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

Chapter 46: Surah al-Ahqaf
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
(…nor know I what will be done with me or with you…) [46:9].
Al-Kalbi reported from Abu Salih that Ibn ‘Abbas said: “When tribulations faced by the Companions
of the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, intensified, The Prophet saw in his dream that he
migrated to a land that had palms, trees and plenty of water. He related this dream to his Companions
and the latter took it for a good omen and a harbinger of relief from the harm of the idolaters which they
faced. After a while, when they saw that nothing had happened, they said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! When
are you going to migrate to the land which you saw in your dream’ The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless
him and give him peace, did not answer them, but Allah, exalted is He, revealed (…nor know I what will
be done with me or with you…), i.e. I do not know whether or not I am going to move to the place which
I saw in my dream. I follow only that which is revealed to me”. 1
(…till, when he attaineth full strength and reacheth forty years…) [46:15].
‘Ata’ reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said: “This verse was revealed about Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be well
pleased with him. He had travelled with the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace —
when he was eighteen years old and the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, was
twenty — to Syria for trade. When they reached a place where there was a lotus tree, the Messenger of Allah,
Allah bless him and give him peace, sat under the shade of this tree while Abu Bakr went to a monk
nearby to ask him about religion. The monk then asked Abu Bakr: ‘Who is that man under the shade of
the lotus’ Abu Bakr said: ‘He is Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib’. The monk said: ‘By Allah,
he is a Prophet. No one sat under the shade of this tree after Jesus, son of Mary, except Muhammad
the Prophet of Allah’. At that moment, certainty and faith entered Abu Bakr’s heart. He accompanied
the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, everywhere whether in travel or in Mecca.
When The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, was sent as a Prophet at the age of
forty, Abu Bakr who was then thirty-eight embraced Islam and believed in the Messenger of Allah, Allah
bless him and give him peace. When Abu Bakr reached forty, he prayed (My Lord! Arouse me that I may
give thanks for the favour wherewith Thou hast favoured me…)”.
1
Qurtubi, :186.