alHashr

Al-Hashr, meaning The Exile or The Gathering, is the 59th chapter (surah) of the Qur’an. It is generally classified as a Medinan surah and is believed to have been revealed after the events surrounding the Battle of the Trench (627 CE). The name derives from a key theme in the text—the gathering and disposition of certain groups, including the expulsion of a Jewish tribe from Medina.

The central narrative concerns the expulsion of the Banu Nadir, a Jewish tribe, from Medina after they acted treacherously toward the Muslim community. The surah discusses the redistribution of their wealth and property to the Prophet, the believers, and the public treasury, and it uses the episode to illustrate broader principles of loyalty, covenant-keeping, and social responsibility. It also addresses the moral character of the Muslim community, condemns hypocrisy, and warns of divine judgment.

Key themes include divine sovereignty, community ethics, and accountability before God. The text emphasizes caring for the needy, fulfilling covenants, and avoiding arrogance or forgetfulness of God. It contains exhortations to patience, remembrance of God’s favors, and trust in God’s guidance, along with admonitions against treachery and disobedience.

In scholarly exegesis (tafsir), Al-Hashr is studied for its historical context, its portrayal of early Medina’s political and social dynamics, and its guidance on governance, unity, and collective responsibility within the Muslim community. The surah is also cited for its reflections on eschatology and the ultimate gathering of beings for judgment, a theme connected to the broader concept of hashr in Islamic theology.