397. Ibn Mahboub, from Jameel Bin Salih, from Abu Ubeyda who said: I asked Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام about the Statement of Allah عز وجل: “[30:1] Alif Lam Mim [30:2] The Romans have been defeated [30:3] In a near land”. O Abu Ubeyda! No one knows the explanation of this except for Allah عز وجل and the ones عليه الصلاة والسلام firmly rooted in Knowledge from the Progeny عليه الصلاة والسلام of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم. The Rasool Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, when he صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم migrated to Al-Medina and displayed Al-Islam, he صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم wrote to the king of Rome a letter, and sent it with a messenger calling him to Al-Islam, and he صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم wrote a letter to the king of Persia a letter calling him to Al-Islam and sent it with his صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم messenger to him. So, as for the king of Rome, so he respected the letter and honoured his صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم messenger, and as for the king of Persia, so he belittled the letter of the Rasool Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, and tore it up and belittled his صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم messenger. In those days the king of Persia was at war with the king of Rome, and the Muslims desired that the king of Rome should overcome the king of Persia, and they were on his side hoping against the king of Persia. So when the king of Persia overcame the king of Rome the Muslims did not like that and were grieved by it. So Allah عز وجل Revealed with that in the Quran: “[30:1] Alif Lam Mim [30:2] The Romans have been defeated [30:3] In a near land”, meaning it was overcome by Persia in a nearby land, and it is Syria and what is around it, and they, meaning Persia from after having overcome Rome will be overcoming, meaning the Muslims would be overcoming, “[30:4] Within a few years. Allah’s is the command before and after; and on that day the believers shall rejoice [30:5] With the help of Allah; He helps whom He pleases” and He عز وجل is Mighty and Majestic. So when the Muslims invaded Persia and conquered it, the Muslims were happy with the Help of Allah عز وجل Mighty and Majestic’. So I said, ‘Does not Allah عز وجل Mighty and Majestic Say: “[30:4] Within a few years”, whereas the Believers spent many years with the Rasool Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, and in the rule of Abu Bakr. But rather, the Believers overcame Persia during the rule of Umar’. So he عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘Did I عليه الصلاة والسلام not say to you that this is the explanation and the interpretation? O Abu Ubeyda! And the Quran has Abrogating (verses) and Abrogated (Verses). Have you not heard the Words of Allah عز وجل Mighty and Majestic: “Allah’s is the command before and after”? It means the Decision is His عز وجل in the Words whether he عز وجل Delays what was to happen first, or to bring forward that which was Delayed in the Words up to the Day the matter has been Ordained to occur by the Descent of the Help upon the Believers with regards to it. So that is the Statement of the Mighty and Majestic: “and on that day the believers shall rejoice [30:5] With the help of Allah; He helps whom He pleases”, yes, the day on which the Help has been Ordained to occur’.