"They follow that which is not entirely clear of it." He said: They follow the abrogated and the abrogating, and they say: 'What is the matter with this verse? Such and such was acted upon, then this verse came and the former was abandoned, and this latter one was acted upon. Why was this verse not acted upon before the former, which has been abrogated, came?' And: 'What is the matter with him—after the punishment—that he who performs a deed, He punishes him with the Fire? And in another place, he who performs it, it did not necessitate the Fire for him.' Thus, he desired the matters in the Qur'an that Allah has promised, and what it contains of the abrogating and the abrogated, desiring discord.

3187 - My father narrated to us, Ahmad b. 'Abd al-Rahman reported to us, 'Abd Allah b. Abi Ja'far reported to us, from his father, from al-Rabi' regarding His saying: "They follow that which is not entirely clear of it." This is because they—meaning the Christians—said to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): 'Do you not claim that 'Isa is the Word of Allah and a Spirit from Him?' He said: 'Yes.' They said: 'Then that is sufficient for us.' So Allah revealed: "So as for those in whose hearts is deviation, they follow that which is not entirely clear of it, seeking discord."

His saying, the Exalted: "that which is not entirely clear of it."

3188 - Muhammad b. Yahya narrated to us, Abu Ghassan informed us, Salamah reported to us, he said: Muhammad b. Ishaq said: His saying: "They follow that which is not entirely clear of it," meaning: that which has been distorted and altered of it.

His saying, the Exalted: "seeking discord."

3189 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, 'Amr b. Hammad reported to us, Asbat reported to us, from al-Suddi: His saying: "seeking discord," meaning: desiring discord.

His saying, the Exalted: "discord."

[The First Aspect]

3190 - Hajjaj b. Hamzah narrated to us, Shababah reported to us, Warqa' reported to us, from Ibn Abi Najih, from Mujahid, regarding His saying: "seeking discord," the ambiguities by which they were destroyed.

The Second Aspect:

3191 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, 'Amr b. Hammad reported to us, Asbat reported to us, from al-Suddi, regarding His saying: "seeking discord," and it is polytheism. It was also narrated from al-Rabi' b. Anas and Muqatil b. Hayyan similarly.