you have declared the sacred month lawful and fought in it!”

When this reached the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, he said to Ibn Jahsh and his companions, “I did not command you to fight in the sacred month.” He held back the caravan and the two captives, refusing to take anything from it. This weighed heavily upon the members of the expedition; they thought that they were ruined and were overcome with remorse. They said, “O Messenger of Allah, we killed Ibn al-Hadrami, and then evening came and we sighted the crescent of Rajab. We do not know whether we struck him in Rajab or in Jumada.” Many people spoke extensively about the matter.

Then Allah Most High sent down this verse. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, took the caravan and set aside one fifth of it—the first one-fifth levy in Islam—and divided the remainder among the members of the expedition. This was the first spoils of war obtained in Islam.

The people of Mecca sent to ransom their two captives, but he said, “We shall hold them until Sa'd and Uqbah arrive. If they do not arrive, we shall kill the two captives in exchange for them.” When Sa'd and Uqbah arrived, he ransomed them. As for al-Hakam ibn Kaysan, he embraced Islam and remained with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, in Medina. He was later killed as a martyr on the day of Bi'r Ma'unah. As for Uthman ibn Abdullah, he returned to Mecca and died there as a disbeliever. As for Nawfal, on the day of al-Ahzab, he spurred his horse to enter the trench; he and his horse fell into it and were both crushed, and Allah killed him. The polytheists offered a price for his corpse, but the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Take him, for his carcass is foul and his blood money is foul.” This was the occasion of revelation of this verse. (1)

Allah Most High says: “They ask you about the sacred month—about fighting in it.” That is, Rajab, which was called sacred because fighting in it was forbidden.

“Say: ‘Fighting in it is grave’”—that is, serious. The statement ends here. Then He begins anew: “And barring people from the way of Allah”—that is, your barring Muslims from Islam—“and disbelief in Him”—that is, your disbelief in Allah—“and the Sacred Mosque”—that is, barring people from the Sacred Mosque. It has also been said that it means your barring people from the Sacred Mosque. “And expelling its people from it”—that is, expelling the people of the Mosque from it—“is graver,” and more sinful, “in the sight of Allah. And associationism”—that is, the associationism upon which you persist—“is graver than killing”: that is, than killing Ibn al-Hadrami in the sacred month.

When this verse was sent down, Abdullah ibn Unays wrote to the believers in Mecca: “Whenever the polytheists taunt you over fighting in the sacred month, then taunt them for their disbelief, for expelling the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, from Mecca, and for barring the Muslims from the Sacred House.”

Then He says: “They will not cease”—meaning the polytheists of Mecca—“fighting you,” O company of believers, “until they turn you back from your religion, if they are able. And whoever among you apostatizes from his religion and dies while a disbeliever, such people—their deeds are annulled,” that is, their righteous deeds, “in this world and the Hereafter; and they are the companions of the Fire, abiding therein forever.” The expression “will not cease” is a verb that has no verbal noun, like the expression meaning “perhaps”; and “dies” is in the jussive mood by coordination.

“Indeed, those who believe, emigrate, and strive in the way of Allah—those hope for Allah’s mercy. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (218)

The members of the expedition said, “O Messenger of Allah, shall we be rewarded for what we have done? Can we hope that this journey of ours will be counted as a military campaign?” So Allah Most High sent down: “Indeed, those who believe and emigrate”—that is, who left behind their clans, homes, and wealth—“and strive” against the polytheists “in the way of Allah,” in obedience