Meaning
What is the context of revelation for this āyah?
Answer
Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr" as follows:
- Ḥuyayy ibn Akhṭab and Abū Yāsir exerted great effort to turn people away from Islam, so this verse was revealed. [Ibn ʿAbbās]
- Kaʿb ibn al-Ashraf used to compose poetry mocking the Prophet (ﷺ) and inciting the Quraysh disbelievers against him. The polytheists and Jews of Madinah would harm the Prophet (ﷺ) when he arrived in the city, and the Prophet was commanded to forgive them. Then this verse was revealed. [ʿAbdullāh ibn Kaʿb ibn Mālik]
- A group of Jews invited Ḥudhayfah and ʿAmmār to their religion, but they refused. Thereupon, this verse was revealed. [Muqātil]

