Surah Al-Hashr (59) — Ayah 11

(Ayah 11) ➊ {اَلَمْ تَرَ اِلَى الَّذِيْنَ نَافَقُوْا … :} Most commentators have written that these verses were revealed about Abdullah bin Ubayy and his other hypocrite companions, who sent a message to the Jews of Banu Nadir saying, "Stand firm in your forts; if you are expelled, we will go out with you." Upon this, Allah Almighty said that surely these people are liars; if they are expelled, they will not go out with them. The commentator Al-Alusi has written that this would mean that this surah was revealed before the incident of Banu Nadir, whereas according to the hadith scholars and biographers, this surah was revealed after the incident of Banu Nadir, when they had already been exiled. Al-Alusi has only hinted that it is not correct to understand these verses as relating to Banu Nadir. Ibn Ashur has written in his tafsir "Al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir" that the disbelievers among the People of the Book to whom the hypocrites said this were not Banu Nadir, but rather the Jews of Banu Qurayza and Khaybar, because the story of Banu Nadir had already ended before this. Now those hypocrites were encouraging the remaining Jews to stand firm against the Muslims and assuring them that they would support them in every situation. In these verses, Allah Almighty encouraged the Muslims not to worry, as the hypocrites would not support them in any way.
Ibn Ashur's view is correct. The narration in Tabari, attributed to Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), which considers these verses to be about Banu Nadir, is not established, as in its chain of narration Tabari's teacher Muhammad bin Humayd al-Razi is weak.
➋ { ’’ اَلَمْ تَرَ ‘‘ ’’أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ‘‘} means. Among the many proofs of the Prophethood of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) is also this proof that Allah Almighty informed him of this matter of the hypocrites, which was an extremely secret matter among them.
➌ { يَقُوْلُوْنَ لِاِخْوَانِهِمُ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا مِنْ اَهْلِ الْكِتٰبِ :} As mentioned above, the disbelievers among the People of the Book referred to here are the Jews of Banu Qurayza and Khaybar. By calling them the brothers of the hypocrites, it is clear that just as the believers are friends and brothers among themselves (see Al-Hujurat: 10, Al-Anfal: 72), similarly, the disbelievers are also friends and brothers to each other in disbelief, as He said: «وَ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا بَعْضُهُمْ اَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ» [ الأنفال :۷۳] "And those who disbelieve, some of them are allies of others." By brotherhood is not meant kinship, because Abdullah bin Ubayy and most of the other hypocrites were from the polytheists of Aws and Khazraj; their brotherhood with the People of the Book was only in disbelief.
➍ { لَىِٕنْ اُخْرِجْتُمْ لَنَخْرُجَنَّ مَعَكُمْ وَ لَا نُطِيْعُ فِيْكُمْ اَحَدًا اَبَدًا :} In this, the hypocrites are addressing the concern in the hearts of the Jews that these people are relatives of those among the Aws and Khazraj who have become Muslims; if these Muslims prevent them from helping, they will withdraw their support. Therefore, the hypocrites are saying, "Do not worry, we will not listen to anyone regarding you."
➎ { وَ اللّٰهُ يَشْهَدُ اِنَّهُمْ لَكٰذِبُوْنَ :} From Allah Almighty, it was sufficient that He swore and said that surely they are indeed liars, but Allah Almighty, in the next verse, mentioned each of their statements and said that they will not fulfill any of their promises. In the science of rhetoric, this is called "itnab," meaning that sometimes brevity is appropriate, sometimes moderation, and sometimes it is necessary to elaborate at length. Here, to make clear the lies of the hypocrites and to humiliate them, Allah Almighty has elaborated at length. (Ibn Ashur)