Shiya'an is interpreted in five ways:
1. The word shiya'an is used in the sense of separating, making into groups, making into factions; as in the following verses:
Those who have divided their religion and become shiya'an (i.e., those who have formed factions and parties such as Jews, Christians, Sabeans, Magians)... (al-Anʿām 6:159)
And do not be of the polytheists. Of those who have divided their religion and become shiya'an (i.e., they have formed parties and factions). (al-Rūm 30:31–32)
Indeed, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people shiya'an (i.e., he divided them into factions: one being the Copts, the other the Children of Israel). (al-Qaṣaṣ 28:4)
And We had certainly sent [messengers] among the shiyaʿ of the former peoples (i.e., the factions of the former peoples: the people of Noah, the people of Hud, and other communities) before you. (al-Ḥijr 15:10)
2. The term al-shiyaʿ is used in the sense of army [supporter, partisan, tribesman]; as in the following verse:
{Moses} found therein two men fighting—one from his own shīʿa (i.e., from the Children of Israel), and the other from his enemy (i.e., a Copt from among his enemies). The one from his shīʿa (i.e., from his army [tribe/partisans]; from Moses's army [tribe/partisans]) sought his help against the one from his enemy (i.e., that Copt). (al-Qaṣaṣ 28:15)
3. By al-shiyaʿ, the people of Mecca are intended; as in the following verses:
And We have already destroyed your shiyaʿ (i.e., O people of Mecca, your factions). (al-Qamar 54:51)
As was done to their shiyaʿ (i.e., to the shiyaʿ of the people of Mecca) before... (Sabaʾ 34:54)
Then from every shīʿa (i.e., from every shīʿa of the people of Mecca)... (Maryam 19:69)
Indeed, Abraham was among his shīʿa (i.e., among the people of his nation; Abraham was of Noah's nation). (al-Ṣāffāt 37:83)
4. The term tashayyuʿ is used in the sense of becoming widespread, spreading, dissemination, as in the following verse:
Indeed, those who love that immorality (i.e., vile/repugnant things: the slander of adultery) should tashayyuʿ (i.e., spread/become widespread/disseminate) among those who have iman (faith)... (al-Nūr 24:19)
5. The word shiya'an is used in the sense of following diverse desires; as in the following verse:
Or He could make you into shiya'an (i.e., those who follow diverse desires, erroneous views, factions) and make you taste the violence of one another... (al-Anʿām 6:65)