سورة محمد

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ یَسْتَمِعُ إِلَیْکَ حَتَّی إِذا خَرَجُوا مِنْ عِنْدِکَ [And there are those of them who seek to listen to you, until when they go forth from you]. This verse was revealed concerning the hypocrites from among the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), and those who, when they heard the Quran, neither believed in it nor memorized it, and when they went out they would say to the believers: 'What did Muhammad just say?'

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): What is meant by وَ مِنْهُمْ [and among them] is the hypocrites. And while you are speaking upon the pulpit in this manner — that on the Day of Resurrection Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) is the bearer of the banner of praise — they listen. But when they go out from your presence, they say to one another mockingly and derisively: 'What was this man saying on the pulpit a few moments ago?' — as if they had not heard your words. Then Allah says: أُولئِکَ الَّذِینَ طَبَعَ اللهُ عَلی قُلُوبِهِمْ [These are they upon whose hearts Allah has set a seal].

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said: We were in the service of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) when revelation would descend, and he would inform us of it. I would memorize it, and the others, when we came out, would say: "ما ذا قالَ آنِفاً [What did he say just now]?" They said this out of mockery, or they meant to say that we do not pay attention to memorizing his words and matters.

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): It is narrated from Imam Baqir and Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: "Which of you will accept my testament, and support me in the matter of my messengership, and pay my debts, and fulfill my promises?" And in another hadith it comes thus: Two men said to Salman (may Allah have mercy on him): "What was Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) saying just now?" And when the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) rose, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) embraced him and said: "O Ali (peace be upon him), this succession and vicegerency belongs to you," and Allah revealed the noble verse: وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ یَسْتَمِعُ إِلَیْکَ حَتَّی إِذا خَرَجُوا مِنْ عِنْدِکَ قالُوا لِلَّذینَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ ما ذا قالَ آنِفاً أُولئِکَ الَّذینَ طَبَعَ اللهُ عَلی قُلُوبِهِم [And there are those of them who seek to listen to you, until when they go forth from you, they say to those who have been given the knowledge: What was it that he said just now? These are they upon whose hearts Allah has set a seal].

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) would call his companions to Allah, and he would say: Whoever Allah wills good for, listens to his call and grasps that to which he invites. And whoever Allah wills evil for, He sets a seal upon his heart, so he neither hears nor understands. And this is the very saying of Allah the Mighty and Majestic [who said]: حَتَّی إِذَا خَرَجُوا مِنْ عِندِکَ قَالوا للذِینَ أُوتُوا العِلمَ مَاذَا قَال آنِفًا أُولئِکَ الذِینَ طَبَعَ اللهُ عَلی قُلوبِهِمْ [Until when they go forth from you, they say to those who have been given the knowledge: What was it that he said just now? These are they upon whose hearts Allah has set a seal].