“Had they been patient until you came out to them, it would have been better for them. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (5)

Regarding His saying, “Indeed, those who call out to you from behind the private chambers”: most reciters pronounce the letter j with a u-vowel, whereas Abu Jaʿfar pronounced it with an a-vowel. Both are valid linguistic forms. The word is a plural of hujar, which is itself the plural of hujrah; it is therefore a plural of a plural.

Ibn Abbas said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent a military expedition against Banu al-Anbar and appointed Uyaynah ibn Hisn al-Fazari as its commander. When they learned that he was advancing toward them, they fled and left their families behind. Uyaynah ibn Hisn took them captive and brought them to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Afterwards, their men came to ransom the children. They arrived at midday and found the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, taking his noon rest among his family. When the children saw them, they burst into tears, weeping for their fathers. ⦗135/A⦘ Each of the wives of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had a private chamber, [and they impatiently demanded that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, come out to them]. (1)

They began calling out, “O Muhammad, come out to us!” until they woke him from his sleep. He came out to them, and they said, “O Muhammad, ransom our families for us.” Then Gabriel, peace be upon him, descended and said: “Allah commands you to appoint a man as an arbitrator between yourself and them.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to them, “Would you accept Sabrah ibn Amr, who follows your religion, as an arbitrator between myself and you?” They replied, “Yes.”

Sabrah said, “I shall not pass judgment between them unless my uncle is present as a witness”—namely, al-Aʿwar ibn Bashamah. They accepted him, and al-Aʿwar said, “I think that ransom should be accepted for half of them, while the other half should be set free.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “I accept.” He then accepted ransom for half of them and set the other half free. Thereupon Allah Most High revealed: “Indeed, most of those who call out to you from behind the private chambers do not understand,” describing them as ignorant and lacking in understanding. (2)

Regarding His saying, “Had they been patient until you came out to them, it would have been better for them,” Muqatil said: It would have been better for them because you would have emancipated all of them, releasing them without ransom. “And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”