﴿ وَمَا تَفَرَّقُوٓا۟ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌۭ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّۭى لَّقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُورِثُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ لَفِى شَكٍّۢ مِّنْهُ مُرِيبٍۢ ﴾

“And [as for the followers of earlier revelation,] they broke up their unity, out of mutual jealousy, only after they had come to know [the truth]. And had it not been for a decree that had already gone forth from thy Sustainer, [postponing all decision] until a term set [by Him], all would indeed have been decided between them [from the outset]. As it is, behold, they who have inherited their divine writ from those who preceded them are [now] in grave doubt, amounting to suspicion, about what it por­tends.”

(And they were not divided) i.e. the Jews and Christians about Muhammad (pbuh) the Qur'an and Islam (until after the knowledge) until after the exposition which is in their Scripture about the attributes and description of Muhammad (pbuh) (came unto them, through rivalry among themselves) out of resentful envy, they disbelieved in Muhammad (pbuh); (and had it not been for a Word) to delay the punishment of this nation (that had already gone forth from your Lord) had already been ordained by your Lord (for an appointed term) until an appointed time, (it surely had been judged between them) He would have already destroyed the Jews and Christians. (And those who were made to inherit the Scripture) and those who were given the Torah (after them) after the messengers; and it is also said: after the generations of old (are verily in hopeless doubt concerning it) concerning the Torah; and it is also said that this means: concerning the Qur'an.