the Emigrants, when you were few in number and oppressed in the land of Mecca at the beginning of Islam, “fearing that people might snatch you away”—that is, that the people, namely the disbelievers of Mecca, might carry you off. Ikrimah said: the disbelievers among the Arabs. Wahb said: Persia and the Byzantines. “Then He gave you shelter,” that is, in Medina; “and supported you with His help,” meaning that He strengthened you on the day of Badr through the Helpers. Al-Kalbi said: He strengthened you on the day of Badr through the angels. “And provided you with good things,” meaning the spoils of war, which He made lawful for you but had not made lawful for anyone before you, “so that you might give thanks.”
“O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger, or betray your trusts while you know. (27) And know that your wealth and your children are but a trial, and that with Allah is a tremendous reward. (28)”
Concerning His saying, “O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger,” al-Suddi said: They would hear something from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and disclose it until it reached the polytheists. (1)
Al-Zuhri and al-Kalbi said: This verse was revealed concerning Abu Lubabah, Harun ibn Abd al-Mundhir al-Ansari, of the clan of Awf ibn Malik. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, besieged the Jews of Qurayzah for twenty-one nights. They asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, to make peace with them on the same terms on which he had made peace with their brethren of Banu al-Nadir: that they be allowed to depart to join their brethren in Adhri'at and Jericho, in the land of Syria. But the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, refused to grant them this unless they submitted to the judgment of Sad ibn Muadh.
They refused and said, “Send Abu Lubabah ibn Abd al-Mundhir to us.” He had been a well-wisher to them, for his property, children, and dependants were among them. So the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent him to them. ⦗147/a⦘ They said to him, “O Abu Lubabah, what do you think? Should we submit to the judgment of Sad ibn Muadh?” Abu Lubabah gestured with his hand toward his throat, meaning that it was slaughter; so do not do so.
Abu Lubabah said, “By Allah, my feet had not yet moved from their place before I realized that I had betrayed Allah and His Messenger.” He then left at once and did not go to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Instead, he tied himself to one of the columns of the mosque and said, “By Allah, I shall taste neither food nor drink until I die or Allah accepts my repentance.”
When news of him reached the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, he said, “Had he come to me, I would have sought forgiveness for him. But now that he has done what he has done, I shall not release him until Allah accepts his repentance.” He remained for seven days without tasting food or drink, until he fell unconscious. Then Allah accepted his repentance.
It was said to him, “O Abu Lubabah, your repentance has been accepted.” He replied, “No, by Allah, I shall not untie myself until the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, is the one who unties me.” So he came to him and untied him with his own hand.
Then Abu Lubabah said, “O Messenger of Allah, part of the completion of my repentance is that I leave the dwelling of my people in which I committed this sin, and that I give up all my wealth.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “A third will suffice you, so give it in charity.” Then the words were revealed concerning him: “Do not betray—”