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

Chapter 2: Surah al-Baqarah
exalted is He, therefore revealed (And follow that which the devils falsely related against the kingdom of
Solomon) up to His saying (therefore disbelieve not) [2:102]”. 19
Said al-Sudd: “People in Solomon’s time wrote magic from each other and devoted themselves to learning
it. Solomon took all that which was written of magic, put it in a chest and buried it under his throne
after he warned them against it. When Solomon died and all those who knew the incident of burying
these writings then passed away after him, a devil appeared in the shape of a human and went to a group
among the Children of Israel. He said to them: ‘Shall I direct you to an inexhaustible treasure’ When
they answered in the affirmative, he said: ‘Dig under the throne [of Solomon]’. When they did, they
found those writings. Upon unearthing them, the devil said: ‘It is by means of these that Solomon controlled
the jinn, humans, devils and birds’. The children of Israel used those writings from then on, and
it is for this reason that one finds magic more widespread among the Jews. Allah, gloried and exalted is
He, absolved Solomon of this deed and revealed this verse”.
(O ye who believe, say not (unto the Prophet): “Listen to us” [ra‘ina] 20 …) [2:104].
Said Ibn ‘Abbas according to the narration of ‘Ata’: “This is because the Arabs used to employ this expression
[ra‘ina], so when the Jews heard them using it with the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace,
they liked it. This same expression in the parlance of the Jews had the connotation of vile abusive language.
They said: ‘Before, we used to abuse Muhammad secretly. Now, you can abuse him openly because
this expression is used in their speech’. Therefore, they used to come to Allah’s Prophet, Allah bless him
and give him peace, and say: ‘O Muhammad! ra‘ina’, and the they would laugh. A man from the Helpers
— Sa‘d ibn ‘Ubadah 21 who understood well the language of the Jews — understood the reason. He said to
them: ‘O enemies of Allah! May Allah’s curse be on you. By Him in Whose Hand is Muhammad’s soul,
I will cut the head of any man of you who utters this expression’. They objected, saying: ‘But do you not
use the same expression with him’ And therefore Allah, exalted is He, revealed: (O ye who believe, say
not (unto the Prophet): “Listen to us” [ra‘ina]) but say “Look upon us” [unzurna]…).
(Neither those who disbelieve among the people of the Scripture nor the idolaters love…) [2:105].
The commentators of the Qur’an said: “Whenever the Muslims said to their allies from amongst the Jews:
‘Believe in Muhammad!’ They would say: ‘This to which you are inviting us is not better than what we
have; we only wish it was better’. Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse to give them the lie”.
(Nothing of our revelation (even a single verse) do we abrogate or cause be forgotten, but we bring
(in place) one better or the like thereof) [2:106].
The commentators of the Qur’an said: “The idolaters said: ‘Do you not see that Muhammad commands
his Companions with something and then forbids them from the same and commands them to the exact
opposite. One day he says something and the following day he retracts it. This Qur’an is nothing but
the speech of Muhammad who has invented it. It is a speech that contradicts itself ’. Allah, exalted is He,
therefore revealed this verse (And when We put a revelation in place of (another)…) [16:101] and also
(Nothing of our revelation (even a single verse) do we abrogate or cause be forgotten, but we bring (in place)
one better or the like thereof…)”.
19
Durr, :234.
20
Cf. Ayoub, pp. 137-138.
21
According to Qurtubi (:57), this man was Sa‘d ibn Mu‘adh.
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