The Story of Mubahala – A Turning Point in Islamic History
.jpg "The Delegation of Najran") |
The Revelation of the Mubahala Verse |
Introduction
(mutual invocation), which took place between the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
and the Christian delegation of Najran. The story is directly connected to the revelation of
Surah Al-Imran, verse 61, and it remains a powerful testimony to the truth of Islam
and the honor of the Prophet’s family.
1. The Delegation of Najran
In the 9th year after Hijrah, a delegation of around 60 Christians from Najran
about the nature of Jesus (peace be upon him).
Their leaders were:
Al-‘Aaqib (Abd al-Masih) – the man of opinion and leadership.
As-Sayyid (al-Ayham) – responsible for community affairs.
Abu Harithah ibn ‘Alqamah – their chief bishop.
They argued that Jesus was the son of God, while the Prophet ﷺ
clarified that he was only a servant and messenger of Allah. Allah then revealed:
“Indeed, the likeness of Jesus to Allah is as that of Adam.
He created him from dust; then He said to him, ‘Be,’ and he was.” (Qur’an 3:59).
2. The Revelation of the Mubahala Verse
When the debate continued without agreement, Allah revealed:
“Then whoever disputes with you concerning him after knowledge has come to you – say: Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then let us earnestly pray and invoke the curse of Allah upon the liars.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:61).
This verse instructed the Prophet ﷺ to challenge them to a Mubahala: both sides would gather, call their families, and ask Allah to curse the liars among them.
 |
| Only five people stood for Mubahala, highlighting their spiritual significance. |
3. The Time and Place of Mubahala
Time: The next morning (many scholars mention it was after the Fajr prayer, while some narrations suggest it was after ‘Asr).
Place: An open field outside Medina, where both groups could gather publicly.
4. The Participants in Mubahala
The Prophet ﷺ did not bring the entire Muslim community. Instead, he selected the purest members of his household (Ahl al-Bayt):
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Ali ibn Abi Talib (his cousin and son-in-law)
Fatimah al-Zahra (his daughter)
Al-Hasan (his grandson)
Al-Husayn (his grandson)
📌 Only five people stood for Mubahala, highlighting their spiritual significance.
5. The Turning Point
When the Christians of Najran saw the Prophet ﷺ coming with his family – young children, his daughter, and Ali – they were struck with fear.
Their bishop, Abu Harithah, reportedly said:
“O Christians, I see faces that, if they prayed to Allah to move a mountain from its place, it would be moved. Do not engage in Mubahala, for if you do, you will perish and no Christian will remain on the face of the earth.”
.jpg "A peace treaty with the Prophet ﷺ.") |
The Story of Mubahala | Surah Al-Imran, Najran Christians, and Islamic History |
6. The Outcome
The delegation withdrew and refused to proceed with Mubahala. Instead, they agreed to:
A peace treaty with the Prophet ﷺ.
Payment of jizyah (a yearly tax) in exchange for protection and religious freedom.
Recognition of the Prophet ﷺ as the Messenger of Allah.
Thus, the matter ended without conflict, but the event itself stood as a clear testimony to the truth of Islam.
7. Key Phrases Remembered
The most famous statement from this event is that of the Christian leader:
“I see faces that, if they prayed to Allah to remove a mountain, it would be removed. Do not enter Mubahala with them.”
Conclusion
The event of Mubahala is a shining example of how the Prophet ﷺ upheld the truth with dignity, bringing only his closest family members to stand by his side. The Christians of Najran, realizing his sincerity and fearing the consequences of invoking Allah’s curse, chose peace over confrontation.
This incident highlights the honor of Ahl al-Bayt, the truthfulness of the Prophet ﷺ, and the Qur’an’s role in guiding disputes with wisdom.
Story of Mubahala
Mubahala in Islam
Surah Al-Imran verse 61
Christians of Najran and Prophet Muhammad
Event of Mubahala explained
Comments
Post a Comment