5. Unity of the Prophets' Message and Division Thereafter

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, after relating accounts of various prophets including Nuh, Hud, Salih, Musa, Harun, and Isa (peace be upon them all), addresses all messengers collectively:

This verse establishes a profound reality: despite the differences in times, places, and specific laws brought by each prophet, Allah addressed them as a single fraternity. All messengers shared the same foundational message - the call to pure monotheism and righteous conduct. Allah then reinforces this unity of prophethood by declaring:

The term ummah here refers to the religious community following the essential message of tawhid (divine unity). All prophets were brothers in faith, conveying the same core message though their specific laws (sharia) may have varied in secondary matters. The essential creed of all prophets was identical - belief in One God, accountability in the Hereafter, and the necessity of righteous conduct.

However, despite this intended unity, humanity divided itself into factions after receiving divine guidance:

This verse describes how people fragmented the unified message, each sect or group embracing only portions of the truth while rejecting others. The term zubur (translated as "pieces" or "books") indicates how the divine message was segmented, with different groups adhering to different interpretations or selections from the original teachings.

What is most telling about these divisions is the attitude accompanying them: "Each group is happy with what it has." This highlights one of the fundamental causes of religious disunity - satisfaction with partial understanding without seeking the complete truth. Each faction becomes so attached to its particular interpretation that it develops a sense of self-satisfaction and refuses to consider alternative perspectives.

This psychological insight explains why religious disputes are so difficult to resolve. The problem isn't merely intellectual disagreement but an emotional attachment to one's position. People become unwilling even to consider the evidence or reasoning behind alternative viewpoints.

Allah advises a different approach to disagreement - one should first understand the basis of another's position by asking, "Why do you hold this view? What evidence supports it?" Only after understanding the foundation of someone's belief can meaningful dialogue occur. This methodology promotes mutual respect and enhances the possibility of reaching common ground.

After highlighting this disunity, Allah warns those who persist in ignorance and rejection:

The term ghamrah (intoxication) beautifully captures the state of those who reject truth - a condition resembling drunkenness, where clear thinking is impaired and reality appears distorted. Allah instructs His Messenger to leave such people in their confused state for a time, indicating that some individuals require time before becoming receptive to guidance.