This they were granted on condition that they would leave Medina, taking with them all their movable properties, but not their arms. In the ensuing conflict, their forts were besieged by the Muslims-though without actual fighting-for twenty-one days but when the promised help of ‘Abd Allah ibn Ubayy’s followers did not materialize, the Nadir surrendered in the month of Rabi al-Awwal, 4 H., and sued for peace. In the meantime they secretly conspired with the hypocrites among the Arabs of Medina, led by ‘Abd Allah ibn Ubayy, who promised them armed support by two thousand warriors in case they decided to remain in their fortified settlements on the outskirts of the town: “Hence, do not leave your homes if the Muslims fight against you, we shall fight side by side with you and if they should succeed in driving you away, we shall leave Medina together with you.” The Banu ‘n-Nadir followed this advice, defied the Prophet and took up arms. Ostensibly agreeing to the second alternative, the Banu ‘n-Nadir asked for-and were granted-ten days of respite. If they accepted this latter proposition, they would be allowed to return every year to gather the produce of their date groves, which would thus remain their property.

Thereupon the Prophet placed before them an alternative: either war or departure from Medina with all their possessions. After the Muslim victory in the battle of Badr, in the year 2 H., the leaders of that Jewish tribe spontaneously declared that Muhammad was indeed the prophet whose coming had been predicted in the Torah but one year later, after the near-defeat of the Muslims at Uhud (see surah 3, note 90), the Banu ‘n-Nadir treacherously broke their compact with the Prophet Muhammad and entered into an alliance with the Meccan Quraysh with a view to destroying the Muslim community once and for all. Shortly after his and his followers’ exodus from Mecca to Medina, the Prophet concluded a treaty with the Banu ‘n-Nadir, according to which they pledged themselves to neutrality in the hostilities between the Muslims and the pagan Quraysh. MOST of this surah (i.e., verses 2-17) refers, directly or indirectly, to the conflict between the Muslim community and the Jewish tribe of Banu ‘n-Nadir of Medina, and to the subsequent banishment of the latter. It consists of 24 ayat (verses) that were all revealed in Medina. Al-Hashr ( الحشر ) is the 59 th surah (chapter) of The Holy Qur’an.

Surah al hashr transliteration