He set out in pursuit of him and was overtaken by the time of the midday rest (al-maqil) in a land called Memphis. He entered it at midday while its markets were closed and there was no one on its streets. This is what Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, refers to: "And he entered the city at a time of inattention by its people."

His saying, the Exalted: "And he entered the city at a time of inattention by its people."

[The First View]

16755 - Al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn al-Sabbah narrated to us: Hajjaj ibn Muhammad narrated to us, from Ibn Jurayj, from Ibn al-Munkadir, from 'Ata' ibn Yasar, from Ibn 'Abbas regarding "And he entered the city at a time of inattention," [who] said: Midday.

16756 - Abu Sa'id al-Ashajj narrated to us: Al-Nadr ibn Isma'il narrated to us, from al-A'mash, from Sa'id ibn Jubayr regarding "And he entered the city at a time of inattention by its people," [who] said: Midday, when the people were taking their midday nap. It was similarly narrated from 'Ikrimah and al-Suddi.

16757 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us: Safwan narrated to us: al-Walid narrated to us: Sa'id narrated to us, from Qatadah regarding the saying of Allah, the Almighty and Majestic: "And he entered the city at a time of inattention by its people," [who] said: He entered it at noon, and that is the time when people are at their most inattentive.

The Second View:

16758 - 'Ali ibn al-Husayn narrated to us: Ibrahim ibn Sa'id—meaning al-Jawhari—narrated to us: Hajjaj narrated to us, from Ibn Jurayj, from 'Ata' al-Khurasani, from Ibn 'Abbas regarding "at a time of inattention by its people," [who] said: Between the Maghrib and 'Isha' prayers.

The Third View:

16759 - Yunus ibn 'Abd al-A'la informed us by way of recitation, [he said] Ibn Wahb informed us, from Ibn Zayd—meaning 'Abd al-Rahman—regarding "at a time of inattention by its people," [who] said: At a time of inattention by the people; at a time of inattention regarding the mention of Moses.

His saying, the Exalted: "And he found therein two men fighting."

16760 - Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah ibn Abi al-Thalj narrated to us: Yazid ibn Harun narrated to us, Asbagh ibn Zayd informed us, al-Qasim ibn Abi Ayyub narrated to us, Sa'id ibn Jubayr narrated to us, from Ibn 'Abbas [regarding] "When he reached his full strength."