Eid
al-Mubahala: The Historical Occasion of the Triumphant Victory
The 24th of Dhul Hijjah marks the
anniversary of the auspicious occasion of Mubahala – a challenge of
religious debate and calling up God’s curse on liars. The historical
event of Mubahala also reveals the exalted status of the Ahlul Bayt
(a.s.) This is the day of victory of Muslims over Christians and was
such an important event that ever since it is celebrated as a day of Eid
by Muslims. The event of Mubahala occurred in the 10th of Hijrah.
Historical perspective of Eid-e-Mubahala
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Najran was a fertile land located in the Northern mountainous region of
Yemen about 20 Kms from Sanaa. About 40,000 Christians inhabited the
land divided into 73 small towns. They were idol worshipers historically
just like the Arabs but a priest named Femeon, a constructor by
profession, preached Christianity in the area of Najran and soon all the
population converted to Christianity and Najran became a powerful center
of activities of Christians. They also constructed a church and named
it 'Kaba-e-Najran'. They prayed and offered various offerings there
which resulted in an annual income of about two hundred thousand Dinars
which was used for the priest who lived and studied there.
After the conquest of Makkah when Islam started spreading rapidly and
the warring groups came under the flag of Islam, the Holy Prophet
(sawaw) starting sending emissaries to the tribes who had not yet
accepted Islam. In 10 A.H. a similar message was sent to the Christians
of Najran and they were offered either to accept the teachings of Islam
or live in the protection of Muslims and give 'Jazia' - a kind of fee
for protection services. When the Bishop of Najran received this
message, he invited all the scholars and influential people of Najran
and asked them to think and find a solution to this situation. This news
spread rapidly among the masses and some people got infuriated as well
but the Bishop of Najran pacified them and advised them to be mindful of
the military might of the Islamic regime and try to find a peaceful
solution.
Christian mission heads to Madina
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After deliberations, it was finally decided to send a mission to Madina
and have a dialog with the Muslims. A 14 member deligation headed by
Aqib Saidawar and Abu Harisa started off for Makkah. Abu Harisa was
considered as the greatest Bishop and scholar of the Christian world at
that time and Aqib Saidawar was the biggest strategist and negotiator of
the time. When the delegation reached Madina, the people got impressed
by their lavish dressing and pomp and show since it was the first time
that a mission had arrived in such a manner.
When they entered the Masjid-e-Nabawi, the Prophet Muhammed (sawaw)
looked at the precious stones, gold and silk clothes that they were
wearing and turned away his face and did not pay any attention to them.
After a while when no one noticed their pomp and show, they got out of
the Masjid-e-Nabawi and met Usman and Ubaid-ur-Rehman outside and asked
them as to why they were invited by the Muslims and then treated in this
manner. Usman mentioned that he did not have a clue about that but if
they consult Imam Ali (a.s.), he would be able to tell them what was
going on. They took the delegation with them and arrived at the house of
Imam Ali(a.s.) and mentioned about the whole incidence to him. Imam Ali
(a.s.) said to the delegation that they were wearing dresses of silk and
ornaments of gold which depicted their superior mentality and that they
should take them off and dress simply. Only then the Prophet (sawaw)
would allow them to visit him and entertain them. When they followed the
instructions of Imam Ali (a.s.), they were allowed to visit the Prophet
Muhammed (sawaw) after the Prayers of Asar and have discussions with
him.
Proposal of Mubahala
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After exchange of views on several issues, the delegation did not seem
to be willing to accept the observations about the incorrect beliefs of
Christianity and the logical explanations proving the incorrectness of
their beliefs. At that time Allah (swt) send down the famous
Ayat-e-Mubahala of the Quran:
Glorious Quran Chapter 3 Verse 61:
And unto him who disputeth with thee therein after the knowledge hath
come unto thee, Say ! ( O' Our Apostle Muhammad ! ) ( Unto them ) come
ye, let us summon our sons, and ( ye summon ) your sons, and ( we summon
) our women and ( ye ) your women, and ( we summon ) ourselves and then
let us invoke the curse of God on the liars !
Prophet Muhammed (sawaw) recited this Ayat and invited them for Mubahala
- praying to God (swt) to destroy and banish the liars.
Mubahala became necessary since the Christian delegation was adamant to
accept the truth. After some hesitations the delegations asked to be
given one day to reconsider their options and then accepted to have the
Mubahala after two days. In their consultations among themselves, the
grand Bishop Abu Harisa told his companions that if tomorrow, Prophet
Muhammed (sawaw) brings his companions and his tribesmen and military
might with him for Mubahala then they should accept the challenge
without fear but if he brings only the members of his family, then never
accept the challenge.
Whom did the Prophet (sawaw) take with him
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Prophet Muhammed (sawaw) selected a place close to Madina for the
Mubahala which was then cleaned and prepared by Hazrat Salman Farsi
(r.a.) and the next day the Christian delegation reached the designated
place. A number of muhajirren and ansaar also gathered at the site. The
Holy Prophet Muhammed (sawaw) took with him Imam Hasan (a.s.), Imam
Hussain (a.s.), Bibi Fatima (s.a.) and Imam Ali (a.s.) and headed
towards the site in a manner that Prophet Muhammed (sawaw) was leading
the group holding Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Hussain (a.s.) and Bibi
Fatima (s.a.) was behind him and Imam Ali (a.s.) was behind Bibi Fatima
(s.a.).
Saad bin Abi Waqas relates that when the Ayat-e-Mubahala was sent down,
Prophet Muhammed (sawaw) called Imam Ali (a.s.), Bibi Fatima (s.a.),
Imam Hasan(a.s.) and Imam Hussain (a.s.) and said "O my Allah( swt),
these are my Ahl-e-Bait" . (Sahih Muslim, Vol.2, Page 287).
Prophet Muhammed (sawaw) sat down under a tree with these weighty
personalities and said that when I pray to God, you all should say 'Ameen'.
When the Christian delegation saw a woman, two children and only one man
with the Prophet (sawaw), they got scared and worried and Abu Harisa
chanted "O my christian friends, I am seeing such bright faces that if
they pray that God move this mountain from its place then the mountain
will be moved. I warn you, do not have Mubahala with them or you all
will be destroyed and banished."
The Christian delegation was still amazed and frightened when the
brother of Abu Harisa, Karz ibn-e-Alqama stated that "O my fellows, it
appears that Muhammed (sawaw) is the same last apostle and prophet that
has been mentioned in our sacred books. We should not have Mubahala with
them because anyone who had Mubahala with the prophets in the past as
well was destroyed. Look around you and observe that the signs of your
destruction are appearing." When they looked around, they observed that
the entire atmosphere had changed and it appeared that a furious storm
is in offing.
Result of the Mubahala
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Witnessing this, they backed off from the contest and requested that
their friendship be accepted. Prophet Muhammed (sawaw) accepted their
request and asked Imam Ali (a.s.) to write the agreement according to
which the Najran tribes accepted to pay 'Jazia' and live under the
protection of the Muslims.
This victory is a unique one in the history of this world. |