inhabit, then drive them back upon their heels, until they return to where they originally came from—namely, Syria.” He said: “This has already occurred,” interpreting it as the expulsion of the Banu al-Nadir to Adhri'at and Jericho in Syria.

“Or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers”: that is, We make them into monkeys and swine. “And the command of Allah is always carried out.”

“Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And whoever associates others with Allah has fabricated a tremendous sin.” (48)

Regarding His saying, “Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him,” al-Kalbi said: This was revealed concerning Wahshi ibn Harb and his companions. When he killed Hamzah, he had been promised his freedom in return for killing him, but that promise was not fulfilled. When he came to Mecca, he and his companions regretted what they had done, and they wrote to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: “We regret what we have done. Nothing prevents us from accepting Islam except that we heard you say, while you were in Mecca, ‘And those who do not invoke another god alongside Allah...’—the verses (al-Furqan 68). Yet we invoked another god alongside Allah, killed the soul Allah has forbidden, and committed adultery. Were it not for these verses, we would have followed you.”

Then the words were revealed: “Except for those who repent, believe, and do righteous deeds”—the two verses (al-Furqan 70–71). The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent them these verses. When they read them, they wrote to him: “This is a difficult condition; we fear that we may not do righteous deeds.” Then the following was revealed: “Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.” He sent it to them, and they wrote back: “We fear that we may not be among those whom He wills.” Then the following was revealed: “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of Allah’s mercy’” (al-Zumar 53). He sent it to them, so they entered Islam and returned to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he accepted this from them.

He then said to Wahshi: “Tell me how you killed Hamzah.” When he told him, he said: “Woe to you! Keep your face out of my sight.” Wahshi then went to Syria and remained there until he died. (1)

Abu Mijlaz reported from Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, that when the verse, “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves...’” was revealed, a man stood up and asked, “What about associating partners with Allah, O Messenger of Allah?” He remained silent. Then the man rose and asked him again, twice or three times, whereupon the verse was revealed: “Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him.” (2)

Mutarrif ibn Abdullah ibn al-Shikhkhir said: Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “During the lifetime of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, when a man died while guilty of a major sin, we would testify that he was among the people of the Fire—until this verse was revealed: ‘Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.’ Thereafter, we refrained from making such declarations.” (3)