Al-W¥^idÏ's Asb¥b al-Nuz‰l - The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies ...
Al-W¥^idÏ's Asb¥b al-Nuz‰l - The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies ...
Al-W¥^idÏ's Asb¥b al-Nuz‰l - The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies ...
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Chapter 49: Surah <strong>al</strong>-Hujurat<br />
(O mankind! Lo! We have created you m<strong>al</strong>e and fem<strong>al</strong>e…) [49:13].<br />
Said Ibn ‘Abbas: “This was reve<strong>al</strong>ed about Thabit ibn Qays when he made a remark about the man who<br />
did not make room for him to sit: ‘What, the son of so-and-so [referring to his mother]’. <strong>The</strong> Messenger<br />
of <strong>Al</strong>lah, <strong>Al</strong>lah bless him and give him peace, said: ‘Who mentioned that woman’ Thabit stood up<br />
and said: ‘I did, O Messenger of <strong>Al</strong>lah!’ <strong>The</strong> Messenger said to him: ‘Look at the faces of those present’.<br />
And when he looked, he asked him: ‘What do you see’ He said: ‘I see white, red and black people’. <strong>The</strong><br />
Prophet said: ‘Well, you are not better than any of them unless it be through [the good practice of] religion<br />
and God-fearingness’. <strong>Al</strong>lah, ex<strong>al</strong>ted is He, then reve<strong>al</strong>ed this verse”. 17<br />
Muqatil said: “On the day Mecca was conquered, the Messenger of <strong>Al</strong>lah, <strong>Al</strong>lah bless him and give him<br />
peace, ordered Bil<strong>al</strong> to climb on the roof of the Ka‘bah and perform the c<strong>al</strong>l to prayer. ‘Attab ibn Asid<br />
commented on this: ‘Praise be to <strong>Al</strong>lah, that <strong>Al</strong>lah has taken my father to Him and made that he did not<br />
see this day’. <strong>Al</strong>-Harith ibn Hisham said: ‘Did Muhammad not find any other c<strong>al</strong>ler to prayer except this<br />
black raven’ Suhayl ibn ‘Amr said: ‘<strong>Al</strong>lah willing, he will change him’. Abu Sufyan, on the other hand,<br />
said: ‘I am not going to make any comment; I am afraid that the Lord of heaven will divulge what I say!’<br />
Gabriel, peace be upon him, went to the Prophet, <strong>Al</strong>lah bless him and give him peace, and informed<br />
him about what they said. <strong>The</strong> Prophet summoned them and asked them about what they said and they<br />
admitted it. <strong>Al</strong>lah, ex<strong>al</strong>ted is He, then reve<strong>al</strong>ed this verse warning them against boasting about their lineages<br />
and abundance of we<strong>al</strong>th and against looking down on the poor”. 18<br />
Abu Hassan <strong>al</strong>-Muzakki informed us> Harun ibn Muhammad <strong>al</strong>-Istrabadhi> Abu Muhammad Ishaq<br />
ibn Muhammad <strong>al</strong>-Khuza‘i> Abu’l-W<strong>al</strong>id <strong>al</strong>-Azraqi> his grandfather> ‘Abd <strong>al</strong>-Jabbar ibn <strong>al</strong>-Ward <strong>al</strong>-<br />
Makki> Ibn Abi Mulaykah who said: “On the day Mecca was conquered, Bil<strong>al</strong> climbed on the roof of the<br />
Ka‘bah and performed the c<strong>al</strong>l to prayer. One person said: ‘O servants of <strong>Al</strong>lah! How can this black slave<br />
be <strong>al</strong>lowed to perform the c<strong>al</strong>l to prayer on top of the Ka‘bah’ Another man said: ‘If <strong>Al</strong>lah is displeased,<br />
He will change him’. <strong>Al</strong>lah, ex<strong>al</strong>ted is He, then reve<strong>al</strong>ed this verse (O mankind! Lo! We have created you<br />
m<strong>al</strong>e and fem<strong>al</strong>e)”. 19<br />
Yazid ibn Shajarah said: “One day, the Messenger of <strong>Al</strong>lah, <strong>Al</strong>lah bless him and give him peace, passed<br />
by some of the marketplaces of Medina and saw a black slave standing while his seller was crying: ‘This is<br />
for s<strong>al</strong>e for whoever wants to offer more!’ <strong>The</strong> slave kept repeating: ‘I have a condition for whoever wants<br />
to buy me’. He was asked: ‘What is your condition’ He said: ‘He should not stop me from performing<br />
the five prescribed prayers behind the Messenger of <strong>Al</strong>lah, <strong>Al</strong>lah bless him and give him peace’. A man<br />
bought him on this condition. <strong>The</strong> Messenger of <strong>Al</strong>lah, <strong>Al</strong>lah bless him and give him peace, saw him at<br />
each prescribed prayer until he failed to see him one day. He asked his owner: ‘Where is the slave boy’<br />
He said: ‘He has fever, O Messenger of <strong>Al</strong>lah!’ <strong>The</strong> Prophet said to his Companions: ‘Let us go and visit<br />
him’. <strong>The</strong>y went and visited him. After a few days, the Prophet, <strong>Al</strong>lah bless him and give him peace, asked<br />
his owner: ‘How is the slave boy’ <strong>The</strong> man said: ‘O Messenger of <strong>Al</strong>lah, the boy’s lips have turned dark’.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Prophet, <strong>Al</strong>lah bless him and give him peace, went and entered in on the boy. He found him feverish<br />
and he died in that state. <strong>The</strong> Messenger of <strong>Al</strong>lah, <strong>Al</strong>lah bless him and give him peace, took charge of<br />
his washing, shrouding and buri<strong>al</strong>. His Companions were horrified and became greatly disturbed. <strong>The</strong><br />
Emigrants said: ‘We have left our homes, we<strong>al</strong>th and family, but none of us has seen in his life, sickness<br />
or death what this slave boy has’. <strong>The</strong> Helpers said: ‘We have received him in our homes, helped him and<br />
consoled him with our riches but he preferred this Abyssinian slave over us’. <strong>Al</strong>lah, glorious and majestic<br />
is He, then reve<strong>al</strong>ed this verse (O mankind! Lo! We have created you m<strong>al</strong>e and fem<strong>al</strong>e), i.e. you are the<br />
children of one father and one mother, and He showed them the merit of God-fearingness by His words<br />
(Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of <strong>Al</strong>lah…)”.<br />
17<br />
Qurtubi, :341.<br />
18<br />
Qurtubi, :341.<br />
19<br />
Durr, :578.<br />
209
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