Surah Anam ayat 65 Tafsir Quran 6:65

﴿قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ۗ انظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ﴾
[ الأنعام: 65]

6:65 Say, "He is the [one] Able to send upon you affliction from above you or from beneath your feet or to confuse you [so you become] sects and make you taste the violence of one another." Look how We diversify the signs that they might understand.

Say ‘He has the power to send forth upon you a chastisement from above you from the heaven such as stones cf. Q. 832 or a Cry cf. Q. 1167 or from beneath your feet such as the causing of the earth to cave in cf. Q. 2940 or to confound you to confuse you in parties sects with differing whims and to make you taste the violence of one another’ through fighting. When this verse was revealed the Prophet s said ‘This chastisement etc. is easier and lighter’; but when the last statement was revealed he said ‘I seek refuge with Your Countenance!’ as reported by al-Bukhārī. Muslim reports the following hadīth ‘I requested from my Lord not to make my community violent towards each other but He denied me this request’. In another hadīth when it was revealed he is reported to have said ‘As for this it will surely come to pass even though its proper meaning has not yet come’. See how We dispense how We clarify for them the signs the proofs of Our power that perhaps they might understand that they might realise that what they follow is falsehood.

Say to them: He is the Omnipotent Who is able to drive against you a retributive punishment from the realm above you or from beneath your feet, or to fan the flow of discord among you and split you into adversative factions and make some of you iniquitous and oppressive to the others and make some of you taste the hostilities launched out by others. See O Muhammad how We expound and orient Our revelations to circumstances and requirements that they may hopefully reflect

Allah's Compassion and Generosity, and His Power and Torment Allah mentions how He favors His servants, saving them during times of need, in the darkness of land and at sea, such as when storms strike.
In such cases, they call on Allah alone, without partners, in supplication.
In other Ayat, Allah said, وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الْضُّرُّ فِى الْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدْعُونَ إِلاَ إِيَّاهُ ( And when harm strikes you at sea, those that you call upon besides Him vanish from you except Him. ) 17:67, هُوَ الَّذِى يُسَيِّرُكُمْ فِى الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ حَتَّى إِذَا كُنتُمْ فِى الْفُلْكِ وَجَرَيْنَ بِهِم بِرِيحٍ طَيِّبَةٍ وَفَرِحُواْ بِهَا جَآءَتْهَا رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌ وَجَآءَهُمُ الْمَوْجُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَظَنُّواْ أَنَّهُمْ أُحِيطَ بِهِمْ دَعَوُاْ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ لَئِنْ أَنْجَيْتَنَا مِنْ هَـذِهِ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّـكِرِينَ ( He it is Who enables you to travel through the land and the sea, till when you are in the ships and they sail with them with a favorable wind, and they rejoice, then comes a stormy wind and the waves come to them from all sides, and they think that they are encircled therein, they invoke Allah, making their faith pure for Him alone, saying: "If You deliver us from this, we shall truly be of the grateful". ) 10:22, and, أَمَّن يَهْدِيكُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَمَن يُرْسِلُ الرِّيَاحَ بُشْرًاَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ رَحْمَتِهِ أَءِلَـهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى اللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ( Is not He (better than your gods ) Who guides you in the darkness of the land and the sea, and Who sends the winds as heralds of glad tidings, going before His mercy Is there any god with Allah High Exalted be Allah above all that they associate as partners ( with Him )!) 27:63.
Allah said in this honorable Ayah, قُلْ مَن يُنَجِّيكُمْ مِّن ظُلُمَـتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ تَدْعُونَهُ تَضَرُّعاً وَخُفْيَةً ( Say: "Who rescues you from the dark recesses of the land and the sea, when you call upon Him begging and in secret." ) i.e., in public and secret, لَّئِنْ أَنجَـنَا ( (Saying ): `If He ( Allah ) only saves us...) from this distress, لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّـكِرِينَ ( we shall truly be grateful. ) thereafter.
Allah said, قُلِ اللَّهُ يُنَجِّيكُمْ مِّنْهَا وَمِن كُلِّ كَرْبٍ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ ( Say: "Allah rescues you from these (dangers ) and from all distress, and yet you commit Shirk.") meaning, yet you call other gods besides Him in times of comfort.
Allah said; قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَاباً مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ ( Say: "He has the power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet," ) He said this after His statement, ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ ( And yet you commit Shirk.
) Allah said next, قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَاباً ( Say: "He has the power to send torment on you.." ), after He saves you.
Allah said in Surah Subhan ( chapter 17 ), رَّبُّكُمُ الَّذِى يُزْجِى لَكُمُ الْفُلْكَ فِى الْبَحْرِ لِتَبْتَغُواْ مِن فَضْلِهِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا - وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الْضُّرُّ فِى الْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدْعُونَ إِلاَ إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا نَجَّـكُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ أَعْرَضْتُمْ وَكَانَ الإِنْسَـنُ كَفُورًا - أَفَأَمِنتُمْ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمْ جَانِبَ الْبَرِّ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا ثُمَّ لاَ تَجِدُواْ لَكُمْ وَكِيلاً - أَمْ أَمِنتُمْ أَن يُعِيدَكُمْ فِيهِ تَارَةً أُخْرَى فَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ قَاصِفًا مِّنَ الرِّيحِ فَيُغْرِقَكُم بِمَا كَفَرْتُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ تَجِدُواْ لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا بِهِ تَبِيعًا ( Your Lord is He Who drives the ship for you through the sea, in order that you may seek of His bounty.
Truly! He is Ever Merciful towards you.
And when harm strikes you upon the sea, those that you call upon besides Him vanish from you except Him.
But when He brings you safely to land, you turn away (from Him ).
And man is ever ungrateful.
Do you then feel secure that He will not cause a side of the land to swallow you up, or that He will not send against you a storm of stones Then, you shall find no guardian.
Or do you feel secure that He will not send you back a second time to sea, and send against you a hurricane of wind and drown you because of your disbelief, then you will not find any avenger therein against Us) 17:66-69.
Al-Bukhari, may Allah grant him His mercy, commented on Allah's statement, قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَاباً مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعاً وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ انْظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ الاٌّيَـتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ ( Say: "He has the power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet, or to Yalbisakum in party strife, and make you taste the violence of one another." See how variously We explain the Ayat, so that they may understand. ) "Yalbisakum means, `cover you with confusion', So it means to, `divide into parties and sects'.
Jabir bin `Abdullah said, `When this Ayah was revealed, قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَاباً مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ ( Say: "He has power to send torment on you from above" ) Allah's Messenger ﷺ said,
«أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِك»
( I seek refuge with Your Face. ) أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ ( or from under your feet, ) he again said,
«أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِك»
( I seek refuge with Your Face. ) أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعاً وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ( or to cover you with confusion in party strife, and make you to taste the violence of one another. ) he said,
«هَذهِ أَهْوَنُ أَوْ أَيْسَر»
( This is less burdensome or easier. )"' Al-Bukhari recorded this Hadith again in the book of Tawhid ( in his Sahih ), and An-Nasa'i also recorded it in the book of Tafsir. Another Hadith Imam Ahmad recorded that Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas said, We accompanied the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and passed by the Masjid of Bani Mu`awiyah.
The Prophet went in and offered a two Rak`ah prayer, and we prayed behind him.
He supplicated to his Lord for a long time and then said,
«سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي ثَلَاثًا: سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَ أُمَّتِي بِالْغَرَقِ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا، وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَ أُمَّتِي بِالسَّنَةِ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا، وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَجْعَلَ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ فَمَنَعَنِيهَا»
( I asked my Lord for three: I asked Him not to destroy my Ummah (Muslims ) by drowning and He gave that to me.
I asked Him not to destroy my Ummah by famine and He gave that to me.
And I asked Him not to make them taste the violence of one another, but He did not give that to me.) Muslim, but not Al-Bukhari, recorded this Hadith in the book on Fitan ( trials ) ( of his Sahih ). Another Hadith Imam Ahmad recorded that Khabbab bin Al-Aratt, who attended the battle of Badr with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , said, "I met Allah's Messenger during a night in which he prayed throughout it, until dawn.
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ended his prayer, I said, `O Allah's Messenger! This night, you have performed a prayer that I never saw you perform before.' Allah's Messenger ﷺ said,
«أَجَلْ إِنَّهَا صَلَاةُ رَغَبٍ وَرَهَبٍ، سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيهَا ثَلَاثَ خِصَالٍ، فَأَعْطَانِي اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِي وَاحِدَةً، سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكْنَا بِمَا أَهْلَكَ بِهِ الْأُمَمَ قَبْلَنَا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا، وَسَأَلْتُ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ لَا يُظْهِرَ عَلَيْنَا عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِنَا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا، وَسَأَلْتُ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ لَا يُلْبِسَنَا شِيَعًا فَمَنَعَنِيهَا»
( Yes, it was a prayer of eagerness and fear.
During this prayer, I asked my Lord for three things and He gave me two and refused to give me the third.
I asked my Lord not to destroy us with what He destroyed the nations before us and He gave me that.
I asked my Lord not to make our enemies prevail above us and He gave me that.
I asked my Lord not to cover us with confusion in party strife, but He refused. ) An-Nasa'i, Ibn Hibban in his Sahih, and At-Tirmidhi also recorded it.
In the book on Fitan, in Al-Jami`, At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih".
Allah's statement, أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعاً ( or to cover you with confusion in party strife, ) means, He causes you to be in disarray and separate into opposing parties and groups.
Al-Walibi ( `Ali bin Abi Talhah ) reported that Ibn `Abbas said that this Ayah refers to desires.
Mujahid and several others said similarly.
A Hadith from the Prophet , collected from various chains of narration, states,
«وَسَتَفْتَرِقُ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةُ عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً، كُلُّهَا فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا وَاحِدَة»
( And this Ummah (Muslims ) will divide into seventy - three groups, all of them in the Fire except one.) Allah said; وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ( and make you taste the violence of one another. ) meaning, some of you will esperience torture and murder from one another, according to Ibn `Abbas and others.
Allah said next, انْظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ الاٌّيَـتِ ( See how variously We explain the Ayat, ) by making them clear, plain and duly explained, لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ ( So that they may understand. ) and comprehend Allah's Ayat, proofs and evidences.

(6:65) Say: "It is He Who has the power to send forth chastisement upon you from above you, or from beneath your feet, or split you into hostile groups and make some of you taste each others' violence. Behold, how We set forth Our signs in diverse forms, so that maybe they will understand the Truth". *42

Say, "He is the [one] Able to meaning

*42).
God's punishment can strike in an instant.
This is the warning to those who, supposing such punishment to he remote, were growing bolder in their hostility towards the Truth.
They could be destroyed in a moment by a hurricane.
Just a few earthquake trernors could raze villages and cities to the ground.
Likewise, a few spark, of hostility could ultimately wreak such havoc among tribes.
nations and countries that bloodshed and lawlessness plague them for years on end.
Hence if they are spared punishments for a while that should not drug them to heedlessness and lead them to live in total disregard of distinctions between right and wrong.
They should rather he grateful that God had given thern respite and by means of a number of signs He was making it possible for thern to recognize the Truth and foliow it.

 

Allah's Compassion and Generosity, and His Power and Torment Allah mentions how He favors His servants, saving them during times of need, in the darkness of land and at sea, such as when storms strike.
In such cases, they call on Allah alone, without partners, in supplication.
In other Ayat, Allah said, وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الْضُّرُّ فِى الْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدْعُونَ إِلاَ إِيَّاهُ ( And when harm strikes you at sea, those that you call upon besides Him vanish from you except Him. ) 17:67, هُوَ الَّذِى يُسَيِّرُكُمْ فِى الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ حَتَّى إِذَا كُنتُمْ فِى الْفُلْكِ وَجَرَيْنَ بِهِم بِرِيحٍ طَيِّبَةٍ وَفَرِحُواْ بِهَا جَآءَتْهَا رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌ وَجَآءَهُمُ الْمَوْجُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَظَنُّواْ أَنَّهُمْ أُحِيطَ بِهِمْ دَعَوُاْ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ لَئِنْ أَنْجَيْتَنَا مِنْ هَـذِهِ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّـكِرِينَ ( He it is Who enables you to travel through the land and the sea, till when you are in the ships and they sail with them with a favorable wind, and they rejoice, then comes a stormy wind and the waves come to them from all sides, and they think that they are encircled therein, they invoke Allah, making their faith pure for Him alone, saying: "If You deliver us from this, we shall truly be of the grateful". ) 10:22, and, أَمَّن يَهْدِيكُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَمَن يُرْسِلُ الرِّيَاحَ بُشْرًاَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ رَحْمَتِهِ أَءِلَـهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى اللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ( Is not He (better than your gods ) Who guides you in the darkness of the land and the sea, and Who sends the winds as heralds of glad tidings, going before His mercy Is there any god with Allah High Exalted be Allah above all that they associate as partners ( with Him )!) 27:63.
Allah said in this honorable Ayah, قُلْ مَن يُنَجِّيكُمْ مِّن ظُلُمَـتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ تَدْعُونَهُ تَضَرُّعاً وَخُفْيَةً ( Say: "Who rescues you from the dark recesses of the land and the sea, when you call upon Him begging and in secret." ) i.e., in public and secret, لَّئِنْ أَنجَـنَا ( (Saying ): `If He ( Allah ) only saves us...) from this distress, لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّـكِرِينَ ( we shall truly be grateful. ) thereafter.
Allah said, قُلِ اللَّهُ يُنَجِّيكُمْ مِّنْهَا وَمِن كُلِّ كَرْبٍ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ ( Say: "Allah rescues you from these (dangers ) and from all distress, and yet you commit Shirk.") meaning, yet you call other gods besides Him in times of comfort.
Allah said; قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَاباً مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ ( Say: "He has the power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet," ) He said this after His statement, ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ ( And yet you commit Shirk.
) Allah said next, قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَاباً ( Say: "He has the power to send torment on you.." ), after He saves you.
Allah said in Surah Subhan ( chapter 17 ), رَّبُّكُمُ الَّذِى يُزْجِى لَكُمُ الْفُلْكَ فِى الْبَحْرِ لِتَبْتَغُواْ مِن فَضْلِهِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا - وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الْضُّرُّ فِى الْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدْعُونَ إِلاَ إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا نَجَّـكُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ أَعْرَضْتُمْ وَكَانَ الإِنْسَـنُ كَفُورًا - أَفَأَمِنتُمْ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمْ جَانِبَ الْبَرِّ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا ثُمَّ لاَ تَجِدُواْ لَكُمْ وَكِيلاً - أَمْ أَمِنتُمْ أَن يُعِيدَكُمْ فِيهِ تَارَةً أُخْرَى فَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ قَاصِفًا مِّنَ الرِّيحِ فَيُغْرِقَكُم بِمَا كَفَرْتُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ تَجِدُواْ لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا بِهِ تَبِيعًا ( Your Lord is He Who drives the ship for you through the sea, in order that you may seek of His bounty.
Truly! He is Ever Merciful towards you.
And when harm strikes you upon the sea, those that you call upon besides Him vanish from you except Him.
But when He brings you safely to land, you turn away (from Him ).
And man is ever ungrateful.
Do you then feel secure that He will not cause a side of the land to swallow you up, or that He will not send against you a storm of stones Then, you shall find no guardian.
Or do you feel secure that He will not send you back a second time to sea, and send against you a hurricane of wind and drown you because of your disbelief, then you will not find any avenger therein against Us) 17:66-69.
Al-Bukhari, may Allah grant him His mercy, commented on Allah's statement, قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَاباً مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعاً وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ انْظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ الاٌّيَـتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ ( Say: "He has the power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet, or to Yalbisakum in party strife, and make you taste the violence of one another." See how variously We explain the Ayat, so that they may understand. ) "Yalbisakum means, `cover you with confusion', So it means to, `divide into parties and sects'.
Jabir bin `Abdullah said, `When this Ayah was revealed, قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَاباً مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ ( Say: "He has power to send torment on you from above" ) Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, «أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِك» ( I seek refuge with Your Face. ) أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ ( or from under your feet, ) he again said, «أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِك» ( I seek refuge with Your Face. ) أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعاً وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ( or to cover you with confusion in party strife, and make you to taste the violence of one another. ) he said, «هَذهِ أَهْوَنُ أَوْ أَيْسَر» ( This is less burdensome or easier. )"' Al-Bukhari recorded this Hadith again in the book of Tawhid ( in his Sahih ), and An-Nasa'i also recorded it in the book of Tafsir. Another Hadith Imam Ahmad recorded that Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas said, We accompanied the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and passed by the Masjid of Bani Mu`awiyah.
The Prophet went in and offered a two Rak`ah prayer, and we prayed behind him.
He supplicated to his Lord for a long time and then said, «سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي ثَلَاثًا: سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَ أُمَّتِي بِالْغَرَقِ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا، وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَ أُمَّتِي بِالسَّنَةِ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا، وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَجْعَلَ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ فَمَنَعَنِيهَا» ( I asked my Lord for three: I asked Him not to destroy my Ummah (Muslims ) by drowning and He gave that to me.
I asked Him not to destroy my Ummah by famine and He gave that to me.
And I asked Him not to make them taste the violence of one another, but He did not give that to me.) Muslim, but not Al-Bukhari, recorded this Hadith in the book on Fitan ( trials ) ( of his Sahih ). Another Hadith Imam Ahmad recorded that Khabbab bin Al-Aratt, who attended the battle of Badr with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , said, "I met Allah's Messenger during a night in which he prayed throughout it, until dawn.
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ended his prayer, I said, `O Allah's Messenger! This night, you have performed a prayer that I never saw you perform before.' Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, «أَجَلْ إِنَّهَا صَلَاةُ رَغَبٍ وَرَهَبٍ، سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيهَا ثَلَاثَ خِصَالٍ، فَأَعْطَانِي اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِي وَاحِدَةً، سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكْنَا بِمَا أَهْلَكَ بِهِ الْأُمَمَ قَبْلَنَا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا، وَسَأَلْتُ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ لَا يُظْهِرَ عَلَيْنَا عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِنَا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا، وَسَأَلْتُ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ لَا يُلْبِسَنَا شِيَعًا فَمَنَعَنِيهَا» ( Yes, it was a prayer of eagerness and fear.
During this prayer, I asked my Lord for three things and He gave me two and refused to give me the third.
I asked my Lord not to destroy us with what He destroyed the nations before us and He gave me that.
I asked my Lord not to make our enemies prevail above us and He gave me that.
I asked my Lord not to cover us with confusion in party strife, but He refused. ) An-Nasa'i, Ibn Hibban in his Sahih, and At-Tirmidhi also recorded it.
In the book on Fitan, in Al-Jami`, At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih".
Allah's statement, أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعاً ( or to cover you with confusion in party strife, ) means, He causes you to be in disarray and separate into opposing parties and groups.
Al-Walibi ( `Ali bin Abi Talhah ) reported that Ibn `Abbas said that this Ayah refers to desires.
Mujahid and several others said similarly.
A Hadith from the Prophet , collected from various chains of narration, states, «وَسَتَفْتَرِقُ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةُ عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً، كُلُّهَا فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا وَاحِدَة» ( And this Ummah (Muslims ) will divide into seventy - three groups, all of them in the Fire except one.) Allah said; وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ( and make you taste the violence of one another. ) meaning, some of you will esperience torture and murder from one another, according to Ibn `Abbas and others.
Allah said next, انْظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ الاٌّيَـتِ ( See how variously We explain the Ayat, ) by making them clear, plain and duly explained, لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ ( So that they may understand. ) and comprehend Allah's Ayat, proofs and evidences.

( Say ) to them, O Muhammad: ( He is able to send punishment upon you from above you ) as He did on the people of Noah and the people of Lot ( or from beneath your feet ) or make the earth swallow you as it swallowed Korah, ( or to bewilder you with dissension ) make divide into conflicting sects as He did with the Children of Israel after the prophets ( and make you taste the tyranny ) the sword of ( one of another. See ) O Muhammad ( how We display the revelations ) how We expound in the Qur’an the events of past nations and that which We did with them ( so that they may understand ) so that they may understand Allah’s commands and His divine Oneness.

Say: "He has power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet, or to cover you with confusion in party strife, and make you to taste the violence of one another." See how variously We explain the Ayat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), so that they may understand.

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