His saying, the Almighty: "That God is displeased with them."

[6668] My father narrated to us: Hisham ibn ‘Ammar narrated to us: Maslamah ibn ‘Ulay narrated to us, from al-A‘mash, with his chain of transmission, he mentioned it, saying: "O assembly of Muslims, beware of fornication (zina), for in it are six characteristics: three in the world and three in the Hereafter. As for those in the world: it removes luster, brings about poverty, and shortens life. As for those in the Hereafter: it incurs the wrath of the Lord, an evil reckoning, and eternity in the Fire." Then the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) recited: "How wretched is that which their souls have put forth for them, that God is displeased with them, and in the punishment they will abide eternally."

His saying, the Almighty: "And if they had believed in God."

[6669] Hajjaj ibn Hamzah narrated to us, Shababah narrated to us, Warqa’ narrated to us, from Ibn Abi Najih, from Mujahid regarding his saying: "And if they had believed in God..." (referring to) the hypocrites.

His saying, the Almighty: "And you will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers those who say, 'We are Christians.'"

He said: They are the delegation that came with Ja‘far and his companions from the land of Abyssinia. Something similar to this was narrated from ‘Ata’.

[6670] Ibn Ibrahim ibn Hamzah narrated to us, Yahya ibn ‘Abdak narrated to us, Sulayman ibn Kathir narrated to us, from Husayn, he said: Hamzah narrated to us, from Ibn ‘Ata’, from his father, he said: Whatever good God mentions regarding the Christians, it only refers to the Negus (al-Najashi) and his companions.

His saying, the Almighty: "That is because among them are priests and monks."

[6671] My father mentioned: Yahya ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid al-Himmani narrated to us, Nusayr ibn Ziyad al-Qari narrated to us, Salt al-Dahhan narrated to us, from Jamiya ibn Diyab, he said: I heard Salman, and he was asked regarding His saying: "That is because among them are priests," he said: They are the monks who are in the hermitages and the congregation, so leave them therein.

[6672] Salman said: I recited to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) "That is because among them are priests," and he made me recite: "That is because among them are truthful ones (siddiqin) and monks."