Circumstances of Revelation
Place: Medina. Al-Mizan's view: the oaths, such as By the snorting chargers (), apparently refer to the horses of the cavalry, and jihad was ordained only after the Prophet's migration to Medina. Shia narrations from the Imams support this, and so do some Sunni narrations. → Introduction
The occasion: Imam al-Ṣādiq said the sūrah was revealed when the Prophet sent Imam ʿAlī on the operation of Dhāt al-Salāsil, after several other Companions had been sent there and returned, and ʿAlī defeated the enemy. Another narration says the Prophet recited the new sūrah in the morning prayer and told the Companions that Gabriel had brought him the news of ʿAlī's victory the night before; a few days later ʿAlī returned with booty and prisoners. → Narrations
Another report: Muqātil reports that the Prophet sent a detachment under al-Mundhir b. ʿAmr al-Anṣārī against a branch of the tribe of Kinānah; when it was late in returning the hypocrites said they had all been killed, and God gave news of them by revealing By the snorting chargers. → Narrations
A summary prepared from Tafsīr al-Mīzān: where and when the sūrah was revealed, and the occasions reported for its verses, with the ʿAllāmah's view of them. Each point links to the full discussion.