“those who have made the Quran into portions.” (91)

Concerning Allah’s saying, “just as We sent down upon those who divided [the Scripture],” al-Farrāʾ said: Its implied meaning is: “I warn you of a punishment like the punishment of those who divided [the Scripture].” It is narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: They are the Jews and the Christians.

“Those who have made the Quran into portions”: they divided it into parts, believing in some of it and disbelieving in some of it. Mujāhid said: They are the Jews and the Christians; they divided their Book, fragmented it, and altered it. (1)