(And those who cry not unto any other god along with Allah…) [25:68-70].
Abu Ishaq al-Tha‘alibi informed us> al-Hasan ibn Ahmad al-Makhladi> al-Mu’ammil ibn al-Hasan ibn ‘Isa> al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn al-Sabbah al-Za‘farani> Hajjaj> Ibn Jurayj> Ya‘la ibn Muslim> Sa‘id ibn Jubayr> Ibn ‘Abbas who said: “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’. 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]”. 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-A‘mash> Abu Wa’il> ‘Amr ibn Shurahbil> Abu Maysarah> ‘Abd Allah ibn Mas‘ud who said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace: ‘What is the greatest sin?’ He said: ‘It is to ascribe an equal to Allah when it is Him Who has created you’. I asked: ‘What comes after that?’ he said: ‘It is to kill your child for fear that he might compete with you over food’. I asked: ‘What comes after that?’ he said: ‘It is to commit adultery with the wife of your neighbour’. 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…)”. 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 Ja‘far> Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim> Isma‘il ibn Ishaq> al-Haruth ibn al-Zubayr> Abu Rashid, the client of al-Lahibiyyin> Sa‘id ibn Salim al-Qaddah> Ibn Jurayh> ‘Ata’> Ibn ‘Abbas who said: “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’. 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’. 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?’ 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…) 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’. 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’. The verse (Say: O My slaves who have been prodigal to their own hurt! Despair not of the mercy of Allah…) [39:53] was then revealed, upon which Wahshiyy said: ‘Yes, now I do not see any conditions’, and so he embraced Islam”.
Asbab Al-Nuzul by Al-Wahidi , trans. Mokrane Guezzou