His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "And if two factions among the believers fight, then make peace between them. And if one of them oppresses the other, then fight the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of Allah. And if it returns, then make peace between them in justice and be equitable. Indeed, Allah loves the equitable." "The believers are but brothers, so make peace between your brothers and fear Allah that you may receive mercy."

"Two factions" is in the nominative case due to an implied verb. The term "faction" refers to a group and can also apply to an individual. This is supported by His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "So if only a group from every division of them would depart" [At-Tawbah: 122]. Some people believe that it suffices for one man to witness the punishment of the adulterers. Thus, this verse's ruling applies to individuals and groups alike.

People have differed regarding the reason for this verse. Anas ibn Malik and the majority said that its reason was what occurred between the Muslims and the factions among them, along with Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul when "the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, passed by him while heading to visit Sa'd ibn Ubadah, may Allah be pleased with him, during his illness. Abdullah ibn Ubayy said when the donkey of the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, approached him: 'Do not raise dust upon us, for the stench of your donkey has harmed us.' Abdullah ibn Rawahah, may Allah be pleased with him, replied to him at length, and the people quarreled until there was fighting among them with palm fronds, and it is narrated with iron."

Abu Malik and Al-Husayn said that its reason was that two factions from the Ansar fought among themselves, and the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, reconciled them after great effort, and the verse was revealed regarding that.

Al-Suddi said: There was in Medina a woman from the Ansar known as Umm Badr, and she had a husband from among others. Something occurred between them that caused her people to be offended and his people as well, leading to fighting, and the verse was revealed because of it.

And "oppresses" means: seeks to rise unjustly, and resisting the oppressive faction is directed in every case. As for preparing to fight it, it is with the rulers. It was said to Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him: 'Are the people of Siffin and Al-Jamal polytheists?' He said: 'No, they fled from polytheism.' It was said: 'Are they hypocrites?' He said: 'No, for the hypocrites do not mention Allah except rarely.' It was said: 'Then what is their state?' He said: 'They are our brothers who have oppressed us.' And the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, said: 'The ruling of Allah, exalted and majestic is He, regarding the oppressive faction is that one should not strike a wounded person, nor pursue a fleeing one, nor kill a captive.' And "returns" means: goes back, and "equity" means: ruling with justice.

His saying, exalted is He: "Indeed, the believers are brothers," means the brotherhood of religion. The majority of the reciters read: "between your two brothers," and that is to take into account the situation of the least number in which fighting and quarreling occur. The community, whenever they intend to reconcile, it is only between two men. Ibn 'Amir and Al-Hassan - with a difference from him - read: "between your brothers." Ibn Mas'ud, Zayd ibn Thabit, Ibn Sirin, Al-Hassan, Asim Al-Jahdari, Thabit Al-Bannani, and Hamad ibn Salamah read: "between your brethren." This is good because most of the gathering of brothers in religion and similar matters, without kinship, are brethren, and most of those by kinship are brothers and fraternity. The poet said:

You found your brother among us when you forgot, and which of the sons of fraternity does not have suitable relations?

These groups may overlap, and all of them are in the Book of Allah, exalted is He. From it: "Indeed, the believers are brothers," and from it: "or the houses of your brethren." This came in the least of usage.