Draft:Verse of Isar

Verse of Isar

Verse's Information
Name	Verse of Ithar
Sura	al-Hashr (Qur'an 59)
Verse	9
Juz'	28
Content Information
Cause of Revelation	Ithar of the Ansar in donating their properties and the spoils of Banu Nadir to the Muhajirun
Place of Revelation	Medina
About	Ansar

Qur'an 59:9, known as the Verse of Īthār (Arabic: آية الإيثار), is the ninth verse of Sura al-Hashr, which is considered to be revealed regarding the Ansar. Some exegetes believe there is no disagreement that this verse was revealed concerning the Ansar. At the beginning of the verse, God describes the Ansar as those who settled in Medina before the Muhajirun (Emigrants) migrated there and hosted the Prophet (s) and the Emigrants in the best manner. They believed before the Emigrants came to Medina.

Continuing, the verse mentions three descriptions for the Ansar: "they love those who migrated toward them," "they find in their breasts no need for that which has been given to them [the Emigrants]," and "they prefer [the Emigrants] over themselves, even though poverty be their own lot." Thus, it enumerates "love," "high-mindedness" (generosity), and "Ithar" (selflessness) as three characteristics of the Ansar.

“ وَالَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُوا الدَّارَ وَالْإِيمَانَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ يُحِبُّونَ مَنْ هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ حَاجَةً مِمَّا أُوتُوا وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ ۚ وَمَنْ يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

[They are as well] for those who were settled in the land and [abided] in faith before them, who love those who migrate toward them, and do not find in their breasts any privation for that which is given to them, but prefer [the Immigrants] to themselves, though poverty be their own lot. And those who are saved from their own greed—it is they who are the felicitous. ” — Qur'an 59: 9

Exegetical sources have mentioned occasions of revelation for the Verse of Ithar, some of which are:

1. When dividing the spoils of the Banu Nadir tribe, the Prophet (s) gave the Ansar a choice: either share your properties and houses with the Muhajirun and then share in these spoils with them, or keep your properties and houses for yourselves but take no share of the spoils. The Ansar replied that they would share their properties with the Muhajirun and would not want a share of the spoils. According to Muhammad Muhammadi Rayshahri in the Encyclopedia of the Quran and Hadith, most exegetes have accepted this occasion of revelation and considered it consistent with the appearance of the verse.
2. A hungry person came to the Prophet (s) and asked for food. Upon learning there was no food in his own home, the Prophet (s) asked his companions, "Who can host this person?" Exegetical sources mention an Ansari man who accepted to take the guest home, even though he only had enough food for his children. He and his wife extinguished the lamp and put the children to sleep. They placed the food before the guest and sat at the meal cloth with him, pretending to eat without putting any food in their mouths so the guest would think they were eating with him, while they slept hungry.
3. In narrative sources, the story of the Ansari man has also been narrated regarding Imam 'Ali (a) and Lady Fatima (a); however, some exegetes believe this verse was revealed regarding the Ansar, and what is narrated regarding Imam 'Ali (a) and Lady Fatima (a) is more of an application (taṭbiq) of the verse; meaning this event occurred after the revelation of the verse, and the content of the verse can be applied to them as well.Allama Tabataba'i considers these stories as instances of application, meaning the verse applies to their story as well, but they are not the specific occasion of revelation.