and Ata (1) said: “They are the people of Persia.” (2) Kab said: “They are the Romans.” (3) Al-Hasan said: “Persia and the Romans.” (4) Said ibn Jubayr said: “Hawazin and Thaqif.” (5) Qatadah said: “Hawazin and Ghatafan on the day of Hunayn.” (6) Al-Zuhri, Muqatil, and a group of others said: “They are Banu Hanifah, the people of al-Yamamah, the followers of Musaylimah the Liar.” (7)
Rafi ibn Khadij said: “We used to recite this verse without knowing who they were, until Abu Bakr called for fighting Banu Hanifah. Then we knew that they were the ones intended.” (8)
Ibn Jurayj said: Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, called them to fight Persia.
Abu Hurayrah said: “This verse has not yet come to pass.” (9)
“You will fight them, or they will submit. If you obey, Allah will grant you a good reward,” meaning Paradise. “But if you turn away” [that is, refuse] (10) “as you turned away before,” in the year of al-Hudaybiyyah, “He will punish you with a painful punishment,” namely, the Fire. When this verse was revealed, those with disabilities said: “What of us, O Messenger of Allah?”
“There is no blame upon the blind, nor is there blame upon the lame, nor is there blame upon the sick. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, He will admit him into gardens beneath which rivers flow; but whoever turns away, He will punish him with a painful punishment.” (17)
Allah Most High then revealed (11): “There is no blame upon the blind,” meaning with regard to remaining behind from jihad (12),