Mutual Curse (Mubahalah)

The story of mutual curse indicates one of the other merits of Imam `Ali, his children and his dignified wife, for the Messenger of Allah sought their help so that his prayer be answered by their saying Amen.

Following the conquest of Mecca when Islam and its rule spread in Hijaz, delegations from every direction came to the Holy Prophet (s.a) either to embrace Islam or to seek life security. One of these delegations was the Christians of Najran consisting of thirty people headed by Abu-Harithah who was their bishop (chief priest). Some of the members of this delegation were: Al-`Aqib, al-Sayyid, and `Abd al-Masih who came to Medina in fine silk robes while wearing a cross on their necks. The Holy Prophet too was performing his afternoon prayer. At this time, a group of the Jews of Medina met the Christians, started discussing their differences with one group rejecting the other. At any rate, Najran delegation came to the presence of the Holy Prophet (s.a), saying: O Muhammad! What is your opinion about Jesus, the son of Mary? The Messenger of Allah said: Jesus is the servant of Allah who appointed him as a prophet.

النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَقُتِلَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ شَهيداً.

وَنَفَسَ ذَلِكَ رِجالٌ عَلى عَلِيٍّ فَوَجَدوا أنْفُسَهُمْ وَتَبَيَّنَ فَضْلُهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَعَلَى غَيْرِهِمْ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ. فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَقامَ خَطِيباً فَقالَ: إنَّ رِجالاً يَجِدُونَ فِي أَنْفُسُهِمْ مِنْ أنْ أُسْكِنَ عَلِيَّاً فِي المَسْجِدِ. وَاللهِ مَا أَخْرَجْتُهُمْ وَلا أَسْكَنْتُهُ. إنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجلَّ أَوْحَى إلَى مُوسَى وَأَخيهِ: أنْ تَبَوَّءا لِقَوْمِكُمَا بِمِصْرَ بُيُوتاً وَاجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ قِبْلَةً وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاَةَ. وَأَمَرَ مُوسَى أنْ لاَ يَسْكُنَ مَسْجِدَهُ وَلا يَنْكَحَ فِيهِ وَلا يَدْخُلَهُ إلاَّ هارُونُ وَذُرِّيَّتُهُ. وَإنَّ عَلِيَّاً مِنّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ هارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى وَهُوَ أَخِي دونَ أَهْلِي وَلا يَحِلُّ مَسْجِدي لأَِحَدٍ يَنْكِحُ فِيهِ النِّساءَ إلاَّ عَلِيٌّ وَذُرِّيَّتُهُ. فَمَنْ ساءَهُ ذَلِكَ فَهاهُنَا، وَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ نَحْوَ الشَّامِ.

فِي المُباهَلَةِ:

قَضِيَّةُ المُباهَلَةِ تَدُلُّ عَلَى فَضْلٍ تامٍّ وَوَرَعٍ كامِلٍ لِمَوْلانا أمِيرِ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَأفْضَلُ الصَّلَواتِ وَأكْمَلُ التَّحِيَّاتِ وَلِوَلَدَيْهِ وَزَوْجَتِهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِمْ، حَيْثُ اسْتَعانَ بِهِمْ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فِي الدُّعاءِ إلَى اللهِ وَالتَّأْمينِ عَلَى دُعائِهِ لِتَحْصَلَ لَهُ الإجابَةُ فِيهِ. وَلَمَّا انْتَشَرَ الإسلامُ بَعْدَ الفَتْحِ وَقَوِيَ سُلْطانُهُ وَفِدَ إلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ الوُفودُ. مِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنِ اسْتَأْمَنَ لِيَعودَ إلَى قَوْمِهِ بِرَأْيِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِيهِمْ. وَكَانَ مِمَّنْ وَفِدَ عَلَيْهِ أَبُو حارِثَةَ أُسْقُفُّ نَجْرانَ فِي ثَلاثينَ رَجُلاً مِنَ النَّصَارى مِنْهُمُْ العاقِبُ وَالسَّيِّدُ وَعبْدُ المَسِيحِ، فَقَدِموا المَدينَةَ عِنْدَ صَلاةِ العَصْرِ وَعَلَيْهِمْ لِباسُ الدِّيباجِ وَالصُّلُبُ فَصارَ إِلَيْهِمُ اليَهودُ وَتَساءَلوا بَيْنَهُمْ. فَقَالَتِ النَّصارَى لَهُمْ: لَسْتُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ. وَقَالَتْ لَهُمُ اليَهودُ: لَسْتُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ كَما حَكى اللهُ تَعالَى عَنْهُمْ. فَلَمَّا صَلَّى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ العَصْرَ تَوَجَّهُوا إلَيْهِ يَقْدِمُهُمُ الأُسْقُفُّ فَقالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ، مَا تَقُولُ فِي السِّيِّدِ الْمَسِيحِ؟ فَقالَ: عَبْدُ اللهِ، إصْطَفاهُ وَانْتَجَبَهُ. فَقالَ الأُسْقُفُّ: أَتَعْرِفُ لَهُ أَباً؟ فَقالَ

The chief priest said: Do you know any father for him? The Holy Prophet said: No, because his creation was not through marriage so that he would have a father. The bishop said: Was he not created? The Holy Prophet said: Yes, he was created! They said: How can a person be created with no father? At this time, God Almighty revealed the following verse: “surely the likeness of Jesus is with Allah as the likeness of Adam, …, then let us be earnest in prayer, and pray for the curse of Allah on the liars” (3:59-61). Reciting these verses, the Messenger of Allah added: If you do not accept what I say, prepare yourself for mutual cursing and know that punishment will come down on those who are unjust! The chief priest and his companions started exchanging views and decided to be given a deadline till the next morning so that they would announce the result of their decision. The Holy Prophet (s.a) agreed. Returning home, the chief priest said to his aides: If tomorrow Muhammad and his household come for mutual cursing, we will never give in to it but if he comes with his companions, we will take part in it and know that he is not right.

Turning to Christians, an outstanding person said: O Christian community, you certainly know that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, for he spoke truthfully about Jesus Christ. By God, if a group carry out mutual cursing with a prophet, life will become bitter to the elderly people and they will perish soon and no children will be found among them. If you go for mutual cursing, you will all perish! If you are fond of your religion and adhere to it, the only solution will be to compromise with this man, to put an end to hostility and to return to your land.

The following day when Christians came to see the Holy Prophet (s.a), they found the Messenger of Allah taking the hand of `Ali in his hand, Hasan and Husayn being in front of him and Fatimah behind him. The chief priest asked people about them. They said: This man whose hand is in the hand of the Messenger of Allah is his cousin, son-in-law and the most beloved man to him, that is `Ali ibn Abi-Talib, these two children are his grandchildren and the most beloved to him, and that woman too is his daughter, the dearest and most honorable and the closest to his heart, whom he calls his own spirit! Looking at `Aqib, Sayyid and `Abd al-Masih who enjoyed high

النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: لَمْ يَكُنْ عَنْ نِكاحٍ فَيَكُونَ لَهُ أَبٌ. قَالَ: فَكَيْفَ قُلتَ إنَّهُ عُبْدٌ مَخْلوقٌ، وَأَنْتَ لَمْ تَرَ عَبْداً مَخْلوقاً إلاَّ عَنْ نِكاحٍ وَلَهُ وَالِدٌ؟ فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ تَعالَى الآيَاتِ مَنْ قَوْلِهِ تَعالَى: ﴿إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَى عِنْدَ اللهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ… فَنَجْعَلْ لَعْنَةَ اللهِ عَلَى الْكَاذِبِينَ.﴾ فَتَلاهَا عَلَى النَّصَارَى وَدَعاهُمْ إلَى المُبَاهَلَةِ وَقالَ: إنَّ اللهَ أَخْبَرَنِي أنَّ العَذابَ يُنَزَّلُ عَلَى المُبْطِلِ عُقَيْبَ المُبَاهَلَةِ وَيَتَبَيَّنُ الحَقُّ مِنَ البَاطِلِ. فَاجْتَمَعَ الأُسْقُفُّ وَأَصْحابُهُ وَتَشَاوَروا فَاتَّفَقَ رَأْيُهُمْ عَلَى اسْتِنْظَارِهِ إلَى صَبِيحَةِ غَدٍ. فَلَمَّا رَجَعوا إلَى رِحَالِهِمْ قَالَ الأُسْقُفُّ: أُنْظُروا مُحَمَّداً فَإِنْ غَدا بِأَهْلِهِ وَوِلْدِهِ فَاحْذَرُوا مُباهَلَتَهُ، وَإِنْ غَدا بِأَصْحابِهِ فَبَاهِلُوهُ فَإنَّهُ عَلَى غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ. وَقالَ العَاقِبُ: وَاللهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ يَا مَعْشَرَ النَّصَارَى إنَّ مُحَمَّداً نَبِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ وَلَقَدْ جاءَكُمْ بِالفَصْلِ مِنْ أمْرِ صَاحِبِكُمْ. وَاللهِ مَا بَاهَلَ قَوْمٌ نَبِيَّاً قَطُّ فَعاشَ كَبيرُهُمْ وَلا نَبُتَ صَغيرُهُمْ، وَلَئِنْ فَعَلْتُمْ لَتُهْلَكُنَّ. فَإنْ أَبَيْتُمْ إلاَّ ألْفَ دِينِكُمْ وَالإقامَةَ عَلَى مَا أَنْتَم عَلَيْهِ فَوادِعوا الرَّجُلَ وَانْصَرِفوا إلَى بِلادِكُمْ. فَأَتَوْا رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مِنَ الغَدِ وَقَدْ جَاءَ آخِذاً بِيَدِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَالحَسَنِ وَالحُسَيْنِ يَمْشِيانِ بَينَ يَدَيْهِ وَفاطِمَةُ عَلَيْها السَّلامُ تَمْشي خَلْفَهُ، فَسَأَلَ الأُسْقُفُّ عَنْهُمْ. فَقَالُوا: هَذَا ابْنُ عَمِّهِ وَصِهْرُهُ وَأبُو وِلْدِهِ وَأَحَبُّ الخَلْقِ إلَيْهِ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طالِبٍ. وَهذَانِ الطِّفْلانِ ابْنا ابْنَتِهِ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ وَهُما مِنْ أَحَبِّ الخَلْقِ إلَيْهِ. وَهَذِهِ الجَارِيَةُ فَاطِمَةُ ابْنَتُهُ وَهِيَ أَعَزُّ النَّاسِ عَنْدَهُ وَأَقْرَبُهُمْ إلَى قَلْبِهِ.

فَنَظَرَ الأُسْقُفُّ إلَى العَاقِبِ وَالسَّيِّدِ وَعَبْدِ المَسيحِ وَقالَ لَهُمْ: أُنْظُروا قَدْ جَاءَ بِخاصَّتِهِ مِنْ

positions with him, the chief priest said: Think well about your affair, for those who accompany him are his endeared ones like whom there is no one on the earth. He has brought them for mutual cursing, a sign that he is sure about what he says! By God, if he were not right, he would not expose his endeared ones to mutual cursing. By God, if the position of Caesar of Rome who follows us was not involved, we would certainly embrace Islam. But this great obstacle on our way, there is no option other than compromise or accepting what he wants.

Now, try to get out of this dangerous situation and save your future with cleverness. O Christian people, I can see illuminated faces to whom everyone resorts for the removing of mountains, God will remove that mountain from one place to another. If you are ready for mutual cursing with them, you will certainly perish and there will be no Christian on the earth till the Day of Judgment!

Hearing the words of their chief priest, the delegation of Najran Christians came to the conclusion that they should end the matter peacefully. Hence, they said: O Abu-al-Qasim! We have decided not to have mutual cursing with you. So you shall have your religion and we shall have our religion. The Messenger of Allah said: You have to embrace Islam so that you will share profit and loss with Muslims. They disagreed. The Holy Prophet (s.a) said: Therefore, be prepared for fighting. They said: We are not able to fight Arabs. Nevertheless, we will compromise with you in a way that you will not attack us, nor will you stop us from practicing our religion. In return, we will promise to pay two thousand garments, each garment being equal to forty Dirhams, each year and if it is less than it a year, we will make it up the following year, that is, one thousand garments in the month of Safar and one thousand in the month of Rajab. In addition to this, we will offer you thirty armors each year. The Messenger of Allah accepted their request, saying: By God in whose Hand my life is, if the Christians of Najran embarked on mutual cursing, they would certainly perish; they would be transformed into pigs and monkeys; a blazing fire would engulf them so much so that it would burn the birds on branches and in the sky; all the Christians of Najran would perish and all the Christians on the earth would be annihilated.

The reason the aforementioned verse was recited is that God Almighty has considered Muhammad’s life as `Ali’s life and `Ali’s life as Muhammad’s life.[297]

وُلْدِهِ وَأَهْلِهِ لِيُباهِلَ بِهِمْ وَاثِقاً بِحَقِّهِ. وَاللهِ مَا جَاءَ بِهِمْ وَهُوَ يَتَخَوَّفُ الحُجَّةَ عَلَيْهِ فَاحْذَرُوا مُباهَلَتَهُ. وَاللهِ لَوْلا مَكانَةُ قَيْصَرَ لأَسْلَمْتُ لَهُ، وَلكِنْ صَالِحُوهُ عَلَى مَا يَتَّفِقُ بَيْنَكُمْ وَارْجِعُوا إلَى بِلادِكُمْ وَارْتَؤُوا لأَنْفُسِكُمْ. يَا مَعْشَرَ النَّصَارَى إنِّي لأَرَى وُجُوهاً لَوْ شَاءَ اللهُ أنْ يُزيلَ جَبَلاً مِنْ مَكانِهِ لأَزالَهُ بِهَا فَلا تُباهِلُوهُ فَتَهْلَكوا وَلا يَبْقَى عَلَى وَجْهِ الأَرْضِ نَصْرانِيٌّ إلَى يَوْمِ القِيامَةِ. فَقَالُوا: يَا أَبَا القَاسِمِ رَأَيْنا أنْ لاَ نُباهِلَكَ وَأَنْ نُقِرَّكَ عَلَى دِينِكَ وَنَثْبُتَ عَلَى دِينِنا. قَالَ: فَإذْ أَبَيْتُمُ المُباهَلَةَ فَأَسْلِموا يَكُنْ لَكُمْ مَا لِلْمُسْلِمينَ وَعَلَيْكُمْ مَا عَلَيْهِمْ. فَأَبَوْا. قَالَ: فَإنِّي أُناجِزُكُمْ. فَقَالُوا: مَا لَنا بِحَرْبِ العَرَبِ طاقَةٌ، وَلَكِنْ نُصالِحُكَ عَلَى أنْ لاَ تَغْزُوَنا وَلا تُخيفَنا وَلا تَرُدَّنا عَنْ دِينِنا عَلَى أنْ نُؤَدِّيَ إلَيْكَ كُلَّ عامٍ ألْفَيْ حُلَّةٍ قِيمَةُ كُلِّ حُلَّةٍ أرْبَعونَ دِرهَماً، فَما زَادَ أوْ نَقُصَ فَبِالحِسَابِ، ألْفٌ فِي صَفَرَ وَألْفٌ فِي رَجَبٍ، وَثَلاثينَ دِرْعاً عارِيَةً مِنْ حَديدٍ. فَصالَحَهُمْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَقالَ: وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، الهَلاكُ قَدْ بَدا عَلَى أهْلِ نَجْرانَ وَلَوْ لاعَنوا لَمُسِخوا قِرَدَةً وَخَنازِيرَ وَلاضْطَرَمَ الوادِي عَلَيْهِمْ نَاراً، وَلاسْتَأْصَلَ اللهُ نَجْرانَ وَأَهْلَهُ حَتَّى الطَّيْرَ عَلَى رُؤوسِ الشَّجَرِ وَلمَا حالَ الحَوْلُ عَلَى النَّصارَى كُلِّهِمْ حَتَّى هَلَكوا. وَقَدْ جَعَلَ اللهُ تَعالَى فِي هَذِهِ الآيَةِ نَفْسَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ هِيَ نَفْسَ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ حَيْثُ قَالَ: ﴿وَأَنْفُسَنَا وَأَنْفُسَكُمْ﴾.