Eid al-Mubahila

Eid al-Mubahila is annual commemoration of the event of Mubahila occurred on 24th of Dhul-Hijja 9 Hijri corresponding to Wednesday, 6 April 631 CE., On this day when Muhammad and the Christians of Najran gathered to debate - and imprecate - each other.

The term mubahila in Arabic means "debate" but it has the additional meaning of "imprecate" (i.e., curse) as well. This dual association hails from the dynamics of debate in the nomadic cultures which became Islam. To the tribals of the desert who became Islam's first converts, a debate was not so much matching two arguments against each other to establish one proposition as having more merit than the other as it was threatening and cursing until the other person backed down. Eid al-Mubahila in 2010 is celebrated on November 30 and is a sound primer for the faithful in Islamic techniques of argument.

The Event

The event was the result of a delegation led by Abdul Masihm and 60 Christian followers addressing Muhammad regarding the nature of Jesus. Then, according to Qur'an Muhammad invited them to imprecation:

"If any one disputes in this matter with thee, now after (full) knowledge Hath come to thee, say: "Come! let us gather together,- our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves: Then let us earnestly pray, and invoke the curse of Allah on those who lie! 3:61"

Though the verse calls for (in 'Arabic) at least 3 "sons", at least 3 "women", and at 3 least "selves" from each side in the Mubahila, only Imam Hasan ibn 'Ali and Imam Husain ibn 'Ali represented the "sons" of the Prophet, only Fatima al-Zahra represented the "women", and only 'Ali ibn Abi Talib represented as the "self" or "soul" of the Prophet.

A large number of companions assembled in the masjid, making themselves available for the selection. On the opposite side of the field, selected for the contest, the Christians, with their selected men, women and children appeared on the scene.

At the appointed hour, a huge crowd, standing in wait, saw Muhammad coming in, Imam Husayn in his arms, Imam Hasan holding his index finger, walking beside him, Bibi Fatimah Zahra, close to his heels and Imam Ali just behind her-as his sons, women, and selves. Muhammad then directed them to utter "Ameen" when he prayed to God.

No sooner had the sacred caravan of Muhammad appeared to the sight of the opposing group of the Christians of Najran then they were awestruck and spellbound. Abdul Haris lbne Alqama, the greatest scholar among them, addressed his people:

"Verily I see a divine light on the face of our combatants, I am beholding such faces among them as can make the mountains move from their spots if they pray to God. So beware! Never try to contest with them, otherwise you will perish and the entire nation of Christians will succumb to extinction!"

Thereupon Muhammad reiterated, "By God! Had the Christians of Najran contested with us, they would have been transformed into monkeys and swine. Fire would have rained over them from the sky and they would have been doomed."

When the Christians refrained from ‘Mubahala’, Muhammad put before them two alternatives: either to embrace Islam or to be prepared to come to terms. But the Christians would not agree till the matter was finally decided by an offer of treaty from their side. Thus a peace treaty was signed on the terms that the Christians of Najran would thereby be committed to pay Muhammad an annual tribute consisting of two thousand costumes-worth: forty thousand Dinars, thirty horses, thirty camels, thirty armors and thirty spears. (Meraj-un-Nabuwat) Imam Fakhruddin Razi writes in his Tafseer-e-Kabeer (volume 2): "When this verse was revealed to the Holy Prophet, the Christians of Najran accepted the challenge of ‘Mubahala’ and the Holy Prophet took along with him Imam Hussain, Imam Hasan, Janab-e-Fatima and Hazrat Ali to the field of Mubahala’."

To quote Allama Zamakhshari in his ‘Tafseer-e-Kashshaf". "There can be no more authentic and stronger evidence for the integrity of Ashab-e-Kisa, i.e., Hazrat Ali, Janab-e-Fatima, Imam Hasan and Imam Hussain than this Qur’anic verse. For in compliance with the order of God the Holy Prophet summoned his Ahl-ul-Bait, took Hussain in his arms, grasped Imam Hasan’s hand in his own, asked Janab-e-Fatima to follow him and Hazrat Ali to follow her. This proved that the Holy Ahl-ul-Bait were those to whom the Qur’anic verse was directed."

It is related by Soad Ibne Waqas that: "When this verse was revealed, the Holy Prophet sent for Hazrat Ali, Janab-e-Fatima, Imam Hasan and Imam Hussain and prayed to God thus: "O My God! These are the very Ahl-ul-Bait of mine!" (Sahih Muslim. Vol. 1, Sahih Tirmizi.)

According to some versions it is stated that on the morning of 24th Zilhajj, a large number of people thronged the door of Muhammad every one anticipating his chance to be selected for the team of ‘Mubahala’. But when Muhammad emerged out of his house accompanied by his ‘Ahl-ul-Bait’. They were all stunned.

When the event of the mubahila took place, the prophet was accompanied by a great number of Sahaba. The Sahaba's wanted to go out in a show of numbers and force so that the Christians would be intimidated when they see how many followers the prophet of islam has got with him.

However when they got to a certain point, Muhammad thanked them all for their support but told them not to step any further, and that ONLY the following people would accompany him:

Imam Hassan, and Imam Hussain who were only young children at the time, Imam Hussain in his arms, and Imam Hassan holding his index finger; Lady Fatima walking behind him, and Hazrat Ali walking behind her

(References:- Mahmud bin Umar Zamakhshari in al Khashshaf; Fakhr al Din al Razi in Tafsir Kabir; Jalal al Din al Suyuti in Tafsir Durr al Manthur; Tafsir Baydawi; Tafsir Nafsi; Tafsir Ibna Kathir; Sahih al Muslim and Sahih al Tirmidhi.)

A very large number of Muslims (and also nonmuslims) witnessed the contest and came to know that Ali, Fatimah, Hasan and Husayn were the "Ahlul Bayt" addressed in verse 33 of al Ahzab, known as ayah al tat-hir or the verse of purification.

In this verse, the divine command allows Muhammad to take with him "sons", "women" and "selves"; therefore, had there been "women" and "selves" worthy to be selected for this symbolic contest, among his companions, he would certainly have selected them, but as it was seen by one and all, only Fatimah and Ali (and their two sons) were chosen, because none of the anxiously waiting companions (among whom were the three caliphs and the wives of Muhammad was truthful or so thoroughly purified as to deserve selection for an event which was divinely decreed in order to also make known the true ``successors of Muhammad.

Result

The Christians were to annually offer twelve thousand exquisite clothes, a thousand mithqal of gold, and some other items to remain Christians under the umbrella of Islam. On the basis of the mubahila verse, Zamakhshari, Baidawi, Fakhruddin Razi and others regard Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussain superior to all other people and argue that Hasan and Hussain are the sons of the Prophet.

External links

• Read the exegesis of this verse in Tafseer al-Mizan.
• Eid-e-Mubahila
• Mubahila Islamic Literature
• The Event of Mubahila @ islamicthought.co.uk
• The Event of Mubahila @ sibtayn.com