And I said: By Allah, Allah did not command you with this. Allah has indeed said: 'Ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them. If you ask forgiveness for them seventy times, Allah will never forgive them.' The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: 'My Lord has given me a choice, and He said: "Ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them." So the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, approached the edge of the grave. The people began saying to his son: "O Hubab, do such and such; O Hubab, do such and such." The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "Hubab is a name of a devil; you are 'Abd Allah."

10509 - It was read to Yunus ibn 'Abd al-A'la, [who said] Ibn Wahb narrated to us, [who said] I heard 'Abd al-Rahman regarding the saying of Allah: 'Ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them,' he said: 'Fewer or more.'

His saying the Exalted: 'If you ask forgiveness for them seventy times, Allah will never forgive them.'

10500 - (*) Harun ibn Ishaq narrated to us, [who said] 'Abdah, meaning Ibn Sulayman, narrated to us, from Hisham ibn 'Urwah, from his father who said: Allah revealed: 'Ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them. If you ask forgiveness for them seventy times, Allah will never forgive them.' The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: 'I will surely increase over seventy.' So Allah the Exalted revealed: 'It is the same for them whether you ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them; Allah will never forgive them.' So Allah refused to forgive them.

His saying the Exalted: 'That is because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people,' the verse. It has already been explained.

His saying the Exalted: 'Those who remained behind rejoiced at their staying behind the Messenger of Allah.'

10501 - 'Ali ibn al-Hasan narrated to us, [who said] Abu al-Jumahir narrated to us, [who said] Sa'id ibn Bashir narrated to us, [who said] Sa'id ibn Abi 'Arubah narrated to us, from Qatadah: 'Those who remained behind rejoiced at their staying behind the Messenger of Allah.' I think it was regarding the Battle of Tabuk.

His saying the Exalted: 'And they disliked to strive with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah.'

10502 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, [who said] 'Abd Allah ibn Bukayr narrated to us, [who said] 'Abd Allah ibn Lahi'ah narrated to us, [who said] 'Ata' ibn Dinar narrated to us, from Sa'id ibn Jubayr regarding His saying: 'in the cause of Allah,' he said: 'In the obedience of Allah.'