Al-Hashr (The Exile)

3. And had it not been that Allah had decreed exile for them, He would certainly have chastised them in this world and in the Hereafter the torment of the Fire shall be in store for them.

4. Such torment is the consequence of their enmity against Allah and His Messenger and whoever entertains enmity against Allah, then indeed, Allah is Severe in chastisement.

The Arabic word jala’ connotes exile owing to affliction and entanglement. The blessed Verse 3 is saying that had it not been that God Almighty had decreed exile for them such that they leave their land, He would certainly have chastised them in this world. Going into exile and leaving behind most of their property accrued in their lifetime was an excruciating torment for them.

The blessed Verse is saying that had it not be decreed by God Almighty to be driven out of their land, another affliction would befall on them that was being slain or captivated at the hands of the Muslims, but God Almighty willed that they roamed homeless in the world and such homelessness was more excruciating to them, since whenever they reminisced their strongholds, mansions, farms, and orchards fallen into the hands of others and recalled that they had become deprived of their possessions roaming homeless in the world, they saw that it was owing to their violation of their pact and involvement in conspiracies against Allah's Messenger (S) that they suffered so many torments and harms.

Thus, God Almighty willed that such self-conceited and deceitful unfaithful people be afflicted with such dire fate, though it was solely their torments in this world. The blessed Verse concludes by saying that torment in the Fire shall be in store for them in the Hereafter. Such is the dire fate in this world and the Hereafter of those who turn away from the truth and justice and immerse themselves in self-conceit and vanity.

Such incident alludes to Divine Omnipotence and the veracity of the Noble Prophet's Call. It also warns all people who act like Banu Nadhir Jews.

The blessed Verse 4 is saying that such torment in this world and the Hereafter befalls them owing to their disobedience to God Almighty and His Messenger (S). Whoever rises in enmity against God Almighty shall be chastised by Him since He is Severe in chastisement.

It is worthy of note that the Arabic verbal form

shaqu (“they opposed”) derives from the root sh-q-q (“split”). The Arabic verbal noun shiqaq originally denotes “splitting” and the same is applied to confrontation of the enemies since they split themselves from others.