When They Hear Vain Talk They Turn Away — The Quran's Response to Polytheist Harm
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Level: intermediate
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أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ يُؤۡتَوۡنَ أَجۡرَهُم مَّرَّتَيۡنِ بِمَا صَبَرُواْ
— القصص 54
Verse: "When they hear vain talk they turn away from it." (28:55)
Occasion (Hasan): A delegation from Abyssinia came to the Prophet ﷺ and accepted Islam. When he recited Quran to them they wept. The polytheists insulted and harmed them verbally. So was revealed: "Those will be given their reward twice for what they patiently endured."
Double reward: "Twice" — a general meaning: everyone from the People of the Book who believed before Islam then believed in the Prophet ﷺ has two rewards. Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari said: "Indeed we hope for this verse."
Source: Al-Suyuti, Lubab; Al-Bukhari (4955); Ibn Kathir (6/233)
Question: Who gets "their reward twice" in this verse and why?
Answer: Those from the People of the Book who believed then embraced Islam — combining two faiths and patiently enduring harm on both paths.