It is also reported from Ibn Abbas that this verse was revealed concerning some Muslims who would wait for the Messenger of Allah’s food, then enter upon him before it was ready; they would eat and then not leave. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was troubled by them, so it was revealed: (1)
“O you who believe, do not enter the houses of the Prophet unless you are given permission”—that is, unless you are invited—“for a meal,” such that you are granted permission and eat it, “without awaiting its readiness,” that is, without waiting for it to be ready or for the time of its cooking to arrive. It is said that hot water has reached its full heat when its heat is complete, and that the time for doing something has come when its proper time has arrived. The word inā, with an initial i-vowel and without lengthening, is used in this sense; if its initial vowel is pronounced a and the word is lengthened, it becomes anā'—meaning a vessel. The verb has two forms: inā ya'nā and āna ya'īnu, like ḥāna yaḥīnu.
“But when you are invited, enter; and when you have eaten”—that is, eaten the food—“then disperse”: depart and leave his home, “without lingering for conversation,” that is, without seeking sociability through conversation. They used to sit for a long time after eating, conversing, and so they were forbidden from doing so.
“Indeed, that used to trouble the Prophet, yet he was too shy before you; but Allah is not shy of the truth”: that is, He does not refrain, out of shyness, from disciplining you and making the truth clear.
“And when you ask his wives for something, ask them from behind a partition,” that is, from behind a screen. After the verse of hijab was revealed, no one was permitted to look at any of the wives of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, whether she wore a face veil or not. “That is purer for your hearts and for their hearts,” keeping them free from suspicion.
The authentic account concerning the reason for the revelation of the verse of hijab is what Abd al-Wahid al-Malihi informed us: Ahmad ibn Abdullah al-Nu'aymi informed us; Muhammad ibn Yusuf informed us; Muhammad ibn Isma'il informed us; Yahya ibn Bukayr informed us; al-Layth informed us; Uqayl narrated to me from Ibn Shihab, from Urwah, from Aishah, that the wives of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to go out at night when they needed to relieve themselves, going to al-Manasi', an open expanse. Umar would say to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, “Veil your wives,” but the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, did not do so. Then Sawdah bint Zam'ah, the wife of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, went out one night after nightfall. She was a tall woman, and Umar called out to her, “We have recognized you, Sawdah!”—eager for the command of hijab to be revealed. Then Allah, exalted is He, revealed the verse of hijab. (2)
Ahmad ibn Abdullah al-Salihi informed us; Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Hiri informed us; Hajib ibn Ahmad al-Tusi informed us; Abd al-Rahim ibn Munib informed us; Yazid ibn Harun informed us; Humayd informed us, from Anas, who said: Umar said, “My Lord concurred with me on three matters. 85/A I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, why not take the Station of Abraham as a place of prayer?’”