In Surat Al-Fath, we related the story of the treaty at Al-Hudaybiyyah that
was conducted between the Messenger of Allah and the disbelievers of Quraysh. In
that treaty, there were these words, "Everyman (in another narration, every
person) who reverts from our side to your side, should be returned to us, even
if he is a follower of your religion.'' This was said by `Urwah, Ad-Dahhak,
`Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd, Az-Zuhri, Muqatil bin Hayyan and As-Suddi. So according
to this narration, this Ayah specifies and explains the Sunnah. And this is the
best case of understanding. Yet according to another view of some of the Salaf,
it abrogates it. Allah the Exalted and Most High ordered His faithful servants
to test the faith of women who emigrate to them. When they are sure that they
are faithful, they should not send them back to the disbelievers, for the
disbelievers are not allowed for them and they are not allowed for the
disbelievers. In the biography of `Abdullah bin Abi Ahmad bin Jahsh in Al-Musnad
Al-Kabir, we also mentioned that `Abdullah bin Abi Ahmad said, "Umm Kulthum bint
`Uqbah bin Abi Mu`ayt emigrated and her brothers, `Umarah and Al-Walid, went
after her. They came to Allah's Messenger and talked to him about Umm Kulthum
and asked that she be returned to them. Allah abolished the part of the treaty
between the Prophet and the idolators about the women particularly. So He
forbade returning Muslim women to the idolators and revealed the Ayah about
testing them.'' Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas, about Allah's saying:
[يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا جَآءَكُمُ الْمُؤْمِنَـتُ مُهَـجِرَتٍ فَامْتَحِنُوهُنَّ]
(O you who believe! When believing women come to you as emigrants, examine
them;) "Their examination was asking them to testify to La ilaha illallah, and
that Muhammad is Allah's servant and His Messenger.'' Mujahid explained the
Ayah,
[فَامْتَحِنُوهُنَّ]
(examine them) by saying, "Ask them why they migrated. If they came because
they were angry with their husbands, or for any other reason, and you realized
that they did not embrace the faith, then send them back to their husbands.''
Allah's statement,
[فَإِنْ
عَلِمْتُمُوهُنَّ مُؤْمِنَـتٍ فَلاَ تَرْجِعُوهُنَّ إِلَى الْكُفَّارِ]
(then if you ascertain that they are true believers, send them not back to
the disbelievers.) This Ayah indicates that faith can be recognized and
affirmed.