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Qurtubi's Commentary In English
Translation Of The Quotation
From al-Qurtubî
Muhammad Ghoniem
© Islamic
Awareness, All Rights Reserved.
The pronoun "man" is grammatically
in the jarr case. The meaning is who is more wicked than he who said I can
reveal; the person addressed here is cAbdullâh Ibn Sâd Ibn Abî
Sarh who used to write the revelation for the Prophet of God(P), later on he apostatized and joined the pagans. The reason
given by the commentators is that
when the verse 23:12 {We created
man of an extraction of clay} was revealed, the Prophet called him and dictated it
to him and when the Prophet(P) reached the end of 23:14 {... thereafter
We produced him as another creature} cAbdullâh said in amazement {So blessed
be God the fairest of creators!}. The Prophet(P)
said: (and thus it was revealed to me) which made cAbdullâh
doubt and say: "If Muhammad is truthful then I received the revelation
and if he lied I say of the like of his speech.
So he apostatized and joined
the pagans and this is concerning the segment {Or the man who says, "I can reveal
the like of what God has revealed"}, narrated by Al-Kolaby from Ibn cAbbâs. It was also narrated by Muhammad
Ibn Ishâq who said
Sharahbîl said: { Or the
man who says, "I can reveal the like of what God has revealed"} was revealed
concerning cAbdullâh Ibn Sâd Ibn Abî
Sarh who apostatized. When the Prophet(P)
entered Mecca he ordered him and cAbdullâh Ibn Khatal and Miqyas Ibn Sabaabah
to be executed even if they were under the curtains of the Ka'bah. So, cAbdullâh Ibn Sâd Ibn Abî Sarh fled
to cUthmân(RA)),
his foster brother - his mother suckled cUthmân. The latter hid him until he
brought him to the Prophet(P) after the inhabitants of Mecca became secure
and he sought immunity for cAbdullâh. The Prophet(P) remained silent for a long time and then said: (Yes). When
cUthmân left, the Prophet(P) said (I said nothing so that one of you executed him). A
man among the Ansâr said: "Then why didn't you give me a sign, O Prophet
of God?" He answered: (the treachery of the eyes does not befit a Prophet.)
Abu Omar said: "And cAbdullâh Ibn Sâd Ibn Abî
Sarh converted back to Islam during the conquest of Mecca and his Islam was
fine, and later, his behavior was beyond reproach. He was among the wise and the
noble from Quraysh, and was the knight of Bani 'Aamir Ibn Lu'ayy was respected among
them. Later, cUthmân named him to govern Egypt in
the year 25 H. He conquered Africa in the year 27 H and conquered Nuba in the year
31 H and he was the one who signed with the Nubians the armistice that is still valid
today. He defeated the Romans in the battle of as-Sawâry in the year 34 H.
When he returned from his advent, he was prevented from entering al-Fustât
[the capital of Egypt], so he went to 'Asqalân where he lived until the murder
of cUthmân. It was also said: He lived in
Ramlah until he died away from the turmoil. And he prayed Allah saying: "O Allah!
make the prayer of Subh the last of my deeds. So he performed Wudu' and prayed; he
read Surat al-Fâtihah and al-'Aadiyaat in the first rak'ah and read
al-Fâtihah and another surah in the second rak'ah and made salâm
on his right and died before he made salâm on the left side. All this report
was conveyed by Yazîd Ibn Abî Habîb and others. He didn't pledge
allegiance to cAlî nor to Mu'âwiyah(RA). His death was before the people agreed on Mu'âwiyah.
It was also said that he died in Africa, but the correct is that he died in 'Asqalân
in the year 36 H or 37 H and it was rather said 36 H. It is also reported from Hafs
Ibn Omar from al-Hakam Ibn Abbân from 'Ikrimah that this verse was revealed
concerning an-Nadr Ibn Al-Harith for opposing to the Qur'ân by saying:
Wattaahinaati Tahnaa
Wal'aajinaati 'ajnaa
Falkhaabizaati khabzaa
fallaaqimaati laqmaa"
[some rhymes, but silly content!!]
Note:
The text in blue is what Qurtubi himself wrote. The text in red consists of
the reports he quotes from other commentators. Text between [ ] was added by me mainly
for the sake of clarity.
For the convenience of the non-Arabic speaking audience,
I translated this report from the Arabic version displayed on the previous page.
The translation is far from being perfect. Therefore, if you notice any mistake in
the translation or if you have any comment, please send us a message.
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