The Book of Commentary on the Qur'an

كتاب التفسير

Hammim b. Munabbih reported

This is what Abu Huraira reported to us from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and in this connection he narrated some of the ahadith and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: It was said to people of Israel: Enter this land saying Hitta (Remove Thou from us the burden of our sins), whereupon We would forgive you your sins, but they twisted (this statement) and entered the gate dragging upon their breech and said: The" grain in the ear."

Anas b. Malik reported that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, sent revelation to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) just before his death in quick succession until he left for his heavenly home, and the day when he died, he received the revelation profusely.

Tariq b. Shihab reported that a Jew said to'Umar

You recite a verse which, if it had been revealed in relation to us, we would have taken that day as the day of rejoicing. Thereupon 'Umar said: I know where it was revealed and on the day when it was revealed and where Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had been at that time when it was revealed. It was revealed on the day of 'Arafa (ninth of Dhu'l Hijjah) and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had been staying in 'Arafat. Sufyan said: I doubt, whether it was Friday or not (and the verse referred to) is this:" Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favours upon you" (v. 4).

Tariq b. Shihab reported that a Jew said to 'Umar

If this verse were revealed in relation to the Jews (i e. "This day I have perfected your religion for you and have completed My favours for you and have chosen for you al-Islam as religion") we would have taken the day of rejoicing on which this verse was revealed. Thereupon 'Umar said: I know the day on which it was revealed and the hour when it was revealed and where Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had been when it was revealed. It was revealed on the night of Friday and we were in 'Arafat with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) at that time.

Tariq b. Shihab reported that a Jew came to 'Umar and said

Commander of the Faithful, there is a verse in your Book, which you recite. Had it been revealed in connection with the Jews, we would have taken it as the day of rejoicing. Thereupon he said: Which verse do you mean? He replied:" This day I have perfected your religion for you and I have completed My favours upon you and I have chosen al-Islam as religion for you." Umar said, I know the day when it was revealed and the place where it was revealed. It was revealed to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) at 'Arafat on Friday.

'Urwa b. Zubair reported that he asked 'A'isha about the words of Allah

" If you fear that you will not be able to maintain equity amongst the orphan girls, then marry (those) you like from amongst the women two, three or four." She said: O, the son of my sister, the orphan girl is one who is under the patronage of her guardian and she shares with him in his property and her property and beauty fascinate him and her guardian makes up his mind to marry her without giving her due share of the wedding money and is not prepared (to pay so much amount) which anyone else is prepared to pay and so Allah has forbidden to marry these girls but in case when equity is observed as regards the wedding money and they are prepared to pay them the full amount of the wedding money and Allah commanded to marry other women besides them according to the liking of their heart. 'Urwa reported that 'A'isha said that people began to seek verdict from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) after the revelation of this verse about them (orphan girls) and Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed this verse:" They asked thee verdict about women; say: Allah gives verdict to you in regard to them and what is recited to you in the Book about orphan woman, whom you give not what is ordained for them while you like to marry them" (iv. 126). She said: The wording of Allah" what is recited to you" in the Book means the first verse, i. e." if you fear that you may not be able to observe equity in case of an orphan woman, marry what you like in case of woman" (iv. 3). 'A'isha said: (And as for this verse [iv. 126], i. e. and you intend" to marry one of them from amongst the orphan girls" it pertains to one who is in charge (of orphans) having small amount of wealth and less beauty and they have been forbidden that they should marry what they like of her wealth and beauty out of the orphan girls, but with equity, because of their disliking for them.

'Urwa reported that he asked 'A'isha about the words of Allah

" If you fear that you will not be able to observe equity in case of orphan girls" ; the rest of the hadith is the same but with a slight variation of wording.

'A'isha said that as for the words of Allah

" If you fear that you would not be able to observe equity in case of orphan girls)," it was revealed in reference to a person who had an orphan girl (as his ward) and he was her guardian, and her heir, and she possessed property, but there was none to contend on her behalf except her ownself. And he (her guardian) did not give her in marriage because of her property and he tortured her and ill-treated her, it was in relation to her that (Allah said: )" If you fear that you would not be able to observe equity in case of orphan girls, then marry whom you like among women," i. e. whatever I have made lawful for you and leave her whom you are putting to torture.

'A'isha said in connection with His words (those of Allah)

" What is recited to you in the Book about orphan women whom you give not what is ordained for them, while you like to marry them," these were revealed in connection with an orphan girl who was in the charge of the person and she shared with him in his property and he was reluctant to marry her himself and was also unwilling to marry her to someone else (fearing) that (that person) would share in his property (as the husband of that girl), preventing her to marry, neither marrying her himself nor marrying her to another person.

Hisham reported that 'A'isha said in connection with the words of Allah

" They ask thee the religious verdict about women, say: Allah gives you the verdict about them" (iv. 126), that these relate to an orphan girl who is in charge of the person and she shares with him in his property (as a heir) even in the date-palm trees and he is reluctant to give her hand in marriage to any other person lest he (her husband) should partake of his property, and thus keep her in a lingering state.

Hisham reported on the authority of his father that 'A'isha said in connection with His (Allah's) words

" And whoever is poor let him take reasonably (out of it)" that it was revealed in connection with the custodian of the property of an orphan, who is in charge of her and looks after her; In case he is poor, he is allowed to eat out of that.

'A'isha reported in connection with the words of Allah, the Exalted

" He who is rich should abstain, and he who is poor may reasonably eat (out of it)" that this was revealed in relation to the guardian of an orphan who is poor; he may get out of that what is reasonable keeping in view his own status of solvency.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of transmitters.

'A'isha reported that these words of Allah

" When they came upon you from above you and from below you and when the eyes turned dull and the hearts rose up to the throats" (xxxiii. 10) pertain to the day of Ditch.

'A'isha said in connection with the verse

" And if a woman has reason to fear ill-treatment from her husband or that he might turn away from her" (iv. 128) that it was revealed in case of a woman who had long association with a person (as his wife) and now he intends to divorce her and she says: Do not divorce me, but retain me (as wife in your house) and you are permitted to live with another wife. It is in this context that this verse was revealed.

'A'isha said in connection with these words of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious

" And if a woman has reason to fear ill-treatment from her husband or that he might turn away from her" that it was revealed in case of a woman who lived with a person and perhaps he does not want to prolong (his relationship with her) whereas she has had sexual relationship with him (and as a result thereof) she got a child from him and she does not like that she should be divorced, so she says to him: I permit you to live with the other wife.

'Urwa reported on the authority of his father that 'A'isha said to him

O, the son of my sister, the Muslims were commanded to seek forgiveness for the Companions of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) but they reviled them.

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abu Usama with the same chain of narrators.

Sa'id b. Jubair reported

The inhabitants of Kufa differed in regard to this verse:" But whoever slays another believer intentionally, his requital shall be Hell" (iv. 92), so I went to Ibn 'Abbas and asked him about it, whereupon he said: This has been revealed and nothing abrogated it.

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Shu'ba with the same chain of narrators but with a slight variation of wording.