Ibn 'Umarah, that a man from the Banu Sa'd tribe passed by the mosque of the Banu Hanifah and found them reciting the rhymes (rajaz) of Musaylimah. He returned to Ibn Mas'ud and mentioned that to him, so he sent for them and brought them in. He sought their repentance, and they repented, so he released them, except for one man among them called Ibn al-Nawwahah. He said, "I have been brought [your case] once before, and you claimed that you had repented, but I see that you have returned to it." So he killed him (25). The basis for the first narration is the saying of Allah the Almighty: {Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them} (26). It is narrated that a man whispered to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, [and it was not understood] (27) [what he whispered to him about, until the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, spoke out loud] (28); he was asking his permission to kill a man from among the hypocrites (29). The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "Does he not testify that there is no god but Allah?" He replied: "Yes, but there is no [valid] testimony for him." He said: "Does he not pray?" He replied: "Yes, but there is no [valid] prayer for him." The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "Those are the ones whom Allah has forbidden me from killing" (30). Allah the Almighty has said: {Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire—and never will you find for them a helper (145) Except for those who repent} (31). It is narrated that Makhshi (32) ibn Humayyir was among the group about whom Allah revealed: {And if you ask them, they will surely say, "We were only conversing and playing"} (33). He came to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and repented to Allah the Almighty, and Allah accepted his repentance (34). He is of the group whom Allah the Almighty meant by His saying: {If We pardon}
(25) Recorded by al-Bayhaqi, in: The Chapter on the One Who Says Regarding the Apostate: He is to be sought for repentance..., from the Book of the Apostate, al-Sunan al-Kubra 8/206; 'Abd al-Razzaq, in: The Chapter on Disbelief After Faith, from the Book of Found Property (Luqta), al-Musannaf 10/169; and Ibn Abi Shaybah, in: The Chapter on What They Said Regarding a Man Who Becomes Muslim Then Apostatizes..., from the Book of Jihad, al-Musannaf 12/269. (26) Surah al-Anfal 38. (27) Omitted from [M]. (28) Omitted from the Original. (29) In [M]: "the Muslims". (30) Recorded by al-Darimi, in: The Chapter on Fighting Based on the Saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: "I have been commanded that...", from the Book of Military Expeditions (Siyar), Sunan al-Darimi 2/218; Imam Malik, in: The Collective Chapter on Prayer, from the Book of Shortening Prayer while Traveling, al-Muwatta' 1/171; and Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 5/432, 433. (31) Surah al-Nisa' 145, 146. (32) In the copies: "Mahsh". This is a mistake. See: al-Isabah 6/53 and al-Ikmal 7/228. (33) Surah al-Tawbah 65. (34) Recorded by al-Tabari, in: Exegesis of Surah al-Tawbah, verse 66, Tafsir al-Tabari 10/173.