Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) says that once I was present in the service of Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and said: O Abu al-Abbas! I was with Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), he recited this verse and began to weep. He asked, "Which verse?" I said: «‏‏‏‏﴿وَإِنْ تُبْدُوا مَا فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ يُحَاسِبْكُمْ بِهِ اللّٰهُ﴾ [البقرة: 284] » "Whether you disclose what is in your hearts or conceal it, Allah will call you to account for it." Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said that when this verse was revealed, a state of intense grief and anxiety overcame the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), and they began to say: O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! If we are taken to account for our words and our deeds, we will be destroyed, for our hearts are not in our control? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You should say: We have heard and we obey." The noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) began to say in obedience to the Prophet's command: We have heard and we obey. Later, this command was abrogated by the next verse: «﴿لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللّٰهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا . . . . .﴾ [البقرة: 286] » "Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity, . . . . ." and the whisperings that come into the heart were pardoned, and accountability was made dependent only on actions.