upon the religion of Allah and 'Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), until they were killed. And a group did not have the strength to stand against the kings nor to remain with them, so they wandered in the mountains and adopted monasticism therein; they are those of whom Allah said: "And monasticism, which they innovated; We did not prescribe it for them except seeking the approval of Allah. But they did not observe it with due observance. So We gave the ones who believed among them their reward, those who believed in Me and affirmed Me, and many of them are defiantly disobedient, those who disbelieved in Me and rejected Me." (1)

His saying, the Almighty: "O you who have believed, fear Allah and believe in His Messenger; He will [then] give you a double portion of His mercy..."

18835 - From Ibn 'Abbas that forty of the Negus's companions came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and witnessed Uhud with him. They sustained injuries, but none of them were killed. When they saw the need of the believers, they said: "O Messenger of Allah, we are people of means, so permit us to bring our wealth to assist the Muslims with it." Then Allah sent down regarding him: "Those to whom We gave the Scripture before it—they are believers in it," until His saying: "Those will be given their reward twice for what they patiently endured," so He granted them two rewards. He said: "And they ward off evil with good," he said: "This refers to the wealth with which they assisted the Muslims." When this verse was revealed, they said: "O assembly of Muslims, as for those among us who believed in your Scripture, he has two rewards, and whoever did not believe in your Scripture has a reward like your rewards." Then Allah sent down: "O you who have believed, fear Allah and believe in His Messenger; He will [then] give you a double portion of His mercy and make for you light by which you will walk and forgive you," so He increased them in light and forgiveness. (2)

18836 - From Muqatil b. Hayyan, he said: When "Those will be given their reward twice for what they patiently endured" was revealed, the believers from the People of the Scripture boasted over the Companions. Then Allah revealed: "O you who have believed, fear Allah and believe in His Messenger; He will [then] give you a double portion of His mercy," so He granted them two rewards, like the rewards of the believers of the People of the Scripture, and He made them equal in reward. (3)

His saying, the Almighty: "A double portion"

18837 - From Abu Musa regarding His saying: "a double portion," he said: "two portions; and it is in the language of the Abyssinians." (4)

18838 - From Ibn 'Umar regarding His saying: "He will [then] give you a double portion of His mercy," he said: "The portion is three hundred and fifty parts of the mercy of Allah."