The Book of Commentary on the Qur'an

Ibn 'Abbas reported: Some Muslims encountered a man with a small flock of sheep. He said, “Peace be upon you.” They seized and killed him, then took the flock. Then this verse was revealed: “Do not say to one who offers you peace, ‘You are not a believer.’” Ibn 'Abbas recited the word as “peace” (al-salam).

Al-Bara' reported: When the Ansar returned from pilgrimage, they would enter their houses only from the back. A man from the Ansar entered through his doorway, and people questioned him about it. Then this verse was revealed: “Righteousness does not consist in entering houses from their backs.”

Yunus ibn 'Abd al-A'la al-Sadafi informed me: 'Abd Allah ibn Wahb informed us: 'Amr ibn al-Harith informed me, from Sa'id ibn Abi Hilal, from 'Awn ibn 'Abd Allah, from his father, that Ibn Mas'ud said, “Only four years passed between our embracing Islam and Allah admonishing us with this verse: ‘Has the time not come for the believers' hearts to humble themselves at the remembrance of Allah?’”

Ibn 'Abbas reported: During the pre-Islamic period, women would circumambulate the Ka'bah naked and say, “Who will lend me a cloth to cover my private parts as I circumambulate?” Then they would say, “Today some of it or all of it will be exposed; whatever is exposed, I do not permit.” Then this verse was revealed: “Wear your adornment at every place of worship.”

Sa'id ibn Jubayr said: I asked Ibn 'Abbas about Surat al-Tawbah. He said, “It is the surah of exposure. It kept being revealed with the words ‘among them’ and ‘among them,’ until they thought none of us would remain without being mentioned in it.” I asked him about Surat al-Anfal. He said, “That is the surah of Badr.” I asked about Surat al-Hashr. He said, “It was revealed about Banu al-Nadir.”