"And do not be like those who became divided," meaning the People of the Scripture. He says: Do not act as they acted. "On the Day when some faces will turn white" up to His saying: "for what you used to disbelieve."

Yahya [narrated] from Hammad ibn Salamah [from Abu Ghalib], who said: "I was with Abu Umamah while he was on a donkey, until we reached the steps of the mosque in Damascus. There were heads of the Khawarij set up, so he asked: 'What are these heads?' They said: 'Heads of Khawarij brought from Iraq.' He said: 'The dogs of the people of Hell, the dogs of the people of Hell, the dogs of the people of Hell! The worst of the slain under the canopy of heaven, the worst of the slain under the canopy of heaven, the worst of the slain under the canopy of heaven! The best of the slain is he whom they killed, the best of the slain is he whom they killed, the best of the slain is he whom they killed. Glad tidings to whoever killed them or they killed him, glad tidings to whoever killed them or they killed him, glad tidings to whoever killed them or they killed him.' Then he wept. I said: 'What makes you weep?' He said: 'Out of mercy for them; for they used to be among the people of Islam, but then they departed from Islam.' Then he recited this verse: 'It is He who has sent down to you, the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise' until he reached the end of it. Then he recited this verse: 'And do not be like those who became divided and differed' up to His saying: 'for what you used to disbelieve.' I asked: 'Are they these people, O Abu Umamah?' He replied: 'Yes.' I said: 'Is this something you say...'