The third chapter concerning

the causes of revelation.

[The difficulty of the subject of the causes of revelation:]

And among the difficult subjects also

is the knowledge of the causes of revelation,

and the aspect of difficulty in this chapter likewise

is the difference of the predecessors and the successors concerning it.

The meaning of 'it was revealed regarding such and such':

And what is derived from the induction of the speech of the Companions and the Successors

- may Allah be pleased with them -

is that they do not say 'It was revealed regarding such and such'

for the mere statement of the event that occurred during the era of the Prophet - peace and blessings be upon him -

and was a cause for the revelation of that verse:

Rather, they use this expression sometimes

to explain what the verse applies to and holds true for

from that which occurred during the era of the Prophet - peace and blessings be upon him -

or after him

(for it is an explanation for one of the forms that the verse applies to)

so they say at that time 'It was revealed regarding such and such'

and it is not necessary in such a place that