(And those who cry not unto any other god along with Allahﾅ) [25:68-70]. Abu Ishaq al-Thaalibi informed us> al-Hasan ibn Ahmad al-Makhladi> al-Muﾒammil ibn al-Hasan ibn Isa> al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn al-Sabbah al-Zafarani> Hajjaj> Ibn Jurayj> Yala ibn Muslim> Said ibn Jubayr> Ibn Abbas who said: ﾓSome idolaters who had committed many murders and fornicated numerous times went to the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, and said: What you say and call for is good, if only you could inform us whether there is any expiation for the things we have committedﾒ. As a response, this verse was revealed (And those who cry not unto any other god along with Allah) up to His words (Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful) [25:70]ﾔ.
This was narrated by Muslim> Ibrahim ibn Dinar> Hajjaj. Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Yahya al-Muzakki informed us> his father> Muhammad ibn Ishaq al-Thaqafi> Ibrahim al-Hanzali and Muhammad ibn al-Sabbah> Jarir> Mansur and al-Amash> Abu Waﾒil> Amr ibn Shurahbil> Abu Maysarah> Abd Allah ibn Masud who said: ﾓI asked the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace: What is the greatest sin?ﾒ He said: It is to ascribe an equal to Allah when it is Him Who has created youﾒ. I asked: What comes after that?ﾒ he said: It is to kill your child for fear that he might compete with you over foodﾒ.
I asked: What comes after that?ﾒ he said: It is to commit adultery with the wife of your neighbourﾒ. Allah, exalted is He, then revealed these verses to confirm his answers (And those who cry not unto any other god along with Allah, nor take the life which Allah hath forbidden save in (course of) justice, nor commit adulteryﾅ)ﾔ.
This was narrated by Bukhari> Musaddid> Yahya and also by Muslim> Uthman ibn Abi Shaybah> Jarir. Abu Bakr ibn al-Harith informed us> Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Jafar> Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim> Ismail ibn Ishaq> al-Haruth ibn al-Zubayr> Abu Rashid, the client of al-Lahibiyyin> Said ibn Salim al-Qaddah> Ibn Jurayh> Ataﾒ> Ibn Abbas who said: ﾓWahshiyy went to the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, and said: I came to you seeking sanctuary; so grant me sanctuary in order that I can hear the speech of Allahﾒ. The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, said to him: I had wished to see you without sanctuary, but since you have asked me for sanctuary, you are in my sanctuary until you hear the speech of Allahﾒ. Wahshiyy said: I have associated others with Allah, killed souls which Allah, exalted is He, has made forbidden and committed adultery.
Does Allah accept my repentance?ﾒ The Messenger of Allah, exalted is He, did not answer him and then the verse (And those who cry not unto any other god along with Allah, nor take the life which Allah hath forbidden save in (course of) justice, nor commit adulteryﾅ) was revealed. The Prophet recited it to Wahshiyy but the latter said: I see here a condition; it is possible that I may not do any righteous works. I will stay in your sanctuary so that I can hear the speech of Allah, exalted is Heﾒ. The verse: (Lo! Allah forgiveth not that a partner should be ascribed unto Him. He forgiveth (all) save that to whom He will) [4:48] was then revealed.
Wahshiyy was summoned and the verse was recited to him. He said: I could be among (save that to whom He will). I will remain in your sanctuary so that I can hear the speech of Allahﾒ. The verse (Say: O My slaves who have been prodigal to their own hurt! Despair not of the mercy of Allahﾅ) [39:53] was then revealed, upon which Wahshiyy said: Yes, now I do not see any conditionsﾒ, and so he embraced Islamﾔ.