It is narrated from Sayyiduna Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) that on the day of Uhud, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) appointed Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Jubair (may Allah be pleased with him) as the commander over fifty archers and said to them: If you see that the enemy has killed us and birds are pecking at our flesh, even then do not leave this position. But when they saw the spoils of war, they said: You too should collect the spoils. Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said to them: Did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) not say that you people must remain at this pass? (But they did not listen.) At that time, this verse was revealed: {وَعَصَیْتُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا أَ رَاکُمْ مَا تُحِبُّونَ} … And as soon as Allah showed you that thing in which you were engrossed with love (i.e., the spoils of war and the defeat of the enemy), you violated the command of your leader. The narrator says: After seeing the spoils and the defeat of the enemy, you disobeyed your Messenger.

Narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: When your brothers were martyred at Uhud, Allah placed their souls in green birds; they go to the rivers of Paradise, eat from the fruits of Paradise, and take shelter in golden lamps under the Throne of Allah. When they saw the excellence of their food and drink and the beauty of their abode, they said: If only our brothers in the world knew how kindly Allah has treated us, so that they would not lose interest in jihad and would not turn away from battle. Allah said: I will convey this message from you to your brothers. So Allah revealed these verses: {وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِیْنَ قُتِلُوْا فِیْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰہِ اَمْوَاتًا بَلْ اَحْیَاء ٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّھِمْ یُرْزَقُوْنَ۔} … And never think of those who are killed in the way of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive, receiving provision from their Lord.

Humaid bin Abdur Rahman narrates that Marwan said to his doorkeeper Rafi: O Rafi! Go to Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and say to him: If each of us is pleased with what he has been given and likes to be praised for deeds he has not done, then surely we will all be punished. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: What is the matter with you? What connection do you have with this verse? This was revealed about the People of the Book. Then he recited this verse: {وَاِذْ اَخَذَ اللّٰہُ مِیْثَاقَ الَّذِیْنَ اُوْتُوا الْکِتٰبَ لَتُبَیِّنُنَّہ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَاتَکْتُمُوْنَہ ْ فَنَبَذُوْہُ وَرَاء َ ظُہُوْرِھِمْ وَاشْتَرَوْا بِہٖثَمَنًاقَلِیْلًا فَبِئْسَ مَا یَشْتَرُوْنَ۔} … And when Allah took a firm covenant from those who were given the Book:“You must make it clear to the people and not conceal it,”but they threw it behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price. So wretched is that which they purchase. And along with this, he also recited this verse: {لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِینَیَفْرَحُوْنَ بِمَا أَ تَوْا وَیُحِبُّونَ أَ نْ یُحْمَدُوْا بِمَا لَمْیَفْعَلُوا} … Do not think those who rejoice for what they have done and love to be praised for what they did not do. Then Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked the People of the Book a question, they concealed it and gave a false answer, and wished that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would praise them on the basis that they had told him what he asked, and these Jews were very pleased at having concealed the truth and having given an answer to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).