And they did not become divided until after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And if not for a word1 that preceded from your Lord [postponing the penalty] until a specified time, it would have been concluded between them. And indeed, those who were granted inheritance of the Scripture after them are, concerning it, in disquieting doubt.
لَّقُضِيَsurely, it (would have) been settledlaquḍiya
بَيۡنَهُمۡۚbetween thembaynahum
وَإِنَّAnd indeedwa-inna
ٱلَّذِينَthose whoalladhīna
أُورِثُواْwere made to inheritūrithū
ٱلۡكِتَٰبَthe Bookl-kitāba
مِنۢafter themmin
بَعۡدِهِمۡafter thembaʿdihim
لَفِي(are) surely inlafī
شَكّٖdoubtshakkin
مِّنۡهُconcerning it min'hu
مُرِيبٖdisquietingmurībin
Tafsir
The disbelievers and the idolaters only became divided after the proof for the mission of Muhammad (peace be upon him) to them was established. Their division was only on account of rivalry and oppression. Were it not for what had already been in Allah’s knowledge that the punishment will be postponed from them until a time determined in His knowledge, which is the day of resurrection, Allah would have decided between them and punished them quickly on account of their rejection of Allah and denial of His messengers. Those Jews who were made to inherit the Torah, and those Christians who were made to inherit the Gospel, after their predecessors and these idolaters, are in doubt about and deny this Qur’ān which Muhammad (peace be upon him) has brought.