Explanation

The author—may Allah have mercy on him—relates from Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them both) that ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (may Allah be pleased with him) used to seat him among the elders who had fought at Badr. Part of ʿUmar’s established practice and guidance was to consult people of sound judgment whenever a matter perplexed him, in accordance with Allah’s words to His Prophet, “Consult them in the affair” (Āl ʿImrān 3:159).

The shūrā (consultation) sanctioned by the Sharīʿah is not the creation of a permanent “consultative council” that participates in governing; rather, it is that when the ruler faces an uncertain issue, he gathers trustworthy people of insight so that he may seek their counsel regarding the specific case before him. Such was ʿUmar’s laudable way and praiseworthy effort: he would assemble the people and consult them about religious questions, political matters, and other concerns.

He would include Ibn ʿAbbās among the elders of Badr—that is, the senior Companions—although Ibn ʿAbbās was young compared with them. This troubled some of them: “Why does he admit Ibn ʿAbbās, though we have sons his age whom he does not invite?”

ʿUmar therefore wished to show them Ibn ʿAbbās’s standing in knowledge, intelligence, and insight. He called them together and summoned Ibn ʿAbbās, then recited this surah to them: “When the help of Allah comes and the conquest, and you see people entering Allah’s religion in multitudes, then glorify the praise of your Lord and seek His forgiveness; indeed, He is ever accepting of repentance” (al-Naṣr 110:1–3). When he asked, “What do you make of it?” they split into two groups: one group remained silent, while the other said, “Allah commands us that when help and victory come, we should seek forgiveness for our sins and praise Him.”