“There is no blame upon them concerning their fathers, their sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their women, or those whom their right hands possess. And fear Allah; surely Allah is Witness over all things. (55) Indeed, Allah bestows blessings upon the Prophet, and so do His angels. O you who believe, invoke blessings upon him and greet him with peace. (56)”
“There is no blame upon them concerning their fathers, their sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons”: that is, they incur no sin by not veiling themselves from these. “Nor their women”: it was said that this refers to Muslim women, such that it is not permissible for Jewish or Christian women to enter upon them. It was also said that it is general, including both Muslim and Jewish or Christian women. The expression “their women” was used because they are of their own kind. “Nor those whom their right hands possess.”
They differed as to whether a woman’s male slave is considered a mahram to her. One group held that he is a mahram, based on His saying, exalted is He: “Nor those whom their right hands possess.” Another group held that he is like an unrelated man, and that the verse refers to female slaves rather than male slaves.
“And fear Allah,” lest anyone other than these see you. “Surely Allah is Witness over all things”—that is, over the deeds of His servants.
His saying, exalted is He, “Indeed, Allah bestows blessings upon the Prophet”: Ibn Abbas said, “This means that Allah has mercy upon the Prophet, while the angels supplicate for him.” It is also reported from Ibn Abbas that “they bestow blessings” means that they invoke blessings. It was also said: Allah’s blessings are mercy, while the angels’ blessings are their seeking forgiveness.
“O you who believe, invoke blessings upon him”: that is, supplicate for mercy upon him. “And greet him with peace”: that is, greet him with the greeting of Islam.
Abu al-Aliyah said: Allah’s blessings are His praise of him in the presence of the angels, while the blessings of the angels are supplication.
Abu Sa‘id Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Abbas al-Humaydi informed us; Abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Abd Allah al-Hafiz informed us; Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Sulayman, the jurist, in Baghdad informed us; Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Zuhayr ibn Harb informed us; Musa ibn Isma‘il informed us; Abu Salamah informed us; Abd al-Wahid ibn Ziyad informed us; Abu Farwah informed us; Abd Allah ibn Isa ibn Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Layla [heard Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Layla] (1) related: Ka‘b ibn Ujrah met me and said, “Shall I not give you a gift that I heard from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him?” I said, “Indeed, give it to me.” He said: “We asked