Sūrah Al-Ḥashr The Exile: Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī The Source Commentary

Surah Overview

DetailInformationClassificationSignificance

SurahالحشرMadanī 24 versesBanū l-Naḍīr exile, fayʾ distribution, closing divine Names

Key DisagreementWhy did Banū l-Naḍīr leave without a battle (59:2)?Historical reasonAl-Ṭabarī: divine terror placed in their hearts they had fortresses but could not use them; traced through chains from Ibn ʿAbbās

Competing OpinionsHow should the closing divine Names (59:22–24) be understood?Theological ṣifāt questionAl-Ṭabarī: these are real divine names with real meanings neither empty labels nor analogical to creation; consistent with his non-tawīl approach

MethodologyHistorical account through eyewitness chains combined with theological analysis of divine NamesHistory + theologyAl-Ṭabarī combines eyewitness historical chains with theological analysis of each divine Name

Key Themes from Al-Ṭabarī

The Banū l-Naḍīr exile (59:1–7) is one of the most historically documented events in al-Ṭabarī's tafsīr. He traces chains from Ibn ʿAbbās, Mujāhid, and ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr on the events: the tribe had a covenant with the Prophet, then conspired to kill him, were discovered, given time to leave, and departed with what their camels could carry (demolishing their own homes to take the timber). Al-Ṭabarī presents the divine "terror" placed in their hearts as the reason they abandoned impregnable fortresses a supernatural event confirmed through chains.

The closing divine Names (59:22–24) are analyzed by al-Ṭabarī through chains from Ibn ʿAbbās on each Name's meaning. His approach: each Name is real and describes a real divine attribute; he explains the meaning without allegorizing or making them analogous to creation. The sequence of Names is not arbitrary al-Ṭabarī notes the theological progression from absolute divine uniqueness to creative power.

هُوَ الَّذِي أَخْرَجَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ مِن دِيَارِهِمْ لِأَوَّلِ الْحَشْرِ Huwa lladhī akhraja lladhīna kafarū min ahli l-kitābi min diyārihim li-awwali l-ḥashr "It is He who expelled the ones who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture from their homes at the first gathering." (59:2) Al-Ṭabarī presents eyewitness chains on the Banū l-Naḍīr departure, noting "first gathering" means the first expulsion to Syria a second gathering will come at the end of time.

هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ Huwa Allāhu lladhī lā ilāha illā hū ʿālimu l-ghaybi wa-l-shahādah "He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed." (59:22) Al-Ṭabarī begins his analysis of the closing Names cluster, using chains from Ibn ʿAbbās to explain each name's specific meaning and the theological significance of their sequence.

Eyewitness chains: The Banū l-Naḍīr account is one of al-Ṭabarī's richest historical sections multiple eyewitness chains from different angles.
Divine terror: The "rubʿ" (terror) placed in their hearts is treated as a real divine action not metaphor consistent with al-Ṭabarī's literalism.
Divine Names analysis: Each name receives individual chain-based explanation a mini-theology of divine names embedded in the tafsīr.
Fayʾ distribution: 59:7's distribution formula is analyzed through chains as the legal basis for fayʾ (property gained without battle) distribution.
First and second ḥashr: Al-Ṭabarī traces chains on "first gathering" meaning the first exile a second gathering is eschatological, preparing for the end of time.

Surah Overview

Key Themes from Al-Ṭabarī

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