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

Chapter 70: Surah al-Ma‘arij
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
(A questioner questioned concerning the doom about to fall) [70:1].
This verse was revealed about al-Nadr ibn al-Harith when he said [as reported in the Qur’an] (O Allah! if
this be indeed the truth from Thee, then rain down stones on us or bring on us some painful doom!) [8:32],
and so he prayed against himself and asked for chastisement. He got what he asked for at the Battle of
Badr when he was killed in captivity. And the verse (A questioner questioned concerning the doom about
to fall) was revealed about him. 1
(Doth every man among them hope to enter the Garden of Delight Nay…) [70:38-39].
The commentators of the Qur’an said: “The idolaters used to gather round the Prophet, Allah bless him
and give him peace, to listen to him but did not benefit from him. Instead, they gave him the lie and
mocked him. They said: ‘If these were to enter Paradise, we shall certainly enter it before them, and
we will have more wealth therein than they will ever have’. And so Allah, exalted is He, revealed this
verse”. 2
1
Qurtubi, :278; Durr, :277.
2
Qurtubi, :278.