Al-W¥^idÏ's Asb¥b al-Nuz‰l - The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies ...

Chapter 6: Surah al-An‘am
(Is he who was dead and We have raised him unto life…) [6:122].
Said Ibn ‘Abbas: “This refers to Hamzah ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib and Abu Jahl. This is because Abu Jahl had
thrown the refuse of an animal on the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, when
Hamzah was not a believer yet. Hamzah was informed about the deed of Abu Jahl upon his return from
hunting and he still had his bow in his hand. Hamzah went straight to Abu Jahl and hit him with his
bow while Abu Jahl begged him, saying: ‘O Abu Ya‘la, do you not see what he has brought; he has ridiculed
our understanding, reviled our idols and opposed our forefathers’. Hamzah responded: ‘And who
is more foolish than you You worship stones instead of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but
Allah, without associates, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger’. And then Allah, exalted is
He, revealed this verse”. 27
Abu Bakr al-Harithi informed us> Abu Muhammad ibn Hayyan> ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub
and al-Walid ibn Aban> Abu Hatim> Abu Taqqi> Baqiyyah ibn al-Walid> Mubashshir ibn ‘Ubayd>
Zayd ibn Aslam said: “Allah’s words (Is he who was dead and We have raised him unto life, and set for
him a light wherein he walketh among men) refer to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab while His words (as him whose
similitude is in utter darkness whence he cannot emerge) refers to Abu Jahl ibn Hisham”. 28
27
Qurtubi, :88.
28
Tabari, :22; Durr, :352.
109