Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread): Verse 11

And His Exalted Saying: {The Hellfire. O you who have believed, remember the favor of Allah upon you when a people intended to stretch out their hands against you, but He restrained their hands from you.}

There are several issues concerning this verse:

Issue 1: The Occasion of Revelation (Asbab al-Nuzul)

There are two main views regarding the occasion of this verse's revelation:

The First View: In the early days, the polytheists were dominant, and the Muslims were oppressed and defeated. The polytheists constantly desired to inflict affliction, killing, and plunder upon the Muslims. Allah Almighty continuously prevented them from achieving their goals until Islam grew strong and the power of the Muslims increased. Then Allah said: {Remember the favor of Allah upon you when a people}—meaning the polytheists—{intended to stretch out their hands against you} by killing, plundering, and exiling. So, Allah, by His grace and mercy, restrained the hands of the disbelievers from you, O Muslims. Such a great blessing necessitates that you fear His disobedience and opposition.

Then Allah Almighty said: {And fear Allah. And upon Allah let the believers rely.} This means: Be steadfast in obedience to Allah Almighty, and fear no one in establishing the obedience due to Allah.

The Second View: This verse was revealed concerning a specific incident, and within this view, there are several sub-accounts:

1. The Incident of Bi'r Ma'unah and Banu Nadir: Ibn Abbas, al-Kalbi, and Muqatil narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent a detachment to Banu Amir, and they were all killed at Bi'r Ma'unah, except for three men. Two of them, including 'Amr ibn Umayyah al-Dhamri, returned to the Prophet (PBUH) to inform him of the incident. They encountered two men from Banu Sulaym who carried a guarantee of safety (aman) from the Prophet (PBUH). They killed these two men, unaware that they carried the guarantee. Their people then came seeking blood money (diyah). The Prophet (PBUH) went out with Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, and 'Ali to the settlement of Banu Nadir, who had a treaty with the Prophet (PBUH) to refrain from fighting and to assist with the blood money. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "One of my companions killed two men who carried my guarantee; thus, their blood money is incumbent upon me. I wish you would assist me." They replied, "Sit down until we feed you and give you what you desire." Then they plotted to ambush the Messenger of Allah and his companions. Jibril descended and informed him of their plot. The Messenger of Allah immediately stood up with his companions and left. The Jews said, "Our pots are boiling [with food we prepared for you]." The Messenger informed them that revelation had descended concerning their intentions. 'Ata said they conspired to throw a millstone or a rock upon him. It is also said that they did throw it, but Jibril took it away.

2. The Incident of the Sword: Others said that the Prophet (PBUH) stopped at a resting place, and the people dispersed from him. The Messenger of Allah hung his weapon on a tree. A Bedouin came, took the Messenger's sword, and said, "Who will prevent you from me?" The Prophet replied, "No one." Then the Messenger called out to his companions, informed them, and refused to punish the Bedouin. Based on these two accounts, the meaning of {Remember the favor of Allah upon you} is a reminder of Allah's favor in averting harm and distress from their Prophet, as had that occurred, it would have been one of the greatest tribulations.

3. The Incident of the Prayer: It is narrated that the Muslims stood for the Dhuhr prayer in congregation at 'Usfan. When they finished praying, the polytheists regretted not having attacked them during the prayer. They were told that the Muslims had another prayer afterward which was dearer to them than their children and fathers (referring to the Asr prayer). They intended to attack them when they stood for it, so Jibril descended with the prayer of fear (Salat al-Khawf).

Issue 2: The Meaning of "Stretching Out Hands" (Basṭ al-Yad)

It is said: "He stretched out his tongue against him" (basata ilayhi lisānahu) if he insulted him, and "He stretched out his hand to him" (basata ilayhi yadahu) if he struck him. The meaning of stretching the hand is extending it toward the one being struck. Do you not see that their saying, "So-and-so has an extended arm" (basīṭ al-bā') means the same as "long-armed" (madīd al-bā'), signifying capability? Thus, {but He restrained their hands from you} means He prevented their hands from reaching you.

Verse 12

{And Allah had already taken the covenant of the Children of Israel, and We sent among them twelve chieftains. And Allah said, "Indeed, I am with you. If you establish prayer and give zakāh and believe in My messengers and support them and lend Allah a goodly loan, I will surely remove from you your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow. But whoever disbelieves after that from among you has certainly strayed from the right path."}