Adapted from Tafsir Ibn Ashur

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 6^th 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]