Chapter 59: Surah Al Hashr (The banishment)

THE BANISHMENT
AL-ḤASHR ( الحشر )
24 verses • revealed at Medinan
»The surah that mentions The Banishment, God’s expulsion, of the clan of Banū al-Naḍīr from their prodigious fortress-settlement near Medina, in the mustering it calls the first of its kind: for they had betrayed their covenant of mutual defence by aiding idolaters against monotheistic believers. It takes its name from the “banishment” or “gathering of forces” (ḥashr) of the Jewish tribe from Medina, which is mentioned in . The Banū al-Naḍīr, who originally agreed with the Prophet that they would fight neither for nor against him, yet, after the Meccan defeat of the Muslims in the Battle of Uḥud (year 3/625), made an alliance with the Meccans. They also tried to kill the Prophet while he was in their area. He asked them to leave and they agreed, but Ibn Ubayy, the head of the “hypocrites” of Medina, promised them that, if they fought the Muslims, he and his camp would fight with them ( ff.), and, if they had to leave Medina, he and his camp would leave with them. Because the Banū al-Naḍīr had repeatedly broken their agreements, the Muslims besieged them in Medina (in year 4/626), Ibn Ubayy did not keep his promise, and the Banū al-Naḍīr agreed to leave, some going to Syria and some to Khaybar. In this surah, God stresses that any gains were His doing and so should be distributed in accordance with His instructions ( ff.). The end of the surah, consequently, emphasizes obedience and awe towards God ( ff.).«
The surah is also known as Confrontation, Exile, The Fathering, The Gathering, The Gathering (of Forces), The Mustering
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This Surah is ‘madani’ and it has 24 ayaat. It is narrated that whoever recites this Surah will be sent salutations from Jannah, Jahannam, the angels, the Heavens, the Earth, the trees, the birds, the sun and the moon and these will pray for the forgiveness of his sins. When he dies, he will die a martyr. If a person recites both Surah ar-Rahman and Surah al-Hashr then one angel will be assigned to protect him at all times.
If a four-rak’ah prayer is recited where after Surah al-Hamd Surah al-Hashr is recited, then whatever important work one goes to do will be successful (with the condition that it is not a sin). Drinking water in which this Surah has been dissolved is good for memory and concentration. If this Surah is recited for forty consecutive days without missing a day, it will make even the hardest task become an easy one.