Mubahila; Curse the Liars

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اُردو ترجمے کے لئے یہاں جائیں

Prophet (SAW) had adopted various strategies, during different missions, to achieve the same goal, which was to convey the message, untampered.

People had always misunderstood Islam and had seen it in the form of Salat and Saum. Islam is about submitting your will to Allah, but it is not always bowing before Allah. Islam is a social order. Earning lawfully, obedience to your parents, being kind to your neighbors, helping your friends, promoting Islamic brother hood and Islamic social order, is as much a part of Islam as anything else.

Similarly, killing an innocent, raping a woman, robbing someone, are as big a sin as they can get. Shirk is not the only major sin.

We recite in Kalimah that Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of Allah.

I swear by the star when it goes down. Your companion does not err, nor does he (Muhammad) go astray; Nor does he speak out of desire. It is naught but revelation that is revealed, The Lord of Mighty Power has taught him;
Quran [53:1-5]

Thus it is a major part of our faith to believe that what ever Prophet (SAW) taught, preached and told us to do is from Allah and not from himself. The position of the Prophet (SAW) according to me, the Shias and the Quran has been discussed in Muhammad of the Quran.

If i am not allowed to marry more than four times, but Prophet (SAW) can marry as many women as he wants, I will have to resist any doubts in my mind about this favorable treatment, which the Prophet gives to himself claiming it is from Allah. Because the moment I think that this is not from Allah but Muhammad (SAW) himself, which explains why he (SAW) can have more wives than i can, it will take me outside the boundaries of Islam, no matter how many Salats i had performed upto this point.

The point is, that Islam at times had portrayed favorable treatment towards Prophet (SAW) and his Progeny, over everyone else and the challenge for the converts and the believers was to believe this favorable treatment as a message from God, and not Muhammad's (SAW) personal opinion or need. As stated in Why Ali, if Prophet (SAW) made his grandsons, Imam Hassan (AS) and Imam Hussain (AS) as the leaders of youth of Paradise, and his own daughter, Hazrat Zahra (AS), the leader of women of paradise, and his brotherly Cousin, Ali ibn Abu Talib, a Mawla over everyone in Gadeer, then these were an order from Allah and not Muhammad's (SAW) decision as a human being. (Many people believe Prophet (SAW) to have dual nature, that of a prophet (where he can not err in conveying revelations) and that of a normal human being (where he can make mistakes, not sin)).

Sunnis claim that Shias give unnecessary respect and importance to the Progeny of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the leadership of Ali (AS) and that Islam does not revolve around five people, namely Muhammad (SAW), Ali (AS), Fatima (AS), Hassan (AS) and Hussain (AS). The perspective is, that Islam is not always about Allah and bowing down to him, as stated in the start of the article. If loving and following the Ahlulbayt is from Allah, then considering it to be a fabrication and negligible is a mistake.

Infact, the Ahlulbayt could be the biggest test of one's faith. Because if Muhammad's (SAW) grandsons are princes of Paradise, a paradise which you have not even seen, but you have to believe in it. Similarly, if Muhammad (SAW) preferred the four (Ahlulbayt), over everyone else, then this preferable treatment, if considered Muhammad's (SAW) own choice and biasness might take you out of the folds of Islam.

This takes us to the event of Mubahila, which has been an issue of controversy. Shias and Sunnis unanimously agree to the delegation of Najran.

Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yasar said in his famous Sirah, "The delegation of Christians from Najran came to the Messenger of Allah . The delegation consisted of sixty horsemen, including fourteen of their chiefs who make decisions. ... Three of these men were chiefs of this delegation, Al-`Aqib, their leader and to whom they referred for advice and decision; As-Sayyid, their scholar and leader in journeys and social gatherings; and Abu Harithah bin `Alqamah, their patriarch, priest and religious leader. ...  Abu Harithah knew the description of the Messenger of Allah from what he read in earlier divine Books. However, his otherwise ignorance led him to insist on remaining a Christian, because he was honored and had a high position with the Christians. Ibn Ishaq said, "Muhammad bin Ja`far bin Az-Zubayr said that, `The (Najran) delegation came to the Messenger of Allah in Al-Madinah, entered his Masjid wearing robes and garments, after the Prophet had prayed the `Asr prayer. They accompanied a caravan of camels led by Bani Al-Harith bin Ka`b. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah who saw them said that they never saw a delegation like them after that... Then Abu Harithah bin `Alqamah and Al-`Aqib `Abdul-Masih or As-Sayyid Al-Ayham spoke to the Messenger of Allah , and they were Christians like the king (Roman King). However, they disagreed about `Isa; some of them said, `He is Allah,' while some said, `He is the son of Allah,' and some others said, `He is one of a trinity.' ... They also claim that `Isa is the son of Allah, since he did not have a father and he spoke when he was in the cradle, a miracle which had not occurred by any among the Children of Adam before him, so they claim. ....
Tafsir Ibne Kathir, Tafsir of Surah 3, Verse 61

The prophet (SAW) replied with the Quran;

Surely the likeness of Isa is with Allah as the likeness of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him, Be, and he was.
Quran [3:59]

Both sides argued and discussed. The delegation discussed with Prophet Muhammad (SAW) with no obvious conclusion, until the following verse was revealed;

But whoever disputes with you in this matter after what has come to you of knowledge, then say: Come let us call our sons and your sons and our women and your women and our near people and your near people, then let us be earnest in prayer, and pray for the curse of Allah on the liars.
Quran [3:61]

This is where the argument lies. A group of Sunnis (Note, not all) believe that the Christians backed out as soon as this verse regarding a spiritual contest was revealed and conveyed to the Christians by Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

The Shias, the other group of Sunnis believe that the Prophet (SAW) complied with this Quranic order, the Christians agreed to contest, but only backed out on the day of the Curse, when they saw who Muhammad (SAW) had brought with him.

I will now relate the Ahlulbayt-eccentric importance of this event in Islam related with this verse and also the importance of other minor details in order to strengthen a philosophical point of view.

But before I do so, to prove to the other group of Sunnis that Mubahila infact took place, let us see what Maududi and Ibne Kathir state.

Al-Bukhari recorded that Hudhayfah said, "Al-`Aqib and As-Sayyid, two leaders from Najran, came to the Messenger of Allah seeking to invoke Allah for curses (against whoever is unjust among them), and one of them said to the other, `Let us not do that. By Allah, if he were truly a Prophet and we invoke Allah for curses, we and our offspring shall never succeed afterwards.' So they said, `We will give you what you asked and send a trusted man with us, just a trusted man.'
Tafsir Ibne Kathir, Tafsir of Surah 3, verse 61

Maududi states:

The real aim in suggesting this procedure for deciding the dispute was to prove that the attitude of those amongst the delegation of Najran was one of deliberate stubbornness and intransigence. They had no sound arguments to contradict any of the points mentioned above and they could not find any shred of evidence in their own scriptures upon which they could claim , with firm conviction, that their beliefs were true. Moreover, all that the members of deputation had come to know of the character, teachings and achievements of Prophet had made them more or less convinced of his prophethood, and at least caused their disbelief to waver. When they were told that if they had full confidence in the truth of their beliefs, they should come forward to pray to God and his curse should fall on the deniers of the truth, none of them came forward. It became clear all over Arabia that the priests and the leaders of Christians of Najran, whose holiness was celebrated far and wide, followed beliefs, the truth of which they themselves were not fully confident in.
Tafheem al Quran, By Abul Aala Maududi, Tafsir of Surah 3, Verse 61

You must note that;

• Ibne Kathir believes that one of the Christian elders wanted the Prophet (SAW) to invoke for the curse
• Ibne Kathir also stats that the other Christian elder had some doubt, that if he (SAW) was the true Prophet, then they will never succeed, hence he convinced his party to negotiate their terms with the Prophet (SAW)
• Ibne Kathir concludes that Prophet did not gather anyone (sons and daughters etc) in order to comply with the orders of Quran, and the Christians backed away as soon as the other Christian elder talked with his colleague
• Maududi believes that Mubahila was offered by the Prophet (SAW) in order to prove that the Christians were lying on purpose and were not confident of their own believes any more
• He also states that when the Prophet (SAW) offered them Mubahila, they backed out, exposing their fragile faith and beliefs
• Both commentators ignore to mention that the Prophet gathered someone (his sons and daughters etc) in order to comply with the Quranic order

I do not need to discredit Ibne Kathir's Tafsir, who wrote that the Christians initiated the challenge. It is clear from the verse of the Quran, that it was Allah who ordered Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to initiate the challenge. Ibne Kathir's point of view that the Christians initiated the challenge, also goes against Maududi's view, who believed that the Christians were aware of their own fake beliefs. A person who is sure of his own fraud and the truthful of the other, will never initiate such a strong challenge.

Thus Maududi's Tafsir is more credible in this matter. However, it is more credible only when compared with that of Ibne Kathir. Maududi states that the curse was challenged by Allah in order to prove that the Christians knew they were wrong and the Prophet was a true Prophet of Allah.

My question is, why not use the similar strategy in a deadlock situation, which had been used before, namely;

Say: O unbelievers! I do not serve that which you serve, Nor do you serve Him Whom I serve: Nor am I going to serve that which you serve, Nor are you going to serve Him Whom I serve: You shall have your religion and I shall have my religion.
Quran [109:1-6]

The message of Prophet (SAW) has always been the truth. People who opposed him and argued him, never convinced the Prophet because of the fact that the message of the prophet was real. Thus when they continued with their baseless arguments, to them was their religion and to the Prophet was his. What was the need of a Mubahila at this stage of the mission, which happened after the fall of Mecca, and almost all of Arabia was under the holds of Islam already. When most of the people had already converted to Islam, why was it important to invite a certain group of people to curse in order to prove the truth?

Maybe, the need was to prove that the Christians were wrong and they knew it, as Maududi says. And maybe, there was a need to show to the Muslims, who the truthful ones were. What was the need to show who the truthful ones were?

O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah and be with the true ones.
Quran [9:119]

Who are the true ones and why should we be with them is another story and will come later.

But whoever disputes with you in this matter after what has come to you of knowledge, then say: Come let us call our sons and your sons and our women and your women and our near people and your near people, then let us be earnest in prayer, and pray for the curse of Allah on the liars.
Quran [3:61]

The questions which arise now are;

• Why didn't the Prophet (SAW) resume similar attitude with the people of Najran, no matter how baseless their arguments continued to be. The attitude, "to you is your religion and to me is mine"
• What was the need for the Prophet to gather his sons and women and people? Was not the curse of Prophet (SAW) himself sufficient to destroy any nation?
• Why was the Prophet (SAW) told to call his sons when he did not have any biological son alive!
• Was there a possibility that any son, women or near people of the Prophet would lie in the future, or had lied in the past, making them liars themselves, and thus the curse of Allah going on them too? Why was not the Prophet (SAW) told to collect all the truthful people, why were only his sons, women and near people required for Mubahila?
• Did the Prophet gather some one in order to comply with the Orders of the Quran or did the Christians back away from the challenge before Prophet (SAW) could gather his people.

Surah al-Kaffiroon is a Mecci Surah. Mawla Ali had not married Hz Fatima (AS) back then. Their children did not exist.

According to all the reliable authorities, verses 59-63 of this Surah were revealed in the year 10 H., on the occasion of a dispute between the Prophet and a deputation of the Christians of Najran who, like all other Christians, maintained that Jesus was "the son of God" and, therefore, God incarnate. Although they refused the "trial through prayer" (Mubahila) proposed to them by the Prophet, the latter accorded to them a treaty guaranteeing all their civic rights and the free exercise of their religion.
The message of The Holy Quran, By Muhammad Asad, Tafsir of Surah 3, verse 61

The event of Mubahila occurred in the 10th Hijri. The holy five (Muhammad (SAW), Ali (AS), Fatima (AS), Hassan (AS), Hussain (AS) - according to the verse of Purity) were present. The event happened two months before the demise of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Theoretically, as the True ones now all existed and it was time for Prophet (SAW) to wrap up his religion, it might have been important to show the Muslim world who the true ones were, who should be followed after his (SAW) demise. Which might explain why the Prophet (SAW) didn't let the Christians keep their religion while continued to follow his own, just what the Prophet (SAW) did on numerous occasions in Mecca and with Jewish tribes in Medina. You must note that eventually, it is what exactly the Prophet (SAW) did with the Christians of Najran too when they backed off from the challenge, which is again though provoking that if letting the Christians keep their religion was the end result, in Allah's knowledge, why did he added one fruitless step in the procedure, to call for Mubahila.

I have said it before and I say it again, for those who believe, a coincidence is a sign, for those who do not, a sign is a coincidence.

To me, Mubahila was more based on the recognition of who the true ones were, rather than proving Christians wrong. There had been Christians who had converted to Islam before the event of Mubahila (in Abyssinia), thus proving Christianity to be wrong. Christians already knew in their hearts that they were wrong, according to interpretations of Maududi and Ibne Kathir, which was proven by their continuous baseless arguments and this was also seen by Muslims around the delegation as well. Thus the need for Mubahila to expose the already obvious fake Christian beliefs was not really there.

As for the question that why was not the Prophet alone sufficient for the Curse, I will let you answer it. Because to me, when i send Durood, I send it on Muhamamd (SAW) wa Aal e Muhammad (AS). I do not separate Muhammad (SAW) from his family. I believe his near ones were divine and chosen by Allah himself, just like Allah chose certain nations before them;

Surely Allah chose Adam and Nuh and the descendants of Ibrahim and the descendants of Imran above the nations.
Quran [3:33]

I believe that his near ones are the part of his Ahlulbayt, the same people who we are told to love by the Quran, who are a part of the group purified from all Rijs, on whom Charity is forbidden along with the Prophet (SAW) himself. The curse of Prophet (SAW) is sufficient to destroy any nation, anything is this world, but to me, the Prophet (SAW) was told to call a certain group of people to curse the liars, in order to show everyone who his near ones were and who the true ones were. For our love for his near ones is a part of our faith, while following the true ones is a duty of our faith.

You must note that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had no son alive in the year 10 Hijri. Both his sons died in infancy. Also note that;

Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Last of the prophets; and Allah is cognizant of all things.
Quran [33:40]

When Muhammad is not the father of any men, and when none of his biological sons existed, why did Allah tell Prophet (SAW) to gather his sons? Did Allah wanted Prophet (SAW) to do something which he could not?

And Nuh cried out to his Lord and said: My Lord! surely my son is of my family, and Thy promise is surely true, and Thou art the most just of the judges. He said: O Nuh! surely he is not of your family; surely he is (the doer of) other than good deeds, therefore ask not of Me that of which you have no knowledge; surely I admonish you lest you may be of the ignorant
Quran [11:45-46]

We read that the biological son of Nuh (AS) was not his son according to the verdict of Allah. The relationship ties made by Allah are far stronger than the biological ties and the relationships we make ourselves.

When you will read further as to who the Prophet (SAW) brought, you will know that Muhammad (SAW) gathered two of his grandsons, Imam Hassan (AS) and Imam Hussain (AS) for the category of Sons, which meant that these children were more closer to him (SAW) than his son if he had any. This relationship was made by Allah and chosen by Prophet (SAW). It was far more stronger than any biological tie which might have existed. Hasnain (AS) were not only the grandsons of Prophet (SAW) but his sons.

You must also note that the Prophet (SAW) was told to gather his people in order to curse the liars. If anyone from amongst that group had ever lied about anything in their life, they themselves would have become liars and thus be prone to the curse of Allah which they themselves had invoked for. Thus the choice of Prophet (SAW) should have consisted of only those people who had never lied in their lives, and who would never lie in the future, in Allah's infinite knowledge of the unseen. Because if Prophet (SAW) chose some one who had not lied upto this point in life, but may lie in the future, it would have been very misguiding for the later generations to come, to believe that Prophet (SAW) included someone in the category of the "truthful ones" who had later turned against Islam, and Quran is here but for one thing and that is to misguide the people. This lack of telling lies at all points towards infallibility. How many people you know today, who have never lied in any moment in their life, about worldly issues as well as spiritual? None I assume, and my assumption is fairly based on logical reasons and statistical data. The probability to find someone who never had never lied, who never lies and who will never lie is literally zero. Such a quality may exist only in a Prophet. Where will the last Prophet (SAW) find many people with such a Prophetic quality?

You should also realize that the order is not to gather truthful people, but people who are near to Prophet (SAW), or Prophet's people. This proves the fact further that the quality of truthfulness, and thus having the right to curse the liars, can only exist within the near people of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Now for the facts. Did Prophet Muhammad (SAW) gather some people in order to comply with the order;

But whoever disputes with you in this matter after what has come to you of knowledge, then say: Come let us call our sons and your sons and our women and your women and our near people and your near people, then let us be earnest in prayer, and pray for the curse of Allah on the liars.
Quran [3:61]

The answer is yes, Prophet (SAW) did choose a group of people again. Not astonishingly, this was the same group which the Prophet (SAW) had chosen when the following verse was revealed;

…. Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness from you, O people of the House! and to purify you a (thorough) purifying
Quran [33:33]

Why did not Maududi or Ibne Kathir mention them is another issue, because their biasness against the Ahlulbayt has been obvious from most of their literary works. I will quote certain Sunni Tafseers;

The Prophet (s) had called upon the Najrān delegation to do this (Mubahila) when they disputed with him about Jesus. They said, 'Let us think about it and we will come back to you'. The judicious one among them said, 'You know that he is a prophet, and that every people that has ever challenged a prophet to a mutual imprecation has been destroyed'. They left him and departed. When they went to see the Prophet (s), who had set out with al-Hasan, al-Husayn, Fātima and 'Alī, he said to them [the Najrān delegation], 'When I supplicate, you say 'Amen'; but they refrained from this mutual imprecation and made peace with the Prophet on the condition that they pay the jizya, as reported by Abū Nu'aym. According to Ibn 'Abbās [the Prophet] said, 'Had they set out and performed the mutual cursing, they would have gone home and found neither possessions nor family'. It is also reported that had they set out with this intention, they would have been consumed by fire.
Tafsir al-Jalalayn, Tafsir of Surah 3, verse 61

Al-Jalalayn clearly points to the fact, that when the Christians left to discuss the possibility of Mubahila, amongst themselves, Prophet (SAW) had gathered Mawla Ali (AS), Hz Fatima (AS), Imam Hassan (AS) and Imam Hussain (AS). When the Christians returned, they agreed to pay the Jizya and forfeit Mubahila. If you now read the Tafsir of Ibne Kathir, it will make sense and tells you that Ibne Kathir has given an incomplete account of the whole event, which gave us the idea in first place that the Christians invited the Prophet (SAW) to Mubahila.

Al-Wahidi also narrates that Prophet (SAW) had gathered his Ahlulbayt, the Holy five in order to fulfill the orders of Quran.

But whoever disputes with you in this matter after what has come to you of knowledge, then say: Come let us call our sons and your sons and our women and your women and our near people and your near people, then let us be earnest in prayer, and pray for the curse of Allah on the liars.
Quran [3:61]

The interesting part comes now. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) gathered his grandsons, Imams Hassan (AS) and Hussain (AS) for sons, his daughter Hz Fatima (AS) for women and Mawla Ali for the near people. The event occurred in 10th Hijri, two months before the demise of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The Prophet (SAW) had the permission to choose any near one from the 100,00 Muslims and companions, any of his wife for the women, but the Prophet chose only four people, his daughter, his grandsons and his cousin cum brother in law. Was the Prophet biased and preferred his own family over others, or was the Prophet (SAW) compelled to agree with the orders of Quran and choose only those who satisfied the condition the Quran gave to the Prophet! You have your answer.

Prophet (SAW) showed the Muslim world, that out of all the people, all the companions, all the relatives present, only Ali (AS), Fatima (AS), Hassan (AS) and Hussain (AS) were his near people and were the true ones.

Sunnis claim that Abu bakr was given the title of Siddiq (truthful) by Prophet (SAW). Sunnis also claim Abu bakr was the closest companion of Prophet (SAW), followed by Umer and then Usman. I ask you, why were not any one of these included in the people of Mubahila? They were alive and healthy. If they were truthful (since their birth, to their death) and if they were the near ones of Prophet (SAW), they would have definitely been included. Their exclusion from the group of the mentioned four personalities prove that the Holy five were in a league of their own. It also proves the conspiracy theory to an extent that the title of Siddiq (truthful) was given to Mawla Ali, and not to Abu bakr.

The incident of Surah Baraat has been mentioned above and i believe it is wise to put up a non-shia source of the same event as well, in order to prove it's authenticity. Ali was called to preach the verses of al Barat which contain complete disassociation from idolatry, because only he or the Holy Prophet, according to the command of Allah, were competent to convey them to the people (on account of exact similarity or equality between the two). So Ali (AS) went to Makka and relieved Abu Bakr who had earlier been sent to do this job.

Our loyalty, the shia loyalty, is with this group, the true ones. We recognize everyone else based on their attitude with this group. Why?

Wa dara al-haqq ma'ahu haithu dar"
"And the truth (the right path) turns with him (i.e. Ali) wherever way he turns."
Tafsir al-Kabir, by Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, Commentary of "al-Bismillah"

Similarly in Sahih al-Tirmidhi, it is narrated that:

The Messenger of God said: O God, have Thy Mercy on Ali. O God, make the right and the truth with Ali in all situations
Sahih al-Tirmidhi, volume 5, page 297

That is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood, and those who believe follow the truth from their Lord; thus does Allah set forth to men their examples.
Quran [47:3]

Quran has given it's verdict. Be with the true ones, and follow the truth. The truth has come and falsehood has vanished. No one can force you to believe what you do. At least try to accept what the truth is.

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The Précis

Shias commemorate the 24th of Zil Hajj as the Eid of Mubahila, the day when the true ones were unveiled and prevailed ever since. Some Sunni commentators try to press the event of Mubahila as much as they can, for obvious reasons. Here I present to you  a detailed account of what History really tries to convey.