سُوْرَةُ الْحَشْرِ
Surah Al-Hashr (59) — Ayah 14
لَا يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ جَمِيعًا إِلَّا فِى قُرًى مُّحَصَّنَةٍ أَوْ مِن وَرَآءِ جُدُرٍۭ ۚ بَأْسُهُم بَيْنَهُمْ شَدِيدٌ ۚ تَحْسَبُهُمْ جَمِيعًا وَقُلُوبُهُمْ شَتَّىٰ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿14﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They fight not against you even together, except in fortified townships, or from behind walls. Their enmity among themselves is very great. You would think they were united, but their hearts are divided. That is because they are a people who understand not.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَا
lā
Not
يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ
yuqātilūnakum
will they fight you
جَمِيعًا
jamīʿan
all
إِلَّا
illā
except
فِى
fī
in
قُرًۭى
quran
towns
مُّحَصَّنَةٍ
muḥaṣṣanatin
fortified
أَوْ
aw
or
مِن
min
from
وَرَآءِ
warāi
behind
جُدُرٍۭ ۚ
judurin
walls
بَأْسُهُم
basuhum
Their violence
بَيْنَهُمْ
baynahum
among themselves
شَدِيدٌۭ ۚ
shadīdun
(is) severe
تَحْسَبُهُمْ
taḥsabuhum
You think they
جَمِيعًۭا
jamīʿan
(are) united
وَقُلُوبُهُمْ
waqulūbuhum
but their hearts
شَتَّىٰ ۚ
shattā
(are) divided
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
بِأَنَّهُمْ
bi-annahum
(is) because they
قَوْمٌۭ
qawmun
(are) a people
لَّا
lā
not
يَعْقِلُونَ
yaʿqilūna
they reason
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 14) ➊ The meaning of { لَا يُقَاتِلُوْنَكُمْ جَمِيْعًا اِلَّا فِيْ قُرًى مُّحَصَّنَةٍ … : ’’حِصْنٌ‘‘} is fortress. {’’ مُحَصَّنَةٍ ‘‘} are fortified, protected settlements. {’’ جُدُرٍ ‘‘ ’’جِدَارٌ ‘‘} is the plural, meaning walls. That is, these Jews are so cowardly and timid that they will never face you together in the open field, but will only fight while staying in fortified settlements or behind walls. Those who fight in this way are always humiliated, because one who does not have the courage to come out into the field cannot be saved by fortresses and walls either. History bears witness that the Companions of the Messenger (peace be upon him) preferred to fight in the open field, and since they fought in search of martyrdom, the enemy would turn and flee at the very first blow. Since the Jews tried to avoid death, instead of coming into the field, they would try to save their lives by taking refuge in fortresses and walls. It is another matter that even their fortified settlements could not save them from humiliation and death.
➋ { بَاْسُهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ شَدِيْدٌ :} means that these Jews and hypocrites could only confront you if they were united among themselves, whereas their condition is that they are only united in enmity against Islam, otherwise their internal fighting is very severe. This is the case among the hypocrites, Jews, and polytheists with each other. Then, even within each group, the individuals are not united but have intense enmity among themselves; such people do not have the courage to unite and come out into the field against you.
➌ {تَحْسَبُهُمْ جَمِيْعًا وَّ قُلُوْبُهُمْ شَتّٰى:’’ شَتّٰى ‘‘ ’’شَتِيْتٌ‘‘} is the plural, just as {’’ قَتِيْلٌ‘‘} is the plural of {’’ قَتْلٰي‘‘}, meaning you would think they are united, but their hearts are divided.
➍ {ذٰلِكَ بِاَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْقِلُوْنَ :} The reason for this is that they are people who do not consider the consequences of their actions and do not use their intellect, but rather follow their desires, the result of which is mutual discord and enmity. The word {’’ قَوْمٌ ‘‘} indicates that this is not the matter of just one or two individuals among them, but the temperament of the entire nation.
➎ In these verses, there is training for the Muslims that they should avoid mutual opposition, malice, and enmity as much as possible, and understand well that no nation can prevail over its enemy unless their hearts are free from malice and enmity towards each other, and they are united, giving preference to national and collective interests over personal interests, being of one tongue and one soul.
➏ Mufassir Sanaullah Amritsari writes: "If you look at the wise content of this verse and the internal state of the Muslims, both generally and specifically, then it spontaneously comes to mind that this verse was revealed about us. Khwaja Hali has depicted this state as follows:
Let there be no unity between Sunni and Jafari,
Let there be no affection in Naumani and Shafi'i,
Let the hatred of Wahhabi for Sufi not be less,
Let the follower curse the non-follower,
Let there be such fighting among the people of the Qiblah,
That the whole world laughs at the religion of God.
They cannot gather in one place for any common purpose; if they do at the beginning, they fall apart in the end. There is no doubt that these traits are found in those who are unaware of national common interests, so for them this divine decision is absolutely true and just: «ذٰلِكَ بِاَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْقِلُوْنَ » "This is because they are people who do not use their intellect." (Sanai)
➋ { بَاْسُهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ شَدِيْدٌ :} means that these Jews and hypocrites could only confront you if they were united among themselves, whereas their condition is that they are only united in enmity against Islam, otherwise their internal fighting is very severe. This is the case among the hypocrites, Jews, and polytheists with each other. Then, even within each group, the individuals are not united but have intense enmity among themselves; such people do not have the courage to unite and come out into the field against you.
➌ {تَحْسَبُهُمْ جَمِيْعًا وَّ قُلُوْبُهُمْ شَتّٰى:’’ شَتّٰى ‘‘ ’’شَتِيْتٌ‘‘} is the plural, just as {’’ قَتِيْلٌ‘‘} is the plural of {’’ قَتْلٰي‘‘}, meaning you would think they are united, but their hearts are divided.
➍ {ذٰلِكَ بِاَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْقِلُوْنَ :} The reason for this is that they are people who do not consider the consequences of their actions and do not use their intellect, but rather follow their desires, the result of which is mutual discord and enmity. The word {’’ قَوْمٌ ‘‘} indicates that this is not the matter of just one or two individuals among them, but the temperament of the entire nation.
➎ In these verses, there is training for the Muslims that they should avoid mutual opposition, malice, and enmity as much as possible, and understand well that no nation can prevail over its enemy unless their hearts are free from malice and enmity towards each other, and they are united, giving preference to national and collective interests over personal interests, being of one tongue and one soul.
➏ Mufassir Sanaullah Amritsari writes: "If you look at the wise content of this verse and the internal state of the Muslims, both generally and specifically, then it spontaneously comes to mind that this verse was revealed about us. Khwaja Hali has depicted this state as follows:
Let there be no unity between Sunni and Jafari,
Let there be no affection in Naumani and Shafi'i,
Let the hatred of Wahhabi for Sufi not be less,
Let the follower curse the non-follower,
Let there be such fighting among the people of the Qiblah,
That the whole world laughs at the religion of God.
They cannot gather in one place for any common purpose; if they do at the beginning, they fall apart in the end. There is no doubt that these traits are found in those who are unaware of national common interests, so for them this divine decision is absolutely true and just: «ذٰلِكَ بِاَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْقِلُوْنَ » "This is because they are people who do not use their intellect." (Sanai)
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
14. 1. That is, these hypocrites and Jews, even if they join forces, do not have the courage to fight you in the open field; rather, they can only attack you while being confined within forts or hiding behind walls. This makes it clear that they are extremely cowardly and tremble with fear at your awe.
14. 2. That is, among themselves, they are strongly opposed to each other. Therefore, mutual disputes and disgraceful quarrels are common among them.
14. 3. This refers to the state of the hearts of the hypocrites among themselves, or of the Jews and hypocrites, or of the polytheists and the People of the Book. The meaning is that in opposition to the truth, they appear united, but their hearts are not one; they are different from each other and filled with malice and enmity against one another.
14. 4. That is, this discord is due to their lack of sense; if they had an understanding intellect, they would have recognized the truth and adopted it.
14. 2. That is, among themselves, they are strongly opposed to each other. Therefore, mutual disputes and disgraceful quarrels are common among them.
14. 3. This refers to the state of the hearts of the hypocrites among themselves, or of the Jews and hypocrites, or of the polytheists and the People of the Book. The meaning is that in opposition to the truth, they appear united, but their hearts are not one; they are different from each other and filled with malice and enmity against one another.
14. 4. That is, this discord is due to their lack of sense; if they had an understanding intellect, they would have recognized the truth and adopted it.
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
14. They will not fight you all together except from fortified towns or from behind walls. Their enmity among themselves is severe [19]. You think they are united, but their hearts are divided. That is because they are a people who do not reason [20].
[19]
The Lack of Courage Among the Jews and the Hypocrites:
The addressees of this verse are both the Jews and the hypocrites. Both are equally cunning, deceitful, false in their promises, and self-interested. Such people are cowardly and can never muster the courage to fight in the open field. Yes, they can fight in places where their lives are not in danger. In trenches or fortified within a fortress, they can play the game of arrows and guns, but to come face to face and engage in hand-to-hand combat is beyond their capacity. After all, how can someone who is always anxious about saving his own life stand up to the enemy? Whether it is the Jews, the hypocrites, or their sub-branches.
The Basis of Their Unity is Merely Enmity Towards Islam:
The only basis of unity among all of them is enmity towards Islam. As for their internal differences and mutual hostilities, they are intense. Therefore, their temporary and unstable unity is also extremely fragile. Even at the very moment of unity during war, it can fall apart. As happened at the end of the Battle of Ahzab, when the disagreement between the Quraysh and the Jews became a major reason for their defeat.
[20] That is, they do not understand that unity is only beneficial when its roots are strong and there is harmony in thoughts and beliefs. Until they understand this, even after forming a temporary alliance, they will continue to be defeated in the face of the truth.
[19]
The Lack of Courage Among the Jews and the Hypocrites:
The addressees of this verse are both the Jews and the hypocrites. Both are equally cunning, deceitful, false in their promises, and self-interested. Such people are cowardly and can never muster the courage to fight in the open field. Yes, they can fight in places where their lives are not in danger. In trenches or fortified within a fortress, they can play the game of arrows and guns, but to come face to face and engage in hand-to-hand combat is beyond their capacity. After all, how can someone who is always anxious about saving his own life stand up to the enemy? Whether it is the Jews, the hypocrites, or their sub-branches.
The Basis of Their Unity is Merely Enmity Towards Islam:
The only basis of unity among all of them is enmity towards Islam. As for their internal differences and mutual hostilities, they are intense. Therefore, their temporary and unstable unity is also extremely fragile. Even at the very moment of unity during war, it can fall apart. As happened at the end of the Battle of Ahzab, when the disagreement between the Quraysh and the Jews became a major reason for their defeat.
[20] That is, they do not understand that unity is only beneficial when its roots are strong and there is harmony in thoughts and beliefs. Until they understand this, even after forming a temporary alliance, they will continue to be defeated in the face of the truth.
