in any way.” (1)
Masruq related from Aishah that it concerns the prohibition of fasting on the Day of Doubt; (2) that is, do not fast before your Prophet begins fasting.
Abd al-Wahid al-Mulayhi informed us; Ahmad ibn Abdullah al-Nu‘aymi informed us; Muhammad ibn Yusuf informed us; Muhammad ibn Isma‘il related to us; Ibrahim ibn Musa related to us; ⦗134/b⦘ Hisham ibn Yusuf related to us that Ibn Jurayj informed them, from Ibn Abi Mulaykah, that Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr informed them that a delegation from Banu Tamim came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Abu Bakr said, “Appoint al-Qa‘qa‘ ibn Ma‘bad ibn Zurarah.” Umar said, “Rather, appoint al-Aqra‘ ibn Habis.” Abu Bakr said, “You only meant to oppose me.” Umar replied, “I did not intend to oppose you.” They disputed until their voices rose, whereupon this was revealed concerning them: “O you who believe, do not put yourselves ahead of Allah and His Messenger,” until the end of the verse. (3)
Nafi‘ also related it from Ibn Abi Mulaykah, saying: Then it was revealed: “O you who believe, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet,” up to His words, “a tremendous reward.” He added: Ibn al-Zubayr said, “After this verse, Umar would speak so quietly to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, that he would have to ask him to repeat himself.” He did not mention this of his father—that is, Abu Bakr. (4)
Qatadah said: The verse was revealed concerning people who would say, “If only something were revealed concerning such-and-such, or such-and-such were done.” Allah disliked this. (5)
Mujahid said: Do not act unilaterally in any matter ahead of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, until Allah decides it upon his tongue. (6)
Al-Dahhak said: This means that in fighting and in the ordinances of religion, do not decide any matter apart from Allah and His Messenger.