Hadith of Mubahela

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Mubahela means debating with each other. It is also the name of an event where Mohammad summoned the Ahl al-Bayt against the Christians of Najran.

The event is recorded in manny hadith collections and is referred to in the Qur'an.

It is seen as one of the merits of Ahl al-Bayt and is widely used in Shia-Sunni argumantations, and also used by the Shia to prove that Ali has the same authority over Muslims as Mohammad.

1 Event
2 Qur'an
3 Shia view
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Event

According to Islamic tradition, the Christians of Najran were unhappy because of the rapid spread of Islam in the lands of Arabia. They wished to discuss this matter with Mohammad and arrived in Madina. Few learned scholars were selected by the Christians who had a continuous dialogue with Mohammad for three days. It started on Saturday, when Sunday arrived, the christians asked to leave the city to pray. The Prophet told them to stay and pray inside the Mosque of the Prophet which they did.

They were unable to arrive on any mutual understanding. When they did not agree on this point revelation from Allah came to the Prophet Mohammad. (Sura Ale Imran V 61) The verse reads- "If you are not prepared to accept the truth after the fact that you have failed in your arguments, Say, Come now, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our Selves and Your Selves, then let us humbly pray and so lay God’s curse upon the ones who lie.”

The next morning the Mohammad emerged from his house with his closest family. He held the hand of Hasan walking beside him, held Hussain in his arms, followed by his daughter Fatimah. She was followed by Ali. He came and stood with this family in front of the Christian Bishops who also came forward to perform the Mubahela. The chief of the Christians was Bishop Abul Harris. When he saw this small family of the Prophet he turned towards his fellow christians and told them, ”do not indulge in Mubahela with this family, for I am observing such pious faces that if they would order the mountain to come to them the mountain shall move towards them. It is therefore prudent to make treaty with them rather than confrontation of this spiritual imminence." They asked Mohammad for peace and it was accepted. Mohammad extended the hand of friendship towards them, a treaty was signed and both parties left on friendly terms.

Date: 9 AH ^[1]

[edit] Qur'an

Pickthall Sura 3:61:

And whoso disputeth with thee concerning him, after the knowledge which hath come unto thee, say (unto him): Come! We will summon our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves, then we will pray humbly (to our Lord) and (solemnly) invoke the curse of Allah upon those who lie.

[edit] Shia view

Interestingly, this verse is addressing Mohammad, he is the one making the Mubahela, but it is written in the perspective of Ali. Fatimah is described as "our women", Hasan and Husain are "our sons" and Ali is "ourselves". This is taken by Shias to prove that they hold the same authority in the eyes of God.

A lot of Shia believe that "ourselves" refers to his grandson Hussain because of the famous saying by the Prophet "Hussain is from me and I am from Hussain" (حسين مني وانا من حسين)