nothing of his provisions remained, and he wished to console his companion, so Allah, the Exalted, revealed: "And spend in the cause of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction."

The fifth view:

1747 - My father narrated to us, Abu Salih (the scribe of al-Layth) narrated to us, al-Layth narrated to me, ‘Abd al-Rahman (meaning Ibn Khalid ibn Musafir) narrated to us, from Ibn Shihab, from Abu Bakr ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Harith ibn Hisham, that ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Aswad ibn ‘Abd Yaghuth informed him that they besieged Damascus. A man from Azd Shanu'ah went forth and hastened alone toward the enemy to seek martyrdom. The Muslims criticized him for that and reported his action to ‘Amr ibn al-‘As. ‘Amr sent for him, brought him back, and said to him: Allah, the Exalted, said: "And do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction."

The sixth view:

1748 - Muhammad ibn Isma‘il al-Ahmas narrated to us, Waki‘ narrated to us, from Isra'il and his father, from Abu Ishaq, from al-Bara' regarding His saying: "And do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction," he said: A man said to him, "O Abu ‘Amarah, is it the man who meets the enemy and seeks martyrdom?" He replied: "No, rather it is the man who commits a sin, then casts himself [into despair] and says, 'Allah will not forgive me.'" It was narrated from al-Nu‘man ibn Bashir, ‘Ubaydah al-Salmani (1), al-Hasan, Abu Qilabah, and Muhammad ibn Sirin, similar to that.

The seventh view:

1749 - My father narrated to us, Abu Salih narrated to us, Mu‘awiyah ibn Salih narrated to me, from ‘Ali ibn Abi Talhah, from Ibn ‘Abbas regarding his saying: "And do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction," he said: Destruction (tahluka) is the punishment of Allah.

The eighth view:

1750 - My father narrated to us, Hudbah narrated to us, Hammad ibn Salamah narrated to us, from Dawud ibn Abi Hind, from al-Sha‘bi, from al-Dahhak ibn Abi Jubayrah, he said: The Ansar used to give charity, giving whatever Allah willed. Then a year of hardship struck them, so they withheld, and Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, revealed: "And spend in the cause of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction and do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good."