Al‑Mumtahanah (Arabic: ٱلْمُؤْمِنَاتُ, also transliterated as Al‑Mumtahina or Al‑Mumtahanah) is the 60th chapter (sūrah) of the Qurʾān, the holy book of Islam. It is classified as a Medinan surah, meaning it was revealed after the Prophet Muḥammad’s migration (hijrah) to the city of Medina. The surah consists of 13 verses (āyāt) and is traditionally understood to address the conduct of Muslim women in relation to non‑Muslim women, particularly concerning loyalty, allegiance, and the testing of faith.
Title and Meaning
The name Al‑Mumtahanah is derived from the Arabic root m‑t‑h‑n (م‑ت‑ه‑ن), which conveys the concept of testing or examining. The title is generally rendered in English as “The Examined Woman,” “The Tested One,” or “She Who is Tested.” This reflects the surah’s focus on the circumstances under which a Muslim woman might be tested in her faith, especially when her familial ties involve non‑Muslim relatives.
Structure and Content
- Verses 1‑3: Introduce a scenario involving a Muslim woman who has been “tested” through her association with non‑Muslim relatives. The verses command believers to maintain loyalty to the Qurʾān and the Prophet while restricting certain relationships with the woman’s family if they oppose Islam.
- Verses 4‑6: Provide guidance on the treatment of those who have adopted Islam and then later renounced it, emphasizing fairness and justice in dealings.
- Verses 7‑9: Address the principle of taḥrīm (prohibition) of alliances with non‑believers who have hostilities toward Muslims, while allowing for peaceful coexistence with those who do not oppose Islam.
- Verses 10‑13: Emphasize the importance of maintaining peace, justice, and mutual respect, encouraging the believers to trust in Allah’s guidance and to avoid unjust behavior.
Themes
- Loyalty and Faithfulness: The surah underscores the primacy of allegiance to Allah and the Muslim community, especially when faced with familial or social pressure.
- Justice and Fair Treatment: It calls for equitable conduct towards both believers and non‑believers, prohibiting oppression and encouraging fair resolution of disputes.
- Social Relations: The text provides directives on how to manage relationships with non‑Muslim relatives, balancing compassion with adherence to religious principles.
- Testing of Faith: The notion that believers may undergo trials that test their commitment is a recurrent motif throughout the Qurʾān and is emphasized in this chapter.
Historical Context
Scholars generally place the revelation of Al‑Mumtahanah in the early Medinan period, likely around the sixth year after the hijrah (approximately 627–628 CE). This period corresponds with increasing interactions between the Muslim community in Medina and neighboring Jewish and pagan tribes, leading to social and political complexities that the surah addresses.
Classification
- Meccan vs. Medinan: Al‑Mumtahanah is classified as a Medinan surah.
- Rukūʿ (Sections): The surah is often divided into two rukūʿ (sections) for recitation purposes: verses 1‑5 and verses 6‑13.
Significance in Islamic Practice
- Recitation: The surah is included in the daily ḥifẓ (memorization) curriculum for Muslims learning the Qurʾān.
- Jurisprudence (Fiqh): Certain verses are cited in discussions of nikāḥ (marriage) and mawlā (affiliation) laws, particularly regarding the status of women who convert to Islam after having been married to non‑Muslim men.
- Theology: The concept of imtihān (testing) derived from the surah’s title informs broader theological discourse on how trials shape spiritual development.
Bibliographic References
- The Qurʾān, translation by M. A. S. Abdel Haleem (Oxford University Press, 2004).
- The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary (Harvard University Press, 2015).
- Al‑Tabarī, Jāmiʿ al‑bayan fī tafsīr al‑Qurʾān (10th c.).
- Ibn Kathīr, Tafsīr al‑Qurʾān al‑Azīm (14th c.).
These sources provide scholarly commentary and contextual analysis of Al‑Mumtahanah within the Qurʾānic corpus.
