A level hill.
Sa`id bin Jubayr said that
ذَاتِ قَرَارٍ وَمَعِينٍ
(Dhat Qarar and Ma`in) means,
that water was flowing gently through it.
Mujahid and Qatadah said:
وَمَعِينٍ
(and Ma`in), Running water.
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib:
وَاوَيْنَاهُمَا إِلَى رَبْوَةٍ ذَاتِ قَرَارٍ وَمَعِينٍ
(and We gave them refuge on a Rabwah, Dhat Qarar and Ma`in).
It is Damascus.
He said;
Something similar was also narrated from Abdullah bin Salam, Al-Hasan, Zayd bin Aslam and Khalid bin Ma`dan.
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from Ikrimah from Ibn Abbas that;
this Ayah referred to the rivers of Damascus.
Layth bin Abi Sulaym narrated from Mujahid that the words;
وَاوَيْنَاهُمَا إِلَى رَبْوَةٍ
(and We gave them refuge on a Rabwah),
referred to `Isa bin Maryam and his mother when they sought refuge in Damascus and the flatlands around it.
Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Abu Hurayrah said:
إِلَى رَبْوَةٍ ذَاتِ قَرَارٍ وَمَعِينٍ
(on a Rabwah, Dhat Qarar and Ma`in),
It is Ramlah in Palestine.
The most correct opinion on this matter is that which was reported by Al-Awfi from Ibn Abbas, who said;
وَاوَيْنَاهُمَا إِلَى رَبْوَةٍ ذَاتِ قَرَارٍ وَمَعِينٍ
(and We gave them refuge on a Rabwah, Dhat Qarar and Ma`in),
Ma`in refers to running water, and is the river of which Allah mentioned:
قَدْ جَعَلَ رَبُّكِ تَحْتَكِ سَرِيّاً
your Lord has provided a water stream under you. (19:24)
Ad-Dahhak and Qatadah said;
إِلَى رَبْوَةٍ ذَاتِ قَرَارٍ وَمَعِينٍ
(on a high ground, a place of rest, security and flowing streams),
refers to Jerusalem.
This -- and Allah knows best -- is the most apparent meaning, because it is mentioned in the other Ayah, and parts of the Qur'an explain other parts, so it is more appropriate to interpret it by another Ayah, then the Sahih Hadiths, then other reports
The Command to eat Lawful Food and to do Righteous Deeds
Allah commands:
يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ
O Messengers!
Allah commands His servants and Messengers, peace be upon them all, to eat lawful food and do righteous deeds, which indicates that eating what is lawful helps one to do righteous deeds. The Prophets, peace be upon them, did this in the most perfect manner, and did all kinds of good deeds in words, actions, guidance and advice. May Allah reward them with good on behalf of the people.
كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ
Eat of the Tayyibat,
Sa`id bin Jubayr and Ad-Dahhak said,
This means lawful.
In the Sahih it says:
وَمَا مِنْ نَبِيَ إِلاَّ رَعَى الْغَنَم
There is no Prophet who was not a shepherd.
They asked, And you, O Messenger of Allah!
He said,
نَعَمْ كُنْتُ أَرْعَاهَا عَلَى قَرَارِيَط لاَِهْلِ مَكَّة
Yes, I used to tend the sheep of the people of Makkah for a few Qirats.
In the Sahih, it says:
إِنَّ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَمُ كَانَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْ كَسْبِ يَدِه
Dawud, upon him be peace, used to eat from the earnings of his own hand.
It was recorded in Sahih Muslim, Jami` At-Tirmidhi and Musnad Al-Imam Ahmad -- from whom this version comes -- that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said,
The Messenger of Allah said:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ اللهَ طَيِّبٌ لَاا يَقْبَلُ إِلاَّ طَيِّبًا وَإِنَّ اللهَ أَمَرَ الْمُوْمِنِينَ بِمَا أَمَرَ بِهِ الْمُرْسَلِين
O people, Allah is Tayyib and only accepts that which is Tayyib, and Allah commands the believers as He had commanded the Messengers by saying:
يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ
كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ
وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ
O Messengers! Eat of the Tayyibat and do righteous deeds. Verily, I am Well-Acquainted with what you do.
and
يـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُلُواْ مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـكُمْ
O you who believe! Eat of the Tayyibat that We have provided you with. (2:172)
Then he mentioned how a man may travel on a long journey, dusty and unkempt,
وَمَطْعَمُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَشْرَبُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَلْبَسُهُ حَرَامٌ وَغُذِّيَ بِالْحَرَامِ يَمُدُّ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ فَأَنَّى يُسْتَجَابُ لِذَلِك
and his food, drink and clothing are unlawful, and he has nourished himself with what is unlawful, and he extends his hands towards the sky, saying, `O Lord, O Lord!' -- how can his prayer be answered.
At-Tirmidhi said that it is Hasan Gharib.
The Religion of all the Prophets is Tawhid; and the Warning against splitting into different Groups
Allah tells
وَإِنَّ هَذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً
And verily, this your religion is one religion,
means, `your religion, O Prophets, is one religion and one group, which is the call to worship Allah Alone with no partner or associate.'
Allah said:
وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاتَّقُونِ
and I am your Lord, so have Taqwa.
We have already discussed this in Surah Al-Anbiya'.
The phrase
أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً
(one nation) is descriptive
فَتَقَطَّعُوا أَمْرَهُم بَيْنَهُمْ زُبُرًا
But they have broken their religion among them into sects,
the nations to whom Prophets were sent.
كُلُّ حِزْبٍ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ
each group rejoicing in what is with it.
means, they rejoice in their misguidance because they think that they are rightly-guided.
Allah says, threatening and warning
فَذَرْهُمْ فِي غَمْرَتِهِمْ
So, leave them in their error,
meaning their misguidance,
حَتَّى حِينٍ
for a time.
means, until the appointed time of their destruction comes.
This is like the Ayah:
فَمَهِّلِ الْكَـفِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْداً
So give a respite to the disbelievers; deal gently with them for a while. (86:17)
And Allah says:
ذَرْهُمْ يَأْكُلُواْ وَيَتَمَتَّعُواْ وَيُلْهِهِمُ الاٌّمَلُ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ
Leave them to eat and enjoy, and let them be preoccupied with (false) hope. They will come to know! (15:3)
أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُم بِهِ مِن مَّالٍ وَبَنِينَ
نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ بَل لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ
Do they think that in wealth and children with which We prolong them, We hasten unto them with good things. Nay, but they perceive not.
means, `do these deceived people think that what We give them of wealth and children is because they are honored and precious in Our sight! No, the matter is not as they claim when they say,
نَحْنُ أَكْثَـرُ أَمْوَلاً وَأَوْلَـداً وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ
We are more in wealth and in children, and we are not going to be punished. (34:35)
But this thinking is wrong, and their hopes will be dashed. We only give those things to them in order to make them go further (in sin) and to give them more time.'
Allah says:
نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ
بَل لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ
but they perceive not.
as He says elsewhere:
فَلَ تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَلُهُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَـدُهُمْ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ بِهَا فِي الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا
So, let not their wealth nor their children amaze you; in reality Allah's plan is to punish them with these things in the life of this world... (9:55)
إِنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُواْ إِثْمَاً
We postpone the punishment only so that they may increase in sinfulness. (3:178)
فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَـذَا الْحَدِيثِ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ وَأَمْلَى لَهُمْ
Then leave Me Alone with such as belie this Qur'an. We shall punish them gradually from directions they perceive not. And I will grant them a respite. (68:44-45)
ذَرْنِى وَمَنْ خَلَقْتُ وَحِيداً
Leave Me Alone (to deal) with whom I created lonely. until His saying:
عَنِيداً
(opposing). (74:11-16)
وَمَأ أَمْوَلُكُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَـدُكُمْ بِالَّتِى تُقَرِّبُكُمْ عِندَنَا زُلْفَى إِلاَّ مَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـلِحاً
And it is not your wealth, nor your children that bring you nearer to Us, but only he who believes, and does righteous deeds... (34:37)
And there are many other Ayat which say similar things.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abdullah bin Mas`ud said,
The Messenger of Allah said:
إِنَّ اللهَ قَسَمَ بَيْنَكُمْ أَخْلَقَكُمْ كَمَا قَسَمَ بَيْنَكُمْ أَرْزَاقَكُمْ وَإِنَّ اللهَ يُعْطِي الدُّنْيَا مَنْ يُحِبُّ وَمَنْ لَا يُحِبُّ وَلَا يُعْطِي الدِّينَ إِلاَّ لِمَنْ أَحَبَّ فَمَنْ أَعْطَاهُ اللهُ الدِّينَ فَقَدْ أَحَبَّهُ
وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَاا يُسْلِمُ عَبْدٌ حَتَّى يَسْلَمَ قَلْبُهُ وَلِسَانُهُ وَلَاا يُوْمِنُ حَتَّى يَأْمَنَ جَارُهُ بَوَايِقَه
Allah has distributed your behavior to you just as He has distributed your provision. Allah gives the things of this world to those whom He loves and those whom He does not love, but He only gives religious commitment to those whom He loves. Whoever is given religious commitment by Allah is loved by Him.
By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, no servant truly submits until his heart and his tongue submit, and he does not truly believe until his neighbor is safe from his harm.
They said, `What is his harm, O Messenger of Allah!'
He said,
غَشْمُهُ وَظُلْمُهُ وَلَا يَكْسِبُ عَبْدٌ مَالاً مِنْ حَرَامٍ فَيُنْفِقَ مِنْهُ فَيُبَارَكَ لَهُ فِيهِ وَلَا يَتَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فَيُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَلَا يَتْرُكَهُ خَلْفَ ظَهْرِهِ إِلاَّ كَانَ زَادَهُ إِلَى النَّارِ
إِنَّ اللهَ لَا يَمْحُو السَّيِّءَ بِالسَّيِّءِ وَلَكِنْ يَمْحُو السَّيِّءَ بِالْحَسَنِ إِنَّ الْخَبِيثَ لَا يَمْحُو الْخَبِيث
His wrongdoing and misbehavior. No person who earns unlawful wealth and spends it will be blessed in that; if he gives it in charity, it will not be accepted from him and if he leaves it behind (when he dies), it will be his provision in the Fire.
Allah does not wash away an evil deed with another, but he washes away evil deeds with good deeds, for impurity cannot wash away with another impurity.
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