The event of Mubahala is one of the significant events in which the Messenger of Allah (PBUHH) met with Christian delegations from Najran in an attempt to resolve the ideological differences between them. According to reports, the event took place in the ninth year of Hijrah.
In a literal sense, the term Mubahala is an Arabic term derived from the root verb bahala, which means ‘to curse’. The term can also mean ‘withdrawing mercy from one who lies or engages in falsehood’. In Islamic jurisprudence, the term Mubahala refers to ‘mutual cursing’; the act involving swearing a conditional curse or invoking a curse on a liar as a last resort to resolve disputes.
It is pertinent to mention that the ‘mutual curse’ (Mubahalah) was not confined to a particular period. Some Islamic traditions indicate that every believer can apply it, too, if the need arises. In Tafsir of Nur al-Thaqalayn, vol. 1, p. 351, a tradition from Imam Ṣādiq (PBUH) is narrated upon this subject who has issued a few instructions about it. In the hadith Book of al-Kāfi, vol. 2, ‘mutual curse’, five traditions which denote that every believer can apply ‘mutual curse’ with the opponents, too have also been cited.
Following the rise of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula, the Messenger of Allah (PBUHH) decided to invite others, particularly the kings and religious authorities to Islam. Thereby, the Prophet wrote to nearby personages and invited them to Islam. One of the letters was sent to the Najran Christian community. Thereafter, in an attempt to verify the authenticity of the Prophet’s claim to Prophethood, a delegation of Najran Christians was sent and arrived in Medina to meet with Muhammad. According to a report, the delegation was led by high-ranking bishops known as Abd al-Masih, Abu al-Harith ibn Alqama, and Sayyid ibn al-Harith. Then, they asked the noble Prophet several questions, among which was: “O Muhammad, what do you say about Jesus Christ?” He (PBUHH) replied: “He was a servant of God and His Messenger.”
But they did not accept the saying of the Prophet and laid the foundations of rejection and objection until the verses of Surah Al-Imrān (Chapter 3) were revealed to the Prophet in this regard, among which this verse was the response to their question: “Indeed the case of Jesus with Allah is like the case of Adam: He created him from dust, then said to him, ‘Be,’ and he was. This is the truth from your Lord, so do not be among the sceptics.” (Qur’an 3: 59-60)
That is to say, if based on the Christians’ belief, the fatherless creation is the evidence of Christ’s divinity or being the Son of Allah, the creation of Adam is something more important than that, because Adam had neither father nor mother. So, why do you not consider Adam the Lord or the Son of the Lord? Whereas, the Christians have accepted that Adam (PBUH) is the creature of Allah although he had no parents.
In addition, Almighty God instructed the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) to engage them in a mutual curse (Mubahala) when He said: “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 souls, then let us pray earnestly, and call down Allah’s curse upon the liars.’” (Qur’an 3: 61)
In this way, the Prophet of Islam (PBUHH) invited the Najrān Christians to Mubahala (invoking of curse on a liar) based on the divine commandment and they accepted after consultation among them, and said: “Tomorrow we will come for Mubahala.” Then Chief Monk, the Leader of the Christian delegation told them that if the Prophet of Islam came for mutual cursing with ceremonies and followed by a large group of people, they would not be worried about it and knew that nothing might happen. But, if he came to the spot with a few people, that is, his children and family, then they would give up the act of mutual cursing and compromise with him.
On the day of mutual cursing, they saw that the noble Prophet of God (PBUHH) entered the appointed spot followed by two boys, a young man and a lady. Those two boys were Hasan and Husain, the young man was Ali ibn Abi Talib and the lady was Fatimah, the Prophet’s daughter.
In other words, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his family, in an attempt to practically explained the afore-mentioned verse, invited Hasan and Husain to represent “our sons”; Lady Fatimah Zahra to represent “our women” and Ali ibn Abi-Talib as “our souls” to the mutual cursing. In other words, the Holy Prophet (PBUHH) came for the mutual curse “Mubahala” with the Najran Christians’ delegation with the closest members of his family, who were his daughter, Fatima al-Zahra, his son-in-law, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, his two grandsons, al-Hasan and al-Husain (peace be upon them).
When the Chief Monk saw them, he exclaimed: “By God! I see the faces that, if they pray to God for mountains to move from their places, the mountains will immediately move. If they curse you, you will be wiped out of existence to the last day of the life of the earth.”
Therefore, the Christians asked Prophet Muhammad (PBUHH) to give up the idea of the agreed mutual cursing and thus announced they were ready for compromise. The Christians understood the truthfulness of the Prophet’s claim. This way, the Prophet (PBUHH) became victorious in this event.
According to some of the Islamic traditions, the day of Mubahala (mutual curse) was the twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, and the place, at the time of the holy Prophet (PBUHH), was somewhere outside of Medina which has located inside the city now. At this place, a mosque by the name of Masjid-ul-‘Ijabah which is about two kilometres far from the Holy Tomb of the Prophet (PBUHH) has been built.
The mutual curse (Mubahala) of the Prophet with the high-ranking delegation of the Najran Christians is not only a sign of the truthfulness of the Prophet’s claim but also portrays the special position of the members of his purified Household (Ahl al-Bayt) in the sight of Allah since he introduced them alone among all his companions and relatives. Therefore, the event of Mubahala is among the events that show the merits of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).
