Surah Al-Hashr Verse 7

5379 The Jews had originally come from outside Arabia , and seized on the land near Madinah. They refused to adapt themselves to the people of Arabia , and were in fact a morn in the side of the genuine Arabs of Madinah. Their dispossession is therefore a restoration of the land to its original people. But the word Fa' is here understood in a technical sense, as meaning property abandoned by the enemy or taken from him without a formal war. In that sense it is distinguished from Anfal, or spoils, taken after actual fighting, about which see 8:1, 41. 5380 The people of the townships: the townships were the Jewish setlements round Madinah, of Banu al Nadir and possibly of other tribes. Cf. the "townships" mentioned in 59:14 below. The reference cannot be to Wadi al Qura ( Valley of Towns ), now Mada'in Salih, which was subjugated after Khaybar and Fadak in A.H. 7, unless this verse is later than the rest of the Surah. 5381 Belongs to Allah: i.e., to Allah's Cause; and the beneficiaries are further detailed. No shares are fixed; they depend upon circumstances, and are left to the judgement of the Leader. Compare a similar list of those entitled to Charity, in 2:177, but the two lists refer to different circumstances and have different beneficiaries in addition to the portion common to both. 5381-A Alternatively these words may be translated: "So take what the Messenger gives you, and refrain from what he prohibits you". [Eds.].