But the two types of differences have nothing in common...

But the two types of differences have nothing in common: The difference among the apostles is only in their ranks and grades, but they all are one in the basic excellence of apostleship; and the conflict of the people of the apostles is the one which is found between belief and disbelief, between affirmation and negation. It goes without saying that the two differences are quite separate from each other. And that is why Allah has used separate words for each.

The difference in the rank and grade of the apostles has been named excellence, and it has been attributed to Allah, "We have made some of them to excel others". The conflict of the followers of the apostles has been called a difference, and it has been attributed to the men themselves, "they differed". The verse ends on the topic of fighting, and the preceding verses were also concerned with admonition to fight in the way of Allah, and with a story about it.

It obviously means that the sentences under discussion, "These apostles . . . with the holy spirit", are a prologue to make the meaning of the next sentences clearer. It shows that the institution of apostleship, in spite of all its blessings and good, has not been able to end fighting among the people, because the said fighting is initiated by the people themselves.

The apostleship has a high, towering excellence; and its good and bliss have everlasting freshness; whenever you look at it you will see a new beauty, and whichever aspect you ponder upon, you will find a new virtue. This excellent institution. in spite of its brilliant splendor and awe-inspiring magnificence, in spite of its accompanying clear evidence and miracle, is not able to eradicate the differences of people in belief and disbelief.

It is so, because this difference is caused by the people themselves. Allah has mentioned this fact in various verses: Surely the religion with Allah is Islam; and those to whom the book had been given did not differ, but after knowledge had come to them, out of envy among themselves (3:19). Mankind was but one nation.. . and none differed about it but the very people who were given it revolting among themselves (2:213).

The fact remains that if Allah had so wished He could have prevented this difference and the resulting fighting by His creative decree. But Allah has established a system of cause and effect in the universe, and difference is the established cause of conflict and fighting.