Juz 28: Al-Mujādilah to At-Taḥrīm
Section 7 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
7. The False Promises of the Hypocrites
In verses 11-17 of Surah Al-Hashr, Allah (swt) exposes another dimension of the hypocrites' behavior—their false promises and betrayal toward the Jews of Madinah. This passage provides critical insight into the dynamics between the hypocrites and the Jewish tribes, particularly Banu Nadir, during their confrontation with the Muslims.
The hypocrites maintained secret alliances with the Jewish tribes despite their outward declaration of faith in Islam. When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ordered Banu Nadir to leave Madinah due to their betrayal of the treaty and their conspiracy to kill him, the hypocrites stepped forward with false assurances of support:
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ نَافَقُوا يَقُولُونَ لِإِخْوَانِهِمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَئِنْ أُخْرِجْتُمْ لَنَخْرُجَنَّ مَعَكُمْ وَلَا نُطِيعُ فِيكُمْ أَحَدًا أَبَدًا وَإِنْ قُوتِلْتُمْ لَنَنْصُرَنَّكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ
“Have you not seen those who have taken to hypocrisy? They say to their brothers who disbelieve from among the people of the Book, 'If you are expelled, we will certainly go out with you, and we will never obey anyone about you. And if you are fought against, we will definitely help you.' Allah bears witness that they are liars." (59:11)”
This verse reveals the duplicity of the hypocrites who assured the Banu Nadir tribe that if they were expelled from Madinah, the hypocrites would leave with them. They further promised that they would never obey the Prophet's (peace be upon him) commands against them and would come to their aid if fighting broke out. Yet Allah (swt) categorically states that they were liars in these assertions.
The subsequent verses expose what truly happened when the confrontation came to pass:
لَئِنْ أُخْرِجُوا لَا يَخْرُجُونَ مَعَهُمْ وَلَئِنْ قُوتِلُوا لَا يَنْصُرُونَهُمْ وَلَئِنْ نَصَرُوهُمْ لَيُوَلُّنَّ الْأَدْبَارَ ثُمَّ لَا يُنْصَرُونَ
“If they are expelled, they will not go out with them, and if they are fought against, they will not help them. And even if they help them, they will surely turn their backs, then they will not be helped." (59:12)”
The reality was that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) besieged the fortresses of Banu Nadir, not a single hypocrite came to their assistance, despite their grand promises. When faced with actual conflict, the hypocrites abandoned their supposed allies. Allah (swt) states that even if they had attempted to help, they would have fled from the battlefield, proving themselves cowards without divine support.
In a powerful psychological insight, Allah (swt) then reveals the true emotional state of the hypocrites:
لَأَنْتُمْ أَشَدُّ رَهْبَةً فِي صُدُورِهِمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ
“You (Muslims) are a greater terror in their hearts than Allah. That is because they are a people who do not understand." (59:13)”
This verse exposes how the hypocrites feared the Muslims more than they feared Allah (swt). Their hearts trembled at the thought of confronting the believers, yet they did not possess the appropriate fear of Allah (swt). This inverted sense of fear stemmed from their lack of understanding of true faith.
Allah (swt) further describes the disunity among these opponents of Islam:
لَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ جَمِيعًا إِلَّا فِي قُرًى مُحَصَّنَةٍ أَوْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ جُدُرٍ بَأْسُهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ شَدِيدٌ تَحْسَبُهُمْ جَمِيعًا وَقُلُوبُهُمْ شَتَّىٰ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ
“They will not fight against you all together except in fortified towns, or from behind walls. Their fighting between themselves is severe. You think that they are united, but their hearts are divided. That is because they are a people who have no sense." (59:14)”
The verse illustrates that these opponents lacked the courage to confront the Muslims openly on the battlefield. They would only engage from behind fortifications or walls. Despite appearing as a unified front externally, internal division and enmity characterized their relationships. This discord resulted from their fundamental lack of wisdom and understanding.
Finally, Allah (swt) compares their situation to those who preceded them, who also tasted the bitter consequences of their evil actions, and warns of the painful punishment that awaits them in the Hereafter.