Sūrah Al-Ḥashr The Exile
الحشر
24 verses, Madanī. The exile of the Banū al-Naḍīr a Jewish tribe of Madīnah who broke their treaty with the Muslims and plotted against the Prophet ﷺ. The distribution of fayʾ wealth. The hypocrites who promised the Banū al-Naḍīr help and then abandoned them. The magnificent closing verses the divine names of Allah.
Surah Overview
Key Themes from Ibn Kathīr
The exile of Banū al-Naḍīr (59:2–4): The Banū al-Naḍīr had a treaty with the Prophet ﷺ after Hijra. When the Muslims were weakened after Uḥud, they plotted to assassinate the Prophet ﷺ. Jibrīl revealed the plot. The Prophet ﷺ besieged them they expected the hypocrites to help but were abandoned. Allah cast terror in their hearts; they destroyed their own homes with their own hands. Ibn Kathīr: terror (ruʿb) as a divine weapon the enemy defeats themselves before the battle even ends.
The magnificent closing (59:22–24): "He is Allah there is no deity except Him the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed. He is the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful. He is Allah there is no deity except Him the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Grantor of security, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior glory be to Allah above whatever they associate. He is Allah, the Creator, the Originator, the Fashioner to Him belong the best names." Ibn Kathīr: twenty-five divine names in three verses the most concentrated display of divine attributes in the entire Qurʾān.
- Wealth not cycling among the rich alone (59:7): "That it should not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you." Ibn Kathīr: the Islamic economic principle fayʾ wealth must circulate to the poor, the emigrants, and the needy. Wealth that only circulates among the wealthy violates this principle.
- The Anṣār's generosity (59:9): "And those who had settled in the home and adopted faith before them they love those who emigrated to them and find not any want in their chests for what they were given but prefer them over themselves even though they are in privation." Ibn Kathīr: īthār (preferring others over yourself) the defining characteristic of the Anṣār.
- The hypocrites abandoning their allies (59:11–12): "Have you not seen those who practice hypocrisy? They say to their brothers the disbelievers from the People of the Scripture if you are expelled, we will surely leave with you; if you are fought, we will surely aid you." They lied when the Banū al-Naḍīr were besieged, the hypocrites did nothing.
- The example of Shayṭān (59:16–17): Like Shayṭān who said to the human: Disbelieve then when he disbelieved said: I am free of you. Both end up in the Fire. Ibn Kathīr: the analogy of the hypocrites to Shayṭān both promise support and abandon at the moment of trial.
- Fear Allah in the night and day (59:18): "O you who believe fear Allah and let every soul consider what it has put forth for tomorrow." Ibn Kathīr: muḥāsabah daily self-accounting before the hereafter. The believer who reviews his deeds each night is practising the most productive self-improvement.