1 The Virtues of Surah Al-Ma'idah; When It was Revealed Surah to ...

So they sent some hypocrites to the Messenger of Allah
to try and find out the Messenger's judgment. When they
came to the Messenger, Allah informed him of their
يَا أَي ُّهَا الر َّسُولُ‏ لاَ‏ down, matter and of their plot. Allah sent
O) Messenger! Let not those يَحْزُنكَ‏ ال َّذِينَ‏ يُسَارِعُونَ‏ فِي الْكُفْرِ‏
who hurry to fall into disbelief grieve you), (5:41) until,
(5:47) rebellious). (Such are the الْفَاسِقُونَ‏
By Allah! It is because of their problem that Allah sent
down these verses and it is they whom Allah meant.''
Abu Dawud collected a similar narration for this Hadith.
Abu Jafar Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn Abbas said that;
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فَاحْكُم بَ‏ يْنَهُم أَوْ‏ أَعْرِضْ‏ عَنْهُمْ‏
the Ayah in Surah Al-Ma'idah,
(either judge between them, or turn away from them...)
until, الْمُقْسِطِينَ‏ (Those who act justly), (5:42) was
revealed concerning the problem of blood money
between Bani An-Nadir and Bani Qurayzah.
The dead of Bani An-Nadir were being honored more and
they received the full amount of Diyah, while Qurayzah
received half the Diyah for their dead. So they referred
to the Messenger of Allah for judgment and Allah sent
down these verses about them.
The Messenger of Allah compelled them to adhere to the
true judgment in this matter and made the Diyah the
same for both groups and Allah knows best about that
matter.''
Ahmad, Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i also recorded this
Hadith from Abu Ishaq. Al-Awfi and Ali bin Abi Talhah
reported that Ibn Abbas said that these Ayat were
revealed about the two Jews who committed adultery,
and we mentioned the Hadiths about this story before.
It appears that both of these were the reasons behind
revealing these Ayat, and Allah knows best.
وَآَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ‏ فِيهَا أَن َّ الن َّفْسَ‏ afterwards, This is why Allah said
(And We ordained therein for them: Life بِالن َّفْسِ‏ وَالْعَيْنَ‏ بِالْعَيْنِ‏
for life, eye for eye) until the end of the Ayah, (5:45)