Surah Al-Hashr (Chapter 59 of the Quran) is a Madani surah consisting of 24 verses. Its name means “The Exile” or “The Gathering,” derived from verse 2, which describes the assembly and expulsion of the Jewish tribe of Banu Nadir from Madinah.
Historical Context and Significance
- The Banu Nadir Incident: Following the Battle of Uhud, the tribe of Banu Nadir violated their peace covenant with Prophet Muhammad ﷺ by conspiring with enemies and attempting to assassinate him.
- The Expulsion: The Muslims laid siege to their fortresses. By Allah’s permission and awe cast into their hearts, the Banu Nadir surrendered and were forced into exile from Madinah, demolishing many of their own homes as they left.
- Regulation of Spoils (Fay’): The surah addresses the distribution of wealth (fay’) obtained without formal combat. It dictates that wealth must not circulate solely among the rich, establishing an economic system to support poor emigrants (Muhajirin), the needy, orphans, and travelers.
Core Themes and Explanation
- 1. Universal Glorification (Tasbih) of Allah: The surah begins and ends by declaring that everything in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah. This sets a cosmic perspective, showing that human conflicts and political betrayals unfold under the absolute sovereignty of Al-Aziz (The Exalted in Might) and Al-Hakim (The Wise).
- 2. Distinction of Character:
- The Muhajirin (Emigrants): Praised for leaving their homes and wealth in Makkah purely to seek Allah’s pleasure and support His religion.
- The Ansar (Helpers of Madinah): Praised for their unmatched selflessness (Ithar)—welcoming the Muhajirin, sharing their possessions, and feeling no envy even when they themselves faced severe poverty.
- The Hypocrites (Munafiqun): Exposed for making false promises of military aid to the Banu Nadir, illustrating the danger of internal deceit and reliance on hollow alliances.
- 3. The Impact of the Quran on the Heart: Verse 21 presents a profound metaphorical lesson about the weight of divine revelation, serving as a wake-up call to human hearts that can sometimes grow harder than stone, urging humility and deep reflection (tadabbur).
- 4. The Conclusion (The Most Beautiful Names): Verses 22–24 list a sequence of Allah’s supreme attributes, including Al-Khaliq (The Creator), Al-Bari (The Evolver), and Al-Musawwir (The Fashioner). These concluding verses are widely emphasized in Hadith tradition for their spiritual weight, offering peace and fortification of faith (Iman) to those who recite and ponder them.
Summary
Surah Al-Hashr uses the historical expulsion of the Banu Nadir tribe to teach timeless lessons on justice, economic equity, and sincerity. By contrasting the selflessness of true believers with the deceit of hypocrites, the chapter reminds humanity that earthly power is temporary, true strength lies in humility before God, and divine wisdom governs all creation.
Famous Quote from the Text
“If We had sent down this Qur’an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah.” — Surah Al-Hashr (59:21)বাংলা উচ্চারণ:
লাও আনযালনা হা-যাল কুরআনা আ-লা জাবালিল লা রা-আইতাহু খা-শিআঁ মুতাসাদ্দিআঁ মিন খাশইয়াতিল্লাহ, ওয়া তিলকাল আমসালু নজরিবুহা লিন্নাসি লা-আল্লা হুম ইয়াতাফাক্কারূন। [1]
সংক্ষিপ্ত অর্থ:
“যদি আমি এই কোরআন পাহাড়ের ওপর অবতীর্ণ করতাম, তবে তুমি দেখতে যে, পাহাড় বিনীত হয়ে আল্লাহ তাআলার ভয়ে বিদীর্ণ হয়ে গেছে। আমি এসব দৃষ্টান্ত মানুষের জন্য বর্ণনা করি, যাতে তারা চিন্তা-ভাবনা করে।””
