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

Asbab al-Nuzul
(And they indeed wished to scare thee from the land…) [17:76].
Said Ibn ‘Abbas: “The Jews resentfully envied the settling of the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him
peace, in Medina, and so they said: ‘The Prophets were only sent in Syria; if you are truly a prophet, you
should go over there. And if you go there, we will believe and have faith in you’. The Prophet, Allah bless
him and give him peace, liked what he heard from them, since he was keen that they embrace Islam. He
left Medina but when he had traversed a day’s journey, Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse”. 7
‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Ghunm said: “The Jews went to see the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him
peace, and said: ‘If you are truthful about being a prophet of Allah, then you should go to Syria, for the
latter is the land of Resurrection and Mustering [on the Day of Judgement] as it is the land of prophets’. 8
He believed what they said. And when he went for the Battle of Tabuk, he had the intention of going to
Syria. But when he reached Tabuk, Allah, exalted is He, revealed (And they indeed wished to scare thee
from the land)”. 9
Mujahid, Qatadah and al-Hasan said: “The people of Mecca were on the verge of driving the Messenger
of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, out of Mecca, when Allah, exalted is He, commanded him
to leave. He revealed this verse to inform him of what the people of Mecca intended to do”. 10
(And say: My Lord! Cause me to come in with a firm incoming…) [17:80].
Said al-Hasan: “When the unbelievers of Quraysh wanted to fetter the Prophet, Allah bless him and
give him peace, and expel him from Mecca, Allah, exalted is He, wanted the survival of the people of
Mecca and commanded His Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, to migrate to Medina. And
He then revealed (And say: My Lord! Cause me to come in with a firm incoming and to go out with a firm
outgoing…)”. 11
(They are asking thee concerning the Spirit…) [17:85].
Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Nahwi informed us> Muhammad ibn Bishr ibn al-‘Abbas>> Abu
Labid Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Bishr> Suwayd> Sa‘id> ‘Ali ibn Mushir> al-A‘mash> Ibrahim> ‘Alqamah>
‘Abd Allah who said: “I was with the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, at
a plantation. He was leaning on a leafless palm branch when some Jews came by us. Some of them said:
‘Ask him about the Spirit’. Others said: ‘Do not ask him lest he faces you with what you dislike’. A group of
them went to him and asked him: ‘O Abu’l-Qasim, what do you say about the Spirit’ He kept quiet. He
then stood up and held his forehead with his hand and I knew that revelation was coming to him. Allah,
exalted is He, revealed (They are asking thee concerning the Spirit. Say: The Spirit is by command of my
Lord, and of knowledge ye have been vouchsafed but little)”. 12 This was narrated by Bukhari and Muslim,
both from ‘Umar ibn Hafs ibn Ghiyath from his father from al-A‘mash.
‘Ikrimah also reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said: “The Quraysh said to the Jews: ‘Tell us something about
which we should ask this man’. They said: ‘Ask him about the Spirit’, and so this verse was revealed”. 13
The commentators of the Qur’an said: “The Jews gathered and said to the Quraysh when they asked
them about Muhammad and his case: ‘Ask Muhammad about the Spirit and about the youths who were
7
Qurtubi, :301
8
The lofty spiritual status of Historical Syria and its eschatological importance in Islam are highlighted by many traditions. See, for
example: ‘Ali ibn Muhammad al-Raba‘i’s Fada’il al-Sham wa-Dimashq and Ibn ‘Asakir’s Ta’rikh Madinat Dimashq.
9
Durr, :320; Qurtubi, :301.
10
Qurtubi, : 140.
11
Tabari, :132-133.
12
Tabari, :155; Qurtubi, : 323; Durr, :331.
13
Durr, : 331.
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