سُوْرَةُ الْمُمْتَحِنَةِ
Surah Al-Mumtahana (60) — Ayah 10
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا جَآءَكُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتُ مُهَـٰجِرَٰتٍ فَٱمْتَحِنُوهُنَّ ۖ ٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِإِيمَـٰنِهِنَّ ۖ فَإِنْ عَلِمْتُمُوهُنَّ مُؤْمِنَـٰتٍ فَلَا تَرْجِعُوهُنَّ إِلَى ٱلْكُفَّارِ ۖ لَا هُنَّ حِلٌّ لَّهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحِلُّونَ لَهُنَّ ۖ وَءَاتُوهُم مَّآ أَنفَقُوا۟ ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ أَن تَنكِحُوهُنَّ إِذَآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ ۚ وَلَا تُمْسِكُوا۟ بِعِصَمِ ٱلْكَوَافِرِ وَسْـَٔلُوا۟ مَآ أَنفَقْتُمْ وَلْيَسْـَٔلُوا۟ مَآ أَنفَقُوا۟ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ حُكْمُ ٱللَّهِ ۖ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿10﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O you who believe! When believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them; Allâh knows best as to their Faith, then if you ascertain that they are true believers send them not back to the disbelievers. They are not lawful (wives) for the disbelievers nor are the disbelievers lawful (husbands) for them. But give them (the disbelievers) that (amount of money) which they have spent [as their Mahr] to them. And there will be no sin on you to marry them if you have paid their Mahr to them. Likewise hold not the disbelieving women as wives, and ask for (the return of) that which you have spent (as Mahr ) and let them (the disbelievers) ask back for that which they have spent. That is the Judgement of Allâh, He judges between you. And Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O you
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
who
ءَامَنُوٓا۟
āmanū
believe
إِذَا
idhā
When
جَآءَكُمُ
jāakumu
come to you
ٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتُ
l-mu'minātu
the believing women
مُهَـٰجِرَٰتٍۢ
muhājirātin
(as) emigrants
فَٱمْتَحِنُوهُنَّ ۖ
fa-im'taḥinūhunna
then examine them
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
أَعْلَمُ
aʿlamu
(is) most knowing
بِإِيمَـٰنِهِنَّ ۖ
biīmānihinna
of their faith
فَإِنْ
fa-in
And if
عَلِمْتُمُوهُنَّ
ʿalim'tumūhunna
you know them
مُؤْمِنَـٰتٍۢ
mu'minātin
(to be) believers
فَلَا
falā
then (do) not
تَرْجِعُوهُنَّ
tarjiʿūhunna
return them
إِلَى
ilā
to
ٱلْكُفَّارِ ۖ
l-kufāri
the disbelievers
لَا
lā
Not
هُنَّ
hunna
they
حِلٌّۭ
ḥillun
(are) lawful
لَّهُمْ
lahum
for them
وَلَا
walā
and not
هُمْ
hum
they
يَحِلُّونَ
yaḥillūna
are lawful
لَهُنَّ ۖ
lahunna
for them
وَءَاتُوهُم
waātūhum
But give them
مَّآ
mā
what
أَنفَقُوا۟ ۚ
anfaqū
they have spent
وَلَا
walā
And not
جُنَاحَ
junāḥa
any blame
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
upon you
أَن
an
if
تَنكِحُوهُنَّ
tankiḥūhunna
you marry them
إِذَآ
idhā
when
ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ
ātaytumūhunna
you have given them
أُجُورَهُنَّ ۚ
ujūrahunna
their (bridal) dues
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تُمْسِكُوا۟
tum'sikū
hold
بِعِصَمِ
biʿiṣami
to marriage bonds
ٱلْكَوَافِرِ
l-kawāfiri
(with) disbelieving women
وَسْـَٔلُوا۟
wasalū
but ask (for)
مَآ
mā
what
أَنفَقْتُمْ
anfaqtum
you have spent
وَلْيَسْـَٔلُوا۟
walyasalū
and let them ask
مَآ
mā
what
أَنفَقُوا۟ ۚ
anfaqū
they have spent
ذَٰلِكُمْ
dhālikum
That
حُكْمُ
ḥuk'mu
(is the) Judgment
ٱللَّهِ ۖ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
يَحْكُمُ
yaḥkumu
He judges
بَيْنَكُمْ ۚ
baynakum
between you
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
عَلِيمٌ
ʿalīmun
(is) All-Knowing
حَكِيمٌۭ
ḥakīmun
All-Wise
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 10) ➊ {يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اِذَا جَآءَكُمُ الْمُؤْمِنٰتُ مُهٰجِرٰتٍ … :} In these verses, the command regarding several matters arising due to severing ties with the polytheists has been stated, for example, whether the wives of disbelievers who become Muslim and migrate to the Muslims should be returned or not, and whether the marriage between a husband and wife remains intact if one of them becomes Muslim, etc.
➋ At the time of Hudaybiyyah, one of the conditions set by Suhail bin Amr, the representative of the disbelievers, which the Muslims did not accept but Suhail refused to make peace without it, was: [ لاَ يَأْتِيْكَ مِنَّا أَحَدٌ وَ إِنْ كَانَ عَلٰی دِيْنِكَ إِلاَّ رَدَدْتَهُ إِلَيْنَا وَخَلَّيْتَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُ ] [ بخاري، المغازي، باب غزوۃ الحدیبیۃ : ۴۱۸۰،۴۱۸۱ ] “Whoever comes to you from us, even if he is upon your religion, you will return him to us and you will not interfere between us and him.” See the amazing arrangement of Allah that Suhail could not have it written explicitly that women were included in this. In a narration of Sahih Bukhari: [ فَقَالَ سُهَيْلٌ وَ عَلٰی أَنَّهُ لاَ يَأْتِيْكَ مِنَّا رَجُلٌ وَ إِنْ كَانَ عَلٰی دِيْنِكَ إِلاَّ رَدَدْتَهُ إِلَيْنَا ] [بخاري، الشروط، باب الشروط في الجہاد و المصالحۃ … : ۲۷۳۱، ۲۷۳۲ ] “Suhail said, this condition also, that whoever from our side comes to you, even if he is upon your religion, you will return him to us.” After this, the disbelievers could not say why you do not return the women who become Muslim. When the treaty was concluded, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered all the companions to sacrifice and shave their heads and exit ihram. At that time, Suhail’s son Abu Jandal (may Allah be pleased with him) came as a Muslim, so the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) returned him at his father’s request, and during the period of the treaty, whoever man came to him (the Prophet ﷺ) from Makkah, he returned him even if he was a Muslim. Now, several women who had believed migrated and reached Madinah, among them was Umm Kulthum bint Uqbah bin Abi Mu’it. At that time, she was young; her family came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and demanded her return, so Allah revealed guidance. [ بخاري، المغازي، باب غزوۃ الحدیبیۃ : ۴۱۸۰،۴۱۸۱ ]
➌ { فَامْتَحِنُوْهُنَّ اَللّٰهُ اَعْلَمُ بِاِيْمَانِهِنَّ … :} Addressing the believers, it was said that when believing women migrate to you, examine them to see whether they have migrated because of faith or for some other reason. In this examination, you are not responsible for knowing what is hidden in their hearts; this is Allah’s work. Your duty is that if they pledge to those matters which are coming in the next verse (12), then do not return them to the disbelievers. It is noteworthy here that Allah did not command the examination of any man who migrated, because migration and jihad are sufficient for their test. Allah has testified to the sincerity of all the emigrants. (See Hashr: 8) Whereas jihad is not obligatory upon women, through which the genuine and the false are distinguished. (Shanqiti)
➍ { لَا هُنَّ حِلٌّ لَّهُمْ وَ لَا هُمْ يَحِلُّوْنَ لَهُنَّ:} In this, the reason for not returning them has been stated: neither believing women are lawful for the disbelievers nor are disbelieving men lawful for believing women. Therefore, if a woman becomes Muslim, she will be separated from her disbelieving husband. Then, if she waits for her husband to become Muslim and he does, the marriage will remain, even if the woman migrated first and the husband migrated later, as narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them), he said: [ رَدَّ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ابْنَتَهُ زَيْنَبَ عَلٰی أَبِي الْعَاصِ بْنِ الرَّبِيْعِ، بَعْدَ سِتِّ سِنِيْنَ بِالنِّكَاحِ الْأَوَّلِ وَلَمْ يُحْدِثْ نِكَاحًا ] [ترمذي، النکاح، باب ما جاء في الزوجین المشرکین یسلم أحدھما : ۱۱۴۳، وقال الألباني صحیح ] “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) returned his daughter Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) to Abu al-As bin Rabi’ (may Allah be pleased with him) after six years in the first marriage, and did not perform a new marriage.” And if the woman does not wait for her husband to become Muslim, she is permitted to marry any Muslim, as will be mentioned ahead.
➎ { وَ اٰتُوْهُمْ مَّاۤ اَنْفَقُوْا:} That is, the polytheist husbands of the Muslim women who migrated should be given back what they spent on their marriage. Note that these rulings are about the women of those polytheists who have a treaty with the Muslims.
➏ {وَ لَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ اَنْ تَنْكِحُوْهُنَّ اِذَاۤ اٰتَيْتُمُوْهُنَّ اُجُوْرَهُنَّ:} That is, if they do not wait for their husbands to become Muslim and wish to marry, then the Muslims are permitted to marry them, provided the necessary conditions for marriage are fulfilled, such as the permission of the guardian, completion of the waiting period, payment of the dowry, etc.
➐ {وَ لَا تُمْسِكُوْا بِعِصَمِ الْكَوَافِرِ: ’’عِصَمٌ‘‘ ’’عِصْمَةٌ‘‘} is the plural of `ismah`, meaning marriage, and {’’ الْكَوَافِرِ ‘‘ ’’كَافِرَةٌ‘‘} is the plural, just as {’’ضَارِبَةٌ‘‘} is the plural of {’’ضَوَارِبُ‘‘}, disbelieving women. That is, those men who become Muslim and their wives remain upon disbelief, it is not permissible for them to keep them in their marriage, rather it is obligatory to divorce them. Thus, it is narrated from Miswar and Marwan bin Hakam that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) made a treaty with the disbelievers of Quraysh on the day of Hudaybiyyah, some believing women came to him, so Allah revealed these verses: « يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اِذَا جَآءَكُمُ الْمُؤْمِنٰتُ مُهٰجِرٰتٍ … وَ لَا تُمْسِكُوْا بِعِصَمِ الْكَوَافِرِ » [ الممتحنۃ : ۱۰ ] “O you who have believed! When believing women come to you as emigrants… and do not hold back the bonds of disbelieving women.” So Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) divorced his two (polytheist) wives that day, one of whom was married by Muawiyah bin Abu Sufyan and the other by Safwan bin Umayyah (who were polytheists at that time). [ بخاري، الشروط، باب الشروط في الجہاد… : ۲۷۳۱،۲۷۳۲ ] Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said that Qareebah bint Abi Umayyah was in the marriage of Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), he divorced her, so Muawiyah bin Abu Sufyan married her, and Umm Hakim bint Abu Sufyan was in the marriage of Iyas bin Ghanm Fahri, he divorced her, so Abdullah bin Uthman Thaqafi married her. [ بخاري، الطلاق، باب نکاح من أسلم من المشرکات و عدتہن : ۵۲۸۷ ]
➑ {وَ سْـَٔلُوْا مَاۤ اَنْفَقْتُمْ وَ لْيَسْـَٔلُوْا مَاۤ اَنْفَقُوْا … :} Its conjunction is on {’’ وَ اٰتُوْهُمْ مَّاۤ اَنْفَقُوْا ‘‘}. The women who migrated were either from those polytheists with whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was at war. Regarding them, Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said: “The relationship of the polytheists with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and the believers was of two types: one, the polytheists of war (those at war), he (peace and blessings be upon him) fought them and they fought him, and the other, the polytheists of treaty (those with a pact). If a woman from the polytheists of war migrated, she would not be proposed for marriage until she became pure after menstruation. When she became pure, marriage was lawful for her. Then, if her husband migrated before her marriage, she would be returned to him. If any of their slaves or slave-girls migrated, both would become free and would have the same rights as other emigrants. (Then regarding the polytheists of treaty, he mentioned as in the narration of Mujahid) And if any slave or slave-girl of the polytheists of treaty migrated, they would not be returned, but their prices would be given.” [ بخاري، الطلاق، باب نکاح من أسلم من المشرکات وعدتھن : ۵۲۸۶ ]
The second type of Muslim women who migrated were the wives of those polytheists with whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had a peace treaty. The ruling about them is stated in this verse: do not return them to the polytheists, rather, give back to them what they spent on their marriage, and do not hold back disbelieving women, rather, divorce them. And since there is peace between you, whatever you spent on those polytheist women whom you have left, you may demand it from the polytheists, and they may demand from you what they spent on the women who migrated to you.
➋ At the time of Hudaybiyyah, one of the conditions set by Suhail bin Amr, the representative of the disbelievers, which the Muslims did not accept but Suhail refused to make peace without it, was: [ لاَ يَأْتِيْكَ مِنَّا أَحَدٌ وَ إِنْ كَانَ عَلٰی دِيْنِكَ إِلاَّ رَدَدْتَهُ إِلَيْنَا وَخَلَّيْتَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُ ] [ بخاري، المغازي، باب غزوۃ الحدیبیۃ : ۴۱۸۰،۴۱۸۱ ] “Whoever comes to you from us, even if he is upon your religion, you will return him to us and you will not interfere between us and him.” See the amazing arrangement of Allah that Suhail could not have it written explicitly that women were included in this. In a narration of Sahih Bukhari: [ فَقَالَ سُهَيْلٌ وَ عَلٰی أَنَّهُ لاَ يَأْتِيْكَ مِنَّا رَجُلٌ وَ إِنْ كَانَ عَلٰی دِيْنِكَ إِلاَّ رَدَدْتَهُ إِلَيْنَا ] [بخاري، الشروط، باب الشروط في الجہاد و المصالحۃ … : ۲۷۳۱، ۲۷۳۲ ] “Suhail said, this condition also, that whoever from our side comes to you, even if he is upon your religion, you will return him to us.” After this, the disbelievers could not say why you do not return the women who become Muslim. When the treaty was concluded, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered all the companions to sacrifice and shave their heads and exit ihram. At that time, Suhail’s son Abu Jandal (may Allah be pleased with him) came as a Muslim, so the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) returned him at his father’s request, and during the period of the treaty, whoever man came to him (the Prophet ﷺ) from Makkah, he returned him even if he was a Muslim. Now, several women who had believed migrated and reached Madinah, among them was Umm Kulthum bint Uqbah bin Abi Mu’it. At that time, she was young; her family came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and demanded her return, so Allah revealed guidance. [ بخاري، المغازي، باب غزوۃ الحدیبیۃ : ۴۱۸۰،۴۱۸۱ ]
➌ { فَامْتَحِنُوْهُنَّ اَللّٰهُ اَعْلَمُ بِاِيْمَانِهِنَّ … :} Addressing the believers, it was said that when believing women migrate to you, examine them to see whether they have migrated because of faith or for some other reason. In this examination, you are not responsible for knowing what is hidden in their hearts; this is Allah’s work. Your duty is that if they pledge to those matters which are coming in the next verse (12), then do not return them to the disbelievers. It is noteworthy here that Allah did not command the examination of any man who migrated, because migration and jihad are sufficient for their test. Allah has testified to the sincerity of all the emigrants. (See Hashr: 8) Whereas jihad is not obligatory upon women, through which the genuine and the false are distinguished. (Shanqiti)
➍ { لَا هُنَّ حِلٌّ لَّهُمْ وَ لَا هُمْ يَحِلُّوْنَ لَهُنَّ:} In this, the reason for not returning them has been stated: neither believing women are lawful for the disbelievers nor are disbelieving men lawful for believing women. Therefore, if a woman becomes Muslim, she will be separated from her disbelieving husband. Then, if she waits for her husband to become Muslim and he does, the marriage will remain, even if the woman migrated first and the husband migrated later, as narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them), he said: [ رَدَّ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ابْنَتَهُ زَيْنَبَ عَلٰی أَبِي الْعَاصِ بْنِ الرَّبِيْعِ، بَعْدَ سِتِّ سِنِيْنَ بِالنِّكَاحِ الْأَوَّلِ وَلَمْ يُحْدِثْ نِكَاحًا ] [ترمذي، النکاح، باب ما جاء في الزوجین المشرکین یسلم أحدھما : ۱۱۴۳، وقال الألباني صحیح ] “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) returned his daughter Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) to Abu al-As bin Rabi’ (may Allah be pleased with him) after six years in the first marriage, and did not perform a new marriage.” And if the woman does not wait for her husband to become Muslim, she is permitted to marry any Muslim, as will be mentioned ahead.
➎ { وَ اٰتُوْهُمْ مَّاۤ اَنْفَقُوْا:} That is, the polytheist husbands of the Muslim women who migrated should be given back what they spent on their marriage. Note that these rulings are about the women of those polytheists who have a treaty with the Muslims.
➏ {وَ لَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ اَنْ تَنْكِحُوْهُنَّ اِذَاۤ اٰتَيْتُمُوْهُنَّ اُجُوْرَهُنَّ:} That is, if they do not wait for their husbands to become Muslim and wish to marry, then the Muslims are permitted to marry them, provided the necessary conditions for marriage are fulfilled, such as the permission of the guardian, completion of the waiting period, payment of the dowry, etc.
➐ {وَ لَا تُمْسِكُوْا بِعِصَمِ الْكَوَافِرِ: ’’عِصَمٌ‘‘ ’’عِصْمَةٌ‘‘} is the plural of `ismah`, meaning marriage, and {’’ الْكَوَافِرِ ‘‘ ’’كَافِرَةٌ‘‘} is the plural, just as {’’ضَارِبَةٌ‘‘} is the plural of {’’ضَوَارِبُ‘‘}, disbelieving women. That is, those men who become Muslim and their wives remain upon disbelief, it is not permissible for them to keep them in their marriage, rather it is obligatory to divorce them. Thus, it is narrated from Miswar and Marwan bin Hakam that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) made a treaty with the disbelievers of Quraysh on the day of Hudaybiyyah, some believing women came to him, so Allah revealed these verses: « يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اِذَا جَآءَكُمُ الْمُؤْمِنٰتُ مُهٰجِرٰتٍ … وَ لَا تُمْسِكُوْا بِعِصَمِ الْكَوَافِرِ » [ الممتحنۃ : ۱۰ ] “O you who have believed! When believing women come to you as emigrants… and do not hold back the bonds of disbelieving women.” So Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) divorced his two (polytheist) wives that day, one of whom was married by Muawiyah bin Abu Sufyan and the other by Safwan bin Umayyah (who were polytheists at that time). [ بخاري، الشروط، باب الشروط في الجہاد… : ۲۷۳۱،۲۷۳۲ ] Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said that Qareebah bint Abi Umayyah was in the marriage of Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), he divorced her, so Muawiyah bin Abu Sufyan married her, and Umm Hakim bint Abu Sufyan was in the marriage of Iyas bin Ghanm Fahri, he divorced her, so Abdullah bin Uthman Thaqafi married her. [ بخاري، الطلاق، باب نکاح من أسلم من المشرکات و عدتہن : ۵۲۸۷ ]
➑ {وَ سْـَٔلُوْا مَاۤ اَنْفَقْتُمْ وَ لْيَسْـَٔلُوْا مَاۤ اَنْفَقُوْا … :} Its conjunction is on {’’ وَ اٰتُوْهُمْ مَّاۤ اَنْفَقُوْا ‘‘}. The women who migrated were either from those polytheists with whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was at war. Regarding them, Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said: “The relationship of the polytheists with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and the believers was of two types: one, the polytheists of war (those at war), he (peace and blessings be upon him) fought them and they fought him, and the other, the polytheists of treaty (those with a pact). If a woman from the polytheists of war migrated, she would not be proposed for marriage until she became pure after menstruation. When she became pure, marriage was lawful for her. Then, if her husband migrated before her marriage, she would be returned to him. If any of their slaves or slave-girls migrated, both would become free and would have the same rights as other emigrants. (Then regarding the polytheists of treaty, he mentioned as in the narration of Mujahid) And if any slave or slave-girl of the polytheists of treaty migrated, they would not be returned, but their prices would be given.” [ بخاري، الطلاق، باب نکاح من أسلم من المشرکات وعدتھن : ۵۲۸۶ ]
The second type of Muslim women who migrated were the wives of those polytheists with whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had a peace treaty. The ruling about them is stated in this verse: do not return them to the polytheists, rather, give back to them what they spent on their marriage, and do not hold back disbelieving women, rather, divorce them. And since there is peace between you, whatever you spent on those polytheist women whom you have left, you may demand it from the polytheists, and they may demand from you what they spent on the women who migrated to you.
