(… and whoso forsaketh his home, a fugitive unto Allah and His messenger…) [4:100]. Said Ibn 'Abbas, according to the report of 'Ata': “'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf was used to inform the [Muslims from among the] people of Mecca about anything that was revealed about them in the Qur'an. And so he wrote the verse, (Lo! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they wrong themselves…) [4:97]. When the Muslims read it, Habib ibn Damrah al-Laythi, who was an old man, said to his sons: 'I am not one of the oppressed so take me, for I would not be able to find the way on my own'. His sons transported him on an elevated seat and headed toward Medina. When he got to al-Tan'im, death descended on him. He clapped his right hand on his left and said: 'O Allah, this is for you and this is for your Messenger. I pledge allegiance to you regarding that which I pledge allegiance to your Messenger, Allah bless him and give him peace', and he died an easy death. When his news reached the Companions of the Messenger, Allah bless him and give him peace, they said: 'His reward would have been more complete had he reached Medina', and so Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse”. Abu Hassan al-Muzani informed us> Harun ibn Muhammad ibn Harun> Ishaq ibn Muhammad al-Khuza'i> Abu'l-Walid al-Azraqi> his grandfather> Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah> 'Amr ibn Dinar> 'Ikrimah who said: “There were some people in Mecca who were convinced in Islam but could not migrate. When the Battle of Badr happened, they were forced to take part in it and were killed fighting with the idolaters, and so Allah, exalted is He, revealed (Lo! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they wrong themselves) up to His words (As for such, it may be that Allah will pardon them…) [4:99]. Those in Medina wrote to those Muslims in Mecca, informing them of this. A man from Banu Bakr, who was sick, said: 'Take me to al-Rawha' ', and they took him there. He left with the intention of going to Medina. But when he reached al-Hashas he died, and so Allah, exalted is He, revealed (… and whoso forsaketh his home, a fugitive unto Allah and His messenger…)”.
Asbab Al-Nuzul by Al-Wahidi , trans. Mokrane Guezzou
