(Restrain thyself along with those who cry unto their Lord…) [18:28]. The judge Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Hiri related to us by dictation in Dar al-Sunnah on Friday after prayer, in the months of the year 410 a.h.> Abu'l-Hasan ibn 'Isa Ibn 'Abdawayh al-Hiri> Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Bushanji> al-Walid ibn 'Abd al-Malik ibn Musarrih al-Harrani> Sulayman ibn 'Ata' al-Harrani> Maslamah ibn 'Abd Allah al-Juhani> his uncle Ibn Mashja'ah ibn Rub'i al-Juhani> Salman al-Farisi who said: “Those whose hearts were to be reconciled (al-mu'allafati qulubuhum) - 'Uyaynah ibn Hisn, al-Aqra' ibn Habis and their families - came to the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, if only you could sit at the front of the assembly and remove these people - meaning: Salman al-Farisi, Abu Dharr al-Ghifari and other poor Muslims - and their smelly outer garments - because the only thing they had on them were these woollen outer garments - from us, then we could sit with you, talk to you and learn from you!' As a response, Allah, exalted is He, revealed (And recite that which hath been revealed unto thee of the Scripture of thy Lord. There is none who can change His words, and thou wilt find no refuge beside Him. Restrain thyself along with those who cry unto their Lord at morn and evening, seeking His Countenance) [18:27-28] up to His words (Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers Fire...) [18:29], threatening them with hell. The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, stood up and went looking for them. He found them at the back of the mosque making remembrance of Allah, exalted is He. He said: 'Praise be to Allah Who did not take away my soul until He commanded me to restrain myself with men of my community. It is with you that I live and with you that I die' ”. (…and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance…) [18:28]. Abu Bakr al-Harithi informed us> Abu'l-Shaykh al-Hafiz> Abu Yahya al-Razi> Sahl ibn 'Uthman> Abu Malik> Juwaybir> al-Dahhak> Ibn 'Abbas who said regarding the words of Allah, exalted is He (…and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance…): “This verse was revealed about Umayyah ibn Khalaf al-Jumahi. He asked the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, to do something that he disliked. He asked him to chase away the poor from his assembly and draw to him, instead, the leaders of Mecca. Allah, exalted is He, revealed (…and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance), i.e. sealed his heart such that he will never believe in Allah's divine oneness (who followeth his own lust) i.e. idolatry”.

(They will ask thee of Dhu’l-Qarnayn…) [18:83]. Said Qatadah: “The Jews asked the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, about Dhu’l-Qarnayn, and Allah, exalted is He, revealed these verses”.

(Say: Though the sea became ink for the Words of my Lord…) [18:109]. Ibn 'Abbas said: “When the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, told them (… and knowledge ye have been vouchsafed but little), the Jews said: 'How can this be when we have been given the Torah? He who has been given the Torah has been given abundant goodness!' Upon which this verse was revealed (Say: Though the sea became ink for the Words of my Lord…)”.

(And whoever hopeth for the meeting with his Lord…) [18:110]. Said Ibn 'Abbas: “This verse was revealed about Jundub ibn Zuhayr al-'Amiri who said: 'I do the deed seeking Allah but I get happy when other people come to know about it'. The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, said to him: 'Allah, exalted is He, is pure and does not accept except that which is pure. He does not accept that in which other than Him is associated'. Allah, exalted is He, then revealed this verse”. Said Tawus: “A man said: 'O Prophet of Allah, I love striving in the way of Allah, but I also love to be seen!' Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse [about this]”. Mujahid said: “A man went to see the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, and said: 'I give alms and keep my ties of kinship and do this only for Allah, glorious and exalted is He. However, when other people mention this and praise me for it, it makes me happy and I like it'. The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, did not respond to him. Then, Allah, exalted is He, revealed (And whoever hopeth for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work, and make none sharer of the worship due unto his Lord)”.