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Chapter 59

The Banishmental-Ḥashr ( الحشر )

24 verses • revealed at Medinan

»The surah that mentions The Banishment, God’s expulsion, of the clan of Banū al-Naḍīr from their prodigious fortress-settlement near Medina, in the mustering it calls the first of its kind: for they had betrayed their covenant of mutual defence by aiding idolaters against monotheistic believers. It takes its name from the “banishment” or “gathering of forces” (ḥashr) of the Jewish tribe from Medina, which is mentioned in verse 2. The Banū al-Naḍīr, who originally agreed with the Prophet that they would fight neither for nor against him, yet, after the Meccan defeat of the Muslims in the Battle of Uḥud (year 3/625), made an alliance with the Meccans. They also tried to kill the Prophet while he was in their area. He asked them to leave and they agreed, but Ibn Ubayy, the head of the “hypocrites” of Medina, promised them that, if they fought the Muslims, he and his camp would fight with them (verse 11 ff.), and, if they had to leave Medina, he and his camp would leave with them. Because the Banū al-Naḍīr had repeatedly broken their agreements, the Muslims besieged them in Medina (in year 4/626), Ibn Ubayy did not keep his promise, and the Banū al-Naḍīr agreed to leave, some going to Syria and some to Khaybar. In this surah, God stresses that any gains were His doing and so should be distributed in accordance with His instructions (verse 6 ff.). The end of the surah, consequently, emphasizes obedience and awe towards God (verse 21 ff.).«

The surah is also known as Confrontation, Exile, The Fathering, The Gathering, The Gathering (of Forces), The Mustering

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ

Yusuf Ali: In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

1
سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ ما فِي السَّماواتِ وَما فِي الأَرضِ ۖ وَهُوَ العَزيزُ الحَكيمُ

Yusuf Ali

Whatever is in the heavens and on earth, let it declare the Praises and Glory1 of God. for He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
  • This verse, introducing the Sūra is identical with 57:1, introducing S. 57. The theme of both is the wonderful working of God’s Plan and Providence. In the one case it referred to the conquest of Mecca and taught the lesson of humility. In this case it refers to the dislodgement of the treacherous Banū al Nadir from their nest if intrigue in the neighbourhood of Medīna, practically without a blow. See next note.