Commentary on the Quran (Chapter 3:105)

Commentary on the Quran (Chapter 3:105)

By: Mohammad Sobhanie

The Plague of Conflict and Turmoil

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا وَاخْتَلَفُوا مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ‎﴿١٠٥﴾‏

3:105 And do not be like the ones who became divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them. And those will have a great punishment.

Commentary: The Verse/Ayah underscores the significance of unity and the necessity of avoiding division and discord within the Islamic Ummah. It advises Muslims to refrain from following the path of division taken by the Jews and Christians; it encourages them to reflect on the history of these nations and the painful consequences they endured due to their internal divisions and disputes. The Verse reads: “And do not be like the ones who became divided (وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا) and differed (وَاخْتَلَفُوا) after the clear proofs had come to them (مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ). And those will have a great punishment (وَأُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ). ”

The Verse hints that the Islamic Umma will not be immune from disputes and divisions. This interpretation is supported by a collection of narrations we have received from the Prophet (PBUH), known as “the Hadith of the division in the Islamic Ummah.”[1] One of these narrations state:

مِنْ قَوْلِ اَلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ : اِفْتَرَقَتِ أُمَّةُ أَخِي مُوسَى إِلَى إِحْدَى وَ سَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً مِنْهَا فِرْقَةٌ نَاجِيَةٌ وَ اَلْبَاقُونَ فِي اَلنَّارِ وَ اِفْتَرَقَتْ أُمَّةُ أَخِي عِيسَى اِثْنَتَيْنِ وَ سَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً مِنْهَا فِرْقَةٌ نَاجِيَةٌ وَ اَلْبَاقُونَ فِي اَلنَّارِ وَ سَتَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي ثَلاَثاً وَ سَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً مِنْهَا فِرْقَةٌ نَاجِيَةٌ وَ اَلْبَاقُونَ فِي اَلنَّارِ .

According to a saying of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the followers of my brother Moses (AS) split into seventy-one sects, of which one will be saved, and the rest will be punished in the Fire. The followers of my brother Jesus (AS) divided into seventy-two sects, with one being saved and the others facing the Fire. My own community will be divided into seventy-three sects, of which one will be saved, while the rest will be in the Fire.

After the Prophet’s (PBUH) passing, Muslims initially divided into various groups, and these divisions continued to deepen over time. This fragmentation created a toxic environment that led to numerous conflicts throughout Islamic history, resulting in significant loss of life and missed opportunities. In some instances, tensions escalated to the point where certain Muslims believed it was permissible to attack the lives and properties of their fellow believers.

The animosity grew so deep that some were willing to ally with non-believers against their own religious brothers. As a result, the unity and solidarity that had once been the foundation of early Muslim successes deteriorated into hypocrisy and discord. Their once joyful lives turned into misery, causing them to forfeit their former greatness.

[1] https://hadith.inoor.ir/fa/hadith/62172/related