Tafsir of Al-Insan 76:12

"And He shall recompense them for what they endured"—that is, for their patience in enduring the hardships of acts of obedience, and for struggling against the desires of the self in abstaining from forbidden things, and in preferring others over their own wealth, both food and clothing—with a Garden, a great orchard, from which they eat whatever they wish, and silk which they wear and with which they adorn themselves.

Ata' narrates from Ibn Abbas that Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn fell ill, so their grandfather, Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), visited them, accompanied by Abu Bakr and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both). Other Companions also came to visit them. They said to Ali (may Allah honor his countenance), "O Abu al-Hasan, if only you would make a vow concerning your two sons." So, Ali and Fatimah vowed that if they recovered from their illness, they would fast for three days in gratitude. Allah (the Exalted) clothed the two boys with the garment of health, but there was little or nothing in the house of the family of Muhammad.

Ali (may Allah honor his countenance) went to Shimon the Jew of Khaybar and borrowed three sa’ of barley. Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) took one sa’, ground it, and baked five loaves of bread, according to the number of their family. Ali (may Allah honor his countenance) prayed the Maghrib prayer with the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and then returned home, placing the food before them. A beggar stood at the door and said, "Peace be upon you, O family of Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). I am a poor man among the poor Muslims; feed me, and may Allah feed you from the banquets of Paradise." They preferred him over themselves and spent the night tasting nothing but water.

They awoke fasting. Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) rose and took another sa’, ground it, and baked. Ali (may Allah honor his countenance) prayed the Maghrib prayer with the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), then came home and placed the food before them. An orphan stood at the door and said, "Peace be upon you, O family of Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). I am an orphan from the children of the Emigrants; feed me, and may Allah feed you from the banquets of Paradise." They preferred him over themselves and remained for two days and two nights tasting nothing but pure water, and they awoke fasting.

When the third day came, Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) took the third sa’, ground it, and baked. Ali (may Allah honor his countenance) prayed the Maghrib prayer with the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), then came home and placed the food before them. A captive stood at the door and said, "Peace be upon you, O family of Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). I am a captive of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him; feed me, and may Allah feed you." They preferred him over themselves and spent the night tasting nothing but pure water.

When they awoke, Ali (may Allah honor his countenance) took Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn, and they went to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). He saw them trembling like chicks from the intensity of hunger and said, "O Abu al-Hasan, how deeply it grieves me to see what you are in." He stood up and went to Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) and saw her in her prayer niche, her stomach stuck to her back and her eyes sunken from the intensity of hunger. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was deeply moved by this and felt distressed. Then Gabriel (peace be upon him) descended and said, "Take it, O Muhammad; Allah (the Exalted) congratulates you regarding your family." He asked, "What shall I take, O Gabriel?" So he recited to him the Surah Hal Ata ‘ala al-Insan. In another narration by Ibn Mahran, he rushed until he entered upon Fatimah and threw himself upon her, weeping. Then Gabriel (peace be upon him) descended with this verse: “Indeed, the righteous will drink…” to the end.

In a narration from Ata’, it is said that the barley was the wage for watering palm trees, and that each day a third of it was made into porridge, which they would give away in preference to themselves. Ibn Marduyah reported from Ibn Abbas that he said concerning the saying of the Exalted, “And they give food…”, that it was revealed regarding Ali (may Allah honor his countenance) and Fatimah, the daughter of the Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).

This report is famous among the people, and Al-Wahidi mentioned it in his book Al-Basit. Based on it, some of the Shi’a say: And until when shall I be blamed for loving this youth? Was anyone other than him married to Fatimah? And regarding any other than him, was "Hal Ata" revealed?

This has been countered by the claim that it is a fabricated report, as mentioned by Al-Tirmidhi and Ibn al-Jawzi, and the marks of fabrication are apparent upon it in both wording and meaning. Furthermore, it implies that the Surah is Medinan, because the marriage of Ali (may Allah honor his countenance) to Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) took place in Medina. According to Ibn Abbas—as reported by Al-Nahhas—it is Meccan, and the majority also hold this view. I say that its being Meccan or Medinan is a matter of great dispute, as you have heard, so there is no certainty in the matter. Ibn al-Jawzi transmitted the report in his Tabsira without commenting on it, though he is among those who are lenient in matters of fabrication, to the point that it is said one should not rely upon him in this field. Thus, the possibility that the original revelation concerns the Commander (may Allah honor his countenance) and Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) stands, yet there is no certainty or definitive proof due to the conflicting reports. It is difficult to reach a conclusion regarding which is preferable; indeed, perhaps the first narration is preferable due to the details it contains.

Furthermore, even if it were revealed regarding them, the ruling is not restricted to them alone; rather, it includes everyone who does likewise, as Al-Tabarsi of the Shi’a mentioned in Majma' al-Bayan via a narration from Abdullah ibn Maymun from Abu Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him). Conversely, if it were not revealed specifically regarding them, their status does not diminish, nor does their worth decrease, as their inclusion among the "righteous" is clear—in fact, they are among the most entitled to this inclusion. What could any person say about them, except that Ali is the master (mawla) of the believers and the successor (wasi) of the Prophet, and Fatimah is the Prophetic piece and the Muhammadan part? As for the two grandsons (Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn), they are the spirit, the sweet basil, and the masters of the youth of Paradise. This is not from the viewpoint of Rafd (rejection/extremism); rather, anything other than this, in my view, is error. I am a servant of the Truth, not a servant of whims.

May Allah curse the whim of whoever is cursed.

Among the subtle points regarding the view that it was revealed concerning them is that the Exalted did not mention the Houris in it, but instead explicitly mentioned immortal youths (wildan mukhalladun), out of respect for the sanctity of the Virgin (Al-Batul), the coolness of the Messenger’s eyes, so that her natural jealousy would not be stirred if she were to perceive a co-wife—even in Paradise, according to the imaginations of human nature. You are aware that this is a fleeting flower that cannot withstand being plucked. The use of the masculine gender here is also a case of taghlib (generalization). Ali (may Allah honor his countenance) read Jazahum (He recompensed them) using the form fa'ala.