Themes and purpose:

This Madinan surah analyzes the military victory over the Jewish tribe of Banū al-Naḍīr. Its core purpose is to prove Allah’s absolute power and authority, establish the division of the spoils among the poor, and contrast the loyalty of the believers with the deceitful treachery of the hypocrites who allied with the Madinan Jews.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Madinan by consensus.

Context: The surah was revealed immediately following the expulsion of the Jewish tribe of Banū al-Naḍīr from their stronghold near Madinah in the 4th year AH.

Chronology: It is counted as the 98th surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat al-Bayyinah and before al-Naṣr.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah has two main names: "Sūrat al-Ḥashr" (The Gathering/Exile) because it details the gathering and exile of the Jewish tribe from their homes [3]; and "Sūrat Banī al-Naḍīr" (The Chapter of the Naḍīr Tribe) because their story is the main subject matter.

Virtue: The Prophet (ﷺ) encouraged reading its final passage [22-24] upon waking and going to bed, saying they offer divine protection.

Ayah Count: 24 ayahs by consensus.

Surah Overview:

• Affirming that everything in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah, the absolute Master, the Dominant, and the Wise. [1]
• Detailing the favor of Allah in securing the expulsion of the Banū al-Naḍīr from their fortified homes. [2-4]
• Establishing the rulings for the spoils acquired without fighting, and detailing their distribution to the Muhājirūn (Emigrants), the Anṣār (Helpers), and the poor. [6-10]
• Exposing Hypocrisy: Unveiling the deceitful plots and false promises made by the hypocrites to the Banū al-Naḍīr, condemning their cowardice and duplicity. [11-17]
• Commanding the believers to fear Allah, reflect on their deeds, and avoid becoming like those who forgot Allah and whose hearts hardened. [18-19]
• The Quran's Majesty: Affirming the greatness of the Quran, stating that if it were revealed upon a mountain, the mountain would be humbled and broken down. [21]
• The Names of Allah: Concluding with a magnificent list of Allah’s attributes, affirming His singularity and majesty. [22-24]