Ornaments of Gold, Luxury, The Embellishment — Verse 65

The Contempt of the Quraysh for the son of Maryam, and His true Status with Allah Allah tells us how the Quraysh persisted in their disbelief and stubborn arguments: وَلَمَّا ضُرِبَ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ مَثَلاً إِذَا قَوْمُكَ مِنْهُ يَصِدُّونَ (And when the son of Maryam is quoted as an example, behold, your people cry aloud thereat.) Several others narrated that Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, As-Suddi and Ad-Dahhak said, "They laughed, i.e., they were astounded by that." Qatadah said, "They were repelled by that and they laughed." Ibrahim An-Nakha`i said, "They turned away." The reason for this was mentioned by Muhammad bin Ishaq in As-Sirah. He said, "According to what I have heard, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat down one day with Al-Walid bin Al-Mughirah in the Masjid, and An-Nadr bin Al-Harith came and sat down with them. There were also other men from the Quraysh in the gathering. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ spoke, then An-Nadr bin Al-Harith came up to him and the Messenger of Allah spoke to him until he defeated him in argument. Then he recited to him and to them, إِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ أَنتُمْ لَهَا وَارِدُونَ (Certainly you and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah, are (but) fuel for Hell! (Surely) you will enter it.) (21:98) Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ got up and went to sit with `Abdullah bin Al-Zab`ari At-Tamimi. Al-Walid bin Al-Mughirah said to him, `By Allah, An-Nadr bin Al-Harith could not match the son of `Abd Al-Muttalib in argument. Muhammad ﷺ claims that we and these gods that we worship are fuel for Hell.' `Abdullah bin Az-Zab`ari said, `By Allah, if I meet with him I will defeat him in argument. Ask Muhammad ﷺ whether everyone that is worshipped instead of Allah will be in Hell with those who worshipped him, for we worship the angels, and the Jews worship `Uzayr, and the Christians worship the Messiah `Isa bin Maryam.' Al-Walid and those who were sitting with him were amazed at what `Abdullah bin Az-Zab`ari said, and they thought that he had come up with a good point. He said this to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who said: «كُلُّ مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُعْبَدَ مِنْ دُونِ اللهِ فَهُوَ مَعَ مَنْ عَبَدَهُ، فَإِنَّهُمْ إِنَّمَا يَعْبُدُونَ الشَّيْطَانَ وَمَنْ أَمَرَهُمْ بِعِبَادَتِه» (Everyone who likes to worship something other than Allah will be with the one whom he worshipped, for indeed they are worshipping the Shaytan and whomever told them to worship that person.)" Then Allah revealed the words: إِنَّ الَّذِينَ سَبَقَتْ لَهُمْ مِّنَّا الْحُسْنَى أُوْلَـئِكَ عَنْهَا مُبْعَدُونَ (Verily, those for whom the good has preceded from Us, they will be removed far therefrom (Hell)) (21:101), meaning that `Isa, `Uzayr and rabbis and monks who were also worshipped, who spent their lives in devotion towards Allah. The misguided people who came after them took them as lords instead of Allah. Concerning the notion of worshipping the angels as daughters of Allah, the following words were revealed: وَقَالُواْ اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمَـنُ وَلَداً سُبْحَانَهُ بَلْ عِبَادٌ مُّكْرَمُونَ (And they say: "The Most Gracious has begotten a son (or children)." Glory to Him! They are but honored servants.) (21:26) Concerning `Isa bin Maryam, the fact that he is worshipped instead of Allah, and to the amazement of Al-Walid and the others who were present at the argument, the following was revealed: وَلَمَّا ضُرِبَ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ مَثَلاً إِذَا قَوْمُكَ مِنْهُ يَصِدُّونَ (And when the son of Maryam is quoted as an example, behold, your people cry aloud thereat.) meaning, they take this argument as a basis for rejecting your message. Then Allah mentions `Isa bin Maryam and says: إِنْ هُوَ إِلاَّ عَبْدٌ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَجَعَلْنَـهُ مَثَلاً لِّبَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ - وَلَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ مَّلَـئِكَةً فِى الاٌّرْضِ يَخْلُفُونَ وَإِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ لِّلسَّاعَةِ (He was not more than a servant. We granted Our favor to him, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel. And if it were Our will, We would have made angels to replace you on the earth. And he (`Isa) shall be a known sign for the Hour. ) meaning, the miracles and signs that happened at his hands, such as raising the dead and healing the sick, are sufficient as signs of the approach of the Hour. فَلاَ تَمْتَرُنَّ بِهَا وَاتَّبِعُونِ هَـذَا صِرَطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ (Therefore have no doubt concerning it. And follow Me! This is the straight path)." Ibn Jarir mentioned that Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, commented on the Ayah: وَلَمَّا ضُرِبَ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ مَثَلاً إِذَا قَوْمُكَ مِنْهُ يَصِدُّونَ (And when the son of Maryam is quoted as an example, behold, your people cry aloud thereat.) "This means the Quraysh, when it was said to them: إِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ أَنتُمْ لَهَا وَارِدُونَ (Certainly you and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah, are (but) fuel for Hell! (Surely) you will enter it.) (21:98) The Quraysh said to him: `What about `Isa bin Maryam' He said: «ذَاكَ عَبْدُاللهِ وَرَسُولُه» (He is the servant and Messenger of Allah.) They said, `By Allah, he means that we should take him as a lord just as the Christians took `Isa son of Maryam as a lord.' Then Allah said: مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلاَّ جَدَلاَ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ (They quoted not the above example except for argument. Nay! But they are a quarrelsome people)." وَقَالُواْ ءَأَالِهَتُنَا خَيْرٌ أَمْ هُوَ (And say: "Are our gods better or is he"). Qatadah said, "They were saying, `our gods are better than him'." Qatadah said; "Ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him, recited it (أَآلِهَتُنَا خَيْرٌ أَمْ هذَا) (Are our gods better or is this (person))" they mean Muhammad ﷺ. مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلاَّ جَدَلاَ (They quoted not the above example except for argument.) means, for the sake of stubborn argument, for they knew that he (`Isa ) was not included in the Ayah (21:98), because that would not make sense. The words, إِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ (Certainly you and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah, are (but) fuel for Hell!) (21:98) are addressed to the Quraysh, for they used to worship idols and false gods -- they did not worship the Messiah so why should he be included in what the Ayah says What they said was only for the sake of argument; they did not really believe in it. Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, recorded that Abu Umamah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «مَا ضَلَّ قَوْمٌ بَعْدَ هُدًى كَانُوا عَلَيْهِ، إِلَّا أُوْرِثُوا الْجَدَل» g(No people go astray after having been guided, but they resort to (futile) argument.) Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited this Ayah: مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلاَّ جَدَلاَ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ (They quoted not the above example except for argument. Nay! But they are a quarrelsome people)." It was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Ibn Jarir. At-Tirmidhi said, "This Hadith is Hasan Sahih, we do not know it except from the Hadith of Hajjaj bin Dinar..." إِنْ هُوَ إِلاَّ عَبْدٌ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَيْهِ (He (`Isa) was not more than a servant. We granted Our favor to him,) means, `Isa, peace be upon him; he was no more than one of the servants of Allah whom Allah blessed with prophethood and messengership. وَجَعَلْنَـهُ مَثَلاً لِّبَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ (and We made him an example for the Children of Israel.) means, `a sign, proof and evidence of Our power to do whatever We will.' وَلَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ مَّلَـئِكَةً فِى الاٌّرْضِ يَخْلُفُونَ (And if it were Our will, We would have made angels to replace you on the earth.) As-Suddi said, "They would have taken your place on (the earth). " Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and Qatadah said, "They would have succeeded one another just as you succeed one another." This view is implied by the former veiw. Mujahid said, "They would have populated the earth instead of you." Allah's saying: وَإِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ لِّلسَّاعَةِ (And he (`Isa) shall be a known sign for (the coming of) the Hour.) The correct view concerning this phrase is that it refers to his descent before the Day of Resurrection, as Allah says: وَإِن مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ إِلاَّ لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ (And there is none of the People of the Scripture but must believe in him before his death) (4:159). -- meaning before the death of `Isa, peace be upon him -- وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيداً And on the Day of Resurrection, he will be a witness against them )4:159(. This meaning has the support from an alternate recitation of the Aya0t؛ (وَإِنَّهُ لَعَلَمٌ لِلسَّاعَةِ) (And he shall be a known sign for (the coming of) the Hour.) means, evidence that the Hour will surely come. Mujahid said: وَإِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ لِّلسَّاعَةِ (And he shall be a sign for (the coming of) the Hour.) means, sign and "One of the signs of the Hour will be the appearance of `Isa son of Maryam before the Day of Resurrection. " Something similar was also narrated from Abu Hurayrah, Ibn `Abbas, `Abu Al-`Aliyah, Abu Malik, `Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and others. Many Mutawatir Hadiths report that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that `Isa will descend before the Day of Resurrection as a just ruler and fair judge. فَلاَ تَمْتَرُنَّ بِهَا (Therefore have no doubt concerning it.) means, do not doubt that it will surely come to pass. وَاتَّبِعُونِ (And follow Me.) means, `in what I tell you about it.' هَـذَا صِرَطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌوَلاَ يَصُدَّنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطَـنُ (This is the straight path. And let not Shaytan hinder you.) means, from following the truth. إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌوَلَمَّا جَآءَ عِيسَى بِالْبَيِّنَـتِ قَالَ قَدْ جِئْتُكُم بِالْحِكْمَةِ (Verily, he (Satan) to you is a plain enemy. And when `Isa came with (Our) clear proofs, he said: "I have come to you with Al-Hikmah..."), meaning prophethood: وَلأُبَيِّنَ لَكُم بَعْضَ الَّذِى تَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ (and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) in which you differ.) Ibn Jarir said, "This means religious matters, not worldly matters." What he said is good. فَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ (Therefore have Taqwa of Allah) means, `with regard to what I command you to do.' وَأَطِيعُونِ (and obey me.) means, `in what I bring to you.' إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ رَبِّى وَرَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ هَـذَا صِرَطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ (Verily, Allah! He is my Lord and your Lord. So worship Him. This is the straight path.) means, `you and I are enslaved to Him, in need of Him and we commonly share in the worship of Him Alone, associating none with Him.' هَـذَا صِرَطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ (This is the straight path) means, `what I have brought to you is the straight path, which is the worship of the Lord, may He exalted, Alone.' فَاخْتَلَفَ الاٌّحْزَابُ مِن بَيْنِهِمْ (But the sects from among themselves differed. ) means, they differed and became parties and factions, some who stated that he (`Isa) was the servant and Messenger of Allah -- which is true - while others claimed that he was the son of Allah or that he himself was Allah -- glorified be Allah far above what they say. Allah says: فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ (So woe to those who do wrong from the torment of a painful Day)!

But the factions differed among themselves regarding the status of Jesus was he God or the son of God or the third of Three deities? So woe waylun is a term implying chastisement to those who do wrong those who blaspheme in what they say about Jesus from the chastisement of a painful day.

فاختلفت الفرق في أمر عيسى عليه السلام، وصاروا فيه شيعًا: منهم مَن يُقِرُّ بأنه عبد الله ورسوله، وهو الحق، ومنهم مَن يزعم أنه ابن الله، ومنهم مَن يقول: إنه الله، تعالى الله عن قولهم علوًا كبيرًا، فهلاك ودمار وعذاب أليم يوم القيامة لمن وصفوا عيسى بغير ما وصفه الله به.

أي اختلفت الفرق وصاروا شيعا فيه منهم من يقر بأنه عبدالله ورسوله وهو الحق ومنهم من يدعي أنه ولد الله ومنهم من يقول إنه الله تعالى الله عن قولهم علوا كبيرا.ولهذا قال تعالى "فويل للذين ظلموا من عذاب يوم أليم".

ثم بين - سبحانه - موقف أهل الكتاب من دعوة عيسى - عليه السلام - فقال ( فاختلف الأحزاب مِن بَيْنِهِمْ ) .والأحزاب : جمع حزب ، والمراد بهم الفرق التى تحزبت وتجمعت على الباطل من بعد عيسى .وضمير الجمع فى قوله ( مِن بَيْنِهِمْ ) يعود إلى من بعث إليهم عيسى - عليه السلام - من اليهود والنصارى .وقيل : يعود إلى النصارى خاصة ، لأنهم هم الذين اختلفوا فى شأنه ، فمنهم من قال : هو الله ومنهم من قال : هو ابن الله . ومنهم من قال : ثالث ثلاثة .قال الآلوسى : قوله : ( فاختلف الأحزاب ) أى : الفرق المتحزبة ( مِن بَيْنِهِمْ ) أى : من بين من بعث إليهم ، وخاطبهم بما خاطبهم من اليهود والنصارى وهم أمة دعوته - عليه السلام - .وقيل : المراد النصارى ، وهم أمة إجابته ، وقد اختلفوا فرقا : ملكانية ، ونسطورية ، ويعقوبية .وقوله - تعالى - : ( فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ ) بيان للعقاب الشديد الذى أعده الله - تعالى - لهم ، بسبب اختلافهم وبغيهم ، ونسبتهم إلى عيسى ما هو برئ منه .أى : فهلاك وعذاب شديد للذين ظلموا أنفسهم بالكفر ، وبافترائهم على عيسى - عليه السلام - ، وما أشد حسرتهم فى هذا اليوم العصيب .

القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : فَاخْتَلَفَ الأَحْزَابُ مِنْ بَيْنِهِمْ فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ (65)اختلف أهل التأويل في المعنيين بالأحزاب, الذين ذكرهم الله فى هذا الموضع, فقال بعضهم: عنى بذلك: الجماعة التي تناظرت في أمر عيسى, واختلفت فيه.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثنا ابن عبد الأعلى, قال: ثنا ابن ثور, عن معمر, عن قتادة, في قوله: ( فَاخْتَلَفَ الأحْزَابُ مِنْ بَيْنِهِمْ ) قال: هم الأربعة الذين أخرجهم بنو إسرائيل يقولون في عيسى. وقال آخرون: بل هم اليهود والنصارى.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثنا محمد, قال: ثنا أحمد, قال: ثنا أسباط, عن السديّ, في قوله: ( فَاخْتَلَفَ الأحْزَابُ مِنْ بَيْنِهِمْ ) قال: اليهود والنصارى. والصواب من القول في ذلك أن يقال: معنى ذلك: فاختلف الفرق المختلفون في عيسى ابن مريم من بين من دعاهم عيسى إلى ما دعاهم إليه من اتقاء الله والعمل بطاعته, وهم اليهود والنصارى, ومن اختلف فيه من النصارى, لأن جميعهم كانوا أحزابا مبتسلين (2) مختلفي الأهواء مع بيانه لهم أمر نفسه, وقوله لهم: إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ هَذَا صِرَاطٌ مُسْتَقِيمٌ .وقوله: ( فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ ) يقول تعالى ذكره فالوادي السائل من القيح والصديد في جهنم للذين كفروا بالله, الذين قالوا في عيسى ابن مريم بخلاف ما وصف عيسى به نفسه في هذه الآية ( مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ ) يقول: من عذاب يوم مؤلم, ووصف اليوم بالإيلام, إذ كان العذاب الذي يؤلمهم فيه, وذلك يوم القيامة.كما حدثنا محمد, قال: ثنا أحمد, قال: ثنا أسباط, عن السديّ( مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ ) قال: من عذاب يوم القيامة.-----------------الهوامش :(2) كذا في الأصل . ولعل الصواب" متبسلين" بتقديم التاء على الباء . قال في اللسان : تبسل الرجل : عبس من الغضب أو الشجاعة أما ابتسل الرجل بتقديم الباء ، فمعناه : أخذ على رقيته أجرا . ا هـ .

" فاختلف الأحزاب من بينهم فويل للذين ظلموا من عذاب يوم أليم "

فَاخْتَلَفَ الْأَحْزَابُ مِنْ بَيْنِهِمْ فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ (65)هذا التفريع هو المقصود من سوْق القصة مساق التنظير بين أحوال الرسل ، أي عَقِب دعوتَه اختلافُ الأحزاب من بين الأمة الذين بعث إليهم والذين تقلدوا ملته طلباً للاهتداء .وهذا التفريع دليل على جواب ( لمّا ) المحذوف .وضمير { بينهم } مراد به الذين جاءهم عيسى لأنهم معلومون من سياق القصة من قوله : { جاء عيسى } [ الزخرف : 63 ] فإن المجيء يقتضي مجيئاً إليه وهم اليهود .و { من } يجوز أن تكون مزيدة لتأكيد مدلول { بينهم } أي اختلفوا اختلاف أمة واحدة ، أي فمنهم من صدق عيسى وهم : يحيى بن زكرياء ومريمُ أم عيسى والحواريون الاثنا عشر وبعض نساء مثل مريم المجدلية ونفر قليل ، وكفر به جمهور اليهود وأحبارهم ، وكان ما كان من تَألب اليهود عليه حتى رفعه الله . ثم انتشر الحواريون يدعون إلى شريعة عيسى فاتبعهم أقوام في بلاد رُومية وبلاد اليونان ولم يلبثوا أن اختلفوا من بينهم في أصول الديانة فتفرقوا ثلاث فرق : نسطورية ، ويعاقبة ، ومَلْكَانِيَّة . فقالت النسطورية : عيسى ابْن الله ، وقالت اليعاقبة : عيسى هو الله ، أي بطريق الحلول ، وقالت المَلْكَانية وهم الكاثوليك : عيسى ثالثُ ثلاثة مجموعها هو الإله ، وتلك هي : الأب الله ، والابنُ عيسى ، وروحُ القدس جبريل فالإله عندهم أقانيم ثلاثة .وقد شملت الآية كلا الاختلافين فتكون الفاء مستعملة في حقيقة التعقيب ومجازِه بأن يكون شمولها للاختلاف الأخير مجازاً علاقته المشابهة لتشبيه مفاجأة طروّ الاختلاف بين أتباعه مع وجود الشريعة المانعةِ من مثله كأنه حدث عقب بعثة عيسى وإن كان بينه وبينها زمان طويل دبَّت فيه بدعتهم ، واستعمال اللّفظ في حقيقته ومجازه شائع لأن المدار على أن تكون قرينة المجاز مانعة من إرادة المعنى الحقيقي وحده على التحقيق . وهذا الاختلاف أُجمِل هنا ووقع تفصيله في آيات كثيرة تتعلق بما تلقّى به اليهود دعوة عيسى ، وآيات تتعلق بما أحدثه النصارى في دين عيسى من زعم بنوّته من الله وإلهيته .ويجوز أن تكون { مِن } في قوله : { من بينهم } ابتدائية متعلقة ب ( اختلف ) أي نشأ الاختلاف من بينهم دون أن يُدخله عليهم غيرُهم ، أي كان دينهم سالماً فنشأ فيهم الاختلاف .وعلى هذا الوجه يختص الخلاف بأتباع عيسى عليه السلام من النصارى إذ اختلفوا فرقاً وابتدعوا قضية بنوّة عيسى من الله فتكون الفاء خالصة للتعقيب المجازي .وفرع على ذِكر الاختلاف تهديدُ بوعيد للذين ظلموا بالعذاب يوم القيامة تفريعَ التذييل على المذيَّل ، فالذين ظلموا يشمل جميع الذين أشركوا مع الله غيره في الإلهية { إن الشرك لظلمٌ عظيمٌ } [ لقمان : 13 ] ، وهذا إطلاق الظلم غالباً في القرآن ، فعلم أن الاختلاف بين الأحزاب أفضى بهم أن صار أكثرهم مشركين بقرينة ما هو معروف في الاستعمال من لزوم مناسبة التذييل للمذيَّل ، بأن يكون التذييل يعمّ المذيَّل وغيرَه فيشمل عمومُ هذا التذييل مشركي العرب المقصودين من هذه الأمثال والعِبر ، ألاَ ترى أنه وقع في سورة مريم ( 37 ) قولُه { فاختَلف الأحزاب من بينهم فويل للذين كفروا من مشهد يوممٍ عظيمٍ } فجُعلت الصلة فعلَ كفروا لأن المقصود من آية سورة مريم الذين كفروا من النصارى ولذلك أردف بقوله : { لكن الظالمون اليوم في ضلاللٍ مبينٍ } [ مريم : 38 ] لمَّا أريد التخلص إلى إنذار المشركين بعد إنذار النصارى .

فلما جاءهم عيسى عليه السلام بهذا { اخْتَلَفَ الْأَحْزَابُ } المتحزبون على التكذيب { مِنْ بَيْنِهِمْ } كل قال بعيسى عليه السلام مقالة باطلة، ورد ما جاء به، إلا من هدى الله من المؤمنين، الذين شهدوا له بالرسالة، وصدقوا بكل ما جاء به، وقالوا: إنه عبد الله ورسوله.{ فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا من عذاب يوم أليم } أي: ما أشد حزن الظالمين وما أعظم خسارهم في ذلك اليوم"."

فَاخْتَلَفَ الْأَحْزَابُ مِنْ بَيْنِهِمْقال قتادة : يعني ما بينهم , وفيهم قولان :أحدهما : أنهم أهل الكتاب من اليهود والنصارى , خالف بعضهم بعضا , قال مجاهد والسدي .الثاني : فرق النصارى من النسطورية والملكية واليعاقبة , اختلفوا في عيسى ; فقال النسطورية : هو ابن الله .وقالت اليعاقبة : هو الله .وقالت الملكية : ثالث ثلاثة أحدهم الله ; قاله الكلبي ومقاتل , وقد مضى هذا في سورة " مريم " .فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواأي كفروا وأشركوا ; كما في سورة " مريم " .مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍأي أليم عذابه ; مثله : ليل نائم ; أي ينام فيه .

Here ‘wisdom’ means the spirit of religion and ‘straight path’ means the upholding of the virtues that are mentioned in the verse, namely, fear and worship of God, prayer to Him and obedience to the Prophet. This is the real religion. What the Jews did at a later stage was to lose the spirit of religion and indulge in hair-splitting over the basic principles of religion. Due to these totally contrived additions, differing sects developed among them. One sect laid stress on one controversial issue, another laid stress elsewhere. In this way, with them, one religion turned into several religions. Jesus Christ was sent to the Jews to tell them that the really important aspect of religion was its spirit and not form; and also to inform them that they would achieve salvation on following the true religion sent by God and not that religion which they had themselves devised. Jesus told them that the real religion was based on the fear of God, and that they should become worshippers of the one and only God and follow the example of the Prophet in everyday affairs. Beyond this, whatever innumerable problems they had created by their futile discussions and hair-splitting arguments were their own self-made additions. They were advised to give up all these additions and be steadfast in their adherence to the real religion. All these exhortations made by Jesus exist in the Bible even today.

وَلِأُبَيِّنَ لَكُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي تَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ (and to explain to you some of those matters in which you differ...43:63) Since Bana Isra'il were drowned in arrogance and obstinacy, they had tampered with the Divine laws. Sayyidna ` Isa (علیہ السلام) disclosed the reality of such distortions. The words 'some matters' are used because some other matters were purely of mundane nature. He might have not felt the need to deal with those differences. (Bayan-ul-Qur an).

(But the factions) the Christians (among them differed) for some said he was the son of Allah, the Nestorians, some said he is Allah, the Jacobites, others said he is Allah's partner, the Melkites, and others said he is one of three hypostases, al-Marqusiyyah. (Then woe) severe punishment is (unto those who do wrong) to those who became different factions concerning Jesus (from the doom of a painful day.