this religion of yours is one religion, and I am your Lord, so worship Me.” And Allah Most High says:

“O messengers, eat of the good things and do righteous deeds. Indeed, I know all that you do.

And indeed, this religion of yours is one religion, and I am your Lord, so fear Me.

But they divided their religion among themselves into sects, each faction rejoicing in what it has.”

Qatādah said: “That is, your religion is one religion, and your Lord is one Lord, though the prescribed laws differ.” Likewise, al-Dahhāk reported that Ibn ‘Abbās explained “Indeed, this religion of yours is one religion” as meaning: “Your religion is one religion.”

Ibn Abī Hātim said: “Similar explanations have been reported from Sa‘īd ibn Jubayr, Qatādah, and ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Zayd.”

Al-Hasan said: “He made clear to them what they should avoid and what they should do. Then He said: ‘Indeed, this way of yours is one way.’” This is also the explanation given by the majority of Quran commentators.

The word ummah means a religion or a way, as Allah Most High says:

“They said, ‘We found our forefathers following a way, and we are guided by their footsteps’”—or, “following in their footsteps.”

Similarly, a path is called an imām (guide), because the traveller follows it; likewise, the traveller heads towards it and seeks it out. Ummah also means a teacher of goodness whom people follow, just as an imām is someone whom people follow. Allah made Abraham, peace be upon him, an imām and stated that he “was an ummah.”