This is the fourth of the ten Medina Suras, each dealing with a social point in the life of the Ummat.
Here the point is: What social relations are possible with the Unbelievers? A distinction is made between those who persecute you for your Faith and want to destroy you and your Faith, and those who have shown no such rancor. For the latter there is hope of mercy and forgiveness. The question of women and cross marriages is equitably dealt with.
The date is after the Pagans had broken the treaty of Hudaibiya, for which see the Introduction to Sura 48, -- say about A.H. 8, not long before the conquest of Mecca.
Summary. -- The enemies of your Faith, who would exterminate you and your Faith, are not fit objects of your love: Follow Abraham's example: But with those Unbelievers who show no rancor, you should deal with kindness and justice: marriages between Believers and Unbelievers. (Verses 1 to 13 and commentary C.239).
C.239-(Verses 1 to 13)-What social relations should you hold with men whose hearts are filled with rancor, -- who hate both Allah and men of Allah? Surely you cannot offer love and friendship to such as seek to destroy your Faith and you. Seek protection for you and yours fro Allah and not from Allah's sworn enemies. But deal kindly and justly with all: It may be that those who hate you now may love you: For Allah can order all things. But look not for protection to those who are bent on driving you out. Let not believing women be handed over to Unbelievers: No marriage tie is lawful between them. When women wish to join your society, take their assurance that they yield not to sin or unbeseeming conduct. Take every care to keep your society free and pure, and self-contained.
60:1 SURA 60. Mumtahana, or the Woman to be Examined. In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. O ye who believe! Take not My enemies and yours as friends (or protectors), -- offering them (your) love, even though they have rejected the Truth that has come to you, and have (on the contrary) driven out the Prophet and yourselves (from your homes), (simply) because ye believe in Allah your Lord! If ye have come out to strive in My Way and to seek My Good Pleasure, (take them not as friends), holding secret converse of love (and friendship) with them: For I know full well all that ye conceal and all that ye reveal. And any of you that does this has strayed from the Straight Path.
60:2 If they were to get the better of you, they would behave to you as enemies, and stretch forth their hands and their tongues against you for evil; and they desire that ye should reject the Truth.
60:3 Of no profit to you will be your relatives and your children on the Day of Judgment: He will judge between you: For Allah sees well all that ye do.
60:4 There is for you an excellent example (to follow) in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people: "We are clear of you and of whatever ye worship besides Allah: We have rejected you, and there has arisen, between us and you, enmity and hatred forever, -- unless ye believe in Allah and Him alone": But not when Abraham said to his father: "I will pray for forgiveness for thee, though I have no power (to get) aught on thy behalf from Allah." (They prayed): "Our Lord! In Thee do we trust, and to Thee do we turn in repentance: To Thee is (our) final Goal.
60:5 "Our Lord! Make us not a (test and) trial for the Unbelievers, but forgive us, our Lord! For Thou art the Exalted in Might, the Wise."
60:6 There was indeed in them an excellent example for you to follow, -- for those whose hope is in Allah and in the Last Day. But if any turn away, Truly Allah is Free of all wants, Worthy of all Praise.
60:7 Section 2. It may be that Allah will grant love (and friendship) between you and those whom ye (now) hold as enemies. For Allah has power (over all things); and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
60:8 Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: For Allah loveth those who are just.
60:9 Allah only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these circumstances), that do wrong.
60:10 O ye who believe! When there come to you Believing women refugees, examine (and test) them: Allah knows best as to their Faith: If ye ascertain that they are Believers, then send them not back to the Unbelievers. They are not lawful (wives) for the Unbelievers, nor are the (Unbelievers) lawful (husbands) for them. But pay the Unbelievers what they have spent (on their dower). And there will be no blame on you if ye marry them on payment of their dower to them. But hold not to the guardianship of Unbelieving women: Ask for what ye have spent on their dowers, and let the (Unbelievers) ask for what they have spent (on the dowers of women who come over to you). Such is the command of Allah: He judges (with justice) between you. and Allah is Full of Knowledge and Wisdom.
60:11 And if any of your wives deserts you to the Unbelievers, and ye have an accession (by the coming over of a woman from the other side), then pay to those whose wives have deserted the equivalent of what they had spent (on their dower). And fear Allah, in Whom ye believe.
60:12 O Prophet! When believing women come to thee to take the oath of fealty to thee, that they will not associate in worship any other thing whatever with Allah, that they will not steal, that they will not commit adultery (or fornication), that they will not kill their children, that they will not utter slander, intentionally forging falsehood, and that they will not disobey thee in any just matter, -- then do thou receive their fealty, and pray to Allah for the forgiveness (of their sins): For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
60:13 O ye who believe! Turn not (for friendship) to people on whom is the Wrath of Allah. Of the Hereafter they are already in despair, just as the Unbelievers are in despair about those (buried) in graves.
