human speech, as when you say, “It is certainly true, just as you are here,” or, “It is certainly true, just as you speak.” The meaning is that, in its truth and existence, it is like that which you know by necessity. Some sages said: This means that just as every person speaks with his own tongue and cannot speak with another’s tongue, so too every person consumes the provision apportioned to him and is unable to consume the provision apportioned to someone else.

“Has the account of Abraham’s honored guests reached you? When they entered upon him and said, ‘Peace.’ He said, ‘Peace—an unknown people.’ Then he slipped away to his household and brought a fattened calf, which he placed before them. He said, ‘Will you not eat?’ Then he felt some fear of them. They said, ‘Do not fear,’ and gave him glad tidings of a learned boy. Then his wife came forward with a cry, struck her face, and said, ‘An old barren woman!’” (24–29)

His saying, exalted is He: “Has the account of Abraham’s guests reached you?” We have mentioned their number in Surah Hud. (1) “Honored”: It was said that He called them honored (2) because they were angels held in honor by Allah. Allah the Exalted has described them, saying: “Rather, they are honored servants.” (al-Anbiya 21:26) It was also said that they were Abraham’s guests, and Abraham was the most generous of all creation; the guests of generous people are honored.

It was also said that Abraham, peace be upon him, honored them 140/a by promptly offering them hospitality, attending to them personally, and receiving them with a cheerful countenance.

Ibn Abi Najih related from Mujahid: It refers to his personally serving them.

It is related from Ibn Abbas that He called them honored because they came uninvited. It is also related from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, that he said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest.” (3)

“When they entered upon him and said, ‘Peace.’ He said, ‘Peace—an unknown people.’” That is, strangers whom we do not know. Ibn Abbas said: He said to himself, “These are people whom we do not know.” It was also said that he found their manner unusual because they entered upon him without seeking permission. Abu al-Aliyah said: He found their greeting unfamiliar in that time and land.

“Then he slipped away”: that is, he turned and went “to his household and brought a fattened calf”—roasted.

“Which he placed before them,” for them to eat, but they did not eat. He said, “Will you not eat?” “Then he felt some fear of them. They said, ‘Do not fear,’ and gave him glad tidings of a learned boy. Then his wife came forward with a cry”: that is, with a shout. It was said that this was not her coming forward from one place