59al-ḤashrPacked Gathering of Forcesسُورَةُ الحشر

All that is in the heavens and all that is on earth extols Allah’s exceptional glory: for He is the Grand, the Greatly Wise.

He it is who ousted from their dwellings the deniers of Allah [His power and authority] from among the people of scripture at the consolidation of forces in battle formation! Little did you [committed muslims] think that they [Banū al-Naḍīr] would depart — just as they [Banū al-Naḍīr] thought that surely their barricades would prevent Allah from [reaching them]: but Allah moved against them in ways they did not anticipate, and He cast terror into their hearts; [and thus] they destroyed their own homes with their own hands as well as the hands of the committed muslims. Learn [from this] a lesson, O you who have abilities to see [the true dimension of this military standoff and conclusion].

And had it not been for Allah having ordained evacuation for them [Banū al-Naḍīr], He would have inflicted [yet more] suffering upon them in this world. In spite of everything, in the life to come, theirs is the torment of the Fire:

That is because they piercingly diverged from Allah and His Apostle; and as for he who discordantly diverges from Allah — verily, Allah is stern in punishment!

Whatever [of their delicious date producing] palm trees you may have cut down, [O committed muslims], or left standing on their entrenched trunks, was [done] by Allah’s consent, and in order that He might confound those who are degenerate.

[Be mindful]: whatever [war-proceeds] from the enemy Allah has turned over to His Apostle, you did not have to spur horse or mounted-camel for its sake; but Allah gives His apostles the upper hand over whomever He wills — for Allah is ever-powerful over anything.

Whatever [war-proceeds] from the people of those civil societies Allah has turned over to His Apostle — [all of it] belongs to Allah and to the Apostle, and to the near of kin [of committed muslims who passed on], and the orphans, and those of little means, and the homeless, so that it [the assets and wealth] may not become [an exclusive] circulation [of wealth] among you who are [already] wealthy. Hence, accept [without second thoughts] whatever the Apostle gives you [thereof], and refrain from [demanding] anything he withholds from you; and remain on guard [concerning Allah’s immediate power presence]: for, verily, Allah is severe in punishment.

[Thus, a portion of the war-gains shall be allotted] to the poor who became persons in exile: those who were expelled from their homes [and homeland] and dispossessed of their wealth [because they were] seeking a privilege from Allah and [His] approval, and who come to the aid of Allah and His Apostle — it is they, they who are true to Allah [in word and deed].

And [shares of the war-proceeds shall be offered, as well, to the poor from among] those who, before them [the Muhājirūn], are permanent residents [of Madinah] and honor their divine commitment [the Anṣār] — [those] who feel affection for the [Makkan muslims] that fled [Makkan mushrik persecution], and who do not find it within themselves to begrudge those [Muhājirūn] any of what they may have been given [in allotted shares], but rather give to and prefer others over themselves [the Anṣār], even though scarcity may be their own lot. And whoever takes avoiding action against selfish covetousness — it is they, they who shall be efficacious.

And those who track [the exemplary behavior of the Muhājirūn and Anṣār] in times to come pray, “O our Sustainer! Forgive us our sins, as well as those of our brethren who went ahead of us with their divine commitment, and do not allow our hearts to well up with spiteful thoughts and feelings toward [other] committed muslims. O our Sustainer! You are compassionate, enormously merciful.”

Have you not considered those [muslims] with questionable loyalty as they converse with their cohorts, the deniers of Allah [His power and authority] from among folks of [previous scripture], saying to them, “If you are driven away, we shall take off along with you, and shall never defer to anyone who is against you; and if war is waged against you, we shall most definitely support you.” But [concerning that matter] Allah bears witness that they are indeed liars:

[For] if they [Banū al-Naḍīr] were to be driven out, they [the munāfiqs] will not go away with them; and if war were to be waged against them [Banū al-Naḍīr], they [the munāfiqs] will not come to their support; and even if they were to [try to] support them, they will without doubt turn their backs [and run away], and eventually none [of them] will be triumphant.

Of a certainty, you [the committed, combat-ready muslims] stir up a fear in their bosoms that is more intense than [their fear of] Allah: that is because they are people whose practical understanding [of these issues] is superficial.

Never will they [militarily] fight you in unison, otherwise than from within well-fortified enclaves or from behind barriers [and barricades]. Severe is their warlike mode of confrontation among [and against] themselves; you would think they are a solidified aggregate, whereas [in fact] their hearts are dispersed [and diametrically opposed]: that is because they are a people whose reasoning is not disciplined.

[These two types, the “muslim” political hypocrites and the Zionist “Jews”], are analogous to those [mushriks at the Battle of Badr] who recently experienced their nasty affair [of a military routing at the Battle of Badr]; and theirs [all together] shall be a painful infliction:

[This incident is] analogous to Satan when he says to a social being, “Deny [the power and authority of Allah]!” — but as soon [this social being] denies [Allah’s power and authority], Satan says, “Surely, I have nothing to do with you! Indeed, I fear Allah, the Sustainer of the worlds!”

Thus, the closing stage of both [the munāfiqs and Banū al-Naḍīr, and Satan and those he turned into kāfirs] is that both of them are to dwell for eternity in the Fire: for that is the recompense of offenders.

O you who are committed [to Allah]! Be on guard concerning Allah [and His immediate power presence]! And let every living being focus on what it provides for itself [as a matter of salvation] in the time ahead. And [once again] be on guard concerning Allah [and His immediate power presence]: for, indeed, Allah is most acquainted with what you do!

And do not be like those who became oblivious of Allah, whom He thereby caused to become oblivious of themselves: for it is they, they who are [by definition] degenerate.

Not equivalent are the attendees of the Fire and the attendees of Paradise: it is the attendees of Paradise who are the winners.

If We were to make this Qur’an accessible to a mountain, you would indeed see it emotionally moved, fracturing because of Allah’s awe: and these are the types of parables We propound for people, so that they might [begin to] think.

He is Allah besides whom there is no deity/ authority, [the One who] knows all that is unknown [to humans] and all that is comprehended [by the human intellect]: He is the Mercy-Giver, the Very Merciful.

He is Allah besides whom there is no deity/authority — the Supreme Sovereign, the Holy, the [Source of] Peace, the [Fountain of] Security, the Overwhelming, the Grand, the Enforcer, the Majestic! Singularly exalted is Allah far beyond what others erroneously ascribe [as rivals] to His divinity/authority.

He is Allah, the Creator, the Initiator who gives every created thing its image; His are the most beautiful attributes. Everything in the heavens and on earth exalts Him. And He is the Dearly Loved and Grand, the Vastly Wise.