Mankind was one single nation, and Allah sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings; and with them He sent the Book in truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they differed; but the People of the Book, after the clear Signs came to them, did not differ among themselves, except through selfish contumacy. Allah by His Grace Guided the believers to the Truth, concerning that wherein they differed. For Allah guided whom He will to a path that is straight.

Those messengers We endowed with gifts, some above others: To one of them Allah spoke; others He raised to degrees (of honour); to Jesus the son of Mary We gave clear (Signs), and strengthened him with the holy spirit. If Allah had so willed, succeeding generations would not have fought among each other, after clear (Signs) had come to them, but they (chose) to wrangle, some believing and others rejecting. If Allah had so willed, they would not have fought each other; but Allah Fulfilleth His plan.

The people of the Book ask thee to cause a book to descend to them from heaven: Indeed they asked Moses for an even greater (miracle), for they said: "Show us Allah in public," but they were dazed for their presumption, with thunder and lightning. Yet they worshipped the calf even after clear signs had come to them; even so we forgave them; and gave Moses manifest proofs of authority.

Lost indeed are they who treat it as a falsehood that they must meet Allah,- until on a sudden the hour is on them, and they say: "Ah! woe unto us that we took no thought of it"; for they bear their burdens on their backs, and evil indeed are the burdens that they bear?

But when good (times) came, they said, "This is due to us;" When gripped by calamity, they ascribed it to evil omens connected with Moses and those with him! Behold! in truth the omens of evil are theirs in Allah's sight, but most of them do not understand!

Behold, the messengers came to them, from before them and behind them, (preaching): "Serve none but Allah." They said, "If our Lord had so pleased, He would certainly have sent down angels (to preach). Now we reject your mission (altogether)."

Nor did the People of the Book make schisms, until after there came to them Clear Evidence.

世人原是一个民族，嗣後，他们信仰分歧，故真主派众先知作报喜者和警告者，且降示他们包含真理的经典，以便他为世人判决他们所争论的是非。惟曾受天经的人，在明证降临之後，为互相嫉妒，而对天经意见分歧，故真主依自己的意旨而引导信道的人，俾得明了他们所争论的真理。真主引导他所意欲的人走上正路。

这些使者，我使他们的品格互相超越；他们中有真主曾和他们说话的，有真主提升他若干等级的。我曾以许多明证赏赐麦尔彦之子尔撤，并且以玄灵扶助他。假若真主意欲，他们的信徒在明证降临之後，必不互相残杀，但他们意见分歧，他们中有信道的，有不信道的。假若真主意欲，他们必不互相攻击，但真主是为所欲为的。

信奉天经的人，请求你从天上降示他们一部经典。他们确已向穆萨请求过比这更重大的事，他们说：“你使我们亲眼看见真主吧。”急雷为他们的不义而袭击他们。在许多明证降临他们之后，他们又认犊为神，但我已恕饶这件事。 这曾赏赐穆萨一个明显的证据。

否认与真主相会的人，确已亏折了。等到复活时刻忽然降临的时候，他们才说：“呜呼痛哉！我们在尘世时疏忽了。”他们的背上，担负著自己的罪恶。他们所担负的，真恶劣！

当幸福降临他们的时候，他们说：“这是我们所应得的。”当灾难降临他们的时候，他们则归咎于穆萨及其教徒们的不祥。真的，他们的厄运是在真主那里注定的，只是他们大半不知道罢了！

当时，众使者从他们的前后来临他们，说：“除真主外，你们不要崇拜任何物。”他们说：“假若我们的主意欲，他必降下许多天神，我们必定不信你们所奉的使命。”

信奉天经者，没有分离，直到明证来临他们。