المعنى
What is the context of revelation for this āyah?
الجواب
Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr" as follows:
- The polytheists asked the Prophet ﷺ to turn the rock of Ṣafā into gold if he was truthful, so this verse was revealed. [Narrated by al-Suddī from Ibn Masʿūd and Ibn ʿAbbās]
- When they said, "Describe your Lord for us," the verse "And your god is one god" was revealed. Then they said, "Show us a sign for that," so this verse was revealed up to "those of understanding." [Narrated by Abū Ṣāliḥ from Ibn ʿAbbās]
- When the verse "And your god is one god" was revealed, the disbelievers of Quraysh said, "How can one god suffice for all people?" So this verse was revealed. [ʿAṭāʾ]

