Tafseer Ibn Kathir of AL ANBIYAA' [92]

92. Truly, this, your Ummah is one, and I am your Lord, therefore worship Me. 93. But they have broken up and differed in their religion among themselves. (And) they all shall return to Us. 94. So whoever does righteous good deeds while he is a believer, his efforts will not be rejected. Verily, We record it for him (in his Book of deeds).

(Truly, this, your Ummah is one,) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Qatadah and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, ”Your religion is one religion.'' Al-Hasan Al-Basri said: ”In this Ayah, Allah explains to them what they should avoid and what they should do.'' Then He said:

(Truly, this, your Ummah is one religion,) ”Meaning, your path is one path. Certainly this is your Shari`ah (Divine Law) which I have clearly explained you.'' So Allah says:

(and I am your Lord, therefore worship Me.) This is like the Ayah:

(O (you) Messengers! Eat of the Tayyibat (good things) and do righteous deeds.) Until His saying,

(And I am your Lord, so have Taqwa of Me.) ï´¿23:51-52ï´¾ The Messenger of Allah said:

(We Prophets are brothers from different mothers and our religion is one.) What is meant here is that they all worshipped Allah Alone with no partner or associate, although the Laws of each Messenger may have differed, as Allah says:

(To each among you, We have prescribed a Law and a clear way) ï´¿5:48ï´¾

(But they have broken up and differed in their religion among themselves.) meaning, the nations were divided over their Messengers; some of them believed in them and some rejected them. Allah says:

((And) they all shall return to Us.) meaning, `on the Day of Resurrection, when We will requite each person according to his deeds. If they are good, then he will be rewarded and if they are evil then he will be punished.' Allah says:

(So whoever does righteous good deeds while he is a believer,) meaning, his heart believes and his deeds are righteous.

(his efforts will not be rejected. ) This is like the Ayah:

(certainly We shall not make the reward of anyone who does his deeds in the most perfect manner to be lost.) ï´¿18:30ï´¾ which means, his efforts will not be wasted; they will be appreciated and not even a speck of dust's weight of injustice will be done. Allah says:

(Verily, We record it for him.) means, all his deeds are recorded and nothing of them at all is lost.