and remember Allah’s favor upon you: you were enemies, and He united your hearts, so that by His favor you became brothers”—through to His words:

“And do not be like those who became divided and differed after clear proofs had come to them”—through to His words:

“You are the best community brought forth for mankind.”

Thus He commanded us to remain steadfast in Islam until death, just as He commanded all the prophets to submit to Him, and to hold firmly to His rope all together without becoming divided. He forbade us to be like those who became divided and differed after clear proofs had come to them. He mentioned that some faces would become white and others black. Ibn ʿAbbās said: “The faces of the people of the Sunnah and the community will become white, and the faces of the people of innovation and division will become black.” He mentioned that they would be told:

“Did you disbelieve after having believed?”

This refers back to His words:

“And do not die except as Muslims.”

He thus commanded steadfast adherence to Islam and explained that those whose faces become black—the people of division and disagreement—will be asked: “Did you disbelieve after having believed?” This is evidence of their disbelief and apostasy. The Companions applied this verse to the Khawārij.

This parallels His command to the messengers:

“Establish the religion and do not become divided over it.”

He also said in Sūrat al-Baqarah:

“Mankind was one community. Then Allah sent the prophets as bearers of good tidings and warners, and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between people concerning that over which they differed”—the verse.

He also said:

“Indeed, those who divided their religion and became sects—you have nothing to do with them.”

And Allah Most High said:

“But they divided their religion among themselves into sects, each faction in what