This hadith states that after he had made this statement at Ghadīr Khumm and news of it had spread throughout the lands, al-Hārith came to him while he was at al-Abtah—and al-Abtah (1) is in Mecca. This is therefore the lie of an ignorant man who did not know when the event of Ghadīr Khumm took place.

Moreover, (2) this surah—Surah “A Petitioner Asked”—is Meccan by the consensus of the scholars. It was revealed in Mecca before the Hijra, ten years or more before Ghadīr Khumm. How, then, [could it have] (3) been revealed afterward?

Furthermore, His words:

“And when they said, ‘O Allah, if this is indeed the truth from You…’”

[Surah al-Anfāl: 32]

occur in Surah al-Anfāl, which was revealed immediately after Badr (4), by consensus, many years before Ghadīr Khumm. The scholars of tafsīr unanimously agree that this passage was revealed because of what the polytheists—such as Abū Jahl and others—had said to the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—before the Hijra, and that Allah reminded His Prophet of what they used to say (5) in His words:

“And when they said, ‘O Allah, if this is indeed the truth from You, then rain stones down upon us from the sky…’”

That is: Remember their words. This resembles His words:

“And when your Lord said to the angels…”

[Surah al-Baqara: 30]

and:

“And when you set out from your family…”

[Surah Āl Imrān: 121]

and similar passages, in which He commands him to recall all that had previously occurred. This proves that their statement preceded the revelation of this surah.

Furthermore, when they appealed for a decisive judgment, Allah made clear that punishment would not descend upon them while Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—was among them. He said: