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 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.
