He said:

“Some leading linguists said: ‘His words “breaking away” mean “perishing.” This derives from the expression, “A woman’s salā has come apart during childbirth,” meaning that it separates and does not join together again, so she perishes. The verse means that they would not perish in their state of denial until proof had been established against them through the sending of the Messenger and the revelation of the Book.’”

Al-Baghawī mentioned this interpretation and the first, then said: “The first is more correct.”

(I say: The second interpretation, which he related from Ibn Kaysān, is that of al-Farrā’. Al-Mahdawī presented it before the first, saying:

“‘Breaking away’ derives from the expression ‘one thing breaks away from another,’ meaning that it separates from it. The meaning is that they would not become divided except when the Messenger came to them, because they abandoned the accounts and descriptions of him that they possessed and disbelieved after the clear proofs.”

He said:

“On this interpretation, ‘breaking away’ does not require a predicate. This is supported by His words:

‘Nor did those who were given the Scripture become divided until after the clear proof had come to them.’”

He said:

“Mujāhid said: ‘The meaning is that they would not desist from their ways.’ It is also related from Mujāhid: ‘They would not believe until the clear proof came to them.’”

He said:

“Al-Farrā’ said: ‘They did not cease mentioning the references to the Prophet that they possessed until he appeared. When he appeared, they became divided and disagreed.’”