Surah Yunus Ayat 19 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 19
And mankind was not but one community [united in religion], but [then] they differed. And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord, it would have been judged between them [immediately] concerning that over which they differ.
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.
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.
Mankind were but one community (i.e. on one religion – Islamic 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 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.
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)
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.
اور تمام لوگ ایک ہی امت کے تھے پھر انہوں نے اختلاف پیداکرلیا اور اگر ایک بات نہ ہوتی جو آپ کے رب کی طرف سے پہلے ٹھہر چکی ہے تو جس چیز میں یہ لوگ اختلاف کررہے ہیں ان کا قطعی فیصلہ ہوچکا ہوتا
Quran 10 Verse 19 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Yunus ayat 19, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(10:19) Once all men were but a single community; then they disagreed (and formulated different beliefs and rites).[25] Had it not been that your Lord had already so ordained, a decisive judgement would have been made regarding their disagreements.[26]
25. See (Surah Al-Baqarah, ayat 213) note 230 and (Surah Al-Anaam, ayat 35) note 24.
26. The decree that Allah has ordained is that the reality that shall be kept hidden from man’s senses in order to test whether he recognizes this by using his common sense, intelligence, conscience and intuition, and if he does not, he shall be allowed to tread the wrong ways he chooses. That is why their differences about the reality are not being resolved by uncovering it today.
This thing has been stated here to remove a common misunderstanding about the diversity of religions in the world.
At that time, there was a confusion in the minds of the people (and is even today) concerning this. They said: Different people profess different religions, and the followers of each religion claim that their religion alone is the true one. How may then a seeker of truth judge which one of these is the true religion? The answer is: In the beginning all mankind had only one religion, and that was the true religion. Then people strayed away from it and invented different religions of their own with different creeds and ways. Now if you desire that Allah Himself should uncover the truth and present it to you to enable you to decide which religion is the true one, you should know that this will not be done in this life, because you are required to decide this by using your common sense and intelligence. This worldly lift is a trial to see whether or not you yourselves recognize the truth by using your common sense and intelligence.
Ibn-Kathir
The tafsir of Surah Yunus verse 19 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Yunus ayat 18 which provides the complete commentary from verse 18 through 19.
Quick navigation links
