Al-Hashr (ٱلْحَشْر)

Surah Al-Hashr (الْحَشْر) is the 59th chapter of the Quran and is named after the event of "the gathering" or "the exile," which is referenced in 59:2: "It is He who expelled the disbelievers among the People of the Scripture from their homes at the first gathering." The Surah is situated in the 28th Juz (Para) and consists of 24 verses (ayah) divided into 3 Ruku (sections). It follows Surah Al-Mumtahina and precedes Surah Al-Mumtahina. Scholars unanimously agree that Surah Al-Hashr is a Madni Surah, revealed during the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) time in Medina, which was after his Hijrah from Makkah.

The historical context of Surah Al Hashr is such that the revelation of the Surah is intricately linked to a specific event in Islamic history, which was the expulsion of Banu Nadir, a Jewish tribe in Madina. The tribe had broken and violated the treaty made with the Muslims and conspired with the enemy, as a result of which the Prophet (ﷺ) and the Muslim community laid siege to the Banu Nadir. The tribe reluctantly and finally agreed to leave Medina without resorting to violence. This event is called the 'Banu Nadir Expedition,' which gives the background of this Surah.

٥٩ - ٱلْحَشْر

59 - Al-Hashr

سَبَّحَ لِلہِ مَا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَمَا فِي الْاَرْضِ۝۰ۚ وَہُوَالْعَزِيْزُ الْحَكِيْمُ۝۱
Sabbaha lillahi ma fee alssamawati wama fee alardi wahuwa alAAazeezu alhakeemu

English

Ahmed Ali

WHATEVER IS IN the heavens and the earth sings the praises of God. He is all-mighty and all-wise.

1

ہُوَالَّذِيْۗ اَخْرَجَ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا مِنْ اَہْلِ الْكِتٰبِ مِنْ دِيَارِہِمْ لِاَوَّلِ الْحَشْرِ۝۰ۭؔ مَا ظَنَنْتُمْ اَنْ يَّخْرُجُوْا وَظَنُّوْۗا اَنَّہُمْ مَّانِعَتُہُمْ حُصُوْنُہُمْ مِّنَ اللہِ فَاَتٰىہُمُ اللہُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَمْ يَحْتَسِبُوْا۝۰ ۤ وَقَذَفَ فِيْ قُلُوْبِہِمُ الرُّعْبَ يُخْرِبُوْنَ بُيُوْتَہُمْ بِاَيْدِيْہِمْ وَاَيْدِي الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ۝۰ۤ فَاعْتَبِرُوْا يٰۗاُولِي الْاَبْصَارِ۝۲
Huwa allathee akhraja allatheena kafaroo min ahli alkitabi min diyarihim liawwali alhashri ma thanantum an yakhrujoo wathannoo annahum maniAAatuhum husoonuhum mina Allahi faatahumu Allahu min haythu lam yahtasiboo waqathafa fee quloobihimu alrruAAba yukhriboona buyootahum biaydeehim waaydee almumineena faiAAtabiroo ya olee alabsari

English

Ahmed Ali

It is He who drove those among the people of the Book who refused to believe, from their homes for the first confrontation. You did not think that they would go away, and they imagined that their forts would protect them against God. But God came upon them from where they did not suspect, and filled their hearts with terror, so that they destroyed their homes with their own hands (or were destroyed) by the hands of believers. So take heed, O men of sight!

2

وَلَوْلَاۗ اَنْ كَتَبَ اللہُ عَلَيْہِمُ الْجَلَاۗءَ لَعَذَّبَہُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا۝۰ۭ وَلَہُمْ فِي الْاٰخِرَۃِ عَذَابُ النَّارِ۝۳
Walawla an kataba Allahu AAalayhimu aljalaa laAAaththabahum fee alddunya walahum fee alakhirati AAathabu alnnari

English

Ahmed Ali

Had God not decreed the expulsion for them He would have punished them in this world, and in the next the punishment of Hell would have been theirs.

3

ذٰلِكَ بِاَنَّہُمْ شَاۗقُّوا اللہَ وَرَسُوْلَہٗ۝۰ۚ وَمَنْ يُّشَاۗقِّ اللہَ فَاِنَّ اللہَ شَدِيْدُ الْعِقَابِ۝۴
Thalika biannahum shaqqoo Allaha warasoolahu waman yushaqqi Allaha fainna Allaha shadeedu alAAiqabi

English

Ahmed Ali

For they had opposed God and His Apostle; and whosoever opposes God, then God is severe in retribution.

4

مَا قَطَعْتُمْ مِّنْ لِّيْنَۃٍ اَوْ تَرَكْتُمُوْہَا قَاۗىِٕمَۃً عَلٰۗي اُصُوْلِہَا فَبِـاِذْنِ اللہِ وَلِيُخْزِيَ الْفٰسِقِيْنَ۝۵
Ma qataAAtum min leenatin aw taraktumooha qaimatan AAala osooliha fabiithni Allahi waliyukhziya alfasiqeena

English

Ahmed Ali

The palm trees that you cut down or left standing intact was by God's dispensation, so that He might disgrace the transgressors.

5

وَمَاۗ اَفَاۗءَ اللہُ عَلٰي رَسُوْلِہٖ مِنْہُمْ فَمَاۗ اَوْجَفْتُمْ عَلَيْہِ مِنْ خَيْلٍ وَّلَا رِكَابٍ وَّلٰكِنَّ اللہَ يُسَلِّطُ رُسُلَہٗ عَلٰي مَنْ يَّشَاۗءُ۝۰ۭ وَاللہُ عَلٰي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ۝۶
Wama afaa Allahu AAala rasoolihi minhum fama awjaftum AAalayhi min khaylin wala rikabin walakinna Allaha yusallitu rusulahu AAala man yashao waAllahu AAala kulli shayin qadeerun

English

Ahmed Ali

You did not charge with horse or camel for whatever (spoils) God gave His Apostle from them. In any case, God gives authority to His Apostle over whomsoever He please. God has power over everything.

6

مَاۗ اَفَاۗءَ اللہُ عَلٰي رَسُوْلِہٖ مِنْ اَہْلِ الْقُرٰى فَلِلّٰہِ وَلِلرَّسُوْلِ وَلِذِي الْقُرْبٰى وَالْيَـتٰمٰى وَالْمَسٰكِيْنِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيْلِ۝۰ۙ كَيْ لَا يَكُوْنَ دُوْلَۃًۢ بَيْنَ الْاَغْنِيَاۗءِ مِنْكُمْ۝۰ۭ وَمَاۗ اٰتٰىكُمُ الرَّسُوْلُ فَخُذُوْہُ۝۰ۤ وَ مَا نَہٰىكُمْ عَنْہُ فَانْتَہُوْا۝۰ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللہَ۝۰ۭ اِنَّ اللہَ شَدِيْدُ الْعِقَابِ۝۷ۘ
Ma afaa Allahu AAala rasoolihi min ahli alqura falillahi walilrrasooli walithee alqurba waalyatama waalmasakeeni waibni alssabeeli kay la yakoona doolatan bayna alaghniyai minkum wama atakumu alrrasoolu fakhuthoohu wama nahakum AAanhu faintahoo waittaqoo Allaha inna Allaha shadeedu alAAiqabi

English

Ahmed Ali

Whatever booty God gives to His Apostle from the people of the cities, is for God and His Apostle, the near relations, the orphans, the needy and wayfarers, so that it does not concentrate in the hands of those who are rich among you. Accept what the Apostle gives you, and refrain from what he forbids, and take heed for yourself and fear God. Surely God is severe of retribution.

7

لِلْفُقَرَاۗءِ الْمُہٰجِرِيْنَ الَّذِيْنَ اُخْرِجُوْا مِنْ دِيَارِہِمْ وَاَمْوَالِہِمْ يَبْتَغُوْنَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ اللہِ وَرِضْوَانًا وَّيَنْصُرُوْنَ اللہَ وَرَسُوْلَہٗ۝۰ۭ اُولٰۗىِٕكَ ہُمُ الصّٰدِقُوْنَ۝۸ۚ
Lilfuqarai almuhajireena allatheena okhrijoo min diyarihim waamwalihim yabtaghoona fadlan mina Allahi waridwanan wayansuroona Allaha warasoolahu olaika humu alssadiqoona

English

Ahmed Ali

The spoils are also for the poor emigrants who were deprived of their homes and possessions and are seeking the bounty and protection of God, and are helping God and His Apostle. They are the ones who are true of word and deed.

8

وَالَّذِيْنَ تَبَوَّؤُ الدَّارَ وَالْاِيْمَانَ مِنْ قَبْلِہِمْ يُحِبُّوْنَ مَنْ ہَاجَرَ اِلَيْہِمْ وَلَا يَجِدُوْنَ فِيْ صُدُوْرِہِمْ حَاجَۃً مِّمَّاۗ اُوْتُوْا وَيُؤْثِرُوْنَ عَلٰۗي اَنْفُسِہِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِہِمْ خَصَاصَۃٌ۝۰ۭۣ وَمَنْ يُّوْقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِہٖ فَاُولٰۗىِٕكَ ہُمُ الْمُفْلِحُوْنَ۝۹ۚ
Waallatheena tabawwaoo alddara waaleemana min qablihim yuhibboona man hajara ilayhim wala yajidoona fee sudoorihim hajatan mimma ootoo wayuthiroona AAala anfusihim walaw kana bihim khasasatun waman yooqa shuhha nafsihi faolaika humu almuflihoona

English

Ahmed Ali

Those who came to the city and to faith before them, love those who take refuge with them, and do not feel for themselves any need for what is given them, and give them preference over themselves even if they are indigent. Whoever preserves himself from his own greed will be prosperous.

9

وَالَّذِيْنَ جَاۗءُوْ مِنْۢ بَعْدِہِمْ يَقُوْلُوْنَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِاِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِيْنَ سَبَقُوْنَا بِالْاِيْمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِيْ قُلُوْبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا رَبَّنَاۗ اِنَّكَ رَءُوْفٌ رَّحِيْمٌ۝۱۰ۧ
Waallatheena jaoo min baAAdihim yaqooloona rabbana ighfir lana waliikhwanina allatheena sabaqoona bialeemani wala tajAAal fee quloobina ghillan lillatheena amanoo rabbana innaka raoofun raheemun

English

Ahmed Ali

(And the spoils are for) those who came after them, who say: "O Lord, forgive us and our brothers who came to faith before us, and do not put a grudge in our hearts against those who believe O Lord, You are compassionate and kind."

10

The Theme and Subject Matters of Surah Al-Hashr (الْحَشْر)

The Surah deals with a number of issues pertinent to the emergent Muslim state in Medina and provides a set of guidelines for believers of all times. Here are the main themes and subject matters explored in Surah:

1. Sovereignty and Power of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)

The main theme is the divine authority of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)  and is illustrated by the retelling of the expulsion of the Banu Nadir tribe how they were smoothly expelled when they collaborated with the enemy of the Muslims despite an agreement of peace and non-participation against Muslims. It shows Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) absolute power and control over events.

2. Divine Decree Regarding Spoils of War

After the expulsion of Banu Nadir, Muslims did not know exactly how and in what proportion to distribute everything. This Surah helped set up a fair and transparent system to distribute the resources within the growing Muslim community and make sure that the spoils benefited those who needed it the most.

3. Importance of Unity and Cohesion

The Surah focuses on the importance of brotherhood and shows how beneficial it is for the Muslim community. It describes how their internal conflicts and lack of trust ultimately led to their downfall and exile and is, therefore, a reminder of the power of unity and the importance of upholding agreements.

4. Power and Majesty of Allah (SWT)

The Surah also serves to remind believers to put their utmost faith and trust in Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)  divine plan and that Allah is in full control of all events.

5. Moral Guidance and Encouragement

The Surah offers words of encouragement and support to the Muslim community facing challenges and proceeds to remind them of Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)  support. While emphasizing the belief that even when difficulties arise, believers are to remain patient and steadfast in their faith.

Virtues and Benefits of Surah Al-Hashr

Recitation and contemplation of the verses of Surah Al-Hashr provide numerous and varied advantages and blessings. The various aspects of the Surah call for obedience to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). The 'Verses of Glorification' 59:22-24 at the end of the Surah are particularly prized and usually read in order to seek blessings and assistance from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). 

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) encouraged remembrance of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and His attributes. In a hadith reported by Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever recites the last three verses of Surah Al-Hashr in the morning or evening and then dies on that day or night, he will be forgiven" (Tirmidhi). Surah Al-Hashr promises comfort and strength to those going through difficult times. It then assures the believers that they are not alone, but Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is always by their side and will guide them which gives the believers strength to fight the struggles and sufferings of life.