5863 - Ahmad ibn Mansur al-Ramadi narrated to us, Abu Ahmad—meaning al-Zubayri—narrated to us, Muhammad ibn Sharik al-Makki narrated to us, from 'Amr ibn Dinar, from 'Ikrimah, from Ibn 'Abbas, who said: There was a group of people from the inhabitants of Mecca who had accepted Islam but were concealing their Islam. The polytheists took them out with them on the day of Badr; some of them were wounded and some were killed. The Muslims said: 'Our companions were Muslims, but they were compelled.' So they asked for forgiveness for them. Then [this verse] was revealed: "Indeed, those whom the angels take in death while they are wronging themselves..." until the end of the verse. He said: So whoever remained of the Muslims wrote to me about this verse, and that there is no excuse for them. He said: Then they went out, but the polytheists caught up with them and tempted them [to renounce their faith], so this verse was revealed concerning them: "And of the people are some who say, 'We believe in Allah...'" [29:10] the verse.

5864 - Al-Hasan ibn Abi al-Rabi' narrated to us, 'Abd al-Razzaq informed us, who said: Ibn 'Uyaynah said: Muhammad ibn Ishaq informed me regarding His saying: "Indeed, those whom the angels take in death," he said: They are five young men from Quraysh: 'Ali ibn Umayyah, Abu Qays al-Fakih, Zam'ah ibn al-Aswad, Abu al-'Abbas ibn Munabbih, and I forgot the fifth.

5865 - My father narrated to me, Harun ibn Muhammad ibn Bakkar al-Dimashqi narrated to us, Muhammad ibn 'Isa ibn Sumay' narrated to us, Rawh—meaning Ibn al-Qasim—narrated to us, from Ibn Jurayj, from 'Ikrimah, that he said regarding this verse: "Indeed, those whom the angels take in death while they are wronging themselves," they are young men from Quraysh who had spoken of Islam in Mecca; among them: 'Ali ibn Umayyah, Abu Qays ibn al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah, Abu al-'As ibn Munabbih ibn al-Hajjaj, and al-Harith ibn Zam'ah.

[The second perspective]

5866 - My father narrated to us, 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Munib narrated to us, Abu Mu'adh al-Nahwi narrated to us, 'Ubayd ibn Sulayman narrated to us, from al-Dahhak regarding His saying: "Indeed, those whom the angels take in death while they are wronging themselves," he said: They are people from the hypocrites who lagged behind the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) in Mecca, so they did not go out with him to Medina, and they went out with the polytheists of Quraysh to Badr, so they were struck down on that day among those who were struck down, so Allah the Almighty revealed this verse concerning them.