The discourse regarding the Interpretation of the statement of Him Whose mention is Exalted: {if you should be truthful (31)}

Abū Jaʿfar said: The scholars of Interpretation differed regarding that.

671 - Abū Kurayb narrated to us, he said: ʿUthmān ibn Saʿīd narrated to us, he said: Bishr ibn ʿUmāra narrated to us, on the authority of Abū Rawq, on the authority of al-Ḍaḥḥāk, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās: "if you should be truthful," if you know why I am placing a successor upon the earth (1).

672 - Mūsā ibn Hārūn narrated to us, he said: ʿAmr ibn Ḥammād narrated to us, he said: Asbāṭ narrated to us, on the authority of al-Suddī in a report he mentioned, on the authority of Abū Mālik, and on the authority of Abū Ṣāliḥ, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās—and on the authority of Murra, on the authority of Ibn Masʿūd, and on the authority of some people among the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him: "if you should be truthful" that the children of Adam would cause corruption upon the earth and shed blood (2).

673 - Al-Qāsim narrated to us, he said: Al-Ḥusayn narrated to us, he said: Ḥajjāj narrated to me, on the authority of Jarīr ibn Ḥāzim—and Mubārak from al-Ḥasan—and Abū Bakr from al-Ḥasan and Qatāda—they both said: "Tell Me the names of these if you should be truthful" that I have not created any creation except that you are more knowledgeable than it; so inform Me of the names of these if you should be truthful (3).

Abū Jaʿfar said: And the most deserving of these views to be the Interpretation of the verse is the Interpretation of Ibn ʿAbbās and those who spoke according to his view. And the meaning of that is: So He said, "Inform Me of the names of those whom I presented to you, O angels—who said: 'Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood from other than us, or from us? While we glorify You with Your praise