that he was among those included in the verse and covered by its ruling and general scope. Some of the Companions and Successors frequently say, “This verse was revealed concerning such-and-such,” meaning that the verse indicates and encompasses that ruling, and that this ruling is intended by it.

Some of them say that a verse may be revealed (1) twice: once on one occasion and once on another. According to this view, it is possible that it was revealed a second time concerning the incident involving Abū al-Dahdāh (2). Apart from this possibility, there is no disagreement among scholars that it was revealed in Mecca before Abū al-Dāhdāh embraced Islam (3), and before the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, emigrated.

Several scholars have stated that it was revealed concerning the incident involving Abū Bakr. Ibn Jarīr reports in his Quran commentary, through his chain of transmission from Abd Allāh ibn al-Zubayr and others, that it was revealed concerning Abū Bakr (4). Likewise, Ibn Abī Hātim and al-Thaʿlabī reported this (5) from Abd Allāh and Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab: that it was revealed concerning Abū Bakr (6).

Ibn Abī Hātim reports in his Quran commentary:

My father narrated to us; Muhammad ibn Abī Umar al-Adanī narrated to us; Sufyān narrated to us; Hishām ibn Urwah narrated to us, from his father, who said:

Abū Bakr emancipated seven people, all of whom were being tortured for their faith in Allah: Bilāl, Āmir ibn Fuhayrah, and al-Nahdiyyah,