THE EXPEDITION OF BANU NADIR CONCERNING WHOM ALLAH REVEALED SURAH AL-HASHR
It is recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhari that Ibn ‘Abbas used to call it “Surah Bani An-Nadeer”. Al-Bukhari also related from Az-Zuhri from ‘Urwah that he said: the incident of Banu Nadir occurred three months after Badr and before Uhud.
Ibn Ishaq related that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, went out to Banu Nadir seeking their assistance in paying the blood money for the two men of Banu Amir who were accidentally killed by ‘Amr Ibn Umayyah. This was in accordance with the clauses of the treaty that both parties had already signed. When the Messenger of Allah got to them, they demonstrated willingness to assist. They said: “O yes, O Abul-Qasim, we shall aid you upon what you desire.” Then the Jews went into a private consultation. They made a proposal: “You will never again find the man in such a position (meanwhile, the Messenger was sitting by a wall of their homes). So, who will climb to the top of this house and throw a large rock on him and rid us of him forever?” ‘Amr Ibn Jahhash Ibn Ka‘b volunteered: “I am up to the task.” So he climbed the house intent upon throwing the stone on him. Meanwhile, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was sitting in the midst of a group of Companions including Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Ali.
Then the secret plot was exposed to Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him, through Inspiration from the heavens. He immediately got up and headed back to Madinah. Meanwhile, his Companions had noticed his absence and had gone in search of him. They met a man who was returning from Madinah and asked him if he had seen the Prophet and he said: “I saw him entering Madinah.” So the Companions proceeded till they got to him. He informed them of the evil scheme of the Jews against him.
Ibn Ishaq related: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, advanced and laid siege on them for six nights. In the course of that, the prohibition of intoxicants was revealed. The Jews were holed up in their fortresses. Then Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, ordered that their palm trees be cut down and burned. When they saw this, they called out: “O Muhammad you used to forbid evil and you used to find fault with one who perpetrates it, so why are you cutting down and burning the palm trees?” He said that a group of the Banu ‘Awf Ibn Al-Khazraj among whom was ‘Abdullah Ibn Ubayy, Wadee‘ah and Malik Ibn Qawqal, Suwaid and Da‘is had sent words to Banu Nadir bolstering them: “Remain in your residences and defend yourself. Verily we shall not abandon you. If they fight against you, we shall fight alongside you and if you are expelled, we shall go along with you.” Banu Nadir chose to remain in contravention of the Prophet’s order of their expulsion, relying on the promise of reinforcement to fight their cause. However, Allah cast terror into their hearts and they eventually preferred expulsion, pleading for their blood to be spared. The Prophet stipulated that they can only take with them from their belongings that can be carried on the back of a camel, and they were not to carry any weapons. They agreed to all of these terms and were expelled from Madinah.
Ibn Ishaq also said: They carried with them only their belongings that could be carried on the back of a camel. Some would even remove their door frame and load it on the back of their camel and then proceed. Some of them went to Khaibar and others went to Sham. Among the notables of those who went to Khaibar were Sallam Ibn Abul-Huqaiq, Kinanah Ibn Ar-Rabee‘ Ibn Abil-Huqaiq and Huyayy Ibn Akhtab.
Ibn Ishaq added: Allah revealed Surah Al-Hashr in its entirety concerning them, detailing His wrath which was inflicted upon them and the punishment executed on them by His Messenger and what they themselves wrought by their own hands. Then Ibn Ishaq began to explain the Verses and we have also discussed it extensively in our book of Tafseer. All praise is due to Allah.
Allah says: Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the Earth glorifies Allah. And He is the Almighty, the All-Wise. He it is Who drove out the disbelievers among the people of the Scripture (i.e. the Jews of the tribe of Bani An-Nadeer) from their homes at the first gathering. You did not think that they would get out. And they thought that their fortresses would defend them from Allah! But Allah’s (Torment) reached them from a place whereof they expected it not, and He cast terror into their hearts, so that they destroyed their own dwellings with their own hands and the hands of the believers. Then take admonition, O you with eyes (to see). And had it not been that Allah had decreed exile for them, He would certainly have punished them in this world, and in the Hereafter theirs shall be the torment of the Fire. That is because they opposed Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad). And whosoever opposes Allah, then verily, Allah is Severe in punishment. What you (O Muslims) cut down of the palm-trees (of the enemy), or you left them standing on their stems, it was by Leave of Allah, and in order that He might disgrace the Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah). (Surah Al-Hashr 59:1-5)
Here, Allah glorifies Himself and informed us that all His celestial and terrestrial creatures glorify Him, and that He is Almighty, Whose Greatness and Eminence do not dissipate, and the Wise in all of what He created and in all what He decreed and legislated. Included in this is the decree and direction of the Messenger of Allah and His believing servants in granting them victory over their enemies, the Jews, who opposed Allah and His Messenger and estranged themselves from Allah’s Messenger and His Shari‘ah. Nevertheless, all of these did not impel fighting against them till their siege by the one who has been aided with the casting of terror in the enemies’ hearts from the distance of a month’s journey. Still he besieged them with his forces and his own eminent self for six nights. They were seized by extreme fear till they were humbled and pleaded for a truce to preserve their blood which was granted to them upon the terms that they will take from their wealth only what can be carried on the back of their riding animals and that they will not carry with them any weapon as a way of humiliation and precaution. They destroyed their own dwellings with their own hands and the hands of the believers. Then take admonition, O you with eyes (to see). (Surah Al-Hashr 59:2)
Then Allah mentions that if they had not been exiled (i.e. from the neighborhood of Allah’s Messenger in Madinah), they would have been inflicted with a far more severe punishment in this world, i.e., execution, in addition to a painful punishment which would have been in store for them in the Hereafter.
Then Allah mentions the wisdom contained in burning some of their palm-trees and sparing others all of which was acceptable. What you (O Muslims) cut down of the palm-trees (of the enemy)…” i.e. of good dates. “…or you left them standing on their stems, it was by the Leave of Allah… (Surah Al-Hashr 59:5)
All of that has been permitted by legislation and decree so there is no blame on you concerning that. It is not corruption as claimed by the vilest of slaves; rather it is a demonstration of power and humiliation for the sinful and disbelieving folks.
Al-Bukhari related from Ibn ‘Umar that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had the date-palm trees of Banu Nadir burned and cut down at a place called Al-Buwairah. Allah then revealed: What you (O Muslims) cut down of the palm-trees (of the enemy), or you left them standing on their stems, it was by Leave of Allah, and in order that He might disgrace the Fasiqun (the rebellious, the disobedient to Allah).(Surah Al-Hashr 59:5)
It is also recorded in Al-Bukhari from Ibn ‘Umar that: “The Prophet(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)burned the date-palm trees of Bani An-Nadeer. Hassan Ibn Thabit said the following poetic verses about this event:-
“The terrible burning of Al-Buwairah has been received indifferently
By the nobles of Banu Lu’ayy (the masters and nobles of Quraish).”
Abu Sufyan Ibn Al-Harith (i.e. the Prophet’s cousin who was still a disbeliever then) replied to Hassan, saying in poetic verses:-
“May Allah bless that burning and set all its (i.e. Madinah) parts on burning fire. You will see who is far from it (i.e. Al- Buwairah)
And which of our lands will be harmed by it (i.e. the burning of Al- Buwairah).”
Then, Allah mentions the ruling of Fay’ (booty) which stipulates that the wealth of the Banu Nadir was exclusively the right of the Messenger to dispose off as Allah deems fit, as recorded in the Saheehain from ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, who said: “The properties abandoned by Banu Nadir were the ones which Allah bestowed upon His Messenger for which no expedition was undertaken either with cavalry or camelry. These properties were particularly meant for the Messenger of Allah. He would meet the annual expenditure of his family from the income thereof, and would spend what remained for purchasing horses and weapons as preparation for Jihad.”
Then, Allah elaborates on the ruling of Fay’: it is meant for the Muhajiroon and Ansar and those who follow them in goodness, copying their pattern and threading their path. What Allah gave as booty (Fay’) to His Messenger (Muhammad) from the people of the townships, – it is for Allah, His Messenger (Muhammad), the kindred (of Messenger Muhammad), the orphans, Al-Masakeen (the poor), and the wayfarer, in order that it may not become a fortune used by the rich among you. And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it), and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment. (Surah Al-Hashr 59:7)
Anas Ibn Malik narrated from the Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that a man used to present date palm-trees to the Prophet till Banu Quraizah and Banu Nadir were conquered (then he returned to the people their date-palms). My people ordered me to ask the Prophet to return some or all the date-palms they had given, but the Prophet had given those trees to Umm Ayman. On that, Umm Ayman came and put the garment around my neck and said, “No, by Him Who has the only right to be worshipped, he will not return those trees to you as he (i.e. the Prophet) has given them to me.” The Prophet said (to her), “Return those trees and I will give you so much (instead of them).” But she kept on refusing, saying, “No, by Allah,” till he gave her ten times the number of her date-palms.“
Then Allah (SWT) says in castigation of the hypocrites who pandered toward Banu Nadir secretly, as mentioned previously, giving them the promise of aid even though they did not carry out any of their promises. Rather, they disappointed them when they were in dire need; meanwhile, their minds had deceived them.
Have you (O Muhammad) not observed the hypocrites who say to their friends among the People of the Scriptures who disbelieve: “(By Allah) If you are expelled, we (too) indeed will go out with you, and we shall never obey any one against you, and if you are attacked (in fight), we shall indeed help you.” But Allah is Witness, that they verily, are liars. Surely, if they (the Jews) are expelled, never will they (hypocrites) go out with them, and if they are attacked, they will never help them. And if they do help them, they (hypocrites) will turn their backs, so they will not be victorious. (al-Hashr [59]:11,12)
Then He chastised them for their cowardice, paucity of their knowledge and their dim-wittedness. Then He drew for them a repulsive and repugnant similitude of Shaitan when he said to man: “Disbelieve in Allah.” But when (man) disbelieves in Allah, Shaitan says: “I am free of you, I fear Allah, the Lord of Al‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)!) (Surah Al-Hashr 59:16)
By: Ibn Katheer
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