وَلَوْلَآ أَن كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْجَلَآءَ لَعَذَّبَهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابُ ٱلنَّارِ 3
Translations
And if not that Allāh had decreed for them evacuation, He would have punished them in [this] world, and for them in the Hereafter is the punishment of the Fire.
Transliteration
Wa law lā an kataba Allāhu ʿalayhimu al-jalāʾa laʿadhdhabhum fī ad-dunyā wa lahum fī al-ākhirati ʿadhābu an-nār
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the expulsion of Banū Naḍīr, a Jewish tribe from Medina, and states that had Allah not decreed exile (al-jalāʾ) as their punishment in this world, He would have punished them with torment in the worldly life as well. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the exile itself was a merciful alternative to a more severe punishment, though they still face the punishment of Hellfire in the Hereafter for their betrayal and covenant-breaking with the Prophet (ﷺ). This demonstrates Allah's wisdom in choosing the most appropriate punishment and His attribute of justice combined with mercy.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of Surah Al-Hashr (year 4 AH), which details the expulsion of Banū Naḍīr from Medina following their treachery during the siege of the Bani Qaynuqāʿ and their plot to assassinate the Prophet (ﷺ). The surah commemorates this event as a sign of Allah's victory for the believers and His punishment for those who break their covenants.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim contain narrations about the expulsion of Banū Naḍīr, including the Prophet's (ﷺ) command for them to leave Medina and the subsequent establishment of the jizya system. Additionally, hadith in Tirmidhi discusses the covenant-breaking of the Jewish tribes and their breach of the Constitutional agreement with the Prophet.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah's punishments are measured with wisdom and justice—sometimes a worldly consequence serves as both a deterrent and an act of mercy compared to what could be. Believers should reflect on the seriousness of breaking oaths and agreements, as betrayal carries both immediate and eternal consequences in the sight of Allah.
Related Ayahs
أَفَحُكْمَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَ ۚ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حُكْمًا لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
Then is it the judgement of [the time of] ignorance they desire? But who is better than Allāh in judgement for a people who are certain [in faith].
قَالَ أَنظِرْنِىٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ
[Satan] said, "Reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected."
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ظَالِمِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ فِيمَ كُنتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ ٱللَّهِ وَٰسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُوا۟ فِيهَا ۚ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
Indeed, those whom the angels take [in death] while wronging themselves - [the angels] will say, "In what [condition] were you?" They will say, "We were oppressed in the land." They [the angels] will say, "Was not the earth of Allāh spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?" For those, their refuge is Hell - and evil it is as a destination.
قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا ذَلُولٌ تُثِيرُ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَلَا تَسْقِى ٱلْحَرْثَ مُسَلَّمَةٌ لَّا شِيَةَ فِيهَا ۚ قَالُوا۟ ٱلْـَٔـٰنَ جِئْتَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ فَذَبَحُوهَا وَمَا كَادُوا۟ يَفْعَلُونَ
He said, "He says, 'It is a cow neither trained to plow the earth nor to irrigate the field, one free from fault with no spot upon her.'" They said, "Now you have come with the truth." So they slaughtered her, but they could hardly do it.