Al-Mumtahana (ٱلْمُمْتَحَنَة)

Surah Al-Mumtahana (الْمُمْتَحِنَة) is the 60th chapter of the Quran and derives its name from the word "Al-Mumtahana," which means "The Woman to be Examined," which references the examination of the faith of emigrant women which is mentioned in 60:10. The Surah is situated in the 28th Juz (Para) and consists of 13 verses (ayah) divided into 2 Ruku (sections). It follows Surah Al-Hashr and precedes Surah As-Saff. Scholars unanimously agree that Surah Al-Mumtahana is a Madni Surah, revealed during the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) time in Medina after his Hijrah from Makkah.

The historical context of Surah Al-Mumtahana is intricately linked to the early period of time after the Muslims' migration to Madina. The revelation of this surah occurred around the time of the Treaty of Hudaybiyah. After their hijra from Mecca, the Muslim community in Medina had to deal with many issues, one of which was how Muslim women refugees from Mecca were to be treated. And new questions arose about their status and under what circumstances it is permissible to include them among the Muslims. The surah gives specific instructions on how they can go about the situation and, at the same time, protect themselves and treat them fairly, knowing that they can betray, doubt, and break the bonds of loyalty, faith, and community relations. 

A key verse in this Surah 60:8 states, "Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes—from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) loves those who act justly". This verse underscores the concept of equity and right actions towards anyone, whether Muslims or non-Muslims, provided such people are not enemies of society.

٦٠ - ٱلْمُمْتَحَنَة

60 - Al-Mumtahana

يٰۗاَيُّہَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَتَّخِذُوْا عَدُوِّيْ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ اَوْلِيَاۗءَ تُلْقُوْنَ اِلَيْہِمْ بِالْمَوَدَّۃِ وَقَدْ كَفَرُوْا بِمَا جَاۗءَكُمْ مِّنَ الْحَـقِّ۝۰ۚ يُخْرِجُوْنَ الرَّسُوْلَ وَاِيَّاكُمْ اَنْ تُؤْمِنُوْا بِاللہِ رَبِّكُمْ۝۰ۭ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ خَرَجْتُمْ جِہَادًا فِيْ سَبِيْلِيْ وَ ابْتِغَاۗءَ مَرْضَاتِيْ۝۰ۤۖ تُسِرُّوْنَ اِلَيْہِمْ بِالْمَوَدَّۃِ۝۰ۤۖ وَاَنَا اَعْلَمُ بِمَاۗ اَخْفَيْتُمْ وَمَاۗ اَعْلَنْتُمْ۝۰ۭ وَمَنْ يَّفْعَلْہُ مِنْكُمْ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَاۗءَ السَّبِيْلِ۝۱
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo la tattakhithoo AAaduwwee waAAaduwwakum awliyaa tulqoona ilayhim bialmawaddati waqad kafaroo bima jaakum mina alhaqqi yukhrijoona alrrasoola waiyyakum an tuminoo biAllahi rabbikum in kuntum kharajtum jihadan fee sabeelee waibtighaa mardatee tusirroona ilayhim bialmawaddati waana aAAlamu bima akhfaytum wama aAAlantum waman yafAAalhu minkum faqad dalla sawaa alssabeeli

English

Ahmed Ali

O YOU WHO BELIEVE, do not take My enemies and your enemies as friends. You show kindness to them, but they reject the true way that has come to you. They expelled the Prophet and you, for you believe in God your Lord. If you have come out to struggle in My cause having sought My acceptance, (do not be) friendly with them in secret. I know what you hide and what you disclose. Whoever of you does this will have gone astray from the right path.

1

اِنْ يَّثْقَفُوْكُمْ يَكُوْنُوْا لَكُمْ اَعْدَاۗءً وَّيَبْسُطُوْۗا اِلَيْكُمْ اَيْدِيَہُمْ وَاَلْسِنَتَہُمْ بِالسُّوْۗءِ وَوَدُّوْا لَوْ تَكْفُرُوْنَ۝۲ۭ
In yathqafookum yakoonoo lakam aAAdaan wayabsutoo ilaykum aydiyahum waalsinatahum bialssooi wawaddoo law takfuroona

English

Ahmed Ali

If they gain ascendancy over you, they will become your enemies, and employ their hands and tongues with evil designs, and wish that you also became disbelievers.

2

لَنْ تَنْفَعَكُمْ اَرْحَامُكُمْ وَلَاۗ اَوْلَادُكُمْ۝۰ۚۛ يَوْمَ الْقِيٰمَۃِ۝۰ۚۛ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَكُمْ۝۰ۭ وَاللہُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ بَصِيْرٌ۝۳
Lan tanfaAAakum arhamukum wala awladukum yawma alqiyamati yafsilu baynakum waAllahu bima taAAmaloona baseerun

English

Ahmed Ali

Neither your blood relations nor your children will be of any avail to you on the Day of Resurrection. He will judge between you, for God sees what you do.

3

قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ اُسْوَۃٌ حَسَـنَۃٌ فِيْۗ اِبْرٰہِيْمَ وَالَّذِيْنَ مَعَہٗ۝۰ۚ اِذْ قَالُوْا لِقَوْمِہِمْ اِنَّا بُرَءٰۗؤُا مِنْكُمْ وَمِمَّا تَعْبُدُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِ اؘ۝۰ۡكَفَرْنَا بِكُمْ وَبَدَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَۃُ وَالْبَغْضَاۗءُ اَبَدًا حَتّٰى تُؤْمِنُوْا بِاللہِ وَحْدَہٗۗ اِلَّا قَوْلَ اِبْرٰہِيْمَ لِاَبِيْہِ لَاَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ وَمَاۗ اَمْلِكُ لَكَ مِنَ اللہِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ۝۰ۭ رَبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَاِلَيْكَ اَنَبْنَا وَاِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيْرُ۝۴
Qad kanat lakum oswatun hasanatun fee ibraheema waallatheena maAAahu ith qaloo liqawmihim inna buraao minkum wamimma taAAbudoona min dooni Allahi kafarna bikum wabada baynana wabaynakumu alAAadawatu waalbaghdao abadan hatta tuminoo biAllahi wahdahu illa qawla ibraheema liabeehi laastaghfiranna laka wama amliku laka mina Allahi min shayin rabbana AAalayka tawakkalna wailayka anabna wailayka almaseeru

English

Ahmed Ali

You have an excellent model in Abraham and those who were with him, when he said to his people: "We are through with you, and those you worship other than God. We reject you. Enmity and hate have come between you and us for ever, unless you believe in God the One," -- except for what he said to his father: "I shall ask forgiveness for you, but I have no power to prevail with God for you." "O Lord, we place our trust in You, and turn to You in penitence, and to You is our returning.

4

رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَۃً لِّلَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا رَبَّنَا۝۰ۚ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْعَزِيْزُ الْحَكِيْمُ۝۵
Rabbana la tajAAalna fitnatan lillatheena kafaroo waighfir lana rabbana innaka anta alAAazeezu alhakeemu

English

Ahmed Ali

O Lord, make us not an example of punishment for infidels, and forgive us, O Lord. You are all-mighty and all-wise."

5

لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِيْہِمْ اُسْوَۃٌ حَسَـنَۃٌ لِّمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُوا اللہَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْاٰخِرَ۝۰ۭ وَمَنْ يَّتَوَلَّ فَاِنَّ اللہَ ہُوَالْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيْدُ۝۶ۧ
Laqad kana lakum feehim oswatun hasanatun liman kana yarjoo Allaha waalyawma alakhira waman yatawalla fainna Allaha huwa alghanniyyu alhameedu

English

Ahmed Ali

Those of you who have hope in God and the Last Day have certainly a good example in them. But whosoever turns away, then surely God is above concern, worthy of praise.

6

عَسَى اللہُ اَنْ يَّجْعَلَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ الَّذِيْنَ عَادَيْتُمْ مِّنْہُمْ مَّوَدَّۃً۝۰ۭ وَاللہُ قَدِيْرٌ۝۰ۭ وَاللہُ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِيْمٌ۝۷
AAasa Allahu an yajAAala baynakum wabayna allatheena AAadaytum minhum mawaddatan waAllahu qadeerun waAllahu ghafoorun raheemun

English

Ahmed Ali

It maybe that God will create love between you and your enemies. God is all-powerful, and God is forgiving, ever-merciful.

7

لَا يَنْہٰىكُمُ اللہُ عَنِ الَّذِيْنَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوْكُمْ فِي الدِّيْنِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوْكُمْ مِّنْ دِيَارِكُمْ اَنْ تَبَرُّوْہُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوْۗا اِلَيْہِمْ۝۰ۭ اِنَّ اللہَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِيْنَ۝۸
La yanhakumu Allahu AAani allatheena lam yuqatilookum fee alddeeni walam yukhrijookum min diyarikum an tabarroohum watuqsitoo ilayhim inna Allaha yuhibbu almuqsiteena

English

Ahmed Ali

God does not forbid you from being kind and acting justly towards those who did not fight over faith with you, nor expelled you from your homes. God indeed loves those who are just.

8

اِنَّمَا يَنْہٰىكُمُ اللہُ عَنِ الَّذِيْنَ قٰتَلُوْكُمْ فِي الدِّيْنِ وَاَخْرَجُوْكُمْ مِّنْ دِيَارِكُمْ وَظٰہَرُوْا عَلٰۗي اِخْرَاجِكُمْ اَنْ تَوَلَّوْہُمْ۝۰ۚ وَمَنْ يَّتَوَلَّہُمْ فَاُولٰۗىِٕكَ ہُمُ الظّٰلِمُوْنَ۝۹
Innama yanhakumu Allahu AAani allatheena qatalookum fee alddeeni waakhrajookum min diyarikum wathaharoo AAala ikhrajikum an tawallawhum waman yatawallahum faolaika humu alththalimoona

English

Ahmed Ali

He only forbids you from making friends with those who fought over faith with you and banished you from your homes, and aided in your exile. Whoever makes friends with them is a transgressor.

9

يٰۗاَيُّہَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْۗا اِذَا جَاۗءَكُمُ الْمُؤْمِنٰتُ مُہٰجِرٰتٍ فَامْتَحِنُوْہُنَّ۝۰ۭ اَللہُ اَعْلَمُ بِـاِيْمَانِہِنَّ۝۰ۚ فَاِنْ عَلِمْتُمُوْہُنَّ مُؤْمِنٰتٍ فَلَا تَرْجِعُوْہُنَّ اِلَى الْكُفَّارِ۝۰ۭ لَا ہُنَّ حِلٌّ لَّہُمْ وَلَا ہُمْ يَحِلُّوْنَ لَہُنَّ۝۰ۭ وَاٰتُوْہُمْ مَّاۗ اَنْفَقُوْا۝۰ۭ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ اَنْ تَنْكِحُوْہُنَّ اِذَاۗ اٰتَيْتُمُوْہُنَّ اُجُوْرَہُنَّ۝۰ۭ وَلَا تُمْسِكُوْا بِعِصَمِ الْكَوَافِرِ وَاسْـَٔــلُوْا مَاۗ اَنْفَقْتُمْ وَلْيَسْـَٔــلُوْا مَاۗ اَنْفَقُوْا۝۰ۭ ذٰلِكُمْ حُكْمُ اؘ۝۰ۭ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ۝۰ۭ وَاللہُ عَلِيْمٌ حَكِيْمٌ۝۱۰
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo itha jaakumu almuminatu muhajiratin faimtahinoohunna Allahu aAAlamu bieemanihinna fain AAalimtumoohunna muminatin fala tarjiAAoohunna ila alkuffari la hunna hillun lahum wala hum yahilloona lahunna waatoohum ma anfaqoo wala junaha AAalaykum an tankihoohunna itha ataytumoohunna ojoorahunna wala tumsikoo biAAisami alkawafiri waisaloo ma anfaqtum walyasaloo ma anfaqoo thalikum hukmu Allahi yahkumu baynakum waAllahu AAaleemun hakeemun

English

Ahmed Ali

O believers, when believing women come over to you as refugees, then examine them. God alone is cognisant of their faith. If you find that they are believers, do not send them back to unbelievers. They are not lawful for them, nor are infidels lawful for believing women. Give the unbelievers what they have spent on them. There is no sin if you marry them provided you give their dowers to them. Do not retain your (marriage) ties with unbelieving women. Ask for the return of what you have spent (on them); and the unbelievers should ask for the return of what they have spent. This is the judgement of God. He judges between you. God is all-knowing and all-wise.

10

Surah Al-Mumtahana addresses several key themes and subjects essential for the Muslim community, especially in the context of its socio-political environment during the time of revelation:

Guidance for Muslim Migrants

In Medina, after the hijra of the Muslims from Mecca, some problems arose concerning the position of Muslim women among the new Muslims. Allah provides them with the right direction and that which is suitable as regards them in Surah Al-Mumtahana. This theme provides a foundation of acceptance for the integration of new members and may also contribute to the development of feelings of security and acceptance. 

Importance of Loyalty and Sincerity

The surah also has a clear message to the believers, which is to remain steadfast and be truthful. It calls on the believers to be wary of those who might have ill intentions towards the religion and the people of Islam (60:13). This theme serves as a reminder to believers to keep the right company and avoid anything that might taint their commitment to Islam. 

Exemplary Conduct of Prophet Ibraheem (AS)

Surah Al-Mumtahana explains the correct Islamic conduct as demonstrated by Prophet Ibraheem (AS) when it becomes necessary to cut off all relations with disbelievers, including immediate family. The story of Prophet Ibraheem (AS) turning his back on his own father's polytheism is a clear lesson that submission to Allah should always come first before the ties of blood relationship whenever conflict arises. 

Divine Knowledge and Sovereignty

The surah also emphasizes the sovereignty of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and His foreknowledge of incidents(60:1). This theme emphasizes the belief in the supremacy of the Will of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). Believers are therefore warned that everything that one intends or does is seen by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and that reckoning will be by Him alone. 

Principles of Justice and Compassion

The surah continues to give a message to the people concerning fairness and kindness to his or her neighbors and insists on the love of the almighty Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) for justice. 

Virtues and Benefits of Surah Al-Mumtahana

Reading Surah Al-Mumtahana has numerous advantages related to worship, self-purification, and receiving divine light for one's heart. By following these verses, people can increase their devotion to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) as well as improve their knowledge of Islam. As for the benefits of reciting Surah Al-Mumtahana, one of the most significant aspects is that it influences the believer to ponder about the nature of his dealings and act kindly towards non-Muslims. This reflection process helps in moral development and brings the individual closer to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) also stressed the importance of pondering over the teachings of the Quran. As for the hadith pertaining to the virtues of Surah Al-Mumtahana, although there may be no direct hadith mentioning that one would gain ten good deeds or rewards for reciting it, the general Sunnah is that one is encouraged to recite the Quran. By merely repeating the surah in mind and heart, it imprints its meaning to the hearts of the believers, hence making them have a deeper realization of the divinity of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). In conclusion, Surah Al-Mumtahana is filled with a myriad of lessons and directions for one to follow in their daily life. Through its recitation and pondering, one can improve as a person and be closer to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) because the surah is a guide to the right way of life.