And mankind was only one community, then they differed; and were it not for a word that preceded from thy Lord, it would have been concluded between them concerning that wherein they differ.
| # | word | meaning | root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | wamā | And not | |
| 2 | kāna | was | كون |
| 3 | l-nāsu | the mankind | نوس |
| 4 | illā | but | |
| 5 | ummatan | a community | امم |
| 6 | wāḥidatan | one | وحد |
| 7 | fa-ikh'talafū | then they differed | خلف |
| 8 | walawlā | And had (it) not been | |
| 9 | kalimatun | a word | كلم |
| 10 | sabaqat | (that) preceded | سبق |
| 11 | min | from | |
| 12 | rabbika | your Lord | ربب |
| 13 | laquḍiya | surely, it (would) have been judged | قضي |
| 14 | baynahum | between them | بين |
| 15 | fīmā | concerning what | |
| 16 | fīhi | [therein] | |
| 17 | yakhtalifūna | they differ | خلف |
Mankind was only one community but then they differed, and had it not been for a prior Word from your Lord, they would already have been judged in respect of the differences between them.
The people were but one nation, then they differed. And had it not been for a previous command from your Lord, the matter would have been immediately judged between them for what they differed.
All mankind were but one community (and are meant to be so); then they differed (2:213). Had not your Lord decreed the Law of free will for humans, He would have judged their disputes immediately (2:30), (2:256), (11:118), (16:9), (76:2-3).
And mankind was only one community, then they differed; and were it not for a word that preceded from thy Lord, it would have been concluded between them concerning that wherein they differ.
The people were but one nation, then they differed. And had it not been for a previous command from your Lord, the matter would have been immediately judged between them for what they differed.
The people were but one nation, and then they differed. Had it not been for a previous command from your Lord, the matter would have been immediately judged between them for what they differed.
The people used to be one congregation, then they disputed. If it were not for a predetermined word from your Lord, they would have been judged immediately regarding their disputes.
Men were once a community of one faith; but they differed (and followed different ways). Had it not been for the word proclaimed by your Lord before, their differences would have been resolved.
And mankind was not but one community , but they differed. And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord, it would have been judged between them concerning that over which they differ.
AND all mankind were once but one single community, and only later did they begin to hold divergent views. And had it not been for a decree- that had already gone forth from thy Sustainer, all their differences would indeed have been settled .
Mankind were but one community; then they differed; and had it not been for a word that had already gone forth from thy Lord it had been judged between them in respect of that wherein they differ.
Once all men were but a single community; then they disagreed (and formulated different beliefs and rites).* Had it not been that your Lord had already so ordained, a decisive judgement would have been made regarding their disagreements.*
People were but one single nation, then they differed among themselves in opinion and each group cherished a certain view and belief and were altogether set at variance. Had it not been for Allah's word proclaimed beforehand to delay the decision on matters of doubt and dispute among them and to put punishment in respite, their Hereafter would have been planted in the now.
The people were used to belong to only one nation; then they created opposing communities. If it was not the pre-determined will of God (to let them keep their freedom of choice), He would have immediately judged among them
Mankind were but one community (i.e. on one religion - Islâmic Monotheism), then they differed (later); and had not it been for a Word that went forth before from your Lord, it would have been settled between them regarding what they differed.
Mankind was but one nation, but differed (later). Had it not been for a word that went forth before from thy Lord, their differences would have been settled between them.
Humanity was once nothing but a single community ˹of believers˺, but then they differed. Had it not been for a prior decree from your Lord, their differences would have been settled ˹at once˺.
All the people were no more than a single community; later, they differed. But for a word from your Lord that had already come to pass, a decisive judgment would have been made about their mutual differences.
All people were originally one single community, but later they differed. If it had not been for a word from your Lord, the preordained judgement would already have been passed between them regarding their differences.
Mankind were only one nation, then they fell into variance. But for a word that preceded from thy Lord, it had been decided between them already touching their differences.
People were but one nation once, then they disagreed; and had it not been for thy Lord's word already passed, there would have been decided between them that concerning which they disagreed.
They worship beside Allah what can neither harm them nor profit them, and they say, "These are our intercessors with Allah!" Say, "Will you inform Allah of something that He knows not in the heavens or the earth?" Praised be He, and exalted be He, above all that they associate with Him!
And in no way were mankind anything except one nation, then they differed among themselves; and had it not been for a Word that went before from your Lord, wherein they differed, (it) would indeed have been decreed between them. (i.e., what they differed about would nave been settled)
Men were professors of one religion only, but they dissented therefrom; and if a decree had not previously issued from thy Lord, deferring their punishment, verily the matter had been decided between them, concerning which they disagreed.
Mankind was only one nation, but differed later. If it was not because of a Word from your Lord that came before their differences would have been settled between them.
And mankind were but a single nation, then they fell into variance. Had it not been for a word (-the postponement of their punishment, see 8:33) that preceded from your Lord (as His promise), the issue wherein they disagreed would have (long been) decided between them.
Mankind were but a single community; then they differed. And were it not for a prior decree of your Lord, decision would have been made between them concerning that about which they differ.