Eid-e-Mubahila & its history

By: Ragheb Aboud

Eid-e-Mubahila is celebrated on 24 Zulhijja to mark the famous event of 'Mubahila' which took place in the year 10 AH against the Christians of Najran. A delegation comprised of 60 Christians of Najran headed by Abdul Masih their chief monkpriest came to the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hp) and discussed with the personality of Hazrat Isa (as). The Holy Prophet (pbuh&hp) told them not to deify Jesus for he was only a mortal created by God, and not God Himself. Then they asked who the father of Jesus was. By this, they thought that since he was born without a father the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hp) would helplessly accept Jesus' father being God himself. In reply to this question was revealed the Verse:

"Verily, similitude of Jesus with God is as the similitude of Adam; He created him out of dust then said He unto him BE, and he became."

When the Christians did not agree to this line of reasoning, then this verse was revealed enjoining upon the Prophet (pbuh&hp) to call the Christians to Mubahila.

"And unto him who disputeth with thee therein after the knowledge hath come unto thee, Say ! (O' Muhammad!Unto them) come ye, let us summon our sons, and (ye summon) your sons, and (we summon) our women and (ye) your women, and (we summon) ourselves and then let us invoke the curse of God on the liars."

To this the Christians agreed and they wanted to return to their place and would have the Mubahila the next day. Early next morning the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hp) sent Salman al Farsi (May Allah be pleased with him) to the open place, fixed outside the city for the historic event, to erect a small shelter for himself and those he intended to take along with him for the contest. On the opposite side appeared the Christian prists, while at the appointed hour the Christians witnessed the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hp) entering the field with Imam Hussain (as) in his lap, Imam Hasan (as) holding his finger, and walking beside him, Hazrat Fatima (as) and followed by Imam Ali al Murtaza (as).

Looking at these holy personalities, the Chief Monk addressed the huge crowd of the people who had gathered on the spot, and addressed them saying:

By God, I see the faces which, if they pray to God for mountains to move from their places, the mountains will immediately move. O believers in the Jesus of Nazareth, I will tell you the truth that should ye fail to enter into some agreement with Muhammad (pbuh&hp) and if these souls whom Muhammad (pbuh&hp) has brought with him, curse you, ye will be wiped out of existence to the last day of the life of the earth !

The people readily agreed to the advice counseled by their Leader. They beseeched the Holy Prophet ( pbuh&f ) to give up the idea of the agreed Mubahila and requested for themselves to be allowed to continue their faith, offering to pay ' Jizya '.

(Al Tabari, Commentary of the Quran, v 2 p 192, 193)

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