The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 5) — Page 237
CHAPTER 60 AL-MUMTAHINAH (Revealed after Hijrah) Title, Date of Revelation, and Context Like its three predecessors this Sūrah was revealed, as its contents show, at Medina, in the 7th or 8th year of Hijrah, sometime during the interval between the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah and the Fall of Mecca. The Surah takes its title from the 11th verse in which it is enjoined that believing women should be examined when they come as refugees. The preceding Surah had dealt with the intrigues and machinations of the hypocrites and the Jews of Medina and with the punishment which was meted out to them. The present Sūrah deals with the believers' social relations with disbelievers in general, and with those at war with Islam in particular, making a pointed reference to the status and position in Muslim society of believing women who migrated to Medina, and also to those disbelieving women who left their believing husbands at Medina and went to Mecca. Subject Matter The Surah opens with an emphatic prohibitory injunction to Muslims against having friendly relations with those disbelievers who are at war with, and are bent upon extirpating Islam. The injunction is so strict and comprehensive that even very near blood relationships have not been exempted from it. The noble conduct in this respect of the Patriarch Abraham, who did not hesitate to sever all connections with his uncle, Āzar, who had proved himself to be an enemy of God, has been held out as an example to be followed. The prohibitory injunction is followed by an implied prophecy that very soon the implacable enemies of Islam would become its devoted followers. The injunction, however, has its exception. It does not apply to those disbelievers who have good neighbourly relations with Muslims and are not inimically disposed towards them. Such disbelievers are to be treated equitably and with kindness. Next, the Surah lays down some important directions with regard to believing women who migrated to Medina, and also with regard to women who left Medina and went over to disbelievers. In order to bring home to Muslims the seriousness and importance of the matter, the Surah closes with a reminder of the injunction that Muslims are not to make friends with those people, who, by adopting an openly hostile attitude towards Islam, have incurred God's wrath. 3133