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

Chapter 15: Surah al-Hijr
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
(And verily We know the eager among you and verily We know the laggards) [15:24].
Nasr ibn Abi Nasr al-Wa‘iz informed us> Abu Sa‘id ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Nusayr al-Razi> Muhammad
ibn Ayyub al-Razi> Sa‘id ibn Mansur> Nuh ibn Qays al-Tahi> ‘Amr ibn Malik> Abu’l-Jawza’>
Ibn ‘Abbas who said: “A beautiful woman used to pray behind the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him
peace, but she used to stand in prayer behind all the women present. Some people used to proceed to the
first row so as not to see her. Others, on the other hand, used to pray in the last row on purpose, such
that, upon bowing, they caught a glimpse behind them [trying to see that woman]. And so, this verse was
revealed (And verily We know the eager among you and verily We know the laggards)”. 1
Al-Rabi‘ ibn Anas said: “The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, encouraged people
to pray in the first row and, as a result, people jostled with each other for a place at the first row. The
houses of Banu ‘Udhrah were very far from the mosque and so they said: ‘Let us sell our houses and buy
houses close to the mosque’. Then, Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse”.
(And We remove whatever rancour may be in their breasts…) [15:47].
‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Hamdan al-‘Adl informed us> Ahmad ibn Ja‘far ibn Malik> ‘Abd Allah ibn Ahmad
ibn Hanbal> Muhammad ibn Sulayman ibn Khalid al-Fahham> ‘Ali ibn Hashim> Kathir al-Nawwa’ who
said: “I said to Abu Ja‘far: ‘So-and-so related to me that he related from ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn, may Allah
be pleased with father and son, that this verse was revealed about Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Ali, may Allah
be well pleased with them (And We remove whatever rancour may be in their breasts. As brethren, face to
face, (they rest) on couches raised)’. He said: ‘By Allah, it was revealed about them; and about whom else
would it be revealed if not about them’. I asked: ‘What rancour is that which is referred to here’ He said:
‘The rancour of the time of ignorance; there was rancour between the Banu Taym, the Banu ‘Adiyy and
the Banu Hashim during the period of ignorance. When these people embraced Islam, they loved each
other. In one occasion, Abu Bakr had pain in his waist, so ‘Ali warmed his hand and applied it on Abu
Bakr’s waist. This verse was then revealed’ ”. 2
(Announce, (O Muhammad) unto My slaves that verily I am the Forgiving, the Merciful…)
[15:49].
Ibn al-Mubarak reported through his chain of transmission from a Companion of the Prophet, Allah
bless him and give him peace, that he said: “The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace,
came out to us from the door which the Banu Shaybah use and found us laughing. He said: ‘I see that
you are laughing!’ He retreated but when he reached the buttress, he came back to us and said: ‘When I
left, Gabriel, peace be upon him, came to me and said: ‘O Muhammad, Allah, glorious and majestic is
He, says: Why are you driving my servants to despair (Announce, (O Muhammad) unto My slaves that
verily I am the Forgiving, the Merciful)’ ’ ”. 3
1
Tabari, :26; Durr, :73. Ibn Kathir was of the opinion that this report is weak and thought that the words were those of Ibn
al-Jawza’ rather than those of Ibn ‘Abbas. Al-Nasa’i and al-Tirmidhi narrated this same saying from Ibn al-Jawza’ and did not link
it to Ibn ‘Abbas.
2
Tabari, :37-38; Durr, :85.
3
Tabari, :39; Qurtubi, :34; Durr, :86.