Quoting from the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP) that Sunni and Shia Scholars have related many traditions (Hadiths) on the virtues of Imam Ali (PBUH) and all the other Imams (PBUTH). One of those Prominent Virtues is mentioned in Al-Mubahalah verse of The Quran (3:61) which proves obviously that Imam Ali (PBUH) is the soul of the Prophet (PBUH&HP). The present article aims to give a brief introduction to the verse and clarifies what happened to the Prophet and his progeny (Ahl ul-Bayt) and how Almighty Allah considers Imam Ali (PBUH) as the Soul of the Prophet (PBUH&HP).
The Adventure of Al-Mubahalah
In the 9th year after Hijrah, the Christians of the city of Najran selected a group of their dignitaries and scholars, sending them to Medina. The delegation primarily debated and argued with the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP), but they were condemned and defeated and Allah revealed the following verse of “Al-Mubahalah (cursing)”.
“Should anyone argue with you concerning him, after the knowledge that has come to you, say, ‘Come! Let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our souls and your ourselves, then let us pray earnestly, and call down Allah’s curse upon the liars.” (Qur’an 3:61)
According to the order and instruction are given through this verse, the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP) proposed that the Christian delegation from Najran participate in requesting the curse of Allah on liars. Then, the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP) had to gather along with His women (not wives) and children to pray for the curse of Allah on the liars, so that the Almighty Allah would send upon them His torment.
The Christian delegation from Najran accepted the proposal for Al-Mubahalah and allocated the day after for this purpose. The next day, a great number of Muslims and the delegation from Najran waited for the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH&HP) appearance to see in what form and with what formalities he would arrive and whom he would bring along for Al-Mubahalah.
They saw the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP) coming out in such a way that he was carrying Imam al-Husayn (PBUH) in his arms and holding Imam al-Hasan’s (PBUH) hand in his hand. Behind the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP) was his daughter, Fatimah (PBUH), and behind her was Imam Ali (PBUH). The Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP) ordered these honourable persons accompanying him to say Amin (may it be so) when he prayed.
The delegation of Najran was struck with horror when they saw the holy delegation who entirely displayed truth and reality and who sought no refuge except the protection of the Almighty Allah. The chief of the Najran delegation told his colleagues: “By Allah, I see the faces who if they pray, surely annihilate all the Christians of the world if they turn towards Allah”(Al-Mustadrak, Hakim Nishapouri, Vol.3, P.150); (Tafsir Tabari, Vol.3, P.300).
This was the reason why they came to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) and asked him to excuse them from participating in Al-Mubahalah. The Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP) asked them to submit to the will of Allah and convert to Islam. They said that they were unable to fight with the Muslims but were ready to pay annual taxes to live under the protection of Islam. Thus, this episode ended.
The following conclusion could be drawn from this incident: The accompaniment of Imam Ali (PBUH), Holy Fatimah (PBUH), Imam al-Hasan (PBUH), Imam al-Hussein (PBUH) with the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP) in the course of Al-Mubahalah clarified that in the holy verse “our children, our women, and ourselves” refers to none but the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP), Imam Ali(PBUH), Fatimah (PBUH), Imam al-Hasan (PBUH), and Imam al-Husayn (PBUH). In other words, by stating the word “ourselves”, the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP) meant himself and ‘Ali (PBUH), by “our women”, he meant Holy Fatimah (PBUH), and by “our sons”, he meant Imam al-Hasan (PBUH) and Imam al-Husayn (PBUH).
Thus, it becomes clear that Imam Ali (PBUH) is in the soul of the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP) himself. It also becomes evident that the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUH) of the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP) were the four persons. This is because the members of the household of anyone are those who are commonly called “ourselves, our women, and our children”. If any other persons were considered as the Ahl al-Bayt, the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP) would have taken them along for Al-Mubahalah.
This is why we must judge the ‘Ismah (infallibility) of these four persons, for the Almighty Allah testifies on the ‘Ismah and taharah (purity) of the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUH) of the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP): “…And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye members of the Family, and to make you pure and spotless” (Qur’an 33:33).
