First of all, I extend heartfelt congratulations to all the believing men and women on the blessed occasion of Eid al-Mubahilah. Today, I am honored with the opportunity to write an article on the topic of Mubahilah, which will explore the nature of the event and conclude with some commentary, Insha’Allah..

What is Mubahila

A few years after establishing the Islamic government in Medina, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saww) sent letters to the rulers of various countries and religions. Among these, six letters are well-known. They were sent to: Khosrow Parviz, the king of Persia (Kisra of Iran), Heraclius, the emperor of Eastern Rome (Byzantium), Negus (Najashi), the king of Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Muqawqis, the ruler of Alexandria, Harith bin Abi Shamir Ghassani, the king of Syria, and Hawdha bin Ali Hanfi, the ruler of Yamamah.

Another letter was sent by the Prophet (saww) in the year 9 AH (after Hijrah), prior to the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Wada’), to the Christians of Najran. After carefully reading the letter, Abu Harithah, the bishop of Najran, formed a committee consisting of various religious and scholarly figures. After thoughtful deliberation, the committee decided to send a delegation from Najran to Medina to closely examine the proofs and claims of Muhammad’s (SAWW) prophethood.¹

The delegation from Najran came to Medina to engage in dialogue and discussion with the Prophet of Islam (saww). During the conversation, when they asked about Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him), the Najran delegation said that since his mother, Maryam (Mary S.A.), gave birth to him without marrying anyone, he must either be God Himself or the Son of God. "We all believe in the Trinity," they said - meaning belief in three gods: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. At this moment, the following verse was revealed:

The Holy Prophet (saww) recited this verse to them and said: If not having a father is proof that he (Jesus AS) is the son of God, then Prophet Adam (AS) is more deserving of this status, because he had neither a father nor a mother.

When the delegation from Najran, despite the truth being made clear to them, persisted in their stubbornness, the verse of Mubahala was revealed at that very moment.

After this, the Prophet of Islam (saww) expressed his readiness for Mubahala. This event took place on the 24th of Dhul-Hijjah in the 10th year of Hijrah.⁴

The next morning, the Prophet of Islam (saww) came out of the city gates of Medina accompanied by only four individuals. In exact obedience to God’s command, where he was instructed to bring "his sons," he brought Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Hussain (AS); where he was told to bring "his women," he brought Lady Fatimah (SA); and where he was told to bring "himself," he brought Imam Ali (AS). When the Prophet (saww) reached the site of Mubahala, he opened his cloak and all five of them entered under it. Witnessing this scene, Abu Harithah, the leader of the Christian delegation, said: "I see five luminous faces. If they were to raise their hands in prayer, even mountains would be uprooted from the earth. If we engage in Mubahala with them, our destruction is imminent. Do not proceed, or you will perish." After this, he approached the Prophet (SAWW) with trembling hands and shaking feet and said: “O Abu al-Qasim, excuse us from Mubahala. We admit our defeat and will pay the jizya (tax).”⁵

Key Points from the Event of Mubahala:

You have just read about the event of Mubahala, which contains the following important points:

1. There is no verse in the Qur'an greater in virtue for Mawla Ali (as) than the verse of Mubahala, in which he is referred to as the “self of the Prophet” (Nafs-e-Rasool). Based on this, some scholars have used it as a strong argument to prove the immediate caliphate (khilafat-e-bila fasl) of Mawla Ali (AS).
2. Who are the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet (SAWW)? The best answer comes from the verse of Mubahala. In this verse, the Prophet (SAWW) brought Hasan (AS) and Hussain (AS) as “our sons,” Fatimah (SA) as “our women,” and Ali (AS) as “our-selves.” If the wives of the Prophet (SAWW) were included in the Ahl al-Bayt, they would have been brought under the category of “our women,” but the Prophet (SAWW) did not bring any of his wives. This shows that although the wives were wives, the true Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet (SAWW) are the Panjetan Paak (the five purified ones).
3. The event of Mubahala is a strong proof that Islam is a religion of knowledge, peace, and reconciliation. Despite the stubbornness of the Christian delegation, the Prophet (SAWW) did not choose violence. If Islam were a religion of war, those Christians could have been executed. But their tolerance is a sign of the peaceful nature of Islam.
4. Allah described the conquest of Makkah as a "clear victory" (Fath-e-Mubeen) because it was achieved without bloodshed. Similarly, the event of Mubahala is also a Fath-e-Mubeen, a clear victory, where without an army or warfare, the superiority of Islam was established over one of the world’s largest religions—through the blessings of the Panjetan Paak (AS).
5. Islam is a religion of etiquette and respect. It does not insult the sacred beliefs of other religions, even if they are false. This respectful approach was one of the reasons why many people were drawn to Islam. Therefore, we too should always remain respectful towards others’ beliefs.
6. It is the duty of Muslims, especially Shias, to celebrate the day of Mubahala as a day of great victory and to raise awareness among other Muslims about how a massive success came to Islam through the intercession and blessings of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS).

In conclusion, we humbly pray to Allah Almighty that, by the sanctity of the Panjtan Pak (AS), may all of us be granted a righteous end, and may the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (AJTF) be hastened. InshaAllah.

Reference

¹Al-Bidaya wa Al-Nihaya, Ibn Kathir, Vol. 5, p. 64
²Al-Imran 59
³Al-Imran 61
⁴Tusi, Muhammad Hasan, Misbah Al Mutahajjid, p. 764
⁵Majma Al-Bayan fi Tafseer Al-Qur'an Tabarsi, vol. 2, p. 310