In verse 10 of this Surah it has been enjoined that the women who emigrate to dar al-Islam (the Islamic State) and claim to be Muslims, should be examined hence the title Al-Mumtahinah. The word is pronounced both as mumtahinah and as mumtahanah, the meaning according to the first pronunciation being "the Surah which examines", and according to the second, "the woman who is examined."
The Surah deals with two incidents, the time of the occurrence of which is well known historically. The first relates to Hadrat Hatib bin Abz Balta'a, who, a little before the conquest of Makkah, had sent a secret letter to the Quraish chiefs informing them of the Holy Prophet's intention to attack them. The second relates to the Muslim women, who had started emigrating from Makkah to Madinah, after the conclusion of the Truce of Hudaibiyah, and the problem arose whether they also were to be returned to the disbelievers, like the Muslim men, according to the conditions of the Truce. The mention of these two things absolutely determines that this Surah came down during the interval between the Truce of Hudaibiyah and the Conquest of Makkah. Besides, there is a third thing also that has been mentioned at the end of the Surah to the effect; What should the Holy Prophet (upon whom be Allah's peace) make the women to pledge when they come to take the oath of allegiance before him as believers?About this part also the guess is that this too was sent down some time before the conquest of Makkah, for after this conquest a large number of the Quraish women, like their men, were going to enter Islam simultaneously and had to be administered the oath of allegiance collectively.
This Surah has three parts;
The first part consists of vv. 1-9, and the concluding verse 13 also relates to it. In this strong exception has been taken to the act of Hadrat Hatib bin Abi Balta'a in that he had tried to inform the enemy of a very important war secret of the Holy Prophet (upon whom be Allah's peace) only for the sake of safe guarding his family. This would have caused great bloodshed at the conquest of Makkah had it not been made ineffective in time. It would have cost the Muslims many precious lives; many of the Quraish would have been killed, who were to render great services to Islam afterward; the gains which were to accrue from conquering Makkah peacefully would have been lost, and all these serious losses would have resulted only because one of the Muslims had wanted to safeguard his family from the dangers of war. Administering a severe warning at this blunder Allah has taught the believers the lesson that no believer should, under any circumstances and for any motive, have relations of love and friendship with the disbelievers, who are actively hostile to Islam, and a believer should refrain from everything which might be helpful to them in the conflict between Islam and disbelief. However, there is no harm in dealing kindly and justly with those disbelievers, who may not be practically engaged in hostile activities against Islam and persecution of the Muslims.
The second part consists of vv. 10-11. In this a social problem has been settled, which was agitating the minds at that time. There were many Muslim women in Makkah, whose husbands were pagans, but they were emigrating and reaching Madinah somehow. Likewise, there were many Muslim men in Madinah, whose wives were pagans and had been left behind in Makkah. The question arose whether the marriage bond between them continued to be valid or not. Allah settled this problem for ever, saying that the pagan husband is not lawful for the Muslim women, nor the pagan wife lawful for the Muslim husband. This decision leads to very important legal consequences, which we shall explain in our notes below.
The third section consists of verse 12, in which the Holy Prophet (upon whom be Allah's peace) has been instructed to ask the women who accept Islam to pledge that they would refrain from the major evils that were prevalent among the womenfolk of the pre-Islamic Arab society, and to promise that they would henceforth follow the ways of goodness which the Messenger of Allah may enjoin.
En el nombre de Allah, el Misericordioso, el Compasivo.
¡Vosotros que creéis! No toméis por amigos aliados a los que son enemigos míos y vuestros –les dais muestras de afecto cuando ellos se han negado a creer en la verdad que os ha llegado y han expulsado al Mensajero y os han expulsado a vosotros porque creíais en Allah vuestro Señor– si habéis salido a luchar en Mi camino buscando Mi beneplácito... Les confiáis secretos por amistad; pero Yo sé lo que escondéis y lo que mostráis. El que de vosotros lo haga, se habrá extraviado del camino llano.
Si os alcanzan, serán vuestros enemigos y alargarán hacia vosotros sus manos para haceros mal. Querrían que dejarais de creer.
Ni vuestra consanguinidad ni vuestros hijos os servirán el Día del Levantamiento. Cada uno de vosotros tendrá el juicio que le corresponda. Allah ve lo que hacéis.
En Ibrahim y en los que con él estaban tenéis un hermoso ejemplo, cuando le dijeron a su gente: No respondemos de vosotros y de lo que adoráis fuera de Allah, sino que renegamos de vosotros. La enemistad y el odio habrán surgido entre nosotros para siempre a menos que creáis en Allah y en nadie más. Sin embargo Ibrahim le dijo a su padre: Pediré perdón por ti, pero no puedo hacer nada en tu favor ante Allah. ¡Señor nuestro! A Ti nos confiamos, a Ti nos volvemos y a Ti hemos de retornar.
¡Señor nuestro! No pongas a prueba a los que se niegan a creer dándoles poder sobre nosotros y perdónanos Señor. Realmente Tú eres el Insuperable sin igual, el Sabio.
En ellos tenéis un hermoso ejemplo para quien tenga esperanza en Allah y en el Último Día. Pero el que se desentienda... Allah es Rico, en Sí mismo alabado.
Puede ser que Allah ponga afecto entre vosotros y los que de ellos hayáis tenido como enemigos. Allah es Poderoso y Allah es Perdonador y Compasivo.
Allah no os prohíbe que tratéis bien y con justicia a los que no os hayan combatido a causa de vuestra creencia ni os hayan hecho abandonar vuestros hogares. Es cierto que Allah ama a los equitativos.
Allah sólo os prohíbe que toméis por amigos aliados a los que os hayan combatido a causa de vuestra creencia, os hayan hecho abandonar vuestros hogares o hayan colaborado en vuestra expulsión. Quien los tome como amigos aliados... ésos son los injustos.
¡Vosotros que creéis! Cuando vengan a vosotros las creyentes después de haber emigrado comprobad su situación; Allah conoce su creencia, de manera que si verificáis que son creyentes no las devolváis a los incrédulos. Ellas no son lícitas para ellos ni ellos lo son para ellas. Dadles a ellos lo que gastaron y no hay impedimento en que os caséis con ellas, siempre que les hagáis entrega de una dote. No mantengáis los lazos conyugales con las no creyentes. Pedid lo que hayáis gastado y que ellos pidan lo que hayan gastado. Este es el jucio que Allah decide entre vosotros. Allah es Conocedor y Sabio.
Y si alguna de vuestras esposas huye hacia los incrédulos y conseguís algún botín, dadles a aquellos cuyas esposas se marcharon algo similar a lo que gastaron (en sus dotes). Y temed a Allah en Quien creéis.
¡Profeta! Cuando vengan a ti las creyentes para jurarte fidelidad en los términos de no asociar nada a Allah, no robar, no cometer adulterio, no matar a sus hijos, no inventar ninguna falsedad sobre su situación* y no desobedecerte en nada de lo reconocido como bueno, tómales juramento y pide perdón por ellas a Allah. Es cierto que Allah es Perdonador, Compasivo.
¡Vosotros que creéis! No toméis por amigos aliados a gente con la que Allah se ha enojado. Ellos han desesperado de la Última Vida al igual que los incrédulos no esperan nada con respecto a los que están en las tumbas*.