"Verily,
the likeness of E’essa/Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of Adam. He
created him of dust, then He said unto him:”Be, and he was” (This is )
the truth from your Lord (O Muhammad), so be not of those who doubt. And
whoso disputes with you concerning him after the knowledge which has
come unto you, say (unto them): “Come We will summon our sons
and you your sons, and our women and you your women, and our ‘selfs’
and your ‘selfs’, and then will pray humbly (to the Lord) and invoke the
curse of Allah upon those who lie. (The Holy Quran, 3:58,59 and 60)
This verse refers to the well-known event of mubahilah mentioned in every book of history, traditions and tafsir written by Muslim scholars.The Holy Prophet was sending invitations to all to accept the true religion of Allah. Tribe after tribe, region after region, were coming into the fold of Islam. One such invitation was sent to the Christians of Najran, a town in Yemen, in the 9th year of Hijra. A deputation of 60 scholars came to discuss the matter with the Holy Prophet. Abdul Masih, the chief monk, asked him as to who was the father of Isa, thinking that the Holy Prophet would accept (God as the father of Isa. Verse 59 of this surah was revealed and presented to the Christians as a reply but they did not listen to reason. Then this verse was revealed to call them to a spiritual contest by invoking the curse of Allah on the liars mubahilah. The Christians agreed to this contest.
Early next morning, the 24th of the month of Dhilhijjah, the Holy Prophet sent Salman to the selected site, outside the city area, to set up a shelter for those whom he would take with him, as his sons, women and selves. 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.
This verse refers to the well-known event of mubahilah mentioned in every book of history, traditions and tafsir written by Muslim scholars.The Holy Prophet was sending invitations to all to accept the true religion of Allah. Tribe after tribe, region after region, were coming into the fold of Islam. One such invitation was sent to the Christians of Najran, a town in Yemen, in the 9th year of Hijra. A deputation of 60 scholars came to discuss the matter with the Holy Prophet. Abdul Masih, the chief monk, asked him as to who was the father of Isa, thinking that the Holy Prophet would accept (God as the father of Isa. Verse 59 of this surah was revealed and presented to the Christians as a reply but they did not listen to reason. Then this verse was revealed to call them to a spiritual contest by invoking the curse of Allah on the liars mubahilah. The Christians agreed to this contest.
Early next morning, the 24th of the month of Dhilhijjah, the Holy Prophet sent Salman to the selected site, outside the city area, to set up a shelter for those whom he would take with him, as his sons, women and selves. 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 the Holy Prophet
coming in, Imam Husayn (a) in his arms, Imam Hasan (a) holding his index
finger, walking beside him, Bibi Fatimah Zahra (a), close to his heels
and Imam Ali (a) just behind her-as his sons, women, and selves. It
should be noted that although there was provision for "women" and
"selves" the Holy Prophet selected one "woman" and one "self"-Fatimah
and Ali, because there was no woman and no man among his followers at
that time who could be brought into the contest of invoking the curse of
Allah on the liars. They alone were the truthful ones. (see commentary
of al Tawbah: 119).
The Holy Prophet raised his hands to the heaven and said:
"O my Lord! These are the people of my house".
The chief monk looked up and down at the faces of the Pure Five
(Panjatan Pak), from whom emanated a radiant and brilliant glow; and
this sight filled him with awe and anguish. He cried out aloud:
"By
Jesus! I see the faces that if they turn upward to the heavens and
pray, the mountains shall move. Believers in Jesus of Nazareth, I tell
you the truth. Should you fail to come to some agreement with Muhammad,
he, along with the godly souls with him, shall wipe out your existence
for ever, should they invoke the curse of God on you."
The
Christians saw the wisdom of their chief and readily agreed to arrive at
a settlement. As there is no compulsion in religion (Baqarah 256), the
Holy Prophet gave them complete freedom to practise their faith. He also
agreed to protect their lives and possessions; and for this service the
Christians consented to pay a nominal fee (Jizya). It was an
extraordinary manifestation of the glory of Islam; therefore, the
followers of Muhammad and ali Muhammad celebrate this unique blessings
of Allah (bestowed on the Ahl ul Bayt) as a "thanksgiving" occasion of
great joy and comfort.
Many Muslim scholars, commentators and
traditionists whom the ummah acclaim with one voice, have given the
details of this event with following conclusions:
(1) The
seriousness of the occasion demanded absolute purity, physical as well
as spiritual, to take part in the fateful event.
(2) Only the best of Allah's creations (the Ahl ul Bayt) were selected by the Holy Prophet under Allah's guidance.
(3) It, beyond all doubts, established the purity, the truthfulness and the sublime holiness of the Ahl ul Bayt.
(4) It also unquestionably confirmed as to who were the members of the family of the Holy Prophet.
(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.
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