The issue of Mhaijr women

Shortly after the Treaty of Hudaybia, some Muslim women came to the Prophet seeking asylum, while the pagans demanded their return. The Prophet rejected the pagans’ demand, saying that the treaty had nothing to do with the women. Allah, on the other hand, sent down his command: “O you who believe! When believing women come to you as refugees, determine if they are actually believers, and Allah knows best as to their faith. And if you are satisfied that they are Believers, do not return them to the unbelievers, for they are no longer lawful wives for unbelievers, and unbelievers are not lawful husbands for them. But reimburse their former husbands the dowry they gave to them, and there will be no sin on you if you marry these women after giving them a dowry. Likewise, do not remain married to women who do not believe, and ask them to return the dowry you gave them. Let them also ask for what they spent while married to you. This is Allah’s decision: He judges between you, and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” (60: 10).

Thus believing women were declared unlawful for unbelievers and unbelieving women unlawful for believing men. From then on, the Prophet put the emigrant women to the test in the light of the following verse: “O Prophet , when believing women come to you to pledge their allegiance to you, swearing that they will not worship anything other than Allah, steal, commit adultery or fornication, kill their children, intentionally slander anyone or lie, not disobey you in any just matter, then accept their pledge, and pray to Allah to forgive them. Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (60: 12).

Once the women agreed on oath to live by these divine injunctions, the Prophet would accept their pledge of allegiance. He solemnised the pledges verbally without shaking hands with them. Such women were then not returned to the unbelievers. Moreover, the Muslims divorced their unbelieving wives, and Muslim women were separated from their non-Muslim husbands.