Surah Al-Hashr – Yousef Bin Noah Ahmad

Al-Hashr (Exile) is the 59th surah of the Quran. It is a Medinan surah of 24 verses and the 101st in the traditional order of revelation, after Al-Bayyina. Its name comes from verse 2, which speaks of "the first gathering" for exile of the Jewish tribe of Banu an-Nadir from Medina. It ends with a celebrated passage listing some of the most beautiful names of God.

Context of revelation

Ibn Abbas called it "the surah of Banu an-Nadir", saying it was revealed about them (al-Bukhari and Muslim). After the tribe broke its covenant with the Prophet ﷺ, the Muslims besieged its fortresses, in 4 AH according to most historians, and it agreed to leave, its members demolishing their own houses: "so take heed, you who have insight" (59:2). Ibn Umar reported that verse 5, on the palm trees cut down during the siege, came down on that occasion (al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Themes

• The spoils gained without fighting (fay') and their distribution, "so that wealth does not circulate only among the rich", with the principle "whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you, refrain from it" (59:7).
• Praise of the Emigrants and of the Helpers, who "give them preference over themselves even when in need" (59:9), a verse revealed, according to al-Bukhari and Muslim, about an Ansari couple who gave their own meal to a hungry guest.
• The hypocrites' false promises to Banu an-Nadir, compared to Satan who urges man to disbelieve and then disowns him (59:11–17).
• "Let every soul look to what it has sent ahead for tomorrow" (59:18), and the Quran which, sent down on a mountain, would humble it and split it apart in awe of God (59:21).
• The closing names: the Sovereign, the Holy, Peace, the Guardian, the Mighty, the Creator, the Originator, the Fashioner; "His are the most beautiful names" (59:22–24).

Related surahs

Like Al-Hadid, it opens with the glorification of God. A narration in al-Tirmidhi about reciting its last three verses every morning is graded weak.