Table Of Contents

Meet the Key Figures in Surah Mumtahanah: Roles, Significance & Takeaways

This Character Compendium provides a definitive resource on the key archetypes and social roles within Surah Al-Mumtahanah, the 60th chapter of the Holy Qur’an. A powerful Madinan Surah, its name, “She Who is to be Examined,” refers to its central legal ruling concerning the testing of the faith of women who emigrate from Makkah to Madinah. The chapter is a foundational text for the Islamic principle of *al-Wala’ wal-Bara’* (Loyalty and Disavowal), using the timeless and “excellent example” of Prophet Ibrahim `عليه السلام` to establish the basis of a believer’s allegiance. It provides crucial and compassionate guidance on how believers should interact with their non-Muslim relatives, distinguishing between those who are hostile to the faith and those who are not. Each character card delves into the specific portrayal of these archetypal behaviors, extracting the timeless lessons on faith, allegiance, and justice in a pluralistic society.

---

Al-Kuffar (The Disbelievers)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Kuffar, the disbelievers, in this Surah, refers specifically to the polytheists of Makkah who were in a state of active warfare against the Prophet ﷺ and the early Muslim community. They were the ones who drove the believers from their homes.

Role in the Surah

The disbelievers are presented as the group with whom the believers are forbidden from forming a close, loving alliance. They are described as the clear enemy who has shown their hostility. The Surah warns that showing them affection is a deviation from the straight path. Their ultimate state is one of despair concerning the Hereafter: “O you who have believed, do not make allies of a people with whom Allah has become angry; they have despaired of the Hereafter just as the disbelievers have despaired of the companions of the graves.” (Al-Mumtahanah, 60:13).

Personality & Attributes

The Disbelievers are characterized by their **enmity to the truth, their hostility towards the believers, and their profound despair of the afterlife**. They are the ones who do not just disbelieve, but actively fight against the believers because of their faith. They have no hope in the ultimate justice of God.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer’s ultimate loyalty must be to Allah and the believing community, not to those who are open enemies of the faith.
• The despair of the disbelievers regarding the Hereafter is a sign of their complete severance from the mercy of Allah.
• One must distinguish between different types of disbelievers, as the Surah differentiates between the hostile ones and the peaceful ones.

Supporting References

The Surah provides a clear criterion for this relationship. The prohibition of alliance is specifically with those who “fight you over religion and have driven you out of your homes.” This shows that the basis of the disavowal is not their disbelief alone, but their active hostility and persecution of the Muslims.

---

Al-Muhajirat (The Emigrant Women)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Muhajirat, the Emigrant Women, were believing women who fled persecution in Makkah and migrated to Madinah for the sake of their faith. Their situation was particularly vulnerable, and this Surah was revealed to provide specific legal and social guidance concerning them.

Role in the Surah

They are the subject of the Surah’s primary legal ruling and its namesake, the “woman to be examined.” The believers are commanded that when these women arrive, their claims to faith must be tested. “O you who have believed, when the believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them. Allah is most knowing of their faith. And if you know them to be believers, then do not return them to the disbelievers; they are not lawful for them, nor are they lawful for them.” (Al-Mumtahanah, 60:10).

Personality & Attributes

The Emigrant Women are the archetype of the **sincere and sacrificing believer**. They are characterized by their willingness to give up their homes, families, and security for the sake of their religion. They are the ones whose inner faith (iman) is the basis of their legal protection in the Muslim community.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The act of Hijra (emigration) for the sake of Allah is a powerful proof of a person’s sincere faith.
• The Muslim community has a sacred duty to protect and provide refuge for believing women who are fleeing persecution.
• The verse establishes a key principle: the bond of faith is stronger than the bond of marriage. A believing woman cannot remain married to a disbelieving man who is hostile to her faith.

Supporting References

This verse was revealed after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, which stipulated that any man who fled Makkah to join the Muslims should be returned, but it did not specify the rule for women. This verse provided the divine clarification, establishing a new law that protected the faith and person of the female emigrants. It is a powerful testament to the rights and status afforded to women in Islam.

---

Al-Mumtahanah (The Woman to be Examined)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Mumtahanah, the Woman to be Examined, is the archetype of the female emigrant whose sincerity and faith must be ascertained before she is granted refuge in the Muslim community. The Surah is named after this process of examination.

Role in the Surah

Her role is to be the subject of the divine command to “examine them” (famtahinuhunna). This examination was not a formal inquisition, but a process of ascertaining that her migration was genuinely for the sake of Islam, and not for some other worldly reason like escaping a husband or seeking marriage. Once her faith is known to be sincere, she is granted full protection and her marriage to her disbelieving husband is annulled.

Personality & Attributes

This archetype represents the **sincere seeker of refuge whose inner state is the basis of her legal status**. She is characterized by her faith. The Surah makes it clear that the ultimate judge of her faith is Allah (“Allah is most knowing of their faith”), but the community must make a reasonable effort to ascertain her sincerity.

Major Lessons & Morals

• While we cannot know the secrets of the hearts, the community has a responsibility to take reasonable measures to ascertain the sincerity of those seeking refuge.
• The legal rulings of Islam are based on both outward actions and an assessment of inner conviction.
• The story of the “woman to be examined” is a powerful example of the care and due process that Islam legislates for the most vulnerable.

Supporting References

Tradition holds that this “examination” often took the form of asking the woman to take an oath that she had not left her husband out of hatred for him, or desire for another man, or for any worldly reason, but had left solely for the love of Allah and His Messenger. This process protected both the integrity of the Muslim community and the rights of the woman.

---

Allah (The One God)

Brief Biography / Background

Allah is the proper name for the One, True God, the sole Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign of all existence. Surah Al-Mumtahanah is a powerful testament to His wisdom as the ultimate Lawgiver and His mercy as the one who can turn the hearts of enemies.

Role in the Surah

Allah is the ultimate authority and the source of all the commands in the Surah. He is the one who establishes the principles of loyalty and disavowal. He is the one who is All-Knowing of the sincerity of the emigrant women. He is the one who provides the legal rulings for divorce and remarriage in these complex situations. He is the ultimate source of hope, the one who is able to place “affection” between former enemies. He is the **”Exalted in Might, the Wise,”** the **”Forgiving and Merciful.”**

Personality & Attributes

This Surah magnificently illustrates Allah’s attributes:

• Al-‘Alim (The All-Knowing): He knows the secrets of the hearts and the sincerity of the believers.
• Al-Hakim (The All-Wise): His laws are perfectly wise and just, providing solutions for the most difficult of social problems.
• Al-Ghafur ar-Rahim (The Forgiving, the Merciful): He is forgiving to the repentant and merciful in His legislation.
• Al-Qadir (The All-Powerful): He is able to place love in the hearts of enemies and to bring about reconciliation.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The laws of Islam are a direct mercy from the All-Knowing, All-Wise Lord, designed for the well-being of the community.
• A believer should never despair of reconciliation, as Allah has the power to change the hearts of people.
• Ultimate allegiance must be to Allah, and His judgment is the only one that truly matters.

Supporting References

The Surah beautifully balances the firm principles of disavowal from hostile enemies with a profound sense of hope in Allah’s mercy. The same Surah that commands the believers to take Ibrahim as their model in disassociating from the enemies of God is the one that says, “Perhaps Allah will place between you and those you have taken as enemies affection.” This shows the perfect balance between justice and hope in the divine plan.

---

The Believers (Alladhina Amanu)

Brief Biography / Background

The Believers are the sincere followers of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in Madinah. They are a community of emigrants and helpers who are navigating the complex social and political realities of their relationship with the disbelievers of Makkah, some of whom were their own close relatives.

Role in the Surah

The believers are the direct audience for all the commands in the Surah. They are the ones who are forbidden from taking the enemies of God as allies. They are the ones who must follow the “excellent example” of Ibrahim. They are commanded to test the faith of the emigrant women and to deal with their marital situations justly. They are the ones who are given permission to be kind to peaceful non-Muslims. They are the ones to whom the believing women give their pledge of allegiance.

Personality & Attributes

The Believers are the archetype of the **tested, obedient, and just community**. They are characterized by their willingness to submit to the divine law, even when it is difficult and goes against their personal emotions or tribal customs. They are the ones who are called to build their society on the principles of divine allegiance and justice.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer’s loyalty is a matter of faith, not of blood ties or personal affection.
• The believing community must be a place of refuge and justice for the oppressed.
• A successful community is one that refers all its affairs to the clear guidance of the Qur’an and the example of the prophets.

Supporting References

This Surah is a masterclass in building the identity of the Muslim Ummah. It teaches the believers how to define their community, who their true allies are, and how to interact with those outside the community with a clear and just set of principles. It is the divine charter for the foreign policy and social ethics of the Muslim state.

---

The Believing Woman who gives Allegiance

Brief Biography / Background

This is the archetype of the woman who enters the fold of Islam and gives a formal pledge of allegiance (*bay’ah*) to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, affirming her commitment to the core principles of the faith and the moral law of Islam.

Role in the Surah

Her pledge is detailed in the Surah as a formal and significant event. The Prophet is commanded on how to accept her allegiance: “O Prophet, when the believing women come to you pledging to you that they will not associate anything with Allah, nor will they steal, nor will they commit unlawful sexual intercourse, nor will they kill their children, nor will they bring forth a slander they have invented between their arms and legs, nor will they disobey you in what is right – then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them from Allah.” (60:12).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by her **sincere commitment and her active submission**. Her pledge is a comprehensive one, covering the foundations of faith (Tawhid), major moral sins (theft, zina, infanticide, slander), and a general commitment to obedience to the Prophet. She is the model of the female entrant into the Islamic community.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The pledge of allegiance in Islam is a serious and comprehensive commitment to uphold the core tenets of the faith.
• Islam specifically addresses and honors the allegiance of women, giving them a direct and formal role in the community.
• The core of the pledge is a commitment to abandon the major sins of the age of ignorance and to embrace the pure monotheism and high morality of Islam.

Supporting References

This verse is a powerful charter of women’s rights and responsibilities. It shows them as active agents in their faith, making a direct covenant with the head of state. The Prophet’s role, after accepting their pledge, is to “ask forgiveness for them,” a sign of his compassionate leadership and his concern for his followers.

---

The Believing Woman whose Husband is a Disbeliever

Brief Biography / Background

This is the archetype of the believing woman who has emigrated for her faith, leaving behind a disbelieving husband in the land of disbelief (Dar al-Kufr). Her act of migration for the sake of Islam legally and spiritually severs her marital bond.

Role in the Surah

Her case is the subject of a specific and just legal ruling. The Surah states that after her faith is verified, she is “not lawful” for her disbelieving husband, nor is he “lawful for her.” To ensure justice, the Muslim community is commanded to repay the dower (mahr) that her disbelieving husband had originally paid to her. “…But give them [the disbelievers] what they have spent. And there is no blame upon you if you marry them when you have given them their due compensation.” (60:10).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype represents the **woman whose allegiance to Allah has superseded her marital bond**. She is a model of sacrifice and faith. The law concerning her is characterized by both firmness in principle (the bond of faith is supreme) and justice in practice (ensuring her former husband is not financially wronged).

Major Lessons & Morals

• In Islam, the bond of faith is the ultimate foundation of a marriage. A believing woman cannot be married to a man who is hostile to her faith.
• Islamic law is profoundly just, and it ensures that even the rights of the disbelievers are not violated. Refunding the dower is an act of perfect equity.
• This ruling provides a clear and merciful path for believing women who are in a difficult marital situation due to their conversion.

Supporting References

This verse is a cornerstone of Islamic family law regarding interfaith marriage. It establishes the principle that while a Muslim man may marry a chaste woman from the People of the Scripture, a Muslim woman may not be married to a non-Muslim man, as her faith must be protected and honored within the household.

---

The Disbelieving Enemy

Brief Biography / Background

The Disbelieving Enemy is the archetype of the disbeliever who is in a state of active hostility and warfare against the Muslim community. This refers specifically to the polytheists of Makkah who were persecuting the Muslims and had driven them from their homes.

Role in the Surah

This character is the one whom the believers are strictly forbidden from taking as an “ally” or a “protector” (wali). “O you who have believed, do not take My enemies and your enemies as allies, extending to them affection while they have disbelieved in what came to you of the truth, having driven out the Messenger and yourselves…” (Al-Mumtahanah, 60:1).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **open hostility, persecution, and enmity towards the faith**. They are not just passive disbelievers; they are active aggressors. Their defining actions are fighting the believers over their religion and expelling them from their homes.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer’s loyalty must be to Allah and His community, and it is a form of treason to show affection and alliance to those who are actively at war with the faith.
• The basis for this disavowal is not their disbelief alone, but their active hostility and persecution.
• One must be clear about who is an enemy and who is a friend, based on the clear principles laid out in the Qur’an.

Supporting References

The Surah makes a very clear and important distinction between this type of disbeliever and the one who is peaceful. The prohibition of alliance is only for the hostile enemy. For the peaceful non-Muslim, the Qur’an commands a different approach of justice and kindness.

---

The Disbelieving Relative (Father, Son, etc.)

Brief Biography / Background

The Disbelieving Relative is the archetype of the family member who remains on the side of disbelief and enmity towards Islam. This was a very real and painful trial for many of the early Muslims, whose closest kin were often their staunchest opponents.

Role in the Surah

This character is mentioned to teach a powerful lesson about the nature of true benefit and kinship. On the Day of Judgment, these worldly relationships will be of no use. “Never will your relatives or your children benefit you. On the Day of Resurrection He will judge between you. And Allah, of what you do, is Seeing.” (Al-Mumtahanah, 60:3).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype represents the **test of kinship versus faith**. They are a reminder that the bonds of blood are secondary to the bonds of belief. Their presence in the believer’s life is a trial of allegiance.

Major Lessons & Morals

• On the Day of Judgment, every soul will be judged individually, and no family member will be able to help another.
• A believer’s ultimate loyalty must be to Allah, even if it means disassociating from the misguided ways of their own family, as Prophet Ibrahim did.
• This does not mean severing family ties in this world, but it means that the allegiance to Allah must be the overriding principle in one’s life.

Supporting References

The story of Prophet Ibrahim is presented as the perfect example of how to handle this trial. He made a clear and public disassociation from the polytheistic practices of his father and his people, establishing that the bond of Tawhid is the only one that truly matters in the sight of Allah.

---

The Disbelieving Wife of a Believer

Brief Biography / Background

This is the archetype of the disbelieving woman who was married to a believer, but whose disbelief creates an irreparable spiritual rift in the marriage. This refers to the situation where a man embraces Islam but his wife chooses to remain a polytheist in a hostile community.

Role in the Surah

Her case is the subject of a specific and just legal ruling, the inverse of the case of the emigrant woman. The believing men are commanded not to hold on to the marital bonds of disbelieving women. “O you who have believed… do not hold on to the marriage bonds of disbelieving women, but ask for what you have spent and let them ask for what they have spent.” (60:10).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype represents the **partner whose disbelief has severed the marital bond**. The law concerning her is characterized by firmness in principle (a believer should not be married to a hostile polytheist) and justice in practice (the financial rights regarding the dower are to be settled equitably).

Major Lessons & Morals

• In Islam, the bond of faith is the ultimate foundation of a marriage. A believing man is commanded not to remain married to a woman who is part of a hostile, polytheistic community.
• The dissolution of a marriage due to a difference in faith and allegiance should be handled with justice, with all financial matters being settled fairly.
• This ruling completes the legal framework, providing guidance for both believing men and believing women whose spouses choose a different path.

Supporting References

This verse, along with the ruling on the emigrant women, established a clear legal precedent for the early Muslim community. It showed that when the community is in a state of conflict and migration, the allegiance to faith (Dar al-Islam vs. Dar al-Kufr) supersedes the existing marital contracts. The primary identity becomes one’s identity as a Muslim.

---

The Enemy who is shown Kindness

Brief Biography / Background

This is the archetype of the non-Muslim who is not actively hostile to the believers. This refers to the disbelievers who do not fight the Muslims over their religion and do not drive them from their homes. They are the peaceful non-combatants.

Role in the Surah

This character is the subject of a crucial verse that establishes the Islamic principle of dealing with peaceful non-Muslims. The Surah makes a clear distinction between them and the hostile enemies. “Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes – from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.” (Al-Mumtahanah, 60:8).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype represents the **peaceful non-Muslim who is deserving of just and kind treatment**. They are characterized by their lack of hostility. The believers’ relationship with them is to be based on “birr” (righteousness, kindness) and “qist” (equity, justice).

Major Lessons & Morals

• Islam makes a clear distinction between hostile enemies and peaceful non-Muslims.
• It is a religious duty for Muslims to treat peaceful non-Muslims with kindness and absolute justice.
• The love of Allah is for those who are just, and this justice must be extended to all people, regardless of their faith, as long as they are not hostile.

Supporting References

This verse is a cornerstone of the Islamic foreign policy and its ethics of dealing with other communities. It completely refutes the idea that Islam commands indiscriminate hostility towards all non-Muslims. The prohibition of alliance is for the belligerent enemy; the command of kindness and justice is for the peaceful neighbor.

---

The Enemy who Fights over Religion

Brief Biography / Background

The Enemy who Fights over Religion is the archetype of the disbeliever whose hostility is specifically motivated by a hatred for the faith of Islam. This is the person who persecutes believers *because* they are believers.

Role in the Surah

This character is part of the group whom the believers are forbidden from taking as allies. The Surah defines the enemy with two specific actions. The first is fighting you over your faith: “Allah only forbids you from those who fight you because of religion…” (Al-Mumtahanah, 60:9). The second is expelling you from your homes.

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **religious intolerance and persecution**. They are not just political or tribal enemies; they are ideological enemies who cannot tolerate the existence of the Islamic faith. Their enmity is a direct response to the believers’ submission to Allah.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer must be clear about the nature of the enmity they face. The most severe form of enmity is that which is based on a hatred for the religion of God.
• It is forbidden to take as an ally anyone who is actively fighting you because of your faith.
• This verse establishes a clear criterion for when disavowal becomes a necessity.

Supporting References

The historical context was the Quraysh of Makkah. Their war against the Prophet ﷺ and his followers was not for territory or resources, but was purely an ideological war. They fought the Muslims because they had abandoned the gods of their forefathers and had submitted to the One True God. This is the ultimate form of hostile disbelief that the Surah commands disavowal from.

---

The Forgiving, The Merciful (Ghafur Rahim)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Ghafur (The All-Forgiving) and Ar-Rahim (The Especially Merciful) are two of the most frequently mentioned names of Allah. They describe the divine attributes of boundless forgiveness for sins and an all-encompassing, tender mercy towards creation.

Role in the Surah

These attributes are mentioned as a source of hope and a final statement of Allah’s nature. After the Prophet ﷺ accepts the pledge from the believing women, he is commanded to pray for them: “…then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them from Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (60:12). The Surah also holds out the hope that Allah can create affection even between former enemies, a manifestation of His mercy.

Personality & Attributes

As an archetype, Al-Ghafur ar-Rahim represents the **boundless hope and refuge** available to the believer. It is the divine promise that sins can be wiped away through sincere repentance and supplication. It is the compassionate nature of the Lord who loves to forgive His servants.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The door to repentance is always open, and a believer should never despair of the mercy of Allah.
• Part of the Prophet’s mission, and by extension the role of a righteous leader, is to seek forgiveness for the members of their community.
• A believer should always have hope in the forgiveness and mercy of Allah, even after committing grave sins.

Supporting References

The pledge of the women involved them renouncing the major sins of the age of ignorance. The command for the Prophet to then ask for their forgiveness is a beautiful sign of Allah’s mercy. It shows that their sincere commitment to the future is the key that unlocks the forgiveness for their past.

---

The Friend of the Enemy

Brief Biography / Background

The Friend of the Enemy is the archetype of the believer who, out of a misplaced sense of affection or a worldly motive, maintains a secret, loving alliance with the open and hostile enemies of Allah and the Muslim community. This refers specifically to the companion Hatib ibn Abi Balta’a.

Role in the Surah

This character’s action is the direct cause for the revelation of the opening verses of the Surah. He secretly sent a letter to the leaders of Quraysh to warn them of the Muslims’ impending plan to conquer Makkah, hoping to buy some goodwill to protect his family there. This act of leaking sensitive information to a hostile enemy is the “extending of affection” that is sternly forbidden. “O you who have believed, do not take My enemies and your enemies as allies, extending to them affection…” (60:1).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **misplaced loyalty and a grave error in judgment**. Their action is not born of hypocrisy, but of a human weakness and a failure to correctly apply the principle of *al-Wala’ wal-Bara’*. They are the ones who have “strayed from the soundness of the way.”

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer’s loyalty to Allah and the Muslim community must supersede all other loyalties, even concern for one’s own family.
• Providing secret information to a hostile enemy is a form of treason and a grave sin.
• The story is a powerful lesson in the importance of maintaining the security and unity of the Muslim Ummah.

Supporting References

The story of Hatib is a famous one in the Seerah. The Prophet ﷺ was informed of the letter by divine revelation and sent ‘Ali and others to intercept it. When confronted, Hatib affirmed his faith and explained his motive was only to protect his family. The Prophet accepted his excuse and forgave him, reminding ‘Umar, who wanted to execute him, that Hatib was a veteran of the Battle of Badr and that Allah had already forgiven the people of Badr. The verse was revealed as a universal and timeless warning for the entire Ummah.

---

Ibrahim `عليه السلام`

Brief Biography / Background

Ibrahim (عليه السلام), the Friend of Allah, is one of the five greatest messengers of God. He is a central figure in Islam, celebrated for his pure monotheism, his courageous stand against the idolatry of his nation, and his complete submission to Allah’s will.

Role in the Surah

Ibrahim is presented as the “excellent example” (Uswatun Hasanah) for the believers in how to apply the principle of loyalty and disavowal. His clear and courageous declaration of disassociation from his disbelieving people is the model to be followed. “There has already been for you an excellent pattern in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, ‘Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allah. We have denied you…'” (Al-Mumtahanah, 60:4).

Personality & Attributes

Ibrahim is the archetype of the **courageous, uncompromising, and clear monotheist**. He is characterized by his absolute clarity in matters of allegiance. He draws a firm and public line between belief and disbelief, establishing that the only basis for true alliance is a shared faith in the One God.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should look to the example of Prophet Ibrahim for the model of how to balance familial ties with the ultimate allegiance to Allah.
• The foundation of *al-Wala’ wal-Bara’* (Loyalty and Disavowal) is the clear and courageous disassociation from all forms of shirk.
• This disassociation is not just a feeling in the heart, but should be a clear and declared stance when dealing with hostile opponents of the faith.

Supporting References

The Surah makes a subtle but crucial exception to his example. Ibrahim’s prayer for his father’s forgiveness is excluded from the model to be followed. This teaches a profound lesson in jurisprudence: one must follow the general principles of the prophets’ lives, but be aware that some of their specific actions were tied to a specific context (in this case, a promise made before it was clear his father was an avowed enemy of God) and are not meant for general legislation.

---

The Just Arbiter (Al-Muqsit)

Brief Biography / Background

The Just Arbiter (Al-Muqsit) is the archetype of the believer who deals with others, even their opponents, with perfect equity, fairness, and justice. This quality of *qist* (equity) is one of the most beloved attributes to Allah.

Role in the Surah

This is the character that a believer is commanded to be in their dealings with peaceful non-Muslims. After forbidding alliances with the hostile enemies, the Surah clarifies the proper conduct with those who are not at war with the faith. “…Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you… from being righteous toward them and acting justly (tuqsitu) toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly (al-muqsitin).” (Al-Mumtahanah, 60:8).

Personality & Attributes

The Just Arbiter is characterized by **fairness, equity, and impartiality**. They are the ones who are beloved by Allah. Their justice is not contingent on the other person’s faith, but is a moral principle that they apply to all peaceful people.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Justice and equity are fundamental duties that a Muslim must extend to all peaceful people, regardless of their religion.
• The love of Allah is a special reward for those who are just and equitable in their dealings.
• This verse is a cornerstone of the Islamic ethic of pluralism and just relations with other communities.

Supporting References

The command to “act justly” is a high standard. It requires the believer to rise above their own personal feelings and prejudices and to give every person their due right. It is this commitment to pure justice that demonstrates the moral superiority of the Islamic worldview and makes one beloved to God.

---

The Knowledgeable Examiner (of faith)

Brief Biography / Background

The Knowledgeable Examiner is the archetype of the believer or the community that is tasked with the sensitive duty of ascertaining the sincerity of a person’s claim to faith. This is a role that requires both insight and a recognition of the limits of human knowledge.

Role in the Surah

This is the role the believers are commanded to take when the emigrant women arrive. “O you who have believed, when the believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them (famtahinuhunna).” (60:10). However, this command is immediately followed by a crucial reminder: “Allah is most knowing of their faith.”

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **responsibility and humility**. They are responsible for performing a reasonable examination to protect the community. They are also humble, recognizing that their examination is only of the outward signs and that the ultimate, true knowledge of the person’s heart is with Allah alone.

Major Lessons & Morals

• While we cannot know the secrets of the hearts, the community has a responsibility to take reasonable measures to ascertain the sincerity of those seeking to join it, especially in a time of conflict.
• A believer must always have the humility to recognize the limits of their own knowledge and to entrust the ultimate secrets to Allah.
• This verse establishes a perfect balance between taking necessary, practical measures and having the proper theological humility.

Supporting References

The process of “examination” was a practical one. It often involved asking the woman to take an oath about the reasons for her emigration. If she passed this outward test, the believers were commanded to accept her claim, based on the principle that we can only judge the apparent. The secret of her heart was left to the All-Knowing God.

---

Mawaddah (The Affection created by Allah)

Brief Biography / Background

Mawaddah is a deep and sincere affection or love. In this Surah, it is presented as a blessing and a potential mercy that Allah can create between former enemies, turning a state of hostility into one of friendship.

Role in the Surah

The creation of affection is mentioned as a source of hope for the believers. After the stern command to break off all ties of affection with the hostile disbelievers, the Surah offers a glimpse of a possible future reconciliation, which is entirely in the hands of Allah. “Perhaps Allah will place between you and those you have taken as enemies from them affection. And Allah is Competent, and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Al-Mumtahanah, 60:7).

Personality & Attributes

Mawaddah is the archetype of **divinely-created reconciliation and hope**. It represents the power of Allah to turn the hearts of people. It is a testament to the fact that enmities are not necessarily permanent and that the All-Powerful God can bring about peace and friendship.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should never despair of their non-Muslim relatives or enemies being guided to the truth.
• The turning of hearts is in the hands of Allah alone. We should be firm in our principles while always maintaining a hope that Allah will guide those we love.
• This verse provides a beautiful balance between the command to disavow the hostile and the hope for their eventual guidance and reconciliation.

Supporting References

This verse is considered a prophecy that was fulfilled after the conquest of Makkah. Many of the staunchest enemies of Islam, who were the very people the believers were commanded to disavow, ended up embracing the faith. Former enemies became brothers, and Allah did indeed create a profound “mawaddah” between them, a testament to His power and mercy.

---

The People of Ibrahim

Brief Biography / Background

The People of Ibrahim were the community in which Prophet Ibrahim (عليه السلام) was raised. They were a sophisticated civilization but were deeply entrenched in the worship of idols, a practice supported by their ruler and even Ibrahim’s own father.

Role in the Surah

Their role is to be the recipients of Ibrahim’s courageous declaration of disavowal. They are the ones from whom Ibrahim and the believers with him declared themselves “disassociated.” They are the ones to whom it was said, “…there has appeared between us and you animosity and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone.” (60:4).

Personality & Attributes

They are an archetype of a community characterized by **blind imitation and hostility to monotheism**. They are the “enemy” from whom the believers are commanded to disassociate. Their polytheism is the clear line that separates them from the “excellent example” of Ibrahim.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The story of Ibrahim and his people is the ultimate model for the principle of *al-Wala’ wal-Bara’*.
• A believer must be clear and courageous in their disassociation from the practices of shirk.
• The only basis for true alliance and friendship is a shared belief in the Oneness of Allah.

Supporting References

The declaration of “animosity and hatred” is a powerful and severe one. It is important to note that this was in the context of a people who were hostile and who persecuted Ibrahim for his faith. This level of disavowal is reserved for those who are in a state of active and open warfare against the truth, not for peaceful non-Muslims, as clarified later in the Surah.

---

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)

Brief Biography / Background

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is the final messenger of Allah, to whom the Qur’an was revealed. Surah Al-Mumtahanah was revealed to him in Madinah, providing him and his community with crucial guidance on their relationship with the disbelievers of Makkah and establishing key social laws.

Role in the Surah

He is the one to whom the Pleading Woman brings her case. He is the one who is commanded to take the “excellent example” of Ibrahim as his guide. He is the leader of the community, commanded on how to handle the emigrant women and how to accept the pledge of allegiance from the believing women. He is the one who is forbidden from taking the enemies of God as allies, a lesson that is then generalized for his entire Ummah.

Personality & Attributes

As the addressee of the Surah, the Prophet ﷺ is the archetype of the **just ruler, the compassionate leader, and the perfect role model**. He is the one who must implement the difficult and nuanced laws of allegiance and disavowal. He is the one whose authority is the basis of the community’s legal and social order.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the practical application of the divine law.
• A righteous leader must be just and compassionate, providing clear guidance and protection for the most vulnerable members of their community.
• The Prophet is the inheritor of the legacy of all the prophets before him, especially the legacy of Ibrahim.

Supporting References

The Surah is a testament to his role as a statesman and a lawgiver. It provides him with the divine charter for managing the complex international and social relations of the nascent Muslim state, balancing the firmness required with enemies and the mercy required with the repentant and the vulnerable.

---

The Repentant Believer

Brief Biography / Background

The Repentant Believer is the archetype of the sincere follower of Islam who makes a grave mistake but, upon being corrected by the revelation, feels remorse and whose repentance is accepted by Allah. This refers specifically to the companion Hatib ibn Abi Balta’a.

Role in the Surah

This character is the one who, out of a misplaced concern for his family, committed the sin of leaking sensitive information to the enemy. He is the one addressed in the opening verses. However, the Surah’s message is not one of condemnation, but of correction. It forbids the action but leaves the door open for the repentance of the sincere believer who has erred.

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **sincere but flawed faith**. They are not a hypocrite, but a true believer who made a serious error in judgment. Their defining quality is their willingness to accept the correction from Allah and His Messenger and to remain firm in their faith.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Even sincere believers can make grave mistakes, especially when their love for their family conflicts with their duty to the Ummah.
• The approach of the Qur’an is to correct the mistake and to forbid the action, while showing a path of mercy for the sincere individual who has erred.
• This story is a powerful lesson in the forgiving and merciful nature of the Islamic community when dealing with the mistakes of its own members.

Supporting References

The Seerah provides the beautiful conclusion to this story. The Prophet ﷺ accepted Hatib’s sincere reason and forgave him, reminding ‘Umar that Hatib was a veteran of Badr and had earned a special station. This shows the perfect balance between establishing a firm legal principle (forbidding the act) and showing compassion to the individual who committed it.

---

The Sincere Believer (whose faith is tested)

Brief Biography / Background

The Sincere Believer is the archetype of the person whose claim to faith is true and whose sincerity is proven through a divine test. This refers to the emigrant women who arrive in Madinah.

Role in the Surah

Their sincerity is the very object of the “examination.” Allah commands the believers to test them, but then immediately affirms that He is the true knower of their faith. “O you who have believed, when the believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them. Allah is most knowing of their faith. And if you know them to be believers, then do not return them…” (60:10).

Personality & Attributes

The Sincere Believer is characterized by **true, heartfelt conviction (Iman)**. They are the ones who have sacrificed everything for the sake of that conviction. Their sincerity is the key that unlocks their protection and their entry into the believing community.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The sincerity of a person’s faith is the ultimate criterion for their status as a believer.
• While we can only judge the outward signs, Allah knows the true reality of what is in the hearts.
• A person whose faith is sincere will be protected and honored by Allah and His community.

Supporting References

The entire legal ruling hinges on the outcome of this test. If the woman is found to be a sincere believer, an entire series of legal consequences follows: her marriage is annulled, she is protected, and she is eligible to marry a believer. This shows that in the Islamic worldview, the inner state of sincere faith has real and tangible legal and social consequences.

---

Uswatun Hasanah (The Excellent Example)

Brief Biography / Background

Uswatun Hasanah is the Qur’anic term for a perfect and excellent role model whose words and actions should be emulated by the believers. While the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is described with this title elsewhere, in this Surah, it is explicitly given to Prophet Ibrahim `عليه السلام` and those with him.

Role in the Surah

This archetype is presented as the model for the believers to follow in their relationship with the disbelievers who are hostile to their faith. “There has already been for you an excellent pattern (uswatun hasanah) in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, ‘Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allah…'” (Al-Mumtahanah, 60:4).

Personality & Attributes

The Excellent Example is characterized by **clarity of faith, courage, and uncompromising loyalty to Tawhid**. They are not ambiguous in their allegiance. They draw a clear and public line between belief and disbelief, making their disassociation from falsehood known to all.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should look to the example of Prophet Ibrahim for the model of how to balance familial ties with the ultimate allegiance to Allah.
• The foundation of *al-Wala’ wal-Bara’* (Loyalty and Disavowal) is the clear and courageous disassociation from all forms of shirk.
• This disassociation is not just a feeling in the heart, but should be a clear and declared stance when dealing with hostile opponents of the faith.

Supporting References

The Surah makes a subtle but crucial exception to this example. Ibrahim’s prayer for his father’s forgiveness is excluded from the model, as it was based on a promise he had made before it became clear that his father was an avowed enemy of God. This teaches that while the general principle is to be followed, specific actions of the prophets that were context-dependent are not always for general application.

---

The Wrongdoers (Zalimun)

Brief Biography / Background

Az-Zalimun, the wrongdoers, is a comprehensive term for those who transgress divine limits. It is a state of injustice, primarily against one’s own soul by choosing disbelief, but also against others through oppression.

Role in the Surah

The term is used to describe those who take the disbelieving enemies as their allies. “…And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” (60:9). The act of allying with the hostile enemies is what makes a person a “zalim” (a wrongdoer).

Personality & Attributes

The Wrongdoers are the archetype of those who are **unjust, disloyal, and misguided**. They are characterized by their choice to side with the enemies of the faith. This is the ultimate act of injustice against their own souls and against the community of believers.

Major Lessons & Morals

• To ally oneself with the hostile enemies of Islam is a form of great injustice that removes a person from the guidance of Allah.
• A believer must avoid this path of wrongdoing by ensuring their loyalty is to the party of God.
• The choice of one’s allies is a choice that has profound spiritual and eternal consequences.

Supporting References

The Surah establishes a clear principle: your allegiance determines your identity. “Whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is one of them.” This is a powerful statement on the nature of identity and belonging. In the ultimate sense, one belongs to the party that they have given their ultimate loyalty to. To choose the wrongdoers as allies is to choose to be one of them.