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:
- When the Qurʾān was revealed giving a concession to the companions of ʿAbd Allāh ibn Jahsh for killing Ibn al-Ḥaḍramī, some Muslims said: "They have no reward," so this verse was revealed. We have mentioned this in the context of Allah's words: "They ask you about fighting in the sacred month" (2:219) on the authority of Jundub ibn ʿAbd Allāh.
- When this concession was revealed, they stood up and said: "O Messenger of Allah, do you have hope from our Lord that this will count for us as a battle (in Allah's way)?" Thereupon, this verse was revealed. This is the view of Ibn ʿAbbās, and he adds, "They emigrated from Makkah to Madīnah, and they were striving in obeying Allah by killing Ibn al-Ḥaḍramī and his companions."

