Chapters on Tafsir

Narrated 'Ali: "I heard a man seeking forgiveness for his parents who were idolaters, so I said to him: 'You seek forgiveness for your parents while they are idolaters?' He said: 'Did Ibrahim not seek forgiveness for his father, and he was an idolater?' So I mentioned that to the Prophet (ﷺ) and (the following) was revealed: It is not for the Prophet nor those who believe, that they should seek forgiveness for the idolaters (9:113)."

Narrated 'Abdur-Rahman bin Ka'b bin Malik: from his father who said: "I did not remain behind from any of the battles the Prophet (ﷺ) fought in, until the battle of Tabuk, except for Badr. And the Prophet (ﷺ) did not scold anyone who remained behind from Badr, because he only went out to look for the caravan. The Quraish came out to help their caravan, so they met without an appointment as Allah the Mighty and Sublime, said. By my life, people consider the most honorable of battles of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to be that of Badr, but I would not have liked to attend it instead of my oath of allegiance on the night of Al-'Aqabah when we took a covenant for Islam. Afterwards, I did not stay behind from the Prophet (ﷺ) until the battle of Tabuk, and it was the last of the battles he fought. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) informed the people of the departure" - and he mentioned the Hadith in its entirety, and said - "So I went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and he was sitting in the Masjid, surrounded by the Muslims. He was beaming like the moon beams. When he was happy about a matter he would beam. So I came and said in front of him. He said: 'Receive glad tidings - O Ka'b bin Malik - of the best day you have seen since your mother bore you!' So I said: 'O Prophet of Allah! Is it from Allah or from you?' He said: 'From Allah.' Then he recited these Ayat: Allah has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhajirin, and the Ansar who followed him in the time of distress, after the hearts of a party of them had nearly deviated, but He accepted their repentance. Certainly, He is unto them full of Kindness, Most Merciful (9:117). [until he reached: Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful (9:118).] He said: "And it was about us that (the following) was revealed as well: Have Taqwa of Allah, and be with those who are true (9:119)." He said: "O Prophet of Allah! Part of my repentance is to not say but the truth, and give up all of my wealth as charity for Allah and His Messenger.' So the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Keep some of your wealth for yourself, for indeed that is better for you.' I said: 'So I will keep my share from Al-Khaibar.'" He said: "So after my acceptance of Islam, Allah did not grant me a greater favor than when I and my two companions told the truth to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and we were not among the liars to be ruined like the others were ruined. Indeed I hope that Allah will not test anyone over telling the truth as he tested me. I did not resort to a lie ever since then, and I hope that Allah will protect me regarding what remains to come."

Narrated Az-Zuhri: "From 'Ubaid bin As-Sabbaq, that Zaid bin Thabit narrated to him, he said: 'Abu Bakr As-Siddiq sent for me - (regarding) those killed at Al-Yamamah - and 'Umar bin Al-Khattab was with him. He (Abu Bakr) said: "'Umar came to me and said: The fighting inflicted many casualties among the reciters of the Qur'an on the Day of Al-Yamamah, and I fear that there will be more casualties among the reciters in other parts of the land, such that much of the Qur'an may be lost. In my view, you should order that the Qur'an be collected.'" Abu Bakr said to 'Umar: "How can I do something which was not done my the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?" 'Umar said: 'By Allah! It is something good.' 'Umar continued trying to convince me until Allah opened up my chest to that which He had opened the chest of 'Umar, and I saw it as he saw it." Zaid said: 'Abu Bakr said: "You are a young wise man, and we have no suspicions of you. You used to write down the Revelation for the Messenger of Allah as the Qur'an was revealed." He (Zaid) said: 'By Allah! If they had ordered to move one of the mountains it would have been lighter on me than that.' He said: 'I said: "How will you do something which was not done by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?" Abu Bakr said: "By Allah! It is something good." Abu Bakr and 'Umar continued trying to convince me, until Allah opened up my chest for that, just as He had opened their chests, the chest of Abu Bakr and the chest of 'Umar. So I began searching for Qur'anic material from parchments, leaf stalks of date-palms and Al-Likhaf - meaning stones - and the chests of men. I found the end of Surah Bara'ah with Khuzaimah bin Thabit: Verily, there has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He is eager for you; for the believers (he is) full of pity, kind, and merciful. But if they turn away, say: "Allah is sufficient for me. There is no god but He, in Him I put my trust, and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne (9:128 & 129).'"

Narrated Az-Zuhri: from Anas who said: "Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman came to 'Uthman, at the time when the people of Ash-Sham and the people of Al-'Iraq were waging war to conquer Arminiyah and Adharbijan. Hudhaifah saw their (the people of Ash-Sham and Al-'Iraq) different forms of recitation of the Qur'an. So he said to 'Uthman: 'O Commander of the Believers! Save this nation before they differ about the Book as the Jews and the Christians did before them.' So he ('Uthman) sent a message to Hafsah (saying): 'Send us the manuscripts so that we may copy them in the Musahif (plural of Mushaf: a written copy of the Qur'an) then we shall return it to you.' So Hafsah sent the manuscripts to 'Uthman bin 'Affan. 'Uthman then sent order for Zaid bin Thabit, Sa'eed bin Al-'As, 'Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Harith bin Hisham, and 'Abdullah bin Az-Zubair to copy the manuscripts in the Musahif. 'Uthman said to the three Quraish men: 'In case you disagree with Zaid bin Thabit on any point in the (recitation dialect of the) Qur'an, then write it in the dialect of Quraish for it was in their tongue.' So when they had copied the manuscripts, 'Uthman sent one Mushaf from those Musahif that they had copied to every province." Az-Zuhri said: "Kharijah bin Zaid [bin Thabit] narrated to me that Zaid bin Thabit said: 'I missed an Ayah of Surat Al-Ahzab that I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) reciting: Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah, of them some have fulfilled their obligations, and some of them are still waiting (33:23) - so I searched for it and found it with Khuzaimah bin Thabit, or Abu Khuzaimah, so I put it in its Surah.'" Az-Zuhri said: "They differed then with At-Tabut and At-Tabuh. The Quraish said: At-Tabut while Zaid said: At-Tabuh. Their disagreement was brought to 'Uthman, so he said: 'Write it as At-Tabut, for it was revealed in the tongue of the Quraish.'" Az-Zuhri said: "'Ubaidullah bin 'Abdullah bin 'Utbah informed me that 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud disliked Zaid bin Thabit copying the Musahif, and he said: 'O you Muslims people! Avoid copying the Mushaf and the recitation of this man. By Allah! When I accepted Islam he was but in the loins of a disbelieving man' - meaning Zaid bin Thabit - and it was regarding this that 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud said: 'O people of Al-'Iraq! Keep the Musahif that are with you, and conceal them. For indeed Allah said: And whoever conceals something, he shall come with what he concealed on the Day of Judgement (3:161). So meet Allah with the Musahif.'" Az-Zuhri said: "It was conveyed to me that some men amongst the most virtuous of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) disliked that view of Ibn Mas'ud."

Narrated Suhaib: from the Prophet (ﷺ), regarding the saying of Allah Most High: And for those who have done good is the best and even more (10:26) - He (ﷺ) said: "When the inhabitants of Paradise have entered Paradise a caller will call out: 'Indeed there remains for you a promise with Allah, and He wants to reward you with it.' They will say: 'Have your faces not been made bright, have we not been saved from the Fire, and have we not been admitted into Paradise?'" He said: "So the Veil will be lifted." He said: "By Allah! Nothing given to them [by Allah] will be more beloved to them than looking at Him."

Narrated 'Ata bin Yasar: from a man among the people of Egypt who said: "I asked Abu Ad-Darda about this Ayah: For them is good news in the life of the present world (10:64). He said: 'No one asked me about since I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about it, and he (ﷺ) said: "No one asked me about it other than you, since it was revealed. It is the righteous dream that the Muslims sees, or that it seen about him."

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "When Allah drowned Fir'awn he said: 'I believe that there is no god except the One that the children of Isra'il believe in.' So Jibrail said: 'O Muhammad! If you could only have seen me, while I was taking (the mud) from the sea, and filling his mouth out of fear that the mercy would reach him.'"

Narrated Shu'bah: "'Adi bin Thabit and 'Ata bin As-Sa'ib informed me, from Sa'eed bin Jubair, from Ibn 'Abbas - and one of them mentioned that it was from the Prophet (ﷺ) - that he mentioned that Jibra'il began shoving clay in the mouth of Fir'awn out of fear that he would say La Ilaha Illallah and Allah would have mercy upon him - or fearing that Allah would have mercy upon him."

Narrated Waki' bin Hudus: from his uncle Abu Razin who said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Where was our Lord before He created His creation?' He said: 'He was (above) the clouds - no air was under him, no air was above him, and He created His Throne upon the water.'"

Narrated Abu Musa: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Indeed Allah Blessed and Most High gives respite (Yumli)" and perhaps he said: "(Yumhil)" respite to the wrong-doer until, when He seizes him, and he cannot escape." Then he recited the Ayah: Such is the punishment of your Lord when He seizes the towns while they are doing wrong (11:102).

Narrated Ibn 'Umar: that 'Umar bin Al-Khattab said: "When this Ayah was revealed: Some among them will be wretches and (others) blessed (11:105). I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: 'O Prophet of Allah! Based upon what are we then working; something that has already finished or something that has not yet happened?' He said: 'Rather something that has happened, and the Pens have already passed over it O 'Umar! But for everyone, what he has been created for is made easy.'"

Narrated 'Abdullah: "A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: 'I fondled a woman who lives on the edge of Al-Madinah, and I did with her what is less than intercourse, and here I am, so judge in my case as you will.' So 'Umar said to him: 'Allah covered you, so you should have covered yourself.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not give him any reply. The man left but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent a man after him to call him. He recited to him: 'And perform Salat, at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night. Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful (11:114) until the end of the Ayah. A man among the people said: 'Is this specific for him?' He (ﷺ) said: 'No. Rather for all of the people.'"

Narrated Mu'adh bin Jabal: "A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: 'O Messenger of Allah! What do you say about a man who meets a woman and there is no acquaintance between them. So there is nothing that a man who would do with his wife but he does it with her, except that he does not have intercourse with her?'" He said: "So Allah revealed: And perform the Salat, at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night. Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful (11:114). So he ordered him to perform Wudu and Salat." Then Mu'adh said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Is that specifically for him, or for the believers in general?' He said: 'Rather it is for the believers in general.'"

Narrated Ibn Mas'ud: that a man unlawfully kissed a woman. So he came to the Prophet (ﷺ) to ask him about its atonement. So (the following) Ayah was revealed: And perform the Salat, at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night (11:114). The man said: "Is this for me O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "For you and for whoever does that among my Ummah."

Narrated Musa bin Talhah: that Abu Al-Yasar said: "A woman came to me selling dates. I said to her: 'There are better dates than these in the house.' So she entered the house with me. I had an urge for her so I began kissing her. I went to Abu Bakr and mentioned that to him, so he said: 'Cover what you have done, repent, do not inform any one, and never do it again.' So I went to 'Umar and mentioned that to him. He said: 'Cover what you have done, repent, do not inform any one, and never do it again.' Then I went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and mentioned it to him." He said: 'Is this how you take care of the wife of someone who is away fighting in Allah's cause?" Such that he had wished he had not accepted Islam until that very time, and he thought that he must be one of the people of the Fire." He said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) bowed his head for a long time, until Allah revealed to him: And perform the Salat, at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night. Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful (11:114). Abu Al-Yasar said: "So I went to him and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited it for me. A companion of his said: "O Messenger of Allah! Is this specific, or is it for the people in general?" He said: "Rather it is for the people in general."

Narrated Abu Hurairah: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Indeed, the honorable, the son of the honorable, the son of the honorable, the son of the honorable: Yusuf bin Ya'qub bin Ishaq bin Ibrahim." He said: "And if I were to have remained in the prison as long as Yusuf, then the messenger came, I would have accepted." Then he recited: When the messenger came to him, he said: "Return to your king and ask him: 'What happened to the women who cut their hands? (12:50)' He said: "May Allah have mercy upon Lut, certainly he used to lean toward powerful support, since he said: "Would that I had strength to overpower you, or that I could betake myself to some powerful support (11:80)." So Allah did not send a Prophet after him except among a high ranking family (Dhirwah) among his people."

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: "The Jews came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: 'O Abul-Qasim! Inform us about the thunder, what is it?' He said: 'An angel among the angels, who is responsible for the clouds. He has a piece of fire wherever that he drives the clouds wherever Allah wills.' They said: 'Then what is this noise we hear?' He said: 'It is him, striking the clouds when he drives them on, until it goes where it is ordered.' They said: 'You have told the truth.' They said: 'Then inform us about what Isra'il made unlawful for himself.' He said: 'He suffered from sciatica, and he could not find anything agreeable due to it (to consume) except for camel meat and its milk. So for that reason he made it unlawful.' They said: 'You have told the truth.'"

Narrated Abu Hurairah: that the Prophet (ﷺ) commented on: "Some of them We make more excellent than others to eat (13:4)." He said: "The Daqal, the Persian (referring to different kind of dates), the sweet, the bitter."

Narrated Anas bin Malik: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was brought a dish with unripe dates on it. He said: The parable of a goodly word is that of a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the sky (14:24 & 25).' And he said: 'It is the date-palm.' And the parable of an evil tree uprooted from the surface of the earth, having no stability (14:26). He said: 'It is the colocynth tree.'"

Narrated Al-Bara: that regarding Allah's saying: Allah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world and in the Hereafter (14:27). The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "In the grave, when it is said to him: 'Who is your Lord? What is your religion? And who is your Prophet?'"

Narrated Masruq: "'Aishah recited this Ayah: The Day when the earth will be changed to another earth (14:48). She said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Where will the people be?' He said: 'Upon the Sirat.'"

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: "There was a woman who performed Salat behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who was the most beautiful among the people. Some of the people would go forward to the first line so as not to see her. Others would go back to the last line so when he would bow, he could look at her from under his armpit. So Allah revealed: Indeed We know those who try to come forward among you, and We know those who try to go back (15:24).