Allah Most High also says:

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

[Surah Āl Imrān: 105]

These Quranic texts speak of the disagreement and division that occurred among the nations before us. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“The Jews split into seventy-one sects, and the Christians split into seventy-two sects.” (1)

Allah has related how the people of Ād and Thamūd, and Pharaoh, rejected their prophets, and therein lies a lesson.

It is reported in the two Sahih collections that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“Leave me as long as I leave you. Those before you were destroyed only because of their excessive questioning and their disagreement with their prophets. When I forbid you something, avoid it; and when I command you to do something, do as much of it as you are able.” (2)

Allah Most High says concerning the People of the Book before us:

“We cast enmity and hatred among them until the Day of Resurrection. Whenever they kindle the flames of war, Allah extinguishes them.”

[Surah al-Mā’ida: 64]

Allah Most High also says:

“And from those who say, ‘We are Christians,’ We took their covenant, but they neglected a portion of what they had been reminded of. We therefore stirred up enmity and hatred among them until the Day of Resurrection.”

[Surah al-Mā’ida: 14]

Similar instances are among the things known with certainty to have occurred among the nations before us in the form of disagreement