“And among us are Muslims, and among us are the unjust. Those who submit are the ones who have sought right guidance (14).”

“And we do not know whether evil is intended for those on earth”—through the hurling of shooting stars—“or whether their Lord intends for them right guidance. And among us are the righteous, and among us are others besides that; we have been of diverse ways.” That is, we were scattered groups and differing kinds. A qiddah is a piece of something. It is said, “The people became divided,” when their conditions differ. Its origin is from qadd, meaning cutting. Mujahid said: They mean Muslims and unbelievers.

It was also said: [people] of differing inclinations (1). Al-Hasan and al-Suddi said: The jinn are like you; among them are Qadariyyah, Murji’ah, and Rafidah.

Ibn Kaysan said: They are parties and sects, each sect having an inclination, just as people have differing inclinations.

Sa‘id ibn Jubayr said: They are of many different kinds, while Abu ‘Ubaydah said: They are different types. “And we have become certain”: that is, we knew and were certain “that we can never frustrate Allah on earth”—meaning, that we cannot escape Him should He will something concerning us—“nor can we escape Him by flight,” should He pursue us. “And when we heard the guidance”—the Quran and what Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, brought (2)—“we believed in it. Whoever believes in his Lord will fear neither deprivation”—that is, any reduction in his deeds and reward—“nor burden”: that is, oppression. It was also said: some disliked thing that may befall him.

“And among us are Muslims”: they are those who believed in Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. “And among us are the unjust”: those who turn away