Surah Mumtahina is the 60th chapter of the Quran, a Medinan surah of 13 verses located in Para (Juz) 28, and it teaches loyalty to faith, fairness toward peaceful neighbours, and a careful approach to migration and marriage. That one line answers most searches. If you want to understand the surah, not just recite it, read on.
Quick Facts: Surah Mumtahina at a Glance
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| Surah number | 60 |
| Verses | 13 |
| Revealed in | Madinah (Medinan) |
| Para / Juz | 28 |
| Name means | “She who is examined” (also spelled Al-Mumtahanah) |
| Main themes | Loyalty, fairness, Prophet Ibrahim’s example, rules on migrating women, women’s pledge |
| Reading time (Arabic) | About 3-4 minutes at a steady pace |
Surah Mumtahina in which para? Para 28, also called Qad Sami Allah. It sits alongside Surahs 58 to 66.
For context, the Quran has 114 surahs and 30 juz. Surah Mumtahina is a short chapter in the second-last para, which makes it easy to read in a single sitting.
Why Is It Called Surah Mumtahina?
The name comes from verse 10, which tells believers to examine (imtahinuhunna) women who migrate to Madinah and claim to be Muslim. This wasn’t suspicion for its own sake. After the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, women began leaving Makkah, and the community needed a fair way to confirm that their migration was sincere.
You’ll see the name spelled Mumtahina, Mumtahanah and Mumtahinah. They all refer to the same chapter.
The Story Behind the Surah (Why It Was Revealed)
Reports in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim describe a Companion, Hatib ibn Abi Balta’ah, who sent a private letter to the Quraysh warning them of the Prophet’s ﷺ planned march on Makkah. His family was still living there, and he wanted to protect them.
The Prophet ﷺ learned of the letter and sent men to intercept it. Hatib explained his motive honestly. The Prophet ﷺ accepted his explanation and did not treat him as a hypocrite.
The surah opens with a warning drawn from this moment: don’t take those hostile to you as close allies. Yet the story shows mercy toward a believer who slipped.
Surah Mumtahina Verse-by-Verse Breakdown
| Verses | Theme | Plain-English Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Loyalty and trust | Don’t pass secrets to those actively hostile to the community. Family ties alone won’t save anyone on the Day of Judgment. |
| 4-6 | Ibrahim’s example | Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his companions showed firm faith while still praying for guidance. |
| 7 | Hope | Allah may place affection between you and former enemies. |
| 8-9 | Justice and kindness | Be kind and fair to those who haven’t fought you over religion. Don’t ally with those who actively oppress you. |
| 10-11 | Migrating women and marriage rulings | Verify sincerity. Marriage ties with those who reject faith are addressed with specific rulings. |
| 12 | Women’s pledge | The Prophet ﷺ took a pledge covering core ethics, such as no shirk, theft or false accusation. |
| 13 | Closing warning | Don’t befriend people who have earned Allah’s anger. |
Opening Verse in Roman English
Ya ayyuhal-ladhina amanu la tattakhidhu aduwwi wa aduwwakum awliya’a tulquna ilayhim bil-mawaddah.
This translates roughly as: “O you who believe, do not take My enemy and your enemy as allies, extending affection to them.”
Verse 8: The Part Most Readers Miss
Verse 8 is arguably the most quoted verse of the surah, and it deserves a slow read:
لَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ
Meaning: Allah does not forbid you from showing kindness and fairness to those who haven’t fought you over religion or driven you from your homes. Allah loves those who act justly.
Why this matters: The surah draws a clear line between hostility and difference. Verse 9 prohibits close alliance with those who fight and expel believers, while verse 8 protects ordinary decency toward peaceful neighbours. Many readers quote one verse and skip the other, so read both together.
Surah Mumtahina in English, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam
If you’re reading for understanding, translation matters as much as recitation. Here’s how to choose well:
- English: Use a translation with footnotes, such as Sahih International, Pickthall or Abdel Haleem. Footnotes carry the Hatib context.
- Urdu: Look for a translation paired with tafsir, such as Maariful Quran or Tafheem-ul-Quran.
- Hindi: Pick a Devanagari edition from a recognised publisher and compare it against the Arabic.
- Malayalam: Choose a translation approved by a reputable Islamic institution, and avoid anonymous online text.
- Roman English: This works for pronunciation practice only. It can’t capture Arabic sounds like ع or ق, so pair it with audio from a qualified reciter.
On Faiz-e-Islam, this is a commonly searched Urdu Islamic resource name. Check the publisher and edition details before relying on any printable file or PDF.
Surah Mumtahina Benefits: What Is Actually Established?
This is where most blogs overreach, so let’s be careful.
What is solid:
- Reciting any part of the Quran carries reward. A well-known hadith in Tirmidhi says each letter earns a good deed, multiplied tenfold.
- The surah’s lessons, such as loyalty, justice, kindness and honesty, benefit anyone who applies them.
- Pondering (tadabbur) its verses builds clearer thinking on relationships, trust and ethics.
What is not established: I’m not aware of an authentic hadith assigning a special fazilat (merit) to this surah for wealth, protection or a specific outcome. Claims of that kind usually come from popular practice, not verified sources. When you see “Surah Mumtahina ki fazilat” posts promising guaranteed results, treat them cautiously and ask a qualified scholar.
Surah Mumtahina for Marriage: Fact vs. Popular Belief
This is one of the most searched phrases around the surah, so let’s separate it.
The real marriage connection: Verse 10 addresses marriage rulings for women who migrated as believers while their husbands remained in disbelief. It sets out how the situation is handled, including the return of dowry (mahr) payments. Verse 12 records the pledge women gave to the Prophet ﷺ.
The popular belief: Many people recite the surah as a wazifa (a repeated practice) for finding a spouse or fixing marital problems. I’m not aware of an authentic hadith prescribing this for marriage. If you do recite it, treat it as ordinary Quran recitation and a way to make dua, and don’t promise yourself a guaranteed result.
Better steps for anyone seeking marriage:
- Make sincere, specific dua, such as the Prophet’s ﷺ teaching in Salat al-Istikhara.
- Involve family and trusted community members.
- Meet suitable people through proper channels.
- Recite the Quran for reward and reflection, not as a transaction.
Allah knows best.
Before and After: A Real-World Reading Shift
Here’s an illustrative example of how reading changes with context.
Before: A reader hears that “Surah Mumtahina is for marriage,” recites it forty days expecting a result, and feels disappointed when nothing happens.
After: The same reader learns what verse 10 actually covers, reads verses 8-9 on fairness, and makes dua alongside it. They come away with better questions to ask a scholar and a healthier expectation.
The recitation is the same, but understanding the text makes the practice more meaningful.
The 3-Layer Method for Reading Surah Mumtahina
Over years of explaining Quran passages to curious readers, a pattern keeps repeating. People who only memorise forget the meaning, and people who only read translations lose the rhythm. This simple framework helps with both:
- Recite: Read the Arabic slowly, with tajweed if you can. Use Roman English only as a bridge.
- Understand: Read one reputable translation and one short tafsir note per section.
- Apply: Pick one lesson per sitting, such as “be fair to peaceful neighbours,” and act on it that week.
Why it works: The Quran asks readers to reflect on it, and reflection needs both language and context. Layering the three steps stops the surah from becoming background noise.
15-Minute Weekly Plan
- Day 1: Read verses 1-3 and the Hatib background.
- Day 2: Read verses 4-6 on Ibrahim’s example.
- Day 3: Read verses 7-9 and write down your reflection on justice and kindness.
- Day 4: Read verses 10-11 and the marriage rulings with a tafsir.
- Day 5: Read verses 12-13.
- Day 6: Review the whole surah in one sitting.
- Day 7: Share one lesson with a friend or family member.
Common Mistakes When Reading Surah Mumtahina
- Quoting verse 1 without verse 8. This produces a lopsided picture of the surah.
- Ignoring the Hatib context. Without it, the opening can sound harsher than intended.
- Treating wazifa claims as guarantees. Stick to what authentic sources say.
- Using unverified PDFs. Typos in Arabic text are surprisingly common in random downloads.
- Reading only Roman English. It helps with pronunciation but loses accuracy.
Surah Mumtahina PDF and Image: How to Choose Safely
Searches for Surah Mumtahina PDF, Surah Mumtahina Full PDF and Surah Mumtahina Full Image are among the most common. Before you download, run this checklist:
- Is the publisher named, such as a recognised Islamic organisation or printing house?
- Does the Arabic text match a standard mushaf, such as the Madinah or Indo-Pak print?
- Is the translation credited to a named translator?
- Is the page readable on mobile without cropping?
- Are there any obvious typos or missing diacritics?
If you can’t answer yes to most of these, find another source. A well-known Quran app is often safer than a random file.
Why This Surah Still Matters in 2026
With roughly 2 billion Muslims worldwide, about 25.6% of the global population according to Pew Research Center’s 2025 report on religious change, questions of coexistence, family ties and fairness are everyday realities for millions. Surah Mumtahina speaks to exactly that. It asks believers to stay firm in faith while treating peaceful people with justice.
That balance is the real reason the surah remains worth studying.
Key Takeaways
- Surah Mumtahina is Surah 60, with 13 verses, in Para 28.
- It was revealed in Madinah and is named after verse 10, which deals with examining migrating women.
- Verses 8-9 separate peaceful neighbours from active aggressors.
- The marriage link comes from verse 10’s rulings, not from an established special wazifa.
- Choose translations and PDFs from named, credible publishers.
- Use the 3-Layer Method (Recite, Understand, Apply) to get more from every reading.
FAQs About Surah Mumtahina
1. Surah Mumtahina in which para is it found?
Surah Mumtahina is in Para 28 (Juz 28) of the Quran.
2. What is Surah Mumtahina about?
Surah Mumtahina covers loyalty to faith, fairness toward peaceful non-Muslims, Prophet Ibrahim’s example, rules on migrating women and marriage, and the pledge taken from women.
3. Is Surah Mumtahina for marriage authentic?
Verse 10 contains genuine marriage-related rulings. However, I’m not aware of an authentic hadith prescribing the surah as a wazifa for finding a spouse. Make dua, recite for reward, and ask a qualified scholar.
4. Where can I find Surah Mumtahina in English, Roman English or Urdu translation?
Look for translations from named publishers or trusted Quran apps. For Surah Mumtahina in English, Sahih International and Abdel Haleem are widely used. For Urdu, choose a translation with tafsir.
5. How many verses are in Surah Mumtahina?
Surah Mumtahina has 13 verses, and the complete Surah Mumtahina can be read in a few minutes.
Thank you for Reading
Also check out “The Powerful Dua” for more such powerful duas.