Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 1–4

60. Al-Mumtahana · She that is to be examined

Madinan13 verses

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ عَدُوِّى وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَآءَ تُلْقُونَ إِلَيْهِم بِٱلْمَوَدَّةِ وَقَدْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِمَا جَآءَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْحَقِّ يُخْرِجُونَ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَإِيَّاكُمْ ۙ أَن تُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ رَبِّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ خَرَجْتُمْ جِهَٰدًۭا فِى سَبِيلِى وَٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِى ۚ تُسِرُّونَ إِلَيْهِم بِٱلْمَوَدَّةِ وَأَنَا۠ أَعْلَمُ بِمَآ أَخْفَيْتُمْ وَمَآ أَعْلَنتُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْهُ مِنكُمْ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ

60:1O you who have faith! Do not take My enemy and your enemy for friends, [secretly] offering them affection, if you have set out for jihad in My way and to seek My pleasure, for they have certainly denied whatever has come to you of the truth, expelling the Apostle and you, because you have faith in Allah, your Lord. You secretly nourish affection for them, while I know well whatever you hide and whatever you disclose, and whoever among you does that has certainly strayed from the right way.12

إِن يَثْقَفُوكُمْ يَكُونُوا۟ لَكُمْ أَعْدَآءًۭ وَيَبْسُطُوٓا۟ إِلَيْكُمْ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَلْسِنَتَهُم بِٱلسُّوٓءِ وَوَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ

60:2If they were to confront you they would be your enemies, and would stretch out against you their hands and [unleash] their tongues with evil [intentions], and they are eager that you [too] should be faithless.

لَن تَنفَعَكُمْ أَرْحَامُكُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَٰدُكُمْ ۚ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌۭ

60:3Your relatives and children will not avail you on the Day of Resurrection: He will separate you [from one another], and Allah watches what you do.

قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌۭ فِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ إِذْ قَالُوا۟ لِقَوْمِهِمْ إِنَّا بُرَءَٰٓؤُا۟ مِنكُمْ وَمِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَفَرْنَا بِكُمْ وَبَدَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْعَدَٰوَةُ وَٱلْبَغْضَآءُ أَبَدًا حَتَّىٰ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَحْدَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَوْلَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ لَأَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ وَمَآ أَمْلِكُ لَكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍۢ ۖ رَّبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ

60:4There is certainly a good exemplar for you in Abraham and those who were with him, when they said to their own people, ‘Indeed we repudiate you and whatever you worship besides Allah. We disown you, and enmity and hate have appeared between you and us for ever, unless you come to have faith in Allah alone,’ apart from Abraham’s saying to his father, ‘I will surely plead forgiveness for you, though I cannot avail you anything against Allah.’ ‘Our Lord! In You do we put our trust, and to You do we turn penitently, and toward You is the destination.3

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 1

1.It is said that this Surah around the character of Hatab bin Talaah, that he after becoming a Muslim, accompanied in Hijrat. He took part in the Battle of Badr, but when the occasion of victory over Mecca came he sent a secret letter to the infidels through a woman informing them about the preparation of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.), about which Allah intimated the Prophet (s.a.) through revelation. So the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) sent Ali (a.s.) along with some companion to pursue that woman. She denied being the bearer of the letter, so Ali (a.s.) thought of killing her. She was compelled to take out and give the letter from her clothes and Ali (a.s.) returned and delivered it to the Prophet (s.a.). He questioned Hatab who confessed and that since his children and family were in Mecca he wished to do such a favour to the infidels so that would not harm them. Allah did forgive Hatab for this treachery but this type of character was established as liable to censure forever and ever. Where for the sake of wealth and children plots are hatched against Islam and damage is done to it. If attention is paid to the present situation a continuous generation of Hatab is found in the general population as well as in rulers, to whom family and wealth is dearer to them as compared to Islam and they are ever ready on every step to sacrifice Islam.

Verse 4

2.Ibrahim (a.s.) had promised this only because, he had promised to become a believer. After that when he deviated, he clearly stated that I can ask for forgiveness, but power rests in Allah’s hand only, if He wishes he will not pardon him. So that perhaps this way his mind may tum towards Al1ah and he may come to the right path. This is the last wish of every prophet (a.s.), that his people may become truly guided and are saved from destruction and ruin.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. Benefit

    . The word Mumtahena is read both with a Zabar on ‘h’ and a Zer on it. That is this chapter is a means of test and it deals with the women who have been tested. It is also called Surah Mawaddat because therein it is prohibited to love (do Mawaddat to) the infidels.

  2. 1

    If the ‘b’ is extra it denotes the presentation of love and if it is consequential it means that on the basis of your love for infidels you convey the secrets of the Prophet (s.a.) to them.

  3. 2

    To love the infidels inwardly is the worst type of deviation. The Muslim rulers should understand this point well who enter into secret negotiations with disbeliever governments and yet consider themselves Muslims.

  4. 3

    The real sign of truth is aloofness from falsehood and this is called the religion of Ibrahim following which is necessary. Now it is surprising that the Muslims living in Mecca oppose the announcement of aloofness with falsehood.