Al-Mubahala Verse: Difference between revisions

'''Al-Mubāhala verse''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|آية المباهلة}}) is [[verse]] 61 of [[Sura Al 'Imran]] which is about the [[Prophet (s)|Prophet's (s)]] encounter with Christians of [[Najran]] and is an evidence for the virtues of [[Ashab al-Kisa']], especially [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] as he is mentioned as the soul of the Prophet (s).

== Cause of Revelation ==

[[Shi'a]] and [[Sunni]] commentators believe that this verse is about the debate and challenge between the [[Prophet (s)]] and the Christians of [[Najran]] in which they insist on their idea that [[Jesus]] is of the three personifications of God and did not accept the [[revelation]] of the [[Qur'an]] which referred to Jesus as merely a pious servant and a [[messenger of God]] so that the Prophet (s) asked them to attend [[Mubahala]] which was a mutual curse.

Sunni commentators ([[al-Zamakhshari]], [[Fakhr al-Din al-Razi]], [[al-Baydawi]], etc.) have said that "Abna'ana" ["our sons"] in the verse refers to [[al-Hasan (a)]] and [[al-Husayn (a)]], "Nisa'ana" ["our women"] refers to [[Fatima al-Zahra (a)]] and "Anfusana" ["our souls"] refers to [[Imam 'Ali (a)]], i.e. the four people who accompanied the Prophet (s) form the five [[Ashab al-Kisa']] and beside this verse which shows their great position; according to al-Zamakhshari and Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, the [[al-Tathir verse]] (33:33) regards them as ones from whom all impurities are repelled as well.

Seeing true sincerity and valor of the Prophet (s) and his companions, the Christians of Najran became fearful of divine punishment and did not accept Mubahala and made peace with the Prophet (s) and asked him to let them remain Christian and pay [[Jizya]] and the Prophet (s) accepted.

Although [[Mubahala]] was basically between the [[Prophet (s)]] and Christian as men, but then children and women were also brought to Mubahala to prove the claim of the caller, thus, the Prophet (s) brought his most beloved people to the war of Mubahala. So it was not necessary for the parties to be more than two people [for which the Arabic dual form could be used] and thus the plural pronouns in the verse mean that each of the parties would bring their women and sons and then by their curse the wrong party would be uprooted completely. Due to historical reports for that event, the Prophet (s) took no one else to Mubahala except for [['Ali (a)]], [[Fatima (a)]], [[al-Hasan (a)]] and [[al-Husayn (a)]], so the souls were two [the Prophet (s) and 'Ali (a)], the women was one [Fatima (a)], and the sons were two [al-Hasan (a) and al-Husayn (a)] and the divine order was done by bringing this persons. Also, there are other verses in the [[Qur'an]] which refer to one person while the verbal reference is plural, such as the [[Zihar verses]] in the [[Sura al-Mujadala]].

In the comments for this verse in his ''[[al-Kashshaf (book)|al-Kashshaf]]'', [[al-Zamakhshari]] narrates from [[Aisha]] that, "on the day of [[Mubahala]], the Prophet (s) went out wearing a black cloak. He (s) met Imam al-Hasan (a), took him under the cloak and then met Imam al-Husayn (a) and took him under the cloak too and then he (s) took Fatima (a) and 'Ali (a) under the cloak and said, "Indeed [[Allah]] desires to repel all impurity only from you, O People of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification. (33:33)" al-Zamakhshari continues that, "Bringing children and women to Mubahala showed more confidence than going alone; because the Prophet (s) brought his most beloved ones to the war which was supposed to inflict the curse upon each of the parties and God mentions them prior to the selves to show their importance over one's own self." Then al-Zamakhshari says, "This proof for the eminence of [[Ashab al-Kisa']] is stronger than any other reason."<ref>Al-Zamakhsari, ''al-Kashshaf'', Vol.1, PP. 369-70, under the verse 61 of sura Al 'Imran</ref>