Allah, they would not have fought one another, but Allah does whatever He wills.” And His words:

“These are two adversaries who have disputed concerning their Lord. For those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out.”

Through to His words:

“Indeed, Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous deeds.”

And His words:

“Indeed, those who believe, the Jews, the Sabians, the Christians, the Magians, and those who associate partners with Allah—Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed, Allah is Witness over all things.”

Since this is so, the division and disagreement among the People of the Scripture that He condemned involved condemnation of them all. He forbade imitating them, saying:

“Do not be like those who became divided and differed after clear proofs had come to them.”

And He said:

“None differed over it except those who were given it, after clear proofs had come to them, out of mutual transgression.”

This occurs when one group believes in some truth but rejects the truth held by another, and adds falsehood to the truth, as the Jews and Christians differed concerning the Messiah and other matters.

We therefore say:

If someone says that the People of the Scripture did not become divided over Muhammad until after he was sent, meaning that some believed while others disbelieved—as some have said—then those condemned here are the disbelievers, not the believers. Thus, not everyone involved in the disagreement is condemned. Rather, condemnation falls upon those who knew that he was a messenger but, when he came, disbelieved in him out of envy or transgression, as the Most High said:

“And when there came to them a Book from Allah confirming what was with them, although previously they had