'Amr b. Umayr b. 'Awf al-Thaqafi, Mas'ud b. 'Amr b. 'Abd Layl b. 'Amr, Rabi'ah b. 'Amr, and Habib b. 'Amr. They were all brothers, and they were the claimants and the ones against whom claims were made. They were from the Banu al-Mughirah of the Banu Makhzum, and the Banu al-Mughirah used to engage in interest-based lending in the Jahiliyyah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had made a peace treaty with the Thaqif on the condition that they would not be conscripted (yuḥsharū) and would not be taxed (yuʿsharū). As for his saying "not be conscripted," it means they would not be required to go on military expeditions. As for his saying "not be taxed," it means their wealth would not be subject to the sadaqah (zakat) tax. However, he wrote at the end of the agreement: "They have what the Muslims have, and upon them is what is upon the Muslims." And he wrote for them: "Whatever interest they had owed to them by the people, it is theirs, and whatever interest was owed by them is waived." They [the Thaqif] demanded their interest from the Banu al-Mughirah, and it was a massive amount. The Banu al-Mughirah said: "By Allah, we will not pay interest in Islam, while Allah and His Messenger have waived it for the Muslims. What would make us the most wretched of people for this, when all interest has been waived?" So they informed Mu'adh b. Jabal—and it is also said, 'Attab b. Usayd—about their situation (and one of them was the governor of Makkah). He wrote to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "The sons of 'Amr b. Umayr are demanding their interest from the Banu al-Mughirah, and they claim that they had made a peace treaty with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) regarding that. What is your view on this, O Messenger of Allah?" So Allah revealed to His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains of interest, if you should be believers."
2916 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, Yahya reported to us, Ibn Lahi'ah narrated to me, 'Ata' narrated to me, from Sa'id, regarding His saying: "if you should be believers," meaning: "if you are affirmers of the truth."
His saying, the Exalted: "And if you do not"
2917 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, Safwan reported to us, al-Walid reported to us, he said: I asked Khulayd about the saying of Allah—the verse of interest—"And if you do not, then be informed of a war from Allah and His Messenger." He informed me from Qatadah, he said: It means: If you do not believe in the prohibition of interest, then be informed of a war from Allah and His Messenger.
2918 - I read to Muhammad b. al-Fadl, Muhammad b. 'Ali reported to us, Muhammad b. Muzahim informed us, Bukayr b. Ma'ruf reported to us, from Muqatil b. Hayyan, regarding His saying: "And if you do not, then be informed of a war from Allah and His Messenger," he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) wrote to Mu'adh b. Jabal: "Present this verse to them; if they comply, they shall have their principal capital, and if they refuse, then inform them of a war from Allah and His Messenger."
