The Test of Faith
Al-Mumtaḥanah
المُمتَحِنَہ
LEARNING POINTS
This surah tells Muslims to be kind and fair to non-Muslims who do not abuse or fight the Muslim community.
Other pieces of advice are given to the Prophet and the believers on how to deal with idol-worshipping women who leave Makkah to join the Muslims in Madinah as well as those who accept Islam.
However, if someone is attacking Muslims, then it is not right to keep good relations with them or trust them with information that may harm the community.
BACKGROUND STORY
After years of fighting between the idol-worshippers and the Muslims of Madinah, the Prophet decided to po peacefully to Makkah for umrah with 1,400 of his compan- ions. Although the Makkans didn't give them access to the Holy Mosque until next year, a 10-year peace agreement was signed at a place called Hudaibiyah, just outside the city of Makkah. However, the idol-worshippers broke the agreement in less than two years by killing Some Muslims.
So, the Prophet told his companions that he was going to lead an army to take over the city.He told everyone not to share this information with anyone in Makkah. However, a companion by the name of Hatib sent a warning letter to the Makkans, hoping that they would pay him back for this favour by protecting his children and relatives-who were still in Makkah-in case the Muslims failed to enter the city. Soon the Prophet received a revelation about what Hațib did. So he sent some companions to stop the letter from reaching Makkah. Hațib was later forgiven. Makkah peacefully surrendered to the Muslim army, and the people of Makkah were excused by the Prophet %. (Recorded by Imam Al-Bukhari & Imam Muslim}
TRUSTING THE ENEMY
1O believers! Do not take My enemies and your enemies as trusted partners, showing them love even though they reject the truth that has come to you. They drove the Messenger and yourselves out of Makkah, just because of your faith in Allah, your Lord. If you truly emigrated to struggle in My cause and seek My pleasure, then do not take them as partners, revealing the secrets of the believers to the idol-worshippers as a sign of love for them, when I know best whatever you hide and whatever you show. And whoever of you does this has truly strayed from the Right Way. 2If they gain power over you, they would be your 'open' enemies, harming you with their hands and tongues, and wishing that you would leave your faith. 3Your relatives and children will not help you on Judgment Day—He will separate you from each other. And Allah sees everything you do.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَتَّخِذُواْ عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمۡ أَوۡلِيَآءَ تُلۡقُونَ إِلَيۡهِم بِٱلۡمَوَدَّةِ وَقَدۡ كَفَرُواْ بِمَا جَآءَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ يُخۡرِجُونَ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَإِيَّاكُمۡ أَن تُؤۡمِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ رَبِّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ خَرَجۡتُمۡ جِهَٰدٗا فِي سَبِيلِي وَٱبۡتِغَآءَ مَرۡضَاتِيۚ تُسِرُّونَ إِلَيۡهِم بِٱلۡمَوَدَّةِ وَأَنَا۠ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَآ أَخۡفَيۡتُمۡ وَمَآ أَعۡلَنتُمۡۚ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡهُ مِنكُمۡ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ 1إِن يَثۡقَفُوكُمۡ يَكُونُواْ لَكُمۡ أَعۡدَآءٗ وَيَبۡسُطُوٓاْ إِلَيۡكُمۡ أَيۡدِيَهُمۡ وَأَلۡسِنَتَهُم بِٱلسُّوٓءِ وَوَدُّواْ لَوۡ تَكۡفُرُونَ 2لَن تَنفَعَكُمۡ أَرۡحَامُكُمۡ وَلَآ أَوۡلَٰدُكُمۡۚ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ يَفۡصِلُ بَيۡنَكُمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِيرٞ3
Verse 2: This refers to verses 80:34-37 which say that family members will be running away from each other on Judgment Day.
the example of ibrahim and followers
4You 'believers' already have an excellent example in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to his 'disbelieving' people, "We have nothing to do with you and whatever 'idols' you worship besides Allah. We reject you. This bad, unfriendly attitude that has come up between both of us will not go away until you believe in Allah alone." Except for the part when Ibrahim said to his father, "I will pray for your forgiveness." But he also told him, "I cannot protect you from Allah at all." 5The believers prayed, "Our Lord! In You we trust. To You we 'always' turn. And to You is the final return. Our Lord! Do not allow us to be abused by the disbelievers. Forgive us, our Lord! You 'alone' are truly the Almighty and Wise." 6You definitely have an excellent example in them for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day. But whoever turns away, then surely Allah is not in need and He deserves praise.
قَدۡ كَانَتۡ لَكُمۡ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٞ فِيٓ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ إِذۡ قَالُواْ لِقَوۡمِهِمۡ إِنَّا بُرَءَٰٓؤُاْ مِنكُمۡ وَمِمَّا تَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَفَرۡنَا بِكُمۡ وَبَدَا بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمُ ٱلۡعَدَٰوَةُ وَٱلۡبَغۡضَآءُ أَبَدًا حَتَّىٰ تُؤۡمِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَحۡدَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَوۡلَ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ لَأَسۡتَغۡفِرَنَّ لَكَ وَمَآ أَمۡلِكُ لَكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَيۡءٖۖ رَّبَّنَا عَلَيۡكَ تَوَكَّلۡنَا وَإِلَيۡكَ أَنَبۡنَا وَإِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ 4رَبَّنَا لَا تَجۡعَلۡنَا فِتۡنَةٗ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا رَبَّنَآۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ 5لَقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِيهِمۡ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٞ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرۡجُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلۡيَوۡمَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡغَنِيُّ ٱلۡحَمِيدُ6
BACKGROUND STORY
Some Muslims were stressed because some of their relatives were enemies to Islam and some. times both sides had to fight each other. The following verse came to comfort those Muslims by giving them hope that maybe one day Allah will bring about peace and harmony between them. Some of the worst enemies of lslam ended up becoming Muslim. {Recorded by Imam Ibn Kathir)
yesterday's enemies,tomarrow's friends
7In time, Allah may bring about good relations between you 'believers' and those of them you 'now' hold as enemies. Allah has the power, and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
۞ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَجۡعَلَ بَيۡنَكُمۡ وَبَيۡنَ ٱلَّذِينَ عَادَيۡتُم مِّنۡهُم مَّوَدَّةٗۚ وَٱللَّهُ قَدِيرٞۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ7
BACKGROUND STORY
Asma', the daughter of Abu Bakr o, asked the Prophet 5, My mother isnot Muslim and she came to visit, hoping to get some gifts from me. Can I give her something? The Prophet #% said, Yes, take good care of your mother. So the following passage was revealed. {Recorded by Imam Al- Bukhari & Imam Muslim}
kindness to non-muslims
8Allah does not forbid you from being kind and fair with those 'non-Muslims' who did not fight or drive you out of your homes. Surely Allah loves those who are fair. 9Allah only forbids you from keeping good relations with those who fought you because of your faith, drove you out of your homes, or supported 'others' in doing so. And whoever takes them as trusted partners, then they are the ones who are 'truly' doing wrong.
لَّا يَنۡهَىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يُقَٰتِلُوكُمۡ فِي ٱلدِّينِ وَلَمۡ يُخۡرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَٰرِكُمۡ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمۡ وَتُقۡسِطُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُقۡسِطِينَ 8إِنَّمَا يَنۡهَىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ قَٰتَلُوكُمۡ فِي ٱلدِّينِ وَأَخۡرَجُوكُم مِّن دِيَٰرِكُمۡ وَظَٰهَرُواْ عَلَىٰٓ إِخۡرَاجِكُمۡ أَن تَوَلَّوۡهُمۡۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُمۡ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ9
BACKGROUND STORY
According to the Hudaibiyah peace agreement (mentioned at the beginning of this surah), Muslims who leave Islam to join the idol-worshippers in Makkah wouldn't be sent back to Madinah, STOP and the idol-worshippers who accept Islam and join the Muslims in Madinah would be sent back to Makkah, except for women. Although the agreement was generally unfair to the Muslims,the Prophet hoped that it would establish peace between the Muslims and the idol-worshippers. According to the following passage, the Muslims are asked to make sure that those women actually moved to Madinah because they loved Islam, not be-cause they just wanted to be separated from their idol-worship- ping husbands. If those women later married Muslim men, their idol-worshipping ex-husbands should take back their marriage gifts. {Recorded by Imam lbn Kathir)
MARRYING FEMALE EMIGRANTS
10O believers! When the believing women come to you as emigrants, test their intentions—their faith is best known to Allah. If you find them to be believers, then do not send them back to the disbelievers. These 'women' are not lawful 'wives' for the disbelievers, and the disbelievers are not lawful 'husbands' for them.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا جَآءَكُمُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتُ مُهَٰجِرَٰتٖ فَٱمۡتَحِنُوهُنَّۖ ٱللَّهُ أَعۡلَمُ بِإِيمَٰنِهِنَّۖ فَإِنۡ عَلِمۡتُمُوهُنَّ مُؤۡمِنَٰتٖ فَلَا تَرۡجِعُوهُنَّ إِلَى ٱلۡكُفَّارِۖ لَا هُنَّ حِلّٞ لَّهُمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحِلُّونَ لَهُنَّۖ وَءَاتُوهُم مَّآ أَنفَقُواْۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ أَن تَنكِحُوهُنَّ إِذَآ ءَاتَيۡتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّۚ وَلَا تُمۡسِكُواْ بِعِصَمِ ٱلۡكَوَافِرِ وَسَۡٔلُواْ مَآ أَنفَقۡتُمۡ وَلۡيَسَۡٔلُواْ مَآ أَنفَقُواْۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ حُكۡمُ ٱللَّهِ يَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَكُمۡۖ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٞ10
WHEN MARRIAGE GIFTS ARE NOT RETURNED TO MUSLIMS
11And if any of your wives leave you to join the disbelievers, and later you take revenge on them, then pay those whose wives have joined the idol-worshippers an amount equal to whatever marriage gift they had paid. And keep Allah in mind—the One in Whom you believe.
وَإِن فَاتَكُمۡ شَيۡءٞ مِّنۡ أَزۡوَٰجِكُمۡ إِلَى ٱلۡكُفَّارِ فَعَاقَبۡتُمۡ فََٔاتُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ ذَهَبَتۡ أَزۡوَٰجُهُم مِّثۡلَ مَآ أَنفَقُواْۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَنتُم بِهِۦ مُؤۡمِنُونَ11
WHEN BECOMING MUSLIM
12O Prophet! When the believing women come to you, giving you their word that they will not make anything equal to Allah, or steal, or have relationships outside of marriage, or lie about who the fathers of their babies are, or disobey you in what is right, then accept their vow and ask Allah to forgive them. Surely Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتُ يُبَايِعۡنَكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن لَّا يُشۡرِكۡنَ بِٱللَّهِ شَيۡٔٗا وَلَا يَسۡرِقۡنَ وَلَا يَزۡنِينَ وَلَا يَقۡتُلۡنَ أَوۡلَٰدَهُنَّ وَلَا يَأۡتِينَ بِبُهۡتَٰنٖ يَفۡتَرِينَهُۥ بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِيهِنَّ وَأَرۡجُلِهِنَّ وَلَا يَعۡصِينَكَ فِي مَعۡرُوفٖ فَبَايِعۡهُنَّ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَهُنَّ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ12
Verse 12: Some idol-worshippers killed their own children (especially girls) when they feared poverty or shame.
TRUSTING THE ENEMY
13O believers! Do not take the people Allah is angry with as your trusted partners. They already have no hope for the Next Life, just like the disbelievers lying in 'their' graves.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَتَوَلَّوۡاْ قَوۡمًا غَضِبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ قَدۡ يَئِسُواْ مِنَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ كَمَا يَئِسَ ٱلۡكُفَّارُ مِنۡ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡقُبُورِ13