Surah Al Hashr ayat 14 Tafsir Quran 59:14

﴿لَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ جَمِيعًا إِلَّا فِي قُرًى مُّحَصَّنَةٍ أَوْ مِن وَرَاءِ جُدُرٍ ۚ بَأْسُهُم بَيْنَهُمْ شَدِيدٌ ۚ تَحْسَبُهُمْ جَمِيعًا وَقُلُوبُهُمْ شَتَّىٰ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْقِلُونَ﴾
[ الحشر: 14]

59:14 They will not fight you all except within fortified cities or from behind walls. Their violence among themselves is severe. You think they are together, but their hearts are diverse. That is because they are a people who do not reason.

They that is the Jews will not fight against you together all in a single body except in fortified towns or from behind some wall jidār a variant reading has plural judur ‘walls’ some kind of protective fence. Their might their belligerence is great among themselves. You would suppose them to be all together united as a single body but their hearts are disunited scattered contrary to supposition. That is because they are a people who have no sense;

They will not fight you in all, except in fortified villages strengthened against attack, or from behind walls in a position of defense when they are besieged. They are badly disposed to enmity at each other. You think they are unity personified while in effect their hearts are totally diversified. This is on account of their lack of sound judgement in the choice of means and ends

The False Promise of Support the Hypocrites gave to the Jews Allah states that the hypocrites, `Abdullah bin Ubayy and his like, sent a messenger to Bani An-Nadir promising them help.
Allah the Exalted said, أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ نَـفَقُواْ يَقُولُونَ لإِخْوَانِهِمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ لَئِنْ أُخْرِجْتُمْ لَنَخْرُجَنَّ مَعَكُمْ وَلاَ نُطِيعُ فيكُمْ أَحَداً أَبَداً وَإِن قُوتِلْتُمْ لَنَنصُرَنَّكُمْ ( Have you not observed the hypocrites who say to their friends among the People of the Scripture who disbelieve: "If you are expelled, we indeed will go out with you, and we shall never obey anyone against you; and if you are attacked, we shall indeed help you." ) Allah then said, وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَـذِبُونَ ( But Allah is Witness that they verily are liars. ) meaning, the hypocrites lied when they issued this promise, because it was just words that they did not intend to fulfill.
Also, what they said they would do, would never have been fulfilled by them, and this is why Allah said, وَلَئِن قُوتِلُواْ لاَ يَنصُرُونَهُمْ ( and if they are attacked, they will never help them. ) meaning, the hypocrites will not fight along with the Jews, وَلَئِن نَّصَرُوهُمْ ( And (even ) if they do help them, ) and even if the hypocrites did fight along their side, لَيُوَلُّنَّ الاٌّدْبَـرَ ثُمَّ لاَ يُنصَرُونَ ( they will turn their backs, and they will not be victorious. ) This Ayah contains good news, just as the good news that this following Ayah conveys, لاّنتُمْ أَشَدُّ رَهْبَةً فِى صُدُورِهِمْ مِّنَ اللَّهِ ( Verily, you are more fearful in their breasts than Allah. ) meaning, the hypocrites fear you more than they fear Allah, as He says; إِذَا فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَخْشَوْنَ النَّاسَ كَخَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ أَوْ أَشَدَّ خَشْيَةً ( Behold! a section of them fear men as they fear Allah or even more. )( 4:77 ) This is why Allah said, ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لاَّ يَفْقَهُونَ ( That is because they are a people who comprehend not. ) Allah then said, لاَ يُقَـتِلُونَكُمْ جَمِيعاً إِلاَّ فِى قُرًى مُّحَصَّنَةٍ أَوْ مِن وَرَآءِ جُدُرٍ ( They fight not against you even together, except in fortified townships, or from behind walls. ) meaning, they will not fight Muslims except from behind besieged fortified forts, because of their cowardice and fear of Muslims.
They only fight when they have to defend themselves ( even though they threaten Muslims of reprisals ).
Allah the Exalted said, بَأْسُهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ شَدِيدٌ ( Their enmity among themselves is very great. ) meaning, the enmity they feel against each other is intense, وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ( And make you to taste the violence of one another. )( 6:65 ) Allah said in the Ayah, تَحْسَبُهُمْ جَمِيعاً وَقُلُوبُهُمْ شَتَّى ( You would think they were united, but their hearts are divided. ) meaning, even though one might see them combining forces and think that these forces are harmonious, yet in reality, they are divided severely.
Ibrahim An-Nakha`i said that this Ayah refers to the hypocrites and the People of the Scriptures, ذلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لاَّ يَعْقِلُونَ ( That is because they are a people who understand not. ) Allah said, كَمَثَلِ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ قَرِيباً ذَاقُواْ وَبَالَ أَمْرِهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ( They are like their immediate predecessors; they tasted the evil result of their conduct, and for them a painful torment. ) referring to the Jewish tribe of Bani Qaynuqa`, according to Ibn `Abbas, Qatadah and Muhammad bin Ishaq. The Parable of the Hypocrites and the Jews Allah said, كَمَثَلِ الشَّيْطَـنِ إِذْ قَالَ لِلإِنسَـنِ اكْفُرْ فَلَمَّا كَفَرَ قَالَ إِنِّى بَرِىءٌ مِّنكَ ( Like Shaytan, when he says to man: "Disbelieve." But when (man ) disbelieves, Shaytan says: "I am free of you...") meaning, the example of the Jews being deceived by the promises of the hypocrites, who said that they will help them if Muslims fight them, is that of the devil.
When matters got serious and the Jews were besieged, the hypocrites betrayed them and abandoned them to taste utter defeat.
Likewise, the devil lures mankind into disbelief and when they obey him, he disowns them and declares himself free of their actions, saying, إِنِّى أَخَافُ اللَّهَ رَبَّ الْعَـلَمِينَ ( I fear Allah, the Lord of all that exists! ) Allah said, فَكَانَ عَـقِبَتَهُمَآ أَنَّهُمَا فِى النَّارِ خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَا ( So, the end of both will be that they will be in the Fire, abiding therein. ) meaning, the end of both he, Shaytan, who commanded that dis- belief be committed, and those who accep- ted his call, was in the fire of Hell forever, وَذَلِكَ جَزَآءُ الظَّـلِمِينَ ( Such is the recompense of the wrongdoers.
) means, this is the recompense of every unjust person.

(59:14) They will never fight against you as a body (in an open battlefield); and if they fight against you they will fight only in fortified townships or from behind walls. Intense is their hostility to one another. You reckon them united while their hearts are divided. *25 That is because they are a people devoid of reason.

They will not fight you all except meaning

*25) This refers to the second weakness of the hypocrites.
The first weakness was that they were cowardly: they feared the men instead of fearing God and had no higher aim of lift before them like the believers, which might impel them to fight for it even at the cost of life.
And their second weakness was that they had no common tic between them except hypocrisy, which might unite them together into a strong band.
The only thing that had brought them together was that they were all feeling highly upset at the flourishing leadership and rulership of Muhammad ( upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings ).
who was an outsider in their city, and at the warm reception and help which their own compartriots the Ansar were giving the Emigrants.
Because of this jealousy they wanted them to join hands together and in conspiracy with the enemies of Islam of the surrounding areas should somehow put an end to this alien power and authority.
But apart from this negative objective there was no positive common aim to unify them.
Each of their chiefs had his own separate band: each craved for his own leadership; no one was sincere to the other; but each bore such jealousy and malice for the other that they could neither forget their mutual enmities nor desist from harming the other fatally even while facing those whom they regarded as their common enemy.
Thus, at the outset, even before the battle against the Bani an-Nadir took place, Allah analysed the internal state of the hypocrites and informed the Muslims that there was no real danger from their side; therefore, they should not feel alarmed- at the rumours that when they lay siege to the Bani an-Nadir, the leaders of the hypocrites would attack them from the rear with two thousand men, and also bring the Bani Quraizah and the Bani Ghatafan along against them.
AII this was empty boasting which would be exposed at the very beginning of the trial.

 

The False Promise of Support the Hypocrites gave to the Jews Allah states that the hypocrites, `Abdullah bin Ubayy and his like, sent a messenger to Bani An-Nadir promising them help.
Allah the Exalted said, أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ نَـفَقُواْ يَقُولُونَ لإِخْوَانِهِمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ لَئِنْ أُخْرِجْتُمْ لَنَخْرُجَنَّ مَعَكُمْ وَلاَ نُطِيعُ فيكُمْ أَحَداً أَبَداً وَإِن قُوتِلْتُمْ لَنَنصُرَنَّكُمْ ( Have you not observed the hypocrites who say to their friends among the People of the Scripture who disbelieve: "If you are expelled, we indeed will go out with you, and we shall never obey anyone against you; and if you are attacked, we shall indeed help you." ) Allah then said, وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَـذِبُونَ ( But Allah is Witness that they verily are liars. ) meaning, the hypocrites lied when they issued this promise, because it was just words that they did not intend to fulfill.
Also, what they said they would do, would never have been fulfilled by them, and this is why Allah said, وَلَئِن قُوتِلُواْ لاَ يَنصُرُونَهُمْ ( and if they are attacked, they will never help them. ) meaning, the hypocrites will not fight along with the Jews, وَلَئِن نَّصَرُوهُمْ ( And (even ) if they do help them, ) and even if the hypocrites did fight along their side, لَيُوَلُّنَّ الاٌّدْبَـرَ ثُمَّ لاَ يُنصَرُونَ ( they will turn their backs, and they will not be victorious. ) This Ayah contains good news, just as the good news that this following Ayah conveys, لاّنتُمْ أَشَدُّ رَهْبَةً فِى صُدُورِهِمْ مِّنَ اللَّهِ ( Verily, you are more fearful in their breasts than Allah. ) meaning, the hypocrites fear you more than they fear Allah, as He says; إِذَا فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَخْشَوْنَ النَّاسَ كَخَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ أَوْ أَشَدَّ خَشْيَةً ( Behold! a section of them fear men as they fear Allah or even more. )( 4:77 ) This is why Allah said, ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لاَّ يَفْقَهُونَ ( That is because they are a people who comprehend not. ) Allah then said, لاَ يُقَـتِلُونَكُمْ جَمِيعاً إِلاَّ فِى قُرًى مُّحَصَّنَةٍ أَوْ مِن وَرَآءِ جُدُرٍ ( They fight not against you even together, except in fortified townships, or from behind walls. ) meaning, they will not fight Muslims except from behind besieged fortified forts, because of their cowardice and fear of Muslims.
They only fight when they have to defend themselves ( even though they threaten Muslims of reprisals ).
Allah the Exalted said, بَأْسُهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ شَدِيدٌ ( Their enmity among themselves is very great. ) meaning, the enmity they feel against each other is intense, وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ( And make you to taste the violence of one another. )( 6:65 ) Allah said in the Ayah, تَحْسَبُهُمْ جَمِيعاً وَقُلُوبُهُمْ شَتَّى ( You would think they were united, but their hearts are divided. ) meaning, even though one might see them combining forces and think that these forces are harmonious, yet in reality, they are divided severely.
Ibrahim An-Nakha`i said that this Ayah refers to the hypocrites and the People of the Scriptures, ذلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لاَّ يَعْقِلُونَ ( That is because they are a people who understand not. ) Allah said, كَمَثَلِ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ قَرِيباً ذَاقُواْ وَبَالَ أَمْرِهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ( They are like their immediate predecessors; they tasted the evil result of their conduct, and for them a painful torment. ) referring to the Jewish tribe of Bani Qaynuqa`, according to Ibn `Abbas, Qatadah and Muhammad bin Ishaq. The Parable of the Hypocrites and the Jews Allah said, كَمَثَلِ الشَّيْطَـنِ إِذْ قَالَ لِلإِنسَـنِ اكْفُرْ فَلَمَّا كَفَرَ قَالَ إِنِّى بَرِىءٌ مِّنكَ ( Like Shaytan, when he says to man: "Disbelieve." But when (man ) disbelieves, Shaytan says: "I am free of you...") meaning, the example of the Jews being deceived by the promises of the hypocrites, who said that they will help them if Muslims fight them, is that of the devil.
When matters got serious and the Jews were besieged, the hypocrites betrayed them and abandoned them to taste utter defeat.
Likewise, the devil lures mankind into disbelief and when they obey him, he disowns them and declares himself free of their actions, saying, إِنِّى أَخَافُ اللَّهَ رَبَّ الْعَـلَمِينَ ( I fear Allah, the Lord of all that exists! ) Allah said, فَكَانَ عَـقِبَتَهُمَآ أَنَّهُمَا فِى النَّارِ خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَا ( So, the end of both will be that they will be in the Fire, abiding therein. ) meaning, the end of both he, Shaytan, who commanded that dis- belief be committed, and those who accep- ted his call, was in the fire of Hell forever, وَذَلِكَ جَزَآءُ الظَّـلِمِينَ ( Such is the recompense of the wrongdoers.
) means, this is the recompense of every unjust person.

( They ) i.e. Banu Qurayzah and Banu’l-Nadir ( will not fight against you in a body save in fortified villages or from behind walls ) or if there is between you and them walls. ( Their adversity among themselves is very great ) He says: their fighting against each other is great, for they fought against their own folk and not against the Prophet ( pbuh ) and his Companions. ( Ye think of them as a whole ) united ( whereas their hearts are diverse ) whereas they differ a great deal. ( That ) differing and betrayal ( is because they are a folk who have no sense ) is because they do not understand Allah’s command and divine Oneness.

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.

Page 547 English transliteration