Surah Al-Hashr classifies those who identify as Muslims into two distinct groups, each aligning with one of the parties mentioned in the previous Surah, Al-Mujadilah (المجادلة): the Party of Allah (حِزۡبَ ٱللَّهِ) and the Party of Satan (حِزۡبُ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ‌). Those who claim to be Muslims yet align themselves with the Party of Satan are the hypocrites. They support those who betray and conspire against the Muslim community.

Historically, this refers to the Muslims who sided with the Jewish tribe of Banu An-Nadir (بني النضير), who betrayed the Prophet (PBUH) and plotted to assassinate him. Allah exposed the true nature of these hypocrites, describing them as deceitful and cowardly.

أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ نَافَقُواْ يَقُولُونَ لِإِخۡوَٲنِهِمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ لَٮِٕنۡ أُخۡرِجۡتُمۡ لَنَخۡرُجَنَّ مَعَكُمۡ وَلَا نُطِيعُ فِيكُمۡ أَحَدًا أَبَدً۬ا وَإِن قُوتِلۡتُمۡ لَنَنصُرَنَّكُمۡ وَٱللَّهُ يَشۡہَدُ إِنَّہُمۡ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ (١١)

“Have you not observed the hypocrites who say to their friends the disbelievers: If you are expelled, we too will go out with you, and we shall never obey anyone against you; and if you are fought, we shall indeed support you.’ But Allah is Witness that they are verily liars.” (59:11)

 لَٮِٕنۡ أُخۡرِجُواْ لَا يَخۡرُجُونَ مَعَهُمۡ وَلَٮِٕن قُوتِلُواْ لَا يَنصُرُونَہُمۡ وَلَٮِٕن نَّصَرُوهُمۡ لَيُوَلُّنَّ ٱلۡأَدۡبَـٰرَ ثُمَّ لَا يُنصَرُونَ (١٢)

“Surely, if they are expelled, they will never go out with them; and if they are fought, they will never support them. And (even) if they were to support them, they would turn their backs in flight, and they will not be helped.” (59:12)

The Surah then describes the second category of Muslims—those affiliated with the party of Allah. Allah classifies them into three groups:

1. The Immigrants (Muhajirun): The early Muslims who were forced to leave Mecca, abandoning all their possessions for the sake of Allah.
2. The Supporters (Ansar): The residents of Madinah who welcomed the immigrants, offering them protection and financial assistance.
3. The Later Generations: Those who came after the establishment of the Islamic nation and continue to acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifices of the early generations.

Regarding the Immigrants, who sacrificed everything for Allah, He states:

لِلۡفُقَرَآءِ ٱلۡمُهَـٰجِرِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُخۡرِجُواْ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِمۡ وَأَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ يَبۡتَغُونَ فَضۡلاً۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضۡوَٲنً۬ا وَيَنصُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥۤ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلصَّـٰدِقُونَ (٨)

(A share in this booty) is for the poor emigrants, who were expelled from their homes and their property, seeking bounties from Allah and to please Him; and to support the cause of Allah and His Messenger. Such are indeed the truthful. (59:8)

The second group, the Supporters, are praised for their selflessness and generosity:

 وَٱلَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُو ٱلدَّارَ وَٱلۡإِيمَـٰنَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ يُحِبُّونَ مَنۡ هَاجَرَ إِلَيۡہِمۡ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِى صُدُورِهِمۡ حَاجَةً۬ مِّمَّآ أُوتُواْ وَيُؤۡثِرُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِہِمۡ وَلَوۡ كَانَ بِہِمۡ خَصَاصَةٌ۬‌ۚ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفۡسِهِۦ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ (٩)

And (it is also for) those who established themselves in the home (Madina) and in faith before them (before the immigrant arrived).  They love those who emigrated to them and have no desire in their hearts for that which has been given to them (from the booty of Banu An-Nadir), and they give preference to them over themselves, even though they are in need. And whoever is saved from the greed of his own soul, they are the successful.” (59:9)

The third group consists of later generations who continue to pray for those who preceded them in faith:

 وَٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَلِإِخۡوَٲنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلۡإِيمَـٰنِ وَلَا تَجۡعَلۡ فِى قُلُوبِنَا غِلاًّ۬ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ (١٠)

And those who came after them say: “Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in faith and do not place any hatred in our hearts towards those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.’” (59:10)

 The Surah then delivers an essential command from Allah to the believers:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَلۡتَنظُرۡ نَفۡسٌ۬ مَّا قَدَّمَتۡ لِغَدٍ۬‌ۖ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ (١٨) وَلَا تَكُونُواْ كَٱلَّذِينَ نَسُواْ ٱللَّهَ فَأَنسَٮٰهُمۡ أَنفُسَہُمۡ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡفَـٰسِقُونَ (١٩)

O you who believe! Have Taqwa of Allah and let every person look to what he has sent forth for the tomorrow and have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what you do. (18) And be not like those who forgot Allah, so He caused them to forget themselves. Those are the rebellious.” (59:18-19)

 Allah warns believers against forgetting Him, which can manifest in various ways—such as neglecting His presence, disregarding His commands, and failing to uphold justice and righteousness. Those who claim to be believers yet abandon prayer, engage in falsehood, commit injustices, break their promises, lack empathy, or sow division among the faithful are, in reality, forgetting Allah. If they do not repent and reform, Allah will cause them to forget themselves, leading them astray from the path of guidance and out of the fold of Islam.

Allah describes such individuals as (ٱلۡفَـٰسِقُونَ) —a term commonly translated as “rebellious,” “sinners,” “transgressors,” or “disobedient.” However, a more fitting translation might be “separated” or “detached from what is valuable and beneficial.”  The root Fasaq (فسق) refers to the skin of ripe date.  This skin is loosened from the fruit and this is discarded. This metaphor suggests that such individuals have become detached from the essence of Islam, rendering them spiritually worthless. When someone separates from the core of faith, they ultimately become deserving of Hellfire.

Allah describes such individuals as (ٱلۡفَـٰسِقُونَ)—a term often translated as “rebellious,” “sinners,” “transgressors,” or “disobedient.” However, a more precise translation might be “separated” or detached from what is valuable and beneficial.”

The root word Fasaq (فسق) refers to the outer skin of a ripe date that loosens from the fruit and is eventually discarded. This metaphor suggests that such individuals have become detached from the essence of Islam, rendering them spiritually insignificant. By distancing themselves from the core of faith, they ultimately become deserving of Hellfire.

Allah emphasizes this reality with the following verse:

لَا يَسۡتَوِىٓ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ وَأَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ‌ۚ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ هُمُ ٱلۡفَآٮِٕزُونَ (٢٠(

“The inhabitants of the Fire and the inhabitants of Paradise are not equal. It is the inhabitants of Paradise who are truly successful.” (59:20)

 Allah continues addressing the believers, not through commands or warnings, but by imparting profound knowledge about the Qur’an and Himself. Instead of imposing direct instructions, He encourages believers to use their intellect to understand the message.

Regarding the Qur’an, Allah states:

لَوۡ أَنزَلۡنَا هَـٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ عَلَىٰ جَبَلٍ۬ لَّرَأَيۡتَهُ ۥ خَـٰشِعً۬ا مُّتَصَدِّعً۬ا مِّنۡ خَشۡيَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ وَتِلۡكَ ٱلۡأَمۡثَـٰلُ نَضۡرِبُہَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ (٢١(

“Had We sent down this Quran upon a mountain, you would have surely seen it humbled and shattered apart from the fear of Allah. Such are the parables We present to mankind so that they may reflect.” (59:21)

If the Qur’an has the power to shake and humble a mountain, should it not stir and transform the heart of a believer?

Allah concludes the Surah by introducing Himself through some of His most Beautiful Names, each reflecting His Power, Majesty, and Perfection:

هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۖ عَـٰلِمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ‌ۖ هُوَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ (٢٢)

“He is Allah—there is no deity except Him—the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.” (59:22)

هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡمَلِكُ ٱلۡقُدُّوسُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُ ٱلۡمُهَيۡمِنُ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡجَبَّارُ ٱلۡمُتَڪَبِّرُ‌ۚ سُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشۡرِڪُونَ (٢٣)

“He is Allah—there is no deity except Him—the King, the Holy, the Source of Peace, the Giver of Faith, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Exalted is Allah above all that they associate with Him.” (59:23)

هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقُ ٱلۡبَارِئُ ٱلۡمُصَوِّرُ‌ۖ لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ‌ۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ (٢٤)

“He is Allah—the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner. To Him belong the most beautiful names. Whatever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Him, and He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” (59:24)

When Allah declares, “He is Allah,” it suggests that He is responding to an unspoken question. But what is the question?  This implies that for any profound or complex question that arises in the human mind, the ultimate answer is: “He is Allah.”  Human beings will ask countless questions:

• Who designed?                        Who shaped?
• Who innovated?                       Who created?
• Who gives?                              Who takes away?

The answer to all these inquiries is simply: “He is Allah.”