dwelt in the plains, and the other dwelt in the mountains. The men of the mountains were handsome, while the women had some deformity; and the women of the plains were beautiful, while the men had some deformity. Iblis (Satan) came to a man from the plains in the form of a youth and hired himself out to him, serving him. Iblis took a flute similar to those with which shepherds play, and he brought forth a sound the likes of which people had never heard, so it reached those around him, and they would come and listen to him. They designated a festival for themselves where they would gather once a year, where the women would display their beauty to the men, and the men would display their beauty to them. A man from the people of the mountains stumbled upon them during that festival, and he saw the women and their beauty. He returned to his companions and informed them of that, so they moved toward them and settled with them, and immorality appeared among them. This is the saying of Allah: "And do not display yourselves as was the display of the former times of ignorance" (1).

17671 - From Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), that Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) asked him, saying: "What do you think of the saying of Allah the Almighty to the wives of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): 'And do not display yourselves as was the display of the former times of ignorance'? Was there more than one time of ignorance?" Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "I have never heard of a 'former' (ula) without there being a 'latter' (ukhra)." Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: "Then inform me from the Book of Allah what confirms that." He said: "Indeed, Allah says: 'And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He chose you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty' (as in the verse: '...as you strove the first time')." Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Whom were we commanded to strive against?" He said: "The Banu Makhzum and Abd Shams" (2).

17672 - From another chain of narration from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) regarding His saying: 'And do not display yourselves as was the display of the former times of ignorance'—he said: "There will be another time of ignorance" (3).

His saying, the Almighty: 'Allah only intends to remove from you the impurity, O people of the household, and to purify you with complete purification'

17673 - From Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "This verse was revealed concerning five: regarding me, and Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husayn: 'Allah only intends to remove from you the impurity, O people of the household, and to purify you with complete purification'" (4).

17674 - From Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) went out one morning wearing a cloak made of striped black hair. Then Hasan and Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them both) came...