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

Chapter 2: Surah al-Baqarah
Upon the advent of Islam, Allah, glorious and majestic is He, revealed: (Then hasten onward from the
place whence the multitude hasteneth onward), i.e. from ‘Arafah. This was narrated by Muslim> ‘Amr al-
Naqid> Ibn ‘Uyaynah.
(And when ye have completed your devotions, then remember Allah as ye remember your fathers…)
[2:200].
Said Mujahid: “During the season of pilgrimage, in the pre-Islamic era, people remembered their fathers,
events and lineages and, then, boasted about them to each other. Allah, exalted is He, then revealed (And
when ye have completed your devotions, then remember Allah as ye remember your fathers…)”. 64
Al-Hasan said: “Upon relating something or speaking, the Bedouins used to say: ‘By your father, they
verily did this and that’, and so Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse”.
(And of mankind there is he whoso conversation on the life of this world pleaseth thee (Muhammad))
[2:204].
Said al-Sudd: “This was revealed about al-Akhnas ibn Shurayq al-Thaqafi, an ally of Banu Zuhrah. He
came to the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, in Medina, and pretended to be a Muslim. The
Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, admired him for this. He said: ‘I have come to embrace
Islam, and Allah knows I am truthful’, this is what Allah states when He says (and he calleth Allah to witness
as to that which is in his heart). Upon leaving the Messenger of Allah, he passed by a cultivated field
and some asses which belonged to some Muslims. He burned the field and hamstrung the asses. Allah,
exalted is He, revealed about him (And when he turneth away (from thee) his effort in the land is to make
mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle) [2:205]”. 65
(And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah…) [2:207].
Said Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyab: “When Suhayb set off to emigrate to the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him
and give him peace, a group of idolaters from the Quraysh followed him. [When they caught up with
him,] he came off his mount, emptied his quiver and held his bow. Then he said: ‘O Qurashites! You
know well that I am one of your best archers. I swear by Allah that I will throw at you all the arrows in
my quiver before you even get to me. I will then use my sword as long as I am able to hold it, and then
you can do with me as you please’. They said: ‘Tell us about the whereabouts of your house and properties
in Mecca and we will let you go’. They gave him their word that they will let him go if he were to tell
them about the whereabouts of his house and properties, and so he informed them. When he got to the
Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, the Prophet said to him: ‘What a prosperous
transaction! What a prosperous transaction! O Abu Yahya!’ and Allah revealed the verse (of mankind is
he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah)”. 66
Other Qur’anic exegetes said: “The idolaters captured Suhayb and tortured him. But Suhayb said to
them: ‘Look! I am an old man who will bring you no harm whether I was with you or with others. Why
do you not take my money and leave me alone with my religion’ They agreed. They also agreed to let
Suhayb have a mount and some expenditure. He was received in Medina by Abu Bakr and ‘Umar who
were accompanied by some men. Abu Bakr said to him: ‘Abu Yahya! You made a prosperous transaction!’
Suhayb said: ‘May you never loose in any transaction! What are you talking about’ Abu Bakr said: ‘Allah
64
Tabari, :295-296; Durr, :557-558.
65
Tabari, :312; Durr, :572
66
Durr, :576.
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