Juz 28: Al-Mujādilah to At-Taḥrīm
Section 10 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
10. Treatment of Women Who Migrate for Faith
The latter part of Surah Al-Mumtahanah addresses an important issue concerning women who migrated from Makkah to Madinah, having embraced Islam while their husbands remained disbelievers. Following the Treaty of Hudaybiyah, which stipulated that Muslims would return any Makkan who came to them seeking refuge, a question arose about women who fled to Madinah for religious reasons. This section provides guidance on this matter:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا جَاءَكُمُ الْمُؤْمِنَاتُ مُهَاجِرَاتٍ فَامْتَحِنُوهُنَّ
“O you who believe, when the believing women come to you as emigrants, put them to a test." (60:10)”
The name of the surah, Al-Mumtahanah (The Woman Examined), derives from this verse. When such women came to Madinah claiming to have embraced Islam, the believers were instructed to test them to verify the sincerity of their faith. This examination was to ensure they had not migrated merely to escape from difficult marriages or for other worldly motives, but genuinely for the sake of Islam.
Once their faith was confirmed, they were not to be returned to the disbelievers, as they were no longer lawful for their disbelieving husbands, nor were the disbelieving men lawful for these believing women. The Muslim community was instructed to repay the dowries these women's former husbands had given them, as a matter of justice.
The verse then permits the believers to marry these women after giving them their due mahr (dowry), establishing an important principle in Islamic marriage law. The sanctity of marriage bonds between believers and disbelievers was dissolved, making the believing women eligible for marriage to believing men.
In verse 12, Allah (swt) instructs the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding the bay'ah (pledge of allegiance) from believing women:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِذَا جَاءَكَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتُ يُبَايِعْنَكَ عَلَى أَن لَّا يُشْرِكْنَ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَسْرِقْنَ وَلَا يَزْنِينَ
“O Prophet, when believing women come to you, seeking bai'ah (pledge of allegiance) with you that they will not ascribe any partner to Allah, will not commit theft, will not commit fornication..." (60:12)”
This pledge included commitments to monotheism, honesty, sexual purity, preservation of children's lives, avoidance of false accusations, and general obedience to the Prophet (peace be upon him) in all good matters. This comprehensive pledge established the moral framework for believing women in Islamic society.
The final verse of the surah returns to the theme of not allying with those who have earned Allah's anger:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَوَلَّوْا قَوْمًا غَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ
“O you who believe, do not have friendship with a people with whom Allah is angry." (60:13)”
This reinforces the surah's central message about maintaining clear boundaries with those who oppose Islam, while still allowing for just and kind treatment of those non-Muslims who do not actively fight against the believers.