Tafsir of Ash-Shu`ara' 26:216

Then if they disobey you, say: "I am innocent of what you do.'' This specific warning does not contradict the general warning; indeed it is a part of it, as Allah says elsewhere:

لتنذر قوما ما أنذر ءاباوهم فهم غفلون

In order that you may warn a people whose forefathers were not warned, so they are heedless. (36:6)

ومن يكفر به من اﻻحزاب فالنار موعده

but those of the sects that reject it, the Fire will be their promised meeting place. (11:17) According to Sahih Muslim, the Prophet said:

والذي نفسي بيده ﻻ يسمع بي أحد من هذه اﻻمة يهودي وﻻ نصراني ثم ﻻ يومن بي إﻻ دخل النار

By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, no one from these nations -- Jewish or Christian -- hears of me then does not believe in me, but he will enter Hell. Many Hadiths have been narrated concerning the revelation of this Ayah, some of which we will quote below: Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, recorded that Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "When Allah revealed the Ayah,

وأنذر عشيرتك اﻻأقربين

(And warn your tribe of near kindred), the Prophet went to As-Safa', climbed up and called out,

يا صباحاه

O people! The people gathered around him, some coming of their own accord and others sending people on their behalf to find out what was happening. The Messenger of Allah said:

يا بني عبدالمطلب يا بني فهر ياابني لوي أرأيتم لو أخبرتكم أن خيﻼ بسفح هذا الجبل تريد أن تغير عليكم صدقتموني

O Bani `Abd Al-Muttalib, O Bani Fihr, O Bani Lu'ayy! What do you think, if I told you that there was a cavalry at the foot of this mountain coming to attack you -- would you believe me! They said, "Yes.'' He said:

فٳني نذير لكم بين يدي عذاب شديد

Then I warn you of a great punishment that is close at hand. Abu Lahab said, "May you perish for the rest of the day! You only called us to tell us this'' Then Allah revealed:

تبت يدآ أبى لهب وتب

Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and perish he! (111:1) This was also recorded by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i. Imam Ahmad recorded that A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her said: "When the Ayah,

وأنذر عشيرتك اﻻأقربين

(And warn your tribe of near kindred) was revealed, the Messenger of Allah stood up and said:

يا فاطمة ابنة محمد يا صفية ابنة عبدالمطلب يا بني عبدالمطلب ﻻ أملك لكم من الله شييا سلوني من مالي ما شيتم

O Fatimah daughter of Muhammad, O Safiyyah daughter of Abd Al-Muttalib, O Bani Abd Al-Muttalib, I cannot help you before Allah. Ask me for whatever you want of my wealth. This was recorded by Muslim. Imam Ahmad recorded that Qabisah bin Mukhariq and Zuhayr bin `Amr said: "When the Ayah:

وأنذر عشيرتك اﻻأقربين

(And warn your tribe of near kindred) was revealed, the Messenger of Allah climbed on top of a rock on the side of a mountain and started to call out:

يا بني عبد مناف إنما أنا نذير وإنما مثلي ومثلكم كرجل رأى العدو فذهب يربٲ أهله يخشى أن يسبقوه فجعل ينادي ويهتف يا صباحاه

O Bani Abd Manaf, I am indeed a warner, and the parable of me and you is that of a man who sees the enemy so he goes to save his family, fearing that the enemy may reach them before he does. And he started to call out, (O people!) It was also recorded by Muslim and An-Nasa'i. Allah's saying:

وتوكل على العزيز الرحيم