The exegetes said: In the pre-Islamic era and at the beginning of Islam, when a man entered ihram for Hajj or Umrah, he would not enter a walled enclosure, house, or dwelling through its door. If he was among the settled people, he would make an opening in the rear of his house, through which he could enter and leave; or he would set up a ladder and climb up by it. If he was among the tent-dwellers, he would leave by the back of the tent or pavilion, and would neither enter nor leave through the door until he had left ihram. They considered this an act of righteousness—except for the Hums, who were Quraysh, Kinanah, Khuza‘ah, Thaqif, Khath‘am, Banu ‘Amir ibn Sa‘sa‘ah, and Banu Mudar ibn Mu‘awiyah. They were called the Hums because of their strictness in their religion; hamasah means severity and firmness. (1)

One day, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, entered the house of one of the Ansar. A man of the Ansar named Rifa‘ah ibn al-Tabut entered after him through the door while he was in ihram, and they disapproved of what he had done. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him, “Why did you enter through the door while you are in ihram?” He replied, “I saw you enter, so I entered after you.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “I am one of the Hums.” The man said, “If you are a Humsī, then I too am a Humsī. I accept your guidance, your conduct, and your religion.” So Allah Most High revealed this verse. (2)

Al-Zuhri said: Some people among the Ansar, when they entered ihram for Umrah, would allow nothing to come between them and the sky. A man would leave his home having entered ihram for Umrah, then find that he needed something after leaving. He would return, but would not enter through the door of his chamber, lest the roof of the house come between him and the sky. Instead, he would make an opening in the wall at the back, enter his chamber, and give instructions concerning what he needed. It has reached us that, at the time of al-Hudaybiyyah, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, entered ihram for Umrah and entered a chamber. A man from the Ansar, of Banu Salamah, entered after him. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Why did you do that?” He replied, “Because I saw you enter.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “I am one of the Hums.” The Ansari said, “And I too am one of the Hums”—meaning, “I too follow your religion.” So Allah Most High revealed: “Righteousness is not that you enter houses from their rear.” (3)

Ibn Kathir, Ibn ‘Amir [28/a], Hamzah, al-Kisa’i, and Abu Bakr recited al-ghiyub, al-jiyub, al-‘iyun, and shiyukhan with a kasrah on their initial letters because of the ya’; the remaining reciters read them with a dammah, in accordance with the original form. Ibn ‘Amir, Hamzah, and al-Kisa’i recited jiyubihinna with a kasrah on the jim, while Abu Bakr and Hamzah recited al-ghiyub with a kasrah on its middle root-letter. “Rather, righteousness is that of the one who is mindful of Allah”; that is, righteousness is the righteousness of whoever is mindful of Allah.

“Enter houses through their doors” while in ihram, “and fear Allah, so that you may prosper.”

“And fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not love the transgressors.” (190)

“And fight in the way of Allah,” that is, in obedience to Allah, “those who fight you.” At the beginning of Islam, Allah Most High commanded