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

Asbab al-Nuzul
and give him peace, was distressed upon hearing this, and the Muslims were affected and feared that
this may be an act of corruption. And they disagreed amongst themselves. Some said: “Do not cut the
palm-trees down for it is part of what Allah has given us as spoils”. Others said: “We should rather cut
them down!” And so Allah, glorified and exalted is He, revealed (Whatsoever palm-trees ye cut down…)
confirming the opinion of those who warned against cutting the palm-trees down and, at the same time,
stating the lawfulness of cutting them down. He informed that the cutting down of trees or leaving them
standing is only by the leave of Allah, exalted is He.
Abu ‘Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Muzakki informed us> his father> Muhammad ibn Ishaq
al-Thaqafi> Qutaybah> al-Layth ibn Sa‘d> Nafi‘> Ibn ‘Umar who related that the Messenger of Allah,
Allah bless him and give him peace, burnt and cut down the palm-trees of Banu’l-Nadir which were at
al-Buwayrah. 1 And so Allah, exalted is He, revealed (Whatsoever palm-trees ye cut down or left standing
on their roots, it was by Allah’s leave, in order that He might confound the evil-livers). This was narrated by
Bukhari and Muslim from Qutaybah.
Abu Bakr ibn al-Harith informed us> ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Ja‘far> Abu Yahya al-Razi> Sahl
ibn ‘Uthman> ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mubarak> Musa ibn ‘Uqbah> Nafi‘> Ibn ‘Umar who related that the
Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, burnt and cut down the palm-trees of Banu’l-
Nadir at al-Buwayrah, and it is about this that Hassan said:
The trees of Banu Lu’ayy were deemed unworthy
In front of the raging fire at al-Buwayrah.
It is also about this that this verse (Whatsoever palm-trees ye cut down or left standing on their roots, it was
by Allah’s leave…). 2 This was narrated by Muslim> Sa‘id ibn Mansur> Ibn al-Mubarak.
Abu Bakr informed us> ‘Abd Allah> Salm ibn ‘Isam> Rustah> ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Mahdi> Muhammad
ibn Maymun ibn al-Tammar> Jurmuz> Hatim al-Najjar> ‘Ikrimah> Ibn ‘Abbas who said: “A Jew came to
the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, and said: ‘I will stand up and pray’, The Prophet said to
him: ‘Allah has decreed for you that you pray’. The man said: ‘I will sit down’, and the Prophet said to him:
‘Allah has decreed for you that you sit down’. The Jew said: ‘I will proceed to this tree and cut it down’,
and the Prophet said: ‘Allah has decreed for you that you cut it down’. Gabriel, peace be upon him, then
came and said: ‘O Muhammad, you have been taught your proof just as Abraham, peace be upon him,
was taught it’. And so Allah, exalted is He, revealed (Whatsoever palm-trees ye cut down or left standing on
their roots, it was by Allah’s leave, in order that He might confound the evil-livers), i.e. the Jews”. 3
(Those who entered the city and the faith before them…) [59:9].
Ja‘far ibn Burqan related that Yazid al-Asamm said: “The Helpers said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, divide the
land into two equal halves between us and the Emigrants’. He said: ‘No, they will suffice you their livelihood.
Instead you will share the fruits of the land with them while keeping the land itself to yourselves’.
They said: ‘We accept’, and so Allah, exalted is He, revealed (Those who entered the city and the faith before
them…)”. 4
(… but prefer (the fugitives) above themselves though poverty become their lot…) [59:9].
Sa‘id ibn Ahmad ibn Ja‘far al-Mu’adhdhin informed us> Abu ‘Ali al-Faqih> Muhammad ibn Mansur
ibn Abi al-Jahm al-Sabi‘i> Nasr ibn ‘Ali al-Jahdami> ‘Abd Allah ibn Dawud> Fudayl ibn Ghazwan> Abu
1
This land, which is also called al-Buwaylah, is situated between Medina and Tayma’, to the west of the qiblah of Quba’ Mosque.
2
Tabari, :34; Qurtubi, :8.
3
Durr, :99.
4
Qurtubi, :25.
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