Sūrah 60 · Medinan

How Sūrah Al-Mumtahana was revealed.

Where and when it came down, what it teaches, and the hadith about it — all on one calm page.

Read Al-Mumtahana → The revelation story
Where revealed Medinan

Revealed in the Madīnan period, after the migration to Madīnah.

Order of revelation #91

Its place in the traditional order in which the sūrahs were revealed.

Length 13 ayahs

2 reading sections in the Muṣḥaf.

The revelation story

How and when it came down.

This Madinan surah establishes the fundamental principle of loyalty and disavowal (al-walā’ wa-al-barā’), strictly prohibiting alliance with enemies of the faith. It defines the legal and ethical framework for dealing with polytheists, providing a key legal procedure for testing the sincerity of believing women refugees (al-mumtaḥanah), and offering a model for proper conduct through the example of Abraham.

Themes and purpose:

This Madinan surah establishes the fundamental principle of loyalty and disavowal (al-walā’ wa-al-barā’), strictly prohibiting alliance with enemies of the faith. It defines the legal and ethical framework for dealing with polytheists, providing a key legal procedure for testing the sincerity of believing women refugees (al-mumtaḥanah), and offering a model for proper conduct through the example of Abraham.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Madinan by consensus.

Context: The surah was revealed around the 6th year post-Emigration, during and immediately after the negotiation of the Treaty of al-Ḥudaybiyyah. Specifically, the opening of the surah was revealed concerning the Companion Ḥāṭib ibn Abī Baltaʿah, who attempted to send a letter to the Makkans warning them of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) advance. The surah was most likely revealed in order, though some scholars suggest that ayah 10 (about testing believing women) was revealed earlier.

Chronology: It is counted as the 92nd surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat al-Mā’idah and before al-Nisā’.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah is known variously as "Sūrat al-Mumtaḥinah" (The Verse Which Examines) and "Sūrat al-Mumtaḥanah" (The Woman/Women to be Examined), in reference to ayah 10 which legislated the process for establishing the sincerity of faith of women refugees who arrived in Madinah. Similarly, it has been known as "Sūrat al-Imtiḥān" (The Examination). Another name is "Sūrat al-Mawaddah" (The Affection), based on the word appearing in the first ayah.

Ayah Count: 13 ayahs by consensus.

Surah Overview:

  • Warning believers against forming close alliances with the disbelievers who oppose the faith and persecute the Muslims. [1-2]
  • Prohibiting the ties of kinship and affection from superseding religious loyalty. [3]
  • Establishing the model of Abraham as the standard for disavowal from polytheists. [4-6]
  • Allowing kindness and righteous conduct toward disbelievers who have not fought the Muslims or expelled them from their homes. [7-9]
  • The Law of Examination: Legislating the process for testing the faith of women refugees (al-mumtaḥanāt) and forbidding their return to disbelieving husbands. [10]
  • Establishing the law for repaying the dowries of believing women who divorce disbelieving husbands, and vice-versa. [10-11]
  • The Pledge of Allegiance (Bayʿah): Detailing the specific conditions under which believing immigrant women must pledge allegiance to the Prophet (ﷺ) their allegiance. [12]
  • Concluding with a warning against allying with the Jews, as they are like the polytheistswho deny the resurrection. [13]

Sūrah background — via the Quran Foundation Content API. Shown as supplied by the provider. We do not edit, summarise or generate it.

Hadith about this sūrah

What the hadith say.

These 16 narrations in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī are connected to specific āyāt of this sūrah — a linkage reviewed by the Quran Foundation. Open any one to read it in full, in Arabic and English.

  1. Relates to āyah1
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4274

    حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ عَلِيًّا ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَا وَالزُّبَيْرَ وَالْمِقْدَادَ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ انْطَلِقُوا حَتَّى تَأْتُوا رَوْضَةَ خَاخٍ، فَإِنَّ بِهَا ظَعِينَةً مَعَهَا كِتَابٌ، فَخُذُوا مِنْهَا ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ فَانْطَلَقْنَا تَعَادَى بِنَا خَيْلُنَا حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الرَّوْضَةَ، فَإِذَا نَحْنُ بِالظَّعِينَةِ قُلْنَا لَهَا أَخْرِجِي الْكِتَابَ‏.‏ قَالَتْ مَا مَعِي كِتَابٌ‏.‏ فَقُلْنَا لَتُخْرِجِنَّ الْكِتَابَ أَوْ لَنُلْقِيَنَّ الثِّيَابَ، قَالَ فَأَخْرَجَتْهُ مِنْ عِقَاصِهَا، فَأَتَيْنَا بِهِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَإِذَا فِيهِ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى نَاسٍ بِمَكَّةَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، يُخْبِرُهُمْ بِبَعْضِ أَمْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ يَا حَاطِبُ مَا هَذَا ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لاَ تَعْجَلْ عَلَىَّ، إِنِّي كُنْتُ امْرَأً مُلْصَقًا فِي قُرَيْشٍ ـ يَقُولُ كُنْتُ حَلِيفًا وَلَمْ أَكُنْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهَا ـ وَكَانَ مَنْ مَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ مَنْ لَهُمْ قَرَابَاتٌ، يَحْمُونَ أَهْلِيهِمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ، فَأَحْبَبْتُ إِذْ فَاتَنِي ذَلِكَ مِنَ النَّسَبِ فِيهِمْ أَنْ أَتَّخِذَ عِنْدَهُمْ يَدًا يَحْمُونَ قَرَابَتِي، وَلَمْ أَفْعَلْهُ ارْتِدَادًا عَنْ دِينِي، وَلاَ رِضًا بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ الإِسْلاَمِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أَمَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ صَدَقَكُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ دَعْنِي أَضْرِبْ عُنُقَ هَذَا الْمُنَافِقِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّهُ قَدْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا، وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ اطَّلَعَ عَلَى مَنْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا قَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ السُّورَةَ ‏﴿‏يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ تُلْقُونَ إِلَيْهِمْ بِالْمَوَدَّةِ‏﴾‏ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ ‏﴿‏فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ‏﴾‏‏.‏

    Narrated `Ali: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent me, Az-Zubair and Al-Miqdad saying, "Proceed till you reach Rawdat Khakh where there is a lady carrying a letter, and take that (letter) from her." So we proceeded on our way with our horses galloping till we reached the Rawda, and there we found the lady and said to her, "Take out the letter." She said, "I have no letter." We said, "Take out the letter, or else we will take off your clothes." So she took it out of her braid, and we brought the letter to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . The letter was addressed from Hatib, bin Abi Balta'a to some pagans of Mecca, telling them about what Allah's Apostle intended to do. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O Hatib! What is this?" Hatib replied, "O Allah's Apostle! Do not make a hasty decision about me. I was a person not belonging to Quraish but I was an ally to them from outside and had no blood relation with them, and all the Emigrants who were with you, have got their kinsmen (in Mecca) who can protect their families and properties. So I liked to do them a favor so that they might protect my relatives as I have no blood relation with them. I did not do this to renegade from my religion (i.e. Islam) nor did I do it to choose Heathenism after Islam." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to his companions." As regards him, he (i.e. Hatib) has told you the truth." `Umar said, "O Allah's Messenger! Allow me to chop off the head of this hypocrite!" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He (i.e. Hatib) has witnessed the Badr battle (i.e. fought in it) and what could tell you, perhaps Allah looked at those who witnessed Badr and said, "O the people of Badr (i.e. Badr Muslim warriors), do what you like, for I have forgiven you. "Then Allah revealed the Surah: "O you who believe! Take not my enemies And your enemies as friends offering them (Your) love even though they have disbelieved in that Truth (i.e. Allah, Prophet Muhammad and this Qur'an) which has come to you ....(to the end of Verse)....(And whosoever of you (Muslims) does that, then indeed he has gone (far) astray (away) from the Straight Path." (Quran 60.1)

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4890
  2. Relates to āyah8
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5978

    حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي، أَخْبَرَتْنِي أَسْمَاءُ ابْنَةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَتْ أَتَتْنِي أُمِّي رَاغِبَةً فِي عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم آصِلُهَا قَالَ ‏"‏ نَعَمْ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِيهَا ‏﴿‏لاَ يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ‏﴾‏

    Narrated Asma' bint Abu Bakr: My mother came to me, hoping (for my favor) during the lifetime of the Prophet. I asked the Prophet, "May I treat her kindly?" He replied, "Yes." Ibn 'Uyaina said, "Then Allah revealed: 'Allah forbids you not with regards to those who fought not against you because of religion, and drove you not out from your homes, that you should show them kindness and deal justly with them.'.......(60.8)

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  3. Relates to āyah10
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2711, 2712 Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2731, 2732
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5288

    حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ،‏.‏ وَقَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، حَدَّثَنِي يُونُسُ، قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ كَانَتِ الْمُؤْمِنَاتُ إِذَا هَاجَرْنَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَمْتَحِنُهُنَّ بِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى ‏﴿‏يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا جَاءَكُمُ الْمُؤْمِنَاتُ مُهَاجِرَاتٍ فَامْتَحِنُوهُنَّ‏﴾‏ إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَمَنْ أَقَرَّ بِهَذَا الشَّرْطِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ فَقَدْ أَقَرَّ بِالْمِحْنَةِ، فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا أَقْرَرْنَ بِذَلِكَ مِنْ قَوْلِهِنَّ قَالَ لَهُنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ انْطَلِقْنَ فَقَدْ بَايَعْتُكُنَّ ‏"‏، لاَ وَاللَّهِ مَا مَسَّتْ يَدُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَ امْرَأَةٍ قَطُّ، غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ بَايَعَهُنَّ بِالْكَلاَمِ، وَاللَّهِ مَا أَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى النِّسَاءِ إِلاَّ بِمَا أَمَرَهُ اللَّهُ يَقُولُ لَهُنَّ إِذَا أَخَذَ عَلَيْهِنَّ ‏"‏ قَدْ بَايَعْتُكُنَّ ‏"‏‏.‏ كَلاَمًا‏.‏

    Narrated `Aisha: (the wife of the Prophet) When believing women came to the Prophet (ﷺ) as emigrants, he used to test them in accordance with the order of Allah. 'O you who believe! When believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them . . .' (60.10) So if anyone of those believing women accepted the above mentioned conditions, she accepted the conditions of faith. When they agreed on those conditions and confessed that with their tongues, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) would say to them, "Go, I have accepted your oath of allegiance (for Islam). By Allah, and hand of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) never touched the hand of any woman, but he only used to take their pledge of allegiance orally. By Allah, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) did not take the pledge of allegiance of the women except in accordance with what Allah had ordered him. When he accepted their pledge of allegiance he would say to them, "I have accepted your oath of allegiance."

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The link between each āyah and these narrations is the Quran Foundation's reviewed reference map. The wording is reproduced verbatim from a public-domain edition of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and is not edited, summarised or generated; every narration also opens at Sunnah.com so it can be checked against another copy.

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