BACKGROUND
According to Ibn Ishaq, Prophet Muhammad’s tribe, the powerful Quraysh, were greatly concerned about their tribesman who had started claiming prophethood and wished to consult rabbis about the matter. The Quraysh sent two men to the rabbis of Medina, reasoning that they had superior knowledge of the scriptures and about the prophets of God. The two Quraysh men described their tribesman, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), to the rabbis.
The rabbis told the men to ask Muhammad three questions:
They [the rabbis], said, “Ask him about three things which we will tell you to ask, and if he answers them then he is a Prophet who has been sent; if he does not, then he is saying things that are not true, in which case how you will deal with him will be up to you. Ask him about some young men in ancient times, what was their story for theirs is a strange and wondrous tale. Ask him about a man who traveled a great deal and reached the east and the west of the earth. What was his story and ask him about the Ruh (Holy spirit) – what is it? If he tells you about these things, then he is a Prophet, so follow him, but if he does not tell you, then he is a man who is making things up, so deal with him as you see fit.”
However, According to Ibn Ishaq, when Muhammad was informed of the three questions from the rabbis, he said that he would have the answers in the morning but did not say “if God wills it”. For fifteen days, Muhammad waited eagerly for the revelation. Muhammad did not answer the question until then. Doubt in Muhammad began to grow amongst the people of Mecca. Then, after fifteen days, Muhammad received the revelation of al-Kahf, as an answer to the questions.
Allah said, in the Holy Qur’an;
﴿وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الإِنسَـنَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ – إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ – مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلاَّ لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ – وَجَاءَتْ سَكْرَةُ الْمَوْتِ بِالْحَقِّ ذَلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيدُ – وَنُفِخَ فِى الصُّورِ ذَلِكَ يَوْمَ الْوَعِيدِ – وَجَآءَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّعَهَا سَآئِقٌ وَشَهِيدٌ – لَّقَدْ كُنتَ فِى غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ هَـذَا فَكَشَفْنَا عَنكَ غِطَآءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيدٌ ﴾
(16. And indeed We have created man, and We know what his self whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.) (17. (Remember) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being), one sitting on the right and one on the left.) (18. Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).) (19. And the stupor of death will come in truth: “This is what you have been avoiding!”) (20. And the Trumpet will be blown — that will be the Day of the threat.) (21. And every person will come forth along with a Sa’iq and a Shahid.) (22. (It will be said to the sinners): “Indeed you were heedless of this. Now We have removed from you, your covering, and sharp is your sight this Day!”)
Allah the Exalted affirms His absolute dominance over mankind, being their Creator and the Knower of everything about them. Allah the Exalted has complete knowledge of all thoughts that cross the mind of man, be they good or evil. In the Sahih, the Messenger of Allah said,
«إِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى تَجَاوَزَ لِأُمَّتِي مَا حَدَّثَتْ بِهِ أَنْفُسَهَا مَا لَمْ تَقُلْ أَوْ تَعْمَل»
(Verily, Allah the Exalted has forgiven my Ummah (Muslims) for what they talk (think) to themselves about, as long as they do not utter or implement it.) The statement of Allah the Exalted,
﴿وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ﴾
(And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.) means, His angels are nearer to man than his jugular vein. Those who explained `We’ in the Ayah to mean `Our knowledge,’ have done so to avoid falling into the idea of incarnation or indwelling; but these two creeds are false according to the consensus of Muslims. Allah is praised and glorified, He is far hallowed beyond what they ascribe to Him. The words of this Ayah do not need this explanation (that `We’ refers to `Allah’s knowledge’), for Allah did not say, `and I am closer to him than his jugular vein.’ Rather, He said,
﴿وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ﴾
(And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. ) just as He said in the case of dying persons,
﴿وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَـكِن لاَّ تُبْصِرُونَ ﴾
(But We are nearer to him than you, but you see not.) (56:85), in reference to His angels (who take the souls). Allah the Exalted the Blessed said,
﴿إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَـفِظُونَ ﴾
(Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr and surely, We will guard it.) (15:9) Therefore, the angels brought down the revelation, the Qur’an, by the leave of Allah, the Exalted, the Most Honored. Thus, the angels are closer to man than his own jugular vein, by the power and leave of Allah. Consequently, the angel touches mankind, just as the devil touches them, for the devil is as close to them as the blood that runs in their veins; just as Allah’s Prophet , who is truthful and was told the truth, told us. Allah’s statement here,
﴿إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ﴾
((Remember) that the two receivers receive,) in reference to the two angels who receive and record the deeds of mankind.
﴿عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ﴾
(one sitting on the right and one on the left.) means ready to note,
﴿مَّا يَلْفِظُ﴾
(whatever he utters), in reference to the human,
﴿مِن قَوْلٍ﴾
(of a word), means any word that he or she speaks,
﴿إِلاَّ لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ﴾
(but there is a watcher by him ready.) means, but there is a scribe whose job is to record it, leaving no word or movement unrecorded. Allah the Exalted said,
﴿وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ لَحَـفِظِينَ – كِرَاماً كَـتِبِينَ – يَعْلَمُونَ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ ﴾
(But verily, over you (are appointed angels) to watch you, Kiraman (honorable) Katibin writing down (your deeds), they know all that you do.) (82:10-12) Therefore, the scribe records every word that is spoken, according to the explanation of Al-Hasan and Qatadah. This is also the apparent meaning of this Ayah. Imam Ahmad recorded that Bilal bin Al-Harith Al-Muzani said, “The Messenger of Allah said,
«إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ مِنْ رِضْوَانِ اللهِ تَعَالَى مَا يَظُنُّ أَنْ تَبْلُغَ مَا بَلَغَتْ يَكْتُبُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ بِهَا رِضْوَانَهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ يَلْقَاهُ، وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ مِنْ سَخَطِ اللهِ تَعَالَى مَا يَظُنُّ أَنْ تَبْلُغَ مَا بَلَغَتْ، يَكْتُبُ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ بِهَا سَخَطَهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ يَلْقَاه»
(Verily, a man might utter a word that pleases Allah the Exalted, unaware of how highly it will be regarded, and on its account Allah the Exalted and Most Honored decrees His pleasure of him until the Day he meets Him. A man might indeed utter a word that angers Allah the Exalted, unaware of how dreadful it will be and on its account Allah the Exalted decrees for him His anger until the Day he meets Him.)” `Alqamah used to say, “How many words did I not utter because of the Hadith that Bilal bin Al-Harith narrated.” At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah collected this Hadith. At-Tirmidhi said, “Hasan Sahih.” There is a Hadith similar to this in the Sahih.
Credit: Tafsir Ibn Kathir
