Qur'anic Exegesis

‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to consult people of wisdom and good reasoning about problematic issues. He used to let Ibn ‘Abbās, despite his young age, attend the gatherings along with the senior Companions and participants of the Battle of Badr. They were angry, however, that ‘Umar allowed Ibn ‘Abbās in and disregarded their own children. So, ‘Umar wanted to show them the status of Ibn ‘Abbās in knowledge, intelligence, and wits. He gathered them and invited him to the gathering. He recited Sūrat An-Nasr to them, which reads: {When there comes the help of Allah and the conquest, and you see the people entering into the religion of Allah in multitudes, then proclaim the praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance} [Sūrat An-Nasr: 1-3]. When he asked them about its interpretation, some of them kept silent, while others said: “Allah, the Almighty, commands us to seek His forgiveness and to praise and exalt Him when He grants us victory and conquest.” However, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was asking about the implicit significance of these verses, not their literal meaning. So, he put the question to Ibn ‘Abbās, and he said that the Sūrah was a sign of the Prophet’s imminent death, and Allah gave it to him as notice. {When there comes the help of Allah and the conquest}, meaning: the Conquest of Makkah; this is a sign of your impending death. {Then proclaim the praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.} Thereupon, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I know nothing about it save what you have said.” Thus, Ibn ‘Abbās’s merit became manifest.

صحيح البخاري، للإمام أبي عبد الله محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، عناية محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة، الطبعة الأولى، 1422هـ. - صحيح مسلم، للإمام مسلم بن الحجاج، حققه ورقمه محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار عالم الكتب، الرياض، الطبعة الأولى، 1417هـ. - كنوز رياض الصالحين، لحمد بن ناصر العمار، دار كنوز إشبيليا، الطبعة الأولى، 1430ه. - شرح رياض الصالحين، للشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين، مدار الوطن، الرياض، 1426هـ. - نزهة المتقين بشرح رياض الصالحين، تأليف مصطفى سعيد الخن، مصطفى البغا، محي الدين مستو، علي الشربجي، محمد أمين لطفي، مؤسسة الرسالة، بيروت، لبنان، الطبعة الرابعة عشرة، 1407ه. - بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، سليم بن عيد الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي، الطبعة الأولى، 1418ه. - دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين، المؤلف: محمد علي بن محمد بن علان الصديقي، اعتنى بها: خليل مأمون شيحا، دار المعرفة للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع، بيروت – لبنان - الطبعة: الرابعة، 1425هـ - 2004م.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) entered upon his uncle Abu Tālib when he was in his death throes and said to him: O Uncle, say: "La ilāha illallāh (there is no god but Allah)," a statement with which I can testify in your favor before Allah. Thereupon, Abu Jahl and ‘Abdullah ibn Abi ’Umayyah said: O Abu Tālib, would you abandon the religion of your father ‘Abdul-Muttalib, i.e. worshipping idols?! They both kept talking to him until the last thing he said to them was about the religion of Abdul-Muttalib, i.e., the religion of Shirk (polytheism) and idolatry. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), thus, said: I will ask forgiveness for you as long as my Lord does not forbid me from doing so. Upon this, Allah Almighty revealed: {It is not fitting for the Prophet and those who believe to seek forgiveness for the polytheists[83], even if they are close relatives, after becoming clear to them that they are the people of the Blazing Fire.} [Surat at-Tawbah: 113] And the following verse was revealed concerning Abu Tālib: {You cannot guide whoever you like, but Allah guides whom He wills, and He knows best who will be guided.} [Surat al-Qasas: 56] You cannot guide whoever you like to guide; your duty is only to convey the message, and Allah guides whom He wills.

1. It is prohibited to seek forgiveness for the polytheists regardless of their kinship, deeds, and benevolence.
2. Imitating ancestors and seniors in falsehood is a pre-Islamic practice.
3. The Prophet's perfect compassion and his keenness on calling and guiding people.
4. Refuting the claim that Abu Tālib embraced Islam.
5. It is the final deeds that count.
6. The invalidity of appealing to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) or anyone else to bring benefit or ward off harm.
7. Whoever says: La ilāha illallāh (there is no god but Allah) out of knowledge, certainty, and belief, has entered into Islam.
8. The harmful impact of evil companions and bad friends.
9. "La ilāha illallāh" (there is no god but Allah) means: Abandoning the worship of idols, the pious, and the righteous and worshiping Allah alone, and the polytheists know its meaning.
10. It is permissible to visit the sick polytheist if there is hope that he will embrace Islam.
11. Placing guidance in the hearts is in Allah's Hand alone, without a partner, and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is only responsible for guidance of direction, instruction, and message conveyance.

صحيح البخاري (6/ 112) (4772). صحيح مسلم (1/ 54) (24). الملخص في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لصالح الفوزان (ص155). الجديد في شرح كتاب التوحيد، للقرعاوي (ص169).

This report means that if a man says to his wife: "You are unlawful for me," or: "You are forbidden," or something similar, this saying does not constitute divorce. It will be treated like a normal oath for which an expiation is required. In this respect, Allah, the Almighty, says: {O Prophet, why do you prohibit [yourself from] what Allah has made lawful for you, seeking the approval of your wives? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Allah has already ordained for you [Muslims] the dissolution of your oaths. And Allah is your protector, and He is the Knowing, the Wise} [Sūrat At-Tahrīm: 1-2]. The last verse means that Allah ordained for the Muslims the dissolution of their oath by making the expiation that is stipulated in Sūrat al-Mā’idah.

- البدرُ التمام شرح بلوغ المرام، للمغربي. الناشر: دار هجر. الطبعة: الأولى. - توضِيحُ الأحكَامِ مِن بُلوُغ المَرَام، للبسام. مكتَبة الأسدي، مكّة المكرّمة.الطبعة: الخامِسَة، 1423 هـ - 2003 م - بلوغ المرام من أدلة الأحكام، لابن حجر. دار القبس للنشر والتوزيع، الرياض - المملكة العربية السعودية الطبعة: الأولى، 1435 هـ - 2014 م - فتح ذي الجلال والاكرام بشرح بلوغ المرام، للشيخ ابن عثيمين، المكتبة الإسلامية - الطبعة الأولى 1427 - 2006م - صحيح البخاري، تحقيق: محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر، ط1، دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، 1422هـ. - عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري، للعيني. الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت. - اللامع الصبيح بشرح الجامع الصحيح، للبِرْماوي. الناشر: دار النوادر، سوريا.الطبعة: الأولى، 1433 هـ - 2012 م - فتاوى اللجنة الدائمة - المجموعة الأولى- : اللجنة الدائمة للبحوث العلمية والإفتاء- جمع وترتيب: أحمد بن عبد الرزاق الدويش.

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) informed that when the following verses were revealed to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): {Indeed, We have given you [O Prophet] a clear conquest, so that Allah may forgive you your previous and future sins, complete His favor upon you, and guide you to a straight path, and so that Allah may help you with a mighty victory. It is He Who sent down tranquility into the hearts of the believers so that they may increase in faith along with their faith. To Allah belong the soldiers of the heavens and earth. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. So that He may admit the believing men and women to gardens under which rivers flow, abiding therein forever, and absolve them of their sins; that is a supreme triumph before Allah.} [Surat al-Fat'h: 1-5], as he was returning from Hudaybiyyah, and the Companions were overcome by sadness and depression as they were prevented from performing ‘Umrah due to the terms of the treaty, which they thought was not in favor of the Muslims, and they had slaughtered their sacrificial animals at Hudaybiyyah. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Verily, a verse has been revealed to me that is more beloved to me than the entire world, then he recited it.

1. Highlighting the greatness of Allah's blessing upon His Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) through the great conquest achieved in the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, as He said to him: {Indeed, We have given you [O Prophet] a clear conquest} the two verses.
2. Highlighting the favor that Allah Almighty bestowed upon the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) when they submitted to His command and obeyed, as Allah revealed for them His saying: {So that He may admit the believing men and women to gardens under which rivers flow...}.
3. Clarifying the favor of Allah upon His Prophet and the believers by promising them the conquest and victory.
4. As-Sa‘di said in his commentary on this verse: {Indeed, We have given you [O Prophet] a clear conquest} [Surat al-Fat'h 1]. This mentioned conquest refers to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, when the polytheists prevented the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) from performing the ‘Umrah. After a lengthy process, the final agreement was that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would enter into a treaty with them to stop the war between them for ten years and would perform ‘Umrah the following year. Additionally, anyone wishing to join the covenant of Quraysh and their alliance could do so, and anyone wishing to join the Prophet's covenant and contract could do so. As a result, when people were secure with one another, the scope of the call to the religion of Allah Almighty expanded. Every believer, regardless of his location in those regions, was able to practice his faith. Those who were eager to learn the truth of Islam were able to do so, and during this period, people embraced Islam in large numbers. Therefore, Allah referred to it as a "conquest" and described it as a "clear conquest," i.e., evident and apparent. This is because the goal of conquering the polytheists' countries was to honor the religion of Allah and secure the Muslims' victory, which was achieved through this conquest.

صحيح مسلم (3/ 1413) (1786). تفسير القرطبي (16/ 259-265). البحر المحيط الثجاج في شرح صحيح الإمام مسلم بن الحجاج (31/ 234).