~During the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab RA (c. 13-15 AH)
Years after the Conquest of Makkah, during his caliphate, Umar ibn al-Khattab RA held a senior council of the elder Companions from the Ansar and the Quraysh. The youngest person he admitted was Ibn Abbas RA, a cousin of the Prophet ﷺ, who was only about 15 or 16 years old. Some of the elders objected. They told Umar that they had sons older than Ibn Abbas who were not allowed to attend, and asked why this young man was.
To show them why, Umar RA asked the gathering one day to explain Surah al-Nasr (Qur'an 110). One Companion said that Allah was telling them to thank Him when He blesses them. Others gave similarly general answers. Then Umar turned to Ibn Abbas and asked him to explain it.
Ibn Abbas RA said that the elders had not understood it correctly. In his reading, Allah was informing the Prophet ﷺ that once Makkah was conquered, his time on earth was coming to an end. He should therefore prepare to meet Allah by increasing his worship and seeking Allah's forgiveness. Umar RA replied that this was all he himself knew of the surah. The elders now saw why the young man had a place in the council.
Ibn Abbas RA narrated this episode himself, and it is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari. Through it, Umar RA showed the elder Companions how deep Ibn Abbas's understanding of the Qur'an was. It also preserves the Companions' own understanding that Surah al-Nasr, revealed about the Conquest of Makkah, was a sign that the Prophet ﷺ's death was near. He passed away barely two years after the Conquest.
Other events recorded around the same time. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.
Can you explain to me: "When Allah's help comes and the victory is achieved, and you see the people embracing Allah's Way in crowds, then glorify the praises of your Lord and seek His forgiveness, for certainly He is ever Accepting of Repentance"?
Now you interpret it.
Other Companions in the gathering had already offered their own explanations of the surah before Umar turned to the young Ibn Abbas and asked him next.
They have not spoken correctly. Rather, Allah is informing the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that when Makkah is conquered, your time on earth is about to come to an end. So prepare to meet Allah by increasing your worship and seeking His forgiveness. Verily, Allah is ever Accepting of Repentance.
This is the only knowledge I have of the Surah.
إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ
“When Allah's [ultimate] help comes and the victory [over Makkah is achieved],”
The surah interpreted by Ibn Abbas RA before Umar RA's gathering.
وَرَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ أَفْوَاجًا
“And you [O Prophet] see the people embracing Allah's Way in crowds.”
The surah interpreted by Ibn Abbas RA before Umar RA's gathering.
فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا
“Then glorify the praises of your Lord and seek His forgiveness, for certainly He is ever Accepting of Repentance.”
The surah interpreted by Ibn Abbas RA before Umar RA's gathering.