( وقطعناهم ) وفرقناهم ( في الأرض أمما ) فرقا فرقهم الله فتشتت أمرهم ولم تجتمع لهم كلمة ، ( منهم الصالحون ) قال ابن عباس ومجاهد : يريد الذين أدركوا رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وآمنوا به ( ومنهم دون ذلك ) يعني الذين بقوا على الكفر .
وقال الكلبي : منهم الصالحون هم الذين وراء نهر أوداف من وراء الصين ومنهم دون ذلك ، يعني : من هاهنا من اليهود ، ( وبلوناهم بالحسنات ) بالخصب والعافية ، ( والسيئات ) الجدب والشدة ، ( لعلهم يرجعون ) لكي يرجعوا إلى طاعة ربهم ويتوبوا .
And I broke and separated them up in the earth, dividing them into communities, after they had been united. Among them were those who were righteous and who upheld the rights of Allah and the rights of His creatures; among them were those who were moderate; and among them were those who were excessive in their disobedience. Allah tested them with ease and difficulty, so that they might return from what they were doing.