Does verse 159 of the chapter al-Anam say that sects (madhhabs) are not appropriate?

- How can we prove that is not haram to be divided into madhhabs according to verse 159 of the chapter of al-Anam?
- Do that verse and similar verses render division into madhhabs haram? If not, why? What is the evidence of it?
- What is the reason for the revelation of that verse?
- How did the greatest tafsir scholars and translators of the Quran understand that verse?

Dear Brother / Sister,

- The translation of the verse in question is as follows:

“As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, thou hast no part in them in the least: their affair is with Allah. He will in the end tell them the truth of all that they did.” (al-Anam, 6/159)

- According to a narration reported from Ibn Abbas, Mujahid and Qatada, what is meant by "those who divide their religion and break up into sects" is Jews and Christians. Before the religion of Islam emerged, they disagreed among themselves about the prophet of Muhammad’s (pbuh) coming as a prophet. Their attitude is mentioned in the verse. (see Tabari, Razi, the interpretation of the verse in question)

According to another view attributed to Ibn Abbas, they are polytheists because the Arabs before Islam had been divided into various groups of faith. (Razi, the interpretation of the verse in question)

- According to some other scholars, those mentioned in the verse are some people from this ummah who deviate from the right path, and the people of bid'ah who harm the religion by misinterpreting the mutashabih (allegorical(ambiguous) verses in a way to cast doubt on the religion of Islam. (Tabari, ibid)

- Therefore, the different interpretations of the scholars of the four sects who explained the realities of the Quran to the Islamic Ummah are never the ones indicated by that verse. It is known that there have been different interpretations of the verses since the period of the Companions. If we do not attribute the meaning of the verse in question to those who try to destroy the religion, even the Companions will be the target of negative comments, which is sheer nonsense.

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