Surah Al-Mumtahanah, The Woman Examined

Surah 60 · 13 verses · revealed at Medina

Al-Mumtahanah is named after the women who came over to Medina from Mecca and whose sincerity the community was told to examine.

Its occasion was a letter. One of the Muslims sent word to Mecca warning of an expedition, out of concern for his relatives there, and the letter was intercepted. The surah opens on that, and it is severe about the principle while being careful about the man.

It then draws a line that has been quoted in every discussion since about how Muslims should deal with those outside their community. God does not forbid you from being kind and just towards those who have not fought you over religion and have not driven you from your homes. The prohibition is placed only on those who did fight and did drive out, and on helping them to do it.

On the women who arrived, it instructs that they not be sent back if they are found to be sincere, and that what their husbands had paid be returned. The Prophet is also told the terms on which he should accept their pledge, and the list is short and practical.

Abraham appears as the example twice over: as a man who separated himself from his own people's practice, and as a man who nonetheless prayed for his father. The surah quotes his prayer and then notes the one part of it that is not to be imitated.

Surah Al-Mumtahanah on this site

Every link below has been opened and checked to make sure there is something on the other side.

Read

Listen

Download as PDF

← Al-Hashr As-Saff →