Proposal of Mubahila

After exchange of views on several issues, the delegation did not seem to be willing to accept the observations about the incorrect beliefs of Christianity and the logical explanations proving the incorrectness of their beliefs. At that time Allah send down the famous Ayat-e-Mubahila of the Quran:

Glorious Quran Chapter 3 Verse 61:

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) recited this Ayat and invited them for Mubahila - praying to God to destroy and banish the liars.

Mubahila became necessary since the Christian delegation was adamant to accept the truth. After some hesitations the delegations asked to be given one day to reconsider their options and then accepted to have the Mubahila after two days. In their consultations among themselves, the grand Bishop Abu Harisa told his companions that if tomorrow, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) brings his companions and his tribesmen and military might with him for Mubahila then they should accept the challenge without fear but if he brings only the members of his family, then never accept the challenge.

Whom did the Prophet (pbuh ) take with him?

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) selected a place close to Medina for the Mubahila which was then cleaned and prepared by Salman Farsi and the next day the Christian delegation reached the designated place. A number of muhajirren and ansaar also gathered at the site. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) took with him Imam Hassan (a.s), Imam Hussein (a.s), Bibi Fatimah (s.a) and Imam Ali (a.s) and headed towards the site in a manner that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was leading the group holding Imam Hassan (a.s) and Imam Hussein (a.s) and Bibi Fatima (s.a.) was behind him and Imam Ali (a.s) was behind Bibi Fatima (s.a).

Saad bin Abi Waqas relates that when the Ayat-e-Mubahila was sent down, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) called Imam Ali (a.s), Bibi Fatimah (s.a), Imam Hassan (a.s) and Imam Hussein (a.s) and said \’O my Allah, these are my Ahl-ul-Bayt\’. (Sahih Muslim, Vol.2, Page 287).

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) sat down under a tree with these weighty personalities and said that when I pray to God, you all should say \’Ameen\’.

The Christian delegation was still amazed and frightened when the brother of Abu Harisa, Karz ibn-e-Alqama stated that \’O my fellows, it appears that Muhammad (pbuh) is the same last apostle and prophet that has been mentioned in our sacred books. We should not have Mubahila with them because anyone who had Mubahila with the prophets in the past as well were destroyed. Look around you and observe that the signs of your destruction are appearing.\’ When they looked around, they observed that the entire atmosphere had changed and it appeared that a furious storm is in offing.

Result of the Mubahila

Witnessing this, they backed off from the contest and requested that their friendship be accepted. Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) accepted their request and asked Imam Ali(a.s) to write the agreement according to which they Najran tribes accepted to pay \’Jazia\’ and live under the protection of the Muslims.

Source:duas.org

The event of Mubahilah took place in the 9th year of Hijra. A deputation of 14 Christian (najran) scholars came to discuss the truth of Islam with the Holy Prophet (sa)  Arguments were put forward by both sides.  Several days went by The Christians did not listen to reason. Then Allah revealed the following verses:  
     “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, 3:58-61 ) 

 
“To those that argue with you concerning Jesus after the knowledge you have received say: ‘Come, let us gather our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves. We will pray together and call down the curse of Allah on every liar’.”

In the year 9 AH Prophet Mohamed (SAW) wrote to the heads of different tribes and countries of the world inviting them to Islam. One of the letters was written to the Christian community of Najran. A  large delegation was appointed to go to meet the Prophet (SAW). Warmly welcomed by the Prophet (SAW). they were put up in one part of the mosque where they were allowed to perform their prayers comfortably.

They asked the Prophet (SAW). What he thought of Jesus and he said: “He was a human being created by God and was a prophet.”  .“Have you ever seen any child born in this world without a father?” they asked. The Prophet (SAW) replied: “Jesus is like Adam in the sight of Allah. He created him from dust and then said to him ‘be’ and he was.” 

They could not answer his argument, but continued to debate the issue. Then the ayah (verse) inviting them to a “Mubahila” was revealed. When real arguments fail to produce the desired effect, then to wish for the intervention of Allah’s judgement in order to sift the right from wrong, is called Mubahila. The Christians of Najran accepted the challenge and at the appointed hour arrived at the place where the Mubahila was going to take place.

The Holy Prophet (saws) put on a cloak and embraced Imam `Ali, Lady Fatimah al-Zahra, Imam al-Hassan, and Imam al-Husayn—peace be upon them—and prayed to Almighty Allah, saying, “O Allah, verily, each Prophet had a family members whom were the nearest to him. O Allah, these are my Household; so, (please do) remove uncleanness from them and purify them with thorough purification.” Immediately after that, Archangel Gabriel descended carrying the Verse of Purification.(33:33) 

Then, the Holy Prophet (s) accompanied his family members as his partners in the process of invoking Almighty Allah’s curse upon the lying party. As soon as the Christians’ eyes fell on the Holy Prophet’s household, they realized that those individuals were the most truthful and that chastisement would be the share of any one who would oppose them. They therefore did not dare to participate in that invocation of curse and, instead, they agreed to pay a tribute (jizyah) to the Holy Prophet (s).

Abu Harith said:“I see such faces that if they raise their hands in supplication and pray to God that the biggest mountain may be moved from its place, the same will happen immediately. We should in no circumstance engage in a Mubahila with these sacred people because it is possible that not even one of us may remain alive on the face of the earth.”