"And they did not become divided," meaning: the People of the Scripture, "except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves," meaning: out of envy among them. They desired the world and its prosperity, so they altered their scripture, permitting therein what they willed and forbidding what they willed. Thus, they became leaders over the people, consuming their wealth, and the people followed them in that.

Muhammad said: His saying: "except after knowledge had come to them," the meaning is: except with knowledge that division is misguidance, but they did that out of 'baghy' (jealous animosity); meaning: for the sake of 'baghy'.

"And if it were not for a word that preceded from your Lord until an appointed term," meaning: the Resurrection, to which they were delayed, "it would have been judged between them" in the world; so He would have entered the believers into Paradise and the disbelievers into the Fire. "And indeed, those who were caused to inherit the Book after them," meaning: the Jews and the Christians after their predecessors, "are in doubt concerning it," concerning the Quran, "disturbing," from 'raybah' (doubt/suspicion).