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Seerah (52): Expulsion of Banu Nadeer This is a controversial topic and a direct precursor to the battle of Ahzab because

the Banu Nadeer were the main guilty culprits for this battle. They are the ones that instigated, planned and prodded people to the battle. There is a difference of opinion on when the incident took place. After the massacres of Raji' and Mau'na which occured in Saffar 4 A.H., one of the sahaba that were spared from the massacre was Amr ibn Ummayah. On the way back he had met two people from the very tribe of Banu Aamir that had committed the massacre. This had caused somewhat of an internal conflict within Banu Aamir. There was the main elder who had promised the Prophet (s) amnesty and protection to the Muslims but his nephew (also a chief tain) was struggling for power with his uncle and had ignored his protection of the Muslims, choosing instead to brutall massacre the Muslims. Thus the Banu Aamir were divided, some were supporting the main elder and some supported the younger nephew, the one who committed the massacre. Amr ibn Ummayah did not know the entire story and had assumed the entire tribe had committed treason. In self-defence (had they found out he was Muslim he thought they would kill him) and vengeance he took two innocent lives in killing them. The Prophet (s) promised to pay the blood money of 100 camels each and this was a fortune. According to the constitution of Madinah, every time an affair afflicts the city everyone must join together and help out and this makes it easier to raise 200 camels. On a footnote, Islamic law stipulates that in cases of accidental man slaughter the blood money will be paid by the entire tribe not just by the one person (in murder cases it is upon the one person). This is one of those issues where modern ijtihaad needs to be done as 100 camels is a lot to afford for one person. So the tribes would have a fund that every member would give to and this would be the treasury of the tribe. In our times an example of accidental manslaughter would be killing someone with a car. As for paying blood money for accidental manslaughter, the tribe will help out and the ratio of who will pay what will be decided based on the wealth of the individual and without a doubt the individual will take most of the cost. So there were 200 camels worth of wealth that needed to be collected. One of the largest and wealthiest tribes was Banu Nadeer, hence we get to how the Prophet (s) ended up with them. The Banu Nadeer have had previous troubles with the Muslims and this was not the first incident of discord between them and the Prophet (s). In the Musanaf of Abdul Razzaq we learn that the Banu Nadeer had conspired to murder in cold blood some of the Muslims of the Suffa or the "ulema" of the Muslims. Allah willed this, and it so happened that one of them shared a plot with a Muslim accidentally and no harm was done. But the plan was definitely there to kill the Suffa Muslims. We also learn from Musa ibn Ukbah that the Banu Nadeer helped the Quraysh with the Battle of Uhud with logistics and a lay out of the geographical area. This makes sense because the Quraysh knew where to camp and where to fight. They thus guided the Quraysh/ The entire incident of Ka'ab ibn Ashraf was what further added tension to the relations. He was half Arab - his father being pure Arab - and half Jew - his mother being from Banu Nadeer. He had the best of both worlds to say and he was very handsome, one of the richest businessmen and had his own private fortress (interestingly, studying the architecture of the Jews would tell us about where they came from because we are still not sure about this and building fortresses was not an Arab phenomenon). The situation of Ka'ab was linked to Banu Nadeer because they considered him an elite and one of the most respected of them. So by eliminating him this automatically adds tension and anger with the Banu Nadeer. Thus there was also tension amongst the Muslims about even walking to Banu Nadeer and ask for the blood money. But one day the Prophet (s) with Ummar, Abu Bakr and some of the core sahaba did walk to Banu Nadeer. Banu Nadeer lived south of Madinah so they made a day trip down to their plantations. The Banu Nadeer had massive lands of date-groves and palm-trees and in the middle of these groves they would build these fortresses. This was a common Jewish tribe phenomenon of the time. When they saw the Prophet (s) and sahaba the leaders amongst them welcome them and showed much happiness, one even saying, "it is about time you came to us for help." in a gesture of good will. So they had the Muslims wait outside the fortress with the fortress above them. According to one report the Banu Nadeer had welcomed the Muslims'

presence and asked them to wait while a large feast was prepared for them. In those days it would have to be prepared on the spot and because the Prophet (s) came unexpected it was understood that some time would be needed to prepare the meal. Inside the fortress the elite began to dispute amongst themselves, one saying that this was their primary chance, that they could throw a rock from the top and eliminate the leadership of the Muslims. And another rejected this but eventually the plan was enacted that they could go to the top of the fortress and drop a rock directly on to the Prophet (s). And being a fortress this was all prepared. So immediately the Prophet (s) stood up and walked away without the sahaba knowing, and later on the Prophet (s) told him that Jiibreel had come and informed them, telling him to stand up right now and just walk away immediately. So this is literally what the Prophet (s) did. The sahaba waited and the Jews waited for him to return as well. So the sahaba returned to Madinah and the Prophet (s) informed them that Allah had told him of Banu Nadeer's plan to kill him. And Allah revealed in Surah Ma'idah about 4 years later (and we know that this is one of the last Surahs revealed). And in ayah he referenced this incident here in verse 11: izhama qowma , kafa aydiyakum Allah said, oh you who believe, remember the blessings of Allah upon you (the ayah was revealed 4 years after the incident so Allah asks the Muslims to remember) when a group from among you desired to kill you. Allah stopped their hands from reaching you. Surah Ma'idah is about the treachery of the group in general and what they had done. And according to Ibn Abbas, this ayah specifically is about Banu Nadeer. And the Prophet (s) told the Muslims the entire story in Madinah. A messenger was than sent via Mohammed ibn Muslama to Banu Nadeer exposing their plot to their faces exactly as it happened. And because of this the Prophet (s) gave him the only option and this was to leave in 10 days. And he warned that if the Banu Nadeer remain than this is the death penalty. Initially when they heard this they were surprised. They tried to argue with Mohammed ibn Masalama who was a friend of their's at Jahiliyyah, but he answered that Islam has come and changed everything and his loyalty is now to Allah and His Messenger. So they were caught red handed and so they agreed to leave. When news of this spread to Madinah Abdullah ibn Ubayy, the head of the hypocrites, could not believe that his friends the Banu Nadeer would be expelled. He was further irritated at the Muslims because Ka'ab ibn Ashraf was a personal friend of his. So Abdullah sent the Banu Nadeer a frank and harsh message that no matter what happens they would not leave madinah. He guaranteed the protection of Banu Nadeer and not listen to anyone, meaning the Prophet (s), who would try to expel them and if need be he would join the fight against the Prophet (s). He also said that he had called his allies from the tribe of Ghatafaan, the tribe up north, and they would come 2,000 strong and defend the Banu Nadeer along with Abdullah. He further said that in worst case scenario should they be expelled he would leave with them. And he was the senior most leader from their generation. And with his oaths by Allah that he would defend them and fight for them with his allies and even leave with them should that be the case if they are to be expelled. At this the Banu Nadeer were persuaded and decided to stay.This noble chief tain of Jahiliyyah even guaranteed a self-imposed exhile! And Allah exposed him in the Qur'an; that Allah testified that Abdullah was a liar even if he made the oaths that he did. Further that he had no intention truly of fighting for the Banu Nadeer and if exhiled he had no intention of leaving with them either. So Abdullah assured the Banu Nadeer of fighting til the end and as Allah says in the Qur'an, he said "we will not obey anyone against you" and Allah testifies in the Qur'an that he is a liar. So the Banu Nadeer at this letter began to dispute on how to act. Their main chief tain was Huyay ibn Akhtab and his daughter was Safiyyah ibn Huyay ibn Akhtab and she would become one of the final mothers of the believers after the battle of Khayber. Huyay was one of the main chief tains of Banu Nadeer and a narration from Safiyyah about him is that him and his brother exposes their reality. She says that when the Prophet (s) first came to Madinah, "I was a young girl at 5-6 years old and the beloeved of my fatehr and uncle. My father and uncle were somewhat excited that he was the one (and we know this from their books that they were expecting someone to come and revive their religion. This is mentioned in the Qur'an and they would threaten the Arabs that when he would come they would overcome them using this person) and when they returned from Madinah's outskirts (after seeing him) I ran out jumping

for joy to meet them. They didn't pay any attention to me at all and completely ignored me so I listened to them. So my uncle Yasir asked Huyay if he was the one, and Huyay responded in the affirmative, 'by Allah he is the one' and so Yasir asked the position of Huyay, and Huyay reponded, 'to be his enemy for as long as I live."" And this is one of the reasons that Safiyyah herself was willing to embrace Islam because she knew her people were misguided. So Huyay ibn Akhtab decided to take a stand for the Banu Nadeer, believing the promises of Abdullah ibn Ubayy. There was definitely tension though between the Jews, as Allah says in the Qur'an to the Muslims who thought they were one group but truly their heart had not reconciled. So Huyay wanted to fight and many of the other Jews did not want to fight. So they had a miniverbal altercation and finally Huyay won over. So they sent a messenger back to Madinah (after initially agreeing to leave with Mohammed ibn Maslama). The messenger went to the Prophet (s) and said, "oh Mohammed, we have decided to stay so do whatever you want!" - this was a blatant threat at the height of arrogance. But as soon as the Prophet (s) heard this he exclaimed, "Allahu Akbar!" and meaning a sigh of relief of victory and the sahaba at hearing this also yelled, "Allahu Akbar!" And we will see that this was a huge positive for the Musims. Thus the Muslims armed and the same day a large group of 700 Muslims reached the fortresses of Banu Nadeer. Even the Jews were shocked at how fast the Muslims had mobilized! So now the Jews were waiting for Abdullah ibn Ubayy's promise but absolutely nothing came from him, he did not even lift a finger after all these promises! He himself did not fight nor did he exhile himself. And so as the days demonstrated that Abdullah would not do anything, some say the seige last about 10 days but there was no fighting. The Jews would not fight the people of Madinah and were waiting for the help of Abdullah. To demonstrate the confidence of the Prophet (s) and the Muslims, the Prophet (s) let the Banu Nadeer in seige and along with 2/3rd of the sahaba went to Banu Quraydha at the same time(there were three tribes of Jews at Madinah; the Banu Qaynuqah who had already been expelled, the Banu Nadeer who were currently being laid seige to and the Banu Quraydha). This was done to rejuvenate the constitution of Madinah and to make them give the oath that they were still with the Muslims and their treaty was still active. This was also done because at the time there was a threat to the Muslims that the Banu Quraydha would join the Banu Nadeer against the Muslims. This really shows how helpless Banu Nadeer were in that only a fraction of the army was left yet they realized that they were helpless and completely cut off. Often people mistake the incident of Banu Quraydha as the men were eventually executed, and they think that this incident was isolated. But they do not realize that there is an entire history happening here and the tensions are increasing. Once again the Prophet (s) goes to them to ensure that they do not betray. The Banu Quraydha for the third time make a solemn oath to renew the promise thus. And when the battle of Khandaq happened and they betrayed the Muslims in the worst way imaginable, this context must be considered. The Banu Nadeer or Qaynuqah really did not betray as much as Quraydha did. In the battle 10,000 had surrounded the city of Madinah, and in this hardship the Quraydha themselves flipped around from within Madinah and threatened to attack the vulneraable children and women of the Muslims. This was a very tense time for the Muslims as they could not defend the front line and their women and children against Quraydha at the same time! And as Allah says in the Qur'an about this tense situation, "your hearts were in your chests and you began thinking thoughts of Allah. And your emaan was tested with a severe test." Thus what happened with Banu Quraydha later was not beacuse of their relgion or ethnicity but rather because of their actions. And they broke solemn oaths multiple times! And this was the last that they swore to uphold the constitution of Madinah and not betray the Muslims. So the Prophet (s) left them with this oath of allegiance to the treaty of Madinah and went to Banu Nadeer. Another incident that happened next completely demoralized the Banu Nadeer. The Banu Nadeer took great pride in their hecters of lands full of date palms. It was not nice to grow and maintain these date palms. We can imagine that they had the plantations organized with specific water and maintenance systems. Most importantly the trees were not ripe and for date palms it takes on average between 5-8 years to get to this size that is needed. Thus for the first 8-9 years effort is required and when the tree is established it lasts 1-2 decades. The Prophet (s) burnt down groups of date palms as the Banu Nadeer looked on from their fortresses. This was too much of a demoralizing factor for them; this was their effort, money and their prize. They began lamenting, wailing and crying, some even questioning what type of peace the Prophet (s) and the Muslims

were promoting. And this actually caused many of them to question to surrender or not. And Allah revealed in the Qur'an about this as well. And when found no help and about 10 days passed they agreed to unconditionally surrender. And as for their fate after they (and these are the elite chief tains who colluded together to come up with this plan, not a random person of the tribe) attempted to assasinate the Prophet (s), the leader of the Muslims, broke their Madinan treat and than threatened war with the Muslims what did the Prophet (s) do with them? Frankly, the Prophet (s) was very generous with them; he forgave them their lives, properties, women and children and as much as their animals can carry, asking them to leave in exile. They were allowed to take whatever they could but no weapons were allowed. Banu Nadeer if anything demonstrates the generosity of Prophet (s) in that he did not impose any major taxation on them. And really no one can criticize the Muslims for their treatment of Banu Nadeer after all that they did. And the Banu Nadeer packed their belongings as much as they could and realizing that the Muslims would take over their houses they took axes to their own houses and tore them down. And we know that their architecture was more advanced than the Arabs, constructing in beautiful and functional ways unlike the Arabs. And Khayber, which we will discuss later, had the largest fortresses of the Jews. Banu Nadeer thus destroyed their own fortresses and palaces and every person destroyed his own house. This was a punishment that Allah meeted to them, imagine how painful it is for one to break his own house that he built with his own hands and that has been in their family for generations. And as Allah says that they tasted the penalty for what they did and what will happen with them in the Hereafter is even worse. And when they went into exile the Muslims gathered to see them leave and as the narrations say that the sahaba were amazed at the amount of wealth that they had gathered in their fortresses; from gold to brocades to fabrics, every camel was piled to the very top while the entire family walked as they wanted to take as much as they could. It is said that many of them even took their doors atop their camels as in those days the door was the most prized craftmanship and architecture. And it is said that 2-3 of them accepted Islam and they were allowed to stay with their posessions. And what an amazingly fair religion that if you convert you get to stay. The sahaba debated about what to do with the remaining booty but Allah revealed ayaat in the Qur'an that this is not ghanema rather this is Fayy which is materials and wealth which was taken without effort or battle. Before continuing the discussion on Fayy it must be mentioned that the rulings of this do not apply to our times at all as there is no real Jihab today and these rules were meant for volunteers and do not apply for a paid army. In those days men would volunteer, using their own horses and weapons without knowing what would happen or not. These rules are thus nice to know from our books but realistically these rules are not applicable for multiple reasons in our times. Fayy is thus captured without any physical blood being shed or threat of fight and this is what happened in that the Muslims clearly outnumbered Banu Nadeer. As to what happens with fayy, a portion is given to the state and some specifically to the Prophet (s) and there is a difference about this being given to the family of the Prophet (s). The shi'a give 1/5th to the family of the Prophet (s) and from our perspective we agree with this but there must be a clear lineage tracing to the Prophet (s) to qualify. As for the rest, the Khalifa can do as he pleases. So the Prophet (s) distributed all these acres of lands distributed it amongst the Muhajiroon who had no land. This was a beautiful move that would help the Muhajiroon and also help the overall economy of the Muslims as up to this point the Ansar were supporting the Muhajiroon. Ibn Ishaac also mentions that three Ansar who did not have any land were also given land. And Allah revealed Surah Hashr because of Banu Nadeer. And Ibn Abbas refused to call this Surah this because Hashr means the gathering. When Allah uses Hashr it usually refers to the gathering of the day of Judgement whereas in this Surah it does not refer to Qiyamah. This is why Ibn Abbas felt strongly that it should rather be called Surahtu Bani Nadeer.

59:1 ALL THAT IS in the heavens and all that is on earth extols Gods limitless glory: for He alone is almighty, truly wise. It is one of those Surahs that begins with praising Allah


59:2 He it is who turned out of their homes, at the time of [their] first gathering [for war], such of the followers of earlier revelation as were bent on denying the truth. [1] You did not think [O believers] that they would depart [without resistance] - just as they thought that their strongholds would protect them against God: but God came upon them in a manner which they had not expected, [2] and cast terror into their hearts; [and thus] they destroyed their homes by their own hands as well as the hands of the believers. [3] Learn a lesson, then, O you who are endowed with insight! He is the one who has expelled the disbelievers from the people of the book from their houses and fortresses for the very first Hashr (gathering). A number of interpretations are implicated with Hashr - That if there is the first there will be other Hashrs and there were so. There was the Hashr of Khayber a few years later (and this is where the Banu Nadeer went to), there was another Hashr of Banu Quraydha - The ultimate Hashr is also implied here and this is the day of Judgement. Allah threatens them in a beautiful way that their time will ultimately come. Than Allah says, "you didn't think they will be expelled" and some say this is addressed to the sahaba but the stronger opinion is that Allah is speaking directly to the Banu Nadeer that they never assumed this could happen to them. And than Allah moves the narrative of the ayah to the third person as He does often in the Qur'an, "and they assumed that their fortress would protect them from Allah, but Allah came to them from a place they could never expect" in that that they didn't think the Muslims would gather so quickly and seige them and that every one of their allies would be cut off, " ..and Allah threw terror into their hearts" i.e. they were scared about what would happen. "...and they destroyed their own houses with their own hands and the hands of the believers so take heed oh people of vision and wisdom." Allah is admonishing those who can think that these people built their houses thinking it would last them forever! What a shameful punishment.


59:3 And had it not been for Gods having ordained banishment for them, He would indeed have imposed [yet greater] suffering on them in this world: still, in the life to come there awaits them suffering through fire: And Allah says, "..had it not been that Allah had already decreed that they be exiled this would have been a worst punishment now" that actually they were getting away easily, with the lesser punishment, and that the Prophet (s) was being very generous with them. And Allah says that this was allowed for them by His permission


59:4 this, because they cut themselves off from God and His Apostle: [4] and as for him who cuts himself off from God and His Apostle - verily, God is severe in retribution! And Allah says that they have the punishment waiting for them in the Hereafter and they opposed Allah and His messenger and whoever does this will find that Allah is severe in penalty

59:5 Whatever [of their] palm trees you may have cut down, [O believers,] or left standing on their roots, was [done] by Gods leave, [5] and in order that He might confound the iniquitous. This was a reference to cutting off the trees as the sahaba even disputed if they should cut the trees or not. Allah reveals that He did this by His own permission to disgrace the transgressors. And this shows that for the Islamic army this type of destruction is allowed. But at the time this was problematic because the Muslims felt that they were destroying what they would benefit from later on as they knew they would be victorius anyway. But Allah revealed that this was His will.


59:6 Yet [remember:] whatever [spoils taken] from the enemy [6] God has turned over to His Apostle, you did not have to spur horse or riding-camel for its sake: [7] but God gives His apostles mastery over whomever He wills - for God has the power to will anything. Allah reveals the ayat on the issue of Fayy now. Allah reveals that He has turned this type of war booty to His Messenger and, "You did not spur your horses or camels" means that they did not fight for it, and "Allah gives His Messengers power over whomever He wills and He is capable over all things." So Allah mentions here that they did not fight for all of this land, rather it was simply His gift that He gifted.


59:7 Whatever [spoils taken] from the people of those villages God has turned over to His Apostle - [all of it] belongs to God and the Apostle, [8] and the near of kin [of deceased believers], and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer, [9] so that it may not be [a benefit] going round and round among such of you as may [already] be rich. Hence, accept [willingly] whatever the Apostle* gives you [thereof], and refrain from [demanding] anything that he withholds from you; and remain conscious of God: for, verily, God is severe in retribution. [10] And Allah says, "therefore whatever Allah restored to His Messenger from the Banu Nadeer belongs to Allah, His Messenger and the near of kin (most say this belongs to the family of the Prophet (s) and the sunnis say this as well), the orphans, the poor, the wayfarer". And this verse has much to do with capitalism and the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer but Allah is saying all this wealth should be given to those less fortunate, "in order that this money not go around amongst the elite of you." This is one of the most powerful verses of Islamic economics and destroys many versions of modern capitalism - the 1% elite that owns 40% of USA and likely it will increase compared to what all the rest of the 99% own - and Allah says in the Qu'ran that the primary wisdom of money is that it should not just go around amongst the elite and rich amongst you but should filter down to the needy. This is directly relevant to Banu Nadeer but we take our rulings from this ayah. And one of the goals of the Shari'ah is that wealthy should not make the wealthy more wealthy. It should trickle down to society so that public policies should be enacted to protect the less poverished. "Hence accept whatever the Prophet (s) gives you and whatever he stops from you do not be greedy for this" and this is one of the most explicit verses commanding the obedience to the Prophet (s) and while this was revealed for the Fayy of Banu Nadeer we can extrapolate our orders from this verse.


59:8 [Thus, part of such war-gains shall be given] to the poor among those who have forsaken the domain of evil: [11] those who have been driven from their homelands and their possessions, seeking favour with God and [His] goodly acceptance, and who aid [the cause of] God and His Apostle: it is they, they who are true to their word! Allah mentions the blessings of the Muhajireen: "as for the poor immigrants who were expelled from their house and monies and they only wanted Allah's Pleasure, they are helping Allah and His Messenger and are the truthful people" meaning they will get the Fayy that was just spoken about. And we know that literally they had to abandon their entire houses and posessions in Makkah and leave empty handed, and just a few years later Allah rewarded their sacrifice in this life as well with much more than they had in Makkah with Banu Nadeer's lands and properties


59:9 And [it shall be offered, too, unto the poor from among] those who, before them, [12] had their abode in this realm and in faith - [those] who love all that come to them in search of refuge, and who harbour in their hearts no grudge for whatever the others may have been given, but rather give them preference over themselves, even though poverty be their own lot: [13] for, such as from their own covetousness are saved - it is they, they that shall attain to a happy state! [14] Allah praised the Ansar so much so that this ayah became one of the most beloved to them. He says, "and there is another group as well and they prepared the city (Madinah) before, they loved those who did the Hijrah, and they did not feel anything in their hearts they gave. They want to prefer the Muhajiroon over themselves even if they are poor. These are the righteous and the successful." Allah thus praised the Ansar their Emaan highly


59:10 And so, they who come after them pray: [15] O our Sustainer! Forgive us our sins, as well as those of our brethren who preceded us in faith, and let not our hearts entertain any unworthy thoughts or feelings against [any of] those who have attained to faith. O our Sustainer! Verily, Thou art compassionate, a dispenser of grace! And just as Allah mentions the Muhajiroon and than the Ansar, here Allah mentions those Muslims that come after i.e. us. There is hope for us inshaAllah; "they did not get the blessings of those two but they will get some blessings, and they think well and make du'a of those that came before, and they say Oh Allah forgive our brothers from before and do not put in our hearts any resentment toward those who have believed, indeed you are all kind and merciful"


59:11 ART THOU NOT aware of how those who would always dissemble [their real feelings] [16] speak to their truth-denying brethren from among the followers of earlier revelation: [17] If you are driven away, we shall most certainly go forth with you, and shall never pay heed to anyone against you; and if war is waged against you, we shall most certainly come to your succour. But God bears witness that they are most flagrantly lying:

Now Allah speaks about the hypocrites and Banu Nadeer. Allah says, " Look at those who have nifaaq (hypocrisy), they said to their brothers in Kufr (thus Allah says that the the hypocrites and the Banu Nadeer are the same), 'if you are expelled we will go with you, and we'd never ever listen to anybody who tries to go against you and if you are fought we will be the ones who will defend you' and Allah testifies that these people are liars"


59:12 [for] if those [to whom they have pledged themselves] are indeed driven away, they will not go forth with them; and if war is waged against them, they will not come to their succour; and even if they [try to] succour them, they will most certainly turn their backs [in flight], and in the end will [themselves] find no succour. And Allah says, "even if they are expelled they will not walk with you and if they are fought they will not help". And Allah says that suppose they did help, they would be such cowards they would turn and run away, and He asks who is going to help them after?


59:13 Nay, [O believers,] you arouse in their bosoms a fear more intense than [even their fear of] God: this, because they are people who fail to grasp the truth. [18] What a beautiful ayah, Allah mentions the truth that only He knows; that they are more scared of the believers than even Allah. They have rejected Allah to such a high level! And they do not think to be more scared of humans over Allah.


59:14 Never will they fight you, [even] in unison, otherwise than from within fortified strongholds or from behind walls. [19] Severe is their warlike discord among themselves: thou wouldst think that they are united, whereas [in fact] their hearts are at odds [with one another]: this, because they are people who will not use their reason. [20] And Allah describes their cowardice; "they will never fight all of you except from behind those fortresses. Or from behind their walls. Their violence between them is severe, you may think they are one group but their hearts amongst themselves are completely disunited. Thats because they do not understand"


59:15 [To both kinds of your enemies, O believers, is bound to happen] [21] the like of [what happened to] those who, a short while before them, had to taste the evil that came from their own doings, [22] with [yet more] grievous suffering awaiting them [in the life to come]: And Allah gives two examples - one for Banu Nadeer (verse 15) and the second for the hypocrites (verse 16) As for Banu Nadeer, Allah asks them: did they not see the example of the ones right before them? Allah mentions the example of Banu Qaynuqah and says that they tasted the bad consequences of their actions and they will have a severe punishment. Allah argues that if they refuse to learn from revelation than learn from their own history


59:16 the like of [what happens] when Satan says unto man, Deny the truth! - but as soon as [man] has denied the truth, [Satan] says, Behold, I am not responsible for thee: behold, I fear God, the Sustainer of all the worlds! [23] And Allah now gives the example of the hypocrites, "the example of the hypocrites is like Shaytaan when He tells man to reject Allah and when he rejects Allah Shaytaan says, 'I have nothing to do with you'" And this is exactly what Abdullah ibn Ubayy did - he promised much but when the time came he dissociated himself. As Allah says, Abdullah is like Shaytaan. And Shaytaan says, "I am scared of Allah"


59:17 Thus, in the end, both [the deniers of the truth and the hypocrites] [24] will find themselves in the fire, therein to abide: for such is the recompense of evildoers. And Allah talks about both Banu Nadeer, the hypocrites and all those who reject that they are all in the fire, abiding forever and that will be the end of those who do oppression. And than Allah finishes Surah Hashr in a beautiful way with mentions of His names and attributes. Thus without knowing this story of Banu Nadeer we are unable to understand these verses of Surah Hashr or Surah Bani Nadeer as Ibn Abbass called it. This shows us a profound lesson that one of the reasons of the Seerah is to understand the Qur'an. With an understanding of Banu Nadeer, Surah Hashr is now clear. The classical books mention a controversy about when the incident happened. The first few generations of Seerah scholars said this expulsion took place after Badr. This is the opinion of Ibn Shihaab as-Zuhri and Urwah bin Zubayr and both of them are the most famous Seerah scholars of the Tabi'oon. Later scholars corrected this as a genuine mistake or that the previous scholars are confusing this incident with the Banu Qaynuqah and Ibn Sa'ad, Al-Waqidi and Ibn Ishaac all have this opinion. It can not be after Badr because the blood money only took place after Uhud. Recall that the Prophet (s) came to Banu Nadeer in the first place because of the blood money of the massacre of Mau'na. Because of this key fact we say that it could not be after Badr because there was no blood money for the Banu Amir and this did not happen until after Uhud. Therefore the strongest position is that this incident occured in Shawwal 4 A.H.

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