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

Chapter 25: Surah al-Furqan
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
(Blessed is He Who, if He will, will assign thee better than (all) that…) [25:10].
Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Muqri’ informed us> Ahmad ibn Abi al-Furat> ‘Abd Allah ibn
Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub Bukhari> Muhammad ibn Humayd ibn Farqad> Ishaq ibn Bishr> Juwaybir>
al-Dahhak> Ibn ‘Abbas who said: “When the idolaters ridiculed the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him
and give him peace, for his poverty, saying [as reported by Allah’s words in 25:7] (What aileth this messenger
(of Allah) that he eateth food and walketh in the markets), the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him
and give him peace, felt sad. Gabriel, peace be upon him, came from his Lord to console him, saying:
‘Peace be with you, O Messenger of Allah. The Lord of might greets you with the greeting of peace and
says to you (We never sent before thee any messengers but lo! They ate food and walked in the markets…)
[25:20]’, i.e. they seek their livelihood in this world”. 1
He said: “As Gabriel, peace be upon him, and the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, were
talking, Gabriel, peace be upon him, started melting until he shrunk to the size of a lentil. The Messenger
of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, asked: ‘What happened that made you shrink to the size
of a lentil’ He said: ‘O Muhammad, a gate of heaven which has never been opened before has opened
just now, and I fear that your people will be chastised for ridiculing you regarding your poverty’. The
Prophet and Gabriel, peace be upon them, started crying. Then Gabriel returned to his initial state and
said: ‘Good news for you, O Muhammad! Here is Ridwan, the keeper of the Garden who brings you contentment
from your Lord’. Ridwan came along holding a bundle of shining light, greeted them with the
greeting of peace, and then said: ‘O Muhammad, the Lord of might greets you with the greeting of peace
and says to you: here are the keys to the stores of this world which are like the wing of gnat compared
with what you have with Me in the Afterlife, which will remain undiminished’. The Prophet, Allah bless
him and give him peace, looked at Gabriel, peace be upon him, as if seeking his counsel, upon which
Gabriel struck the ground with his hand and said: ‘Humble yourself to Allah!’ And so he said: ‘O Ridwan,
I have no need for them; poverty is much beloved to me. I would rather be a patient, grateful slave’. Ridwan
answered: ‘You are right, may Allah make things right through you’. Then a call came from heaven,
Gabriel raised his head and saw all the gates of heaven, up to the Throne, opened. Allah, exalted is He,
inspired the Garden of Eden to lower one of its branches which had a bunch on which there was a room
made of green chrysolite and had seventy thousand doors made of rubies. Gabriel, peace be upon him
said: ‘O Muhammad, look up!’ When he looked up, he saw the stations and rooms of all the prophets,
and saw his station above that of all other prophets, as a special merit to him. A crier cried: ‘O Muhammad,
are you pleased’ The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, answered: ‘I am pleased; and
please keep in store with You that which You wanted to give me in this world in exchange for intercession
on Day of Judgement’ ”.
It is also reported that this verse was brought down by Ridwan (Blessed is He Who, if He will, will assign
thee better than (all) that - Gardens underneath which rivers flow - and will assign thee mansions).
(On the day when the wrong-doer gnaweth his hands…) [25:27].
‘Ata’ al-Khurasani reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said: “Ubayy ibn Khalaf used to go to the Prophet, Allah bless
him and give him peace, keep his company and listen to his speech without believing in him. ‘Uqbah ibn
1
Qurtubi, :12; Durr, :237.