I say: Although these reports are not free of weakness, some of them reinforce others. They are therefore suitable as corroborating evidence, and taken together they indicate that the noble verse was revealed concerning the rows in prayer. So where is the strangeness in this?

If what is meant is the strangeness of this meaning, and the fact that the interpretation of the verse indicated by its occasion of revelation differs from the preceding verses:

“And We sent the fertilizing winds and sent down water from the sky, then gave it to you to drink; and you are not its keepers. Indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and We are the Inheritors. We have certainly known those of you who go ahead, and We have certainly known those who stay behind. And indeed, your Lord will gather them; He is All-Wise, All-Knowing.” (1)

The answer is that the meaning derived from the occasion of revelation does not conflict with the general purport indicated by the verse in what precedes and follows it. It is well known that consideration is given to the generality of the wording, not to the particularity of the occasion. The eminent al-Alusi said in Ruh al-Maʻani (4/290): “For this reason, some have said: It is preferable to understand it generally; that is, We know those characterized by going ahead and staying behind in birth, death, Islam, the rows in prayer, and other matters.”

In this, he was alluding to Imam Ibn Jarir (may Allah have mercy on him), for he chose the general interpretation mentioned above and then said: “It is possible that it was revealed concerning those who went forward in the row because of the women, and those who stayed behind in it for that same reason. Then Allah, exalted is He, made the intended meaning general, encompassing all created beings. Thus He, glorious is His praise, said to them: We have known the creatures who have passed and counted them, along with what they used to do; and We know who among you is alive and who will come into existence after you, O people, as well as all your deeds, both good and evil. We have counted all of that, and We shall gather them all and recompense each one according to his deeds: good for good and evil for evil. Thus, this is a threat and warning to those who stay behind in the rows because of women, and to everyone who transgresses the bounds set by Allah and does what He has not permitted, and a promise to those who go forward in the rows because of women,”