Al-Wahidi cites Qatadah as saying that the Jews asked the Prophet about Dhul-Qarnayn. Allah then revealed these verses, beginning with 18:83. Al-Wahidi gives this as Qatadah's statement without a chain of transmitters, and al-Fahl adds no verdict.

Al-Wahidi reports from Ibn Abbas that verse 18:109 came down after the Prophet told the Jews they had been given only a little knowledge. They replied that they had the Torah, and whoever has the Torah has been given much good. Ibn Abbas says verse 18:110 came down about Jundub ibn Zuhayr al-Amiri, who did deeds for Allah but was pleased when others saw them. Al-Fahl calls a related chain through al-Kalbi a 'chain of lies.' Tawus says the verse concerned a man who loved jihad but wanted his place in battle seen. Mujahid says it concerned a man who gave charity and kept family ties but enjoyed being praised; the Prophet stayed silent until the verse came.

Verse 19:64 came down as an answer to the Prophet. Al-Wahidi reports from Ibn Abbas, in a narration also found in al-Bukhari, that the Prophet asked Jibril, "What keeps you from visiting us more often?" Mujahid says the angel was late, and he told the Prophet he was slow to come because the people did not clean their teeth, trim their nails or clean their knuckles. Ikrimah, al-Dahhak, Qatadah, Muqatil and al-Kalbi say Jibril stayed away after the Prophet's people asked about the Companions of the Cave, Dhu al-Qarnayn and the spirit. This weighed heavily on the Prophet. When Jibril came, he said he was a servant who comes down only when he is sent.

Verse 19:66 and the verses after it came down about Ubayy ibn Khalaf, according to al-Kalbi. Ubayy picked up some decayed bones and crumbled them in his hand. He said, "Muhammad claims to you that we will be raised after we die." The footnote gives no grade for this report. It only notes that al-Qurtubi cites it in his commentary and credits it to al-Wahidi, al-Tha'labi and al-Qushayri.

Verses 19:77-80 came down about al-As ibn Wail. Al-Wahidi reports from Khabbab ibn al-Aratt, a blacksmith, that al-As owed him a debt. When Khabbab came to collect it, al-As said he would not pay until Khabbab disbelieved in Muhammad. Khabbab said he would not do so until al-As died and was raised again. Al-As mockingly replied that he would pay Khabbab after being raised, when he would have wealth and children. Al-Fahl grades the chain sound, and al-Bukhari and Muslim also record it. Al-Kalbi and Muqatil tell a fuller version in which al-As asked Khabbab to wait until he could pay him in Paradise.

Verse 20:2 came down in reply to the Quraysh's taunts. Muqatil says that Abu Jahl and al-Nadr ibn al-Harith told the Prophet he was miserable for leaving their religion, because they saw how long he worshipped and how hard he strove. Al-Wahidi also reports from al-Dahhak that when the Quran was revealed, the Prophet and his Companions stood and prayed. The unbelievers of Quraysh then said the Quran had been sent down to Muhammad only to make him miserable. Al-Fahl grades al-Dahhak's chain weak, because a link is missing and the narrator Juwaybir is weak.

Al-Wahidi reports from Abu Rafi, the Prophet's freed slave, that verse 20:131 came down when a guest stayed with the Prophet. The Prophet sent Abu Rafi to a Jewish man to buy flour or borrow it until the new moon of Rajab. The man refused unless he got something as a pledge, so the Prophet sent his armour, saying he was trustworthy in heaven and on earth. The verse came down to console him about worldly things. Al-Fahl grades the chain weak. A footnote cites Ibn Atiyyah's objection that the surah is Meccan while this incident took place in Medina.