Al-Baqarah · Madani · ayah 213 of 286

Al-Baqarah 2:213

كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فِيمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ فَهَدَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

“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.”

Saheeh International

Essence

Humanity began as one; scripture came to settle disputes, not start them; rivalry divided people, and Allah guides whom He wills.

A reflection

Guide me through what they disputed

The night before a bitterly contested board meeting, a man prays alone in a hotel room. He does not ask to win. He asks to be shown the truth, whichever side it falls on.

'Allah guided those who believed to the truth they had disputed, by His leave. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path'. Guidance through disagreement is His to give. It is not won by the loudest voice, the best debater or the larger party.

Sahih Muslim records how the Prophet ﷺ began his night prayer. He addressed Allah as Lord of Jibrīl, Mīkāʾīl and Isrāfīl, Originator of the heavens and earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen. You judge between Your servants in what they used to dispute, he said. Guide me to the truth of what has been disputed, by Your leave. You guide whom You will to a straight path.

The words of this ayah are woven into his prayer. The one who received the revelation still asked, every night, to be guided through disputes.

This humbles the ego deeply. In our arguments, we rarely ask to be guided. We ask to be proved right. The ayah and the Prophet's ﷺ prayer teach another posture. The truth belongs to Allah, and even the best of people must ask to be led to it.

Does Allah need us to ask? No. He is free of all need (35:15). The asking is for us. It loosens our grip on our own certainty, and opens a door that pride had shut.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.