Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allāh sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over it [i.e., the Scripture] except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allāh guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allāh guides whom He wills to a straight path.
مُبَشِّرِينَ(as) bearers of glad tidingsmubashirīna
وَمُنذِرِينَand (as) warnerswamundhirīna
وَأَنزَلَand sent downwa-anzala
مَعَهُمُwith themmaʿahumu
ٱلۡكِتَٰبَthe Bookl-kitāba
بِٱلۡحَقِّin [the] truthbil-ḥaqi
لِيَحۡكُمَto judgeliyaḥkuma
بَيۡنَbetweenbayna
ٱلنَّاسِ[the] peoplel-nāsi
فِيمَاin whatfīmā
ٱخۡتَلَفُواْthey differedikh'talafū
فِيهِۚ[in it]fīhi
وَمَاAnd (did) notwamā
ٱخۡتَلَفَdiffer[ed]ikh'talafa
فِيهِin itfīhi
إِلَّاexceptillā
ٱلَّذِينَthose whoalladhīna
أُوتُوهُwere given itūtūhu
مِنۢfrommin
بَعۡدِafterbaʿdi
مَا[what]mā
جَآءَتۡهُمُcame to themjāathumu
ٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتُthe clear proofsl-bayinātu
بَغۡيَۢا(out of) jealousybaghyan
بَيۡنَهُمۡۖamong themselvesbaynahum
فَهَدَىAnd guidedfahadā
ٱللَّهُAllahl-lahu
ٱلَّذِينَthose whoalladhīna
ءَامَنُواْbelieve[d]āmanū
لِمَاregarding whatlimā
ٱخۡتَلَفُواْthey differedikh'talafū
فِيهِ[in it]fīhi
مِنَofmina
ٱلۡحَقِّthe Truthl-ḥaqi
بِإِذۡنِهِۦۗwith His permissionbi-idh'nihi
وَٱللَّهُAnd Allahwal-lahu
يَهۡدِيguidesyahdī
مَنwhomman
يَشَآءُHe willsyashāu
إِلَىٰtoilā
صِرَٰطٖa pathṣirāṭin
مُّسۡتَقِيمٍstraightmus'taqīmin
Tafsir
People were one community. All of them were in agreement and guided following the way of their father Adam, until the Satan misguided them. They were then split into believers and disbelievers. For this reason, God sent messengers bringing good news of the mercy of God for those who had faith in Him and followed Him and warning the disbelievers of the severe punishment of God. Together with the messengers, God also sent books containing the undoubtable truth so that they could judge between people with respect to their disagreements. It was only those who were given the Torah that differed with regards to the matter of Muhammad (s) and his message despite its being clear. They did this out of injustice and jealousy. God then enabled the believers to recognise guidance from misguidance by His permission and will. God guides whoever He wishes to a perfectly straight path which is the path of faith.