Al-Baqarah: (207) And among the people are those who...

It is known that after the Almighty described in the preceding verse the state of one who sacrifices his religion for the sake of the world, He mentions in this verse the state of one who sacrifices his worldly life, his self, and his wealth for the sake of religion, saying: {And among the people are those who sell themselves, seeking the pleasure of Allah.}

There are several issues concerning this verse:

Issue 1: The Occasion of Revelation

There are several narrations regarding the occasion of revelation:

1. Narration 1: Ibn Abbas narrated that this verse was revealed concerning Suhayb ibn Sinan, the freed slave of 'Abdullah ibn Jud'an, and 'Ammar ibn Yasir, and Sumayyah (his mother), and Yasir (his father), and Bilal, the freed slave of Abu Bakr, and Khabbab ibn al-Aratt, and 'Abis, the freed slave of Huwaytib. The polytheists seized them and tortured them.
   • As for Suhayb, he said to the people of Mecca: "I am an old man, and I possess wealth and property. It makes no difference to you whether I am one of you or an enemy. I have said something that I dislike retracting, so I will give you my wealth and property, and you sell me my religion." They agreed to that and let him go. He returned towards Medina.
   • When Suhayb entered Medina, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) met him and said: "Your transaction has been profitable." Suhayb replied: "And yours, so how can we lose?" Abu Bakr said: "Allah revealed this verse concerning you," and recited the verse to him.
   • As for Khabbab ibn al-Aratt and Abu Dharr, they fled and came to Medina.
   • As for Sumayyah, she was tied between two camels and then killed, and Yasir was killed.
   • As for the rest, due to the torture, they gave the polytheists some of what they demanded, and they were left alone. Regarding them, the saying of Allah Almighty was revealed: {And those who emigrated for the cause of Allah after they had been wronged...} (An-Nahl: 41) (referring to the torment of the people of Mecca) {...We will surely give them a good dwelling in this world...} (An-Nahl: 41) (meaning victory and spoils of war), {...and the reward of the Hereafter is greater, if only they knew.} And concerning them was revealed: {Except for those who are forced [to renounce their religion] while their hearts are firm in faith.}

2. Narration 2: It was revealed concerning a man who commanded good and forbade evil, according to 'Umar, 'Ali, and Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them).

3. Narration 3: It was revealed concerning 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, who slept in the bed of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on the night of his departure to the cave. It is narrated that when he slept in his bed, Gabriel (peace be upon him) stood by his head, and Michael by his feet, and Gabriel called out: "Well done, well done, O son of Abu Talib! Allah boasts of you to the angels," and the verse was revealed.

Issue 2: The Meaning of "Yashri" (Sells/Buys)

The majority of the exegetes hold that the intended meaning of this "buying" (yashrī) is "selling." Allah Almighty said: {And they sold him for a meager price} (Yusuf: 20), meaning they sold him.

The reality is that the accountable person sells his self for the reward of the Hereafter. This sale is that he offers his self in obedience to Allah, such as prayer, fasting, Hajj, and Jihad, and thereby attains the reward of Allah. What he offers of himself is like the commodity, the offerer is like the seller, and Allah is like the buyer, as He said: {Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties in exchange for Paradise, for them.} (At-Tawbah: 111).

Allah the Almighty has named this transaction a trade, saying: {O you who have believed, shall I direct you to a transaction that will save you from a painful punishment? * [It is that] you believe in Allah and His Messenger and strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives.} (As-Saff: 10-11).

In my view, it is possible to apply the term "buying" (shirā') to its literal meaning. This is because whoever commits to disbelief, polytheism, indulgence in worldly pleasures, and turning away from the Hereafter falls into eternal punishment. Thus, it is as if his self was his property, but due to disbelief and sin, it passed out of his possession and became rightfully due to the Fire and torment. When he abandons disbelief and sin and commits to faith and obedience, it is as if he has bought his self back from torment and the Fire.

The state of the believer is like that of the mukātab (a slave who contracts for his freedom by paying a set amount), who offers a countable amount of dirhams to buy his freedom. Similarly, the believer offers a countable number of breaths to buy his self eternally. However, the mukātab remains a slave until the remaining dirhams are paid. Likewise, the accountable person does not escape the servitude of bondage as long as he has a single breath left in the world. This is why Jesus (peace be upon him) said: {And He has made me blessed wherever I am} (Maryam: 31), and Allah the Almighty said to His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): {And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty [of death]}.

If it is argued: Allah Almighty made Himself the buyer when He said: {Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties} (At-Tawbah: 111), which prevents the believer from being the buyer.

We reply: There is no contradiction between the two matters. It is like someone who buys a garment with a slave; both are sellers, and both are buyers. Similarly here, and with this interpretation, there is no need to abandon the apparent meaning and interpret the word "buying" as "selling."

Once this is known, we say that this includes every hardship a person endures in seeking religion. Thus, it includes the warrior (Mujahid), and it includes one who offers his lifeblood, patient under killing, as Abu 'Ammar and his mother did. It includes the one who flees from the disbelievers to the Muslims. It includes the one who buys his self back from the disbelievers with his wealth, as Suhayb did. It includes one who manifests religion and truth before an unjust ruler.

It is narrated that 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) sent an army that besieged a fortress. One man advanced from them, fought until he was killed. Some people said: "He threw himself into destruction with his own hands." 'Umar replied: "You lie! May Allah have mercy on Abu Fulan," and he recited: {And among the people are those who sell themselves, seeking the pleasure of Allah.}

Then, know that the hardship a person endures must be in accordance with the Sharia so that he falls under the meaning of the verse. If it is contrary to the Sharia, it is not included; rather, it is counted as throwing oneself into destruction, such as when someone fears perishing while performing the ritual bath (Ghusl) from sexual impurity and thus refrains from it. Qatadah said: "By Allah, they were not the Khawarij who were extreme in religion, but they were the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) from the Emigrants and the Helpers. When they saw the polytheists calling upon another god besides Allah, they fought for the sake of Allah's religion and sold their selves out of anger for Allah and striving in His path."

Issue 3: The Meaning of "Seeking the Pleasure of Allah" and "Allah is Kind to His Servants"

{...seeking the pleasure of Allah}: Meaning, seeking the pleasure of Allah. And {yashrī} means he buys.

As for His saying, {And Allah is Kind to His servants}:

• It is from His kindness that He made eternal bliss the reward for little, transient deeds.
• It is from His kindness that He permitted the word of disbelief to save the self.
• It is from His kindness that He does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.
• It is from His kindness and mercy that if one persists in disbelief for a hundred years and then repents, even in a moment, He casts away all that punishment and grants him eternal reward.
• It is from His kindness that the self and wealth belong to Him, yet He buys His possession with His own possession, as a favor, mercy, and benevolence from Him.

7 < { O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [as a whole] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you an evident enemy. } > 7 !