Why was Mubahila held?

 

Mubahila is a historical and spiritual event that took place during the early period of Islam. It was a controversial situation where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) engaged in a discussion with Christians regarding their religious beliefs. Mubahila occurred because a Christian delegation from Najran came to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and participated in a debate regarding the nature of Jesus (PBUH). The Christians believed Jesus (PBUH) to be the Son of God, while Muslims, based on the Quran, considered him a prophet and servant of Allah.

After this debate, when reasoning did not satisfy them, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), following Allah's command, proposed a Mubahila, where both parties would call upon Allah to witness the truth and curse the liars. Mubahila was a process in which both sides invoked Allah as a witness to their truth and prayed for Allah’s curse upon the liar. The detailed account of the Mubahila event is as follows:

Context of the Event:

1. The Christian Delegation of Najran:
   In the 10th year of Hijra (632 AD), a Christian delegation from the region of Najran in Yemen came to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). They did not come to accept Islam, but rather to participate in a discussion and debate about Islam. The core issue of their discussion was the nature of Jesus (PBUH).
2. Christian Beliefs:
   The Christians believed Jesus (PBUH) to be the Son of God and held the view that he was divine. According to their belief, Jesus (PBUH) was born miraculously, but they considered him a part of God.
3. Muslim Beliefs:
   In Islam, Jesus (PBUH) is regarded as a great prophet sent by Allah. Though his birth was miraculous, he is not considered the Son of God. The Quran states about Jesus (PBUH): "Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created him from dust; then He said to him, 'Be,' and he was." — (Surah Aali Imran, 3:59)

Hence, there was a significant difference between the Christian belief and the foundational Islamic belief about Jesus (PBUH).

The Call for Mubahila:

1. Objection:
   When the Christians refused to accept the Islamic view of Jesus (PBUH) and remained firm in their belief, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), following Allah’s command, offered them a challenge—Mubahila.
2. The Process of Mubahila:
   Mubahila was a divine method where both parties would call upon Allah as a witness to prove their truth. Through this process, the one who was lying would face Allah's curse.

"Let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then let us pray earnestly and invoke the curse of Allah upon the liars." — (Surah Aali Imran, 3:61)

Why Mubahila was Held:

1. Debate over the Nature of Jesus (PBUH):
   The main reason for Mubahila was the disagreement between the Christians and Muslims regarding the nature of Jesus (PBUH). The Christians believed Jesus (PBUH) to be the Son of God, which contradicted the Islamic belief.
2. Divine Way to Settle the Dispute:
   Since no solution was reached through logical arguments, and both parties were firm in their perspectives, Allah directed Mubahila as the final method, through which the truth and falsehood would be clearly distinguished.

Participants in the Mubahila:

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) took five members of his family with him for the Mubahila, all of whom expressed their complete faith in Islam and Allah. These participants were:

1. Hazrat Ali (A.S.) — Representative of "our people"
2. Hazrat Fatima (A.S.) — Representative of "our women"
3. Imam Hasan (A.S.) and Imam Husayn (A.S.) — Representatives of "our children"
4. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself

This event is known in Islamic history as "Al-Aba’s Incident" (حادثة الكساء), or Hadith al-Kisa, where the purity and honor of Ahlul Bayt are proven.

Spiritual and Theological Significance:

1. The Status of Ahlul Bayt:
   This event shows that the family of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was not only a biological family but also the spiritual protectors and guardians of Islamic truth and the commandments of Allah.
2. Divine Assurance:
   The fact that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did not bring anyone to Mubahila who might have been doubted proves that Ahlul Bayt (A.S.) were pure and totally devoted to the truth.
3. Distinction between Truth and Falsehood:
   Mubahila was a method by which Allah's judgment and the exposure of falsehood were carried out.

Summary:

Mubahila was a divine test through which Allah's decision regarding the truth was made clear. It was not only a historical event but also a significant aspect of the spiritual and moral foundations of Islam.