Surah 59. Al-Hashr, Ayah 4

For this condemnation of the Banu 'n-Nadir, see note [1] above. As regards my rendering of the verb shaqqu as "they cut themselves off", see note [16] on 8:13 .

The punishment of the Banu Nadhir was because in breaking their plighted word with the Messenger and in actively resisting Allah's Message and supporting the enemies of that Message, they rebelled against him. For such treason and rebellion the punishment is severe, and yet in this case it was seasoned with Mercy.