Surah 2

Surah 2:213

"The people were (once) one community. Then God raised up the prophets as bringers of good news and warners, and with them He sent down the Book with the truth to judge among the people concerning their differences. Only those who had been given it differed concerning it, after the clear signs had come to them, (because of) envy among themselves. And God guided those who believed to the truth concerning which they differed, by His permission. God guides whomever He pleases to a straight path."

2.213 – The people were (once) one community. . . . Only those who had been given it differed concerning it

The Quran often says that peoples of the past “differed.” Here those who were given the book disagree about it. See the comments on this theme at 98.4.

- from The Quran with Christian Commentary: A Guide to Understanding the Scripture of Islam