24th ZilHaj - Eid-e-Mubahila

The 24th of ZilHijjah marks the anniversary of the auspicious occasion of Mubahila – a challenge of religious debate and invoking Allah’s curse on liars. The historical event of Mubahila also reveals the exalted status of the Ahlul Bayt(a.s.). This is the day of victory of Muslims over Christians and was such an important event that ever since it is celebrated as a day of Eid by muslims.

The event of Mubahila occurred in the 10th of Hijrah.

Historical perspective of Eid-e-Mubahila 

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Najran was a fertile land located in the Northern mountainous region of Yemen about 20 Kms from Sanaa. About 40,000 Christians inhabited the land divided into 73 small towns. They were idol worshipers historically just like the Arabs but a priest named Femeon, a constructor by profession, preached Christianity in the area of Najran and soon all the population converted to Christianity and Najran became a powerful center of activities of Christians.  They also constructed a church and named it 'Kaba-e-Najran'.  They prayed and offered various offerings there which resulted in an annual income of about two hundred thousand Dinars which was used for the priest who lived and studied there.

After the conquest of Makkah when Islam started spreading rapidly and the warring groups came under the flag of Islam, the Holy

Prophet(sawaw) starting sending emissaries to the tribes who had not yet accepted Islam. In 10 A.H. a similar message was sent to the Christians of Najran and they were offered either to accept the teachings of Islam or live in the protection of Muslims and give 'Jazia' - a kind of fee for protection services. When the Bishop of Najran received this message, he invited all the scholars and influential people of Najran and asked them to think and find a solution to this situation. This news spread rapidly among the masses and some people got infuriated as well but the Bishop of Najran pacified them and advised them to be mindful of the military might of the Islamic regime and try to find a peaceful solution.

Christian mission heads to Madina

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After deliberations, it was finally decided to send a mission to Madina and have a dialog with the Muslims. A 14 member deligation headed by Aqib Saidawar and Abu Harisa started off for Makkah.  Abu Harisa was considered as the greatest Bishop and scholar of the Christian world at that time and Aqib Saidawar was the biggest strategist and negotiator of the time. When the delegation reached Madina, the people got impressed by their lavish dressing and pomp and show since it was the first time that a mission had arrived in such a manner.

When they entered the Masjid-e-Nabawi, the Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) looked at the precious stones, gold and silk clothes that they were wearing and turned away his face and did not pay any attention to them. After a while when no one noticed their pomp and show, they got out of the Masjid-e-Nabawi and met Hazrat Usman and Ubaid-ur-Rehman outside and asked them as to why they were invited by the Muslims and then treated in this manner.  Hazrat Usman mentioned that he did not have a clue about that but if they consult Imam Ali(a.s.), he would be able to tell them what was going on. They took the delegation with them and arrived at the house of Imam Ali(a.s.) and mentioned about the whole incidence to him. Imam Ali(a.s.) said to the delegation that they were wearing dresses of silk and ornaments of gold which depicted their superior mentality and that they should take them off and dress simply. Only then the Prophet(sawaw) would allow them to visit him and entertain them. When they followed the instructions of Imam Ali(a.s.), they were allowed to visit the Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) after the Prayers of Asar and have discussions with him.

Proposal of Mubahila

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After exchange of views on several issues, the delegation did not seem to be willing to accept the observations about the incorrect beliefs of Christianity and the logical explanations proving the incorrectness of their beliefs. At that time Allah(swt) send down the famous Ayat-e- Mubahila of the Quran:

Glorious Quran Chapter 3 Verse 61:

And unto him who disputeth with thee therein after the knowledge hath come unto thee, Say ! ( O' Our Apostle 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 !

Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) recited this Ayat and invited them for Mubahila - praying to God(swt) to destroy and banish the liars.

Mubahila became necessary since the Christian delegation was adamant to accept the truth. After some hesitations the delegations asked to be given one day to reconsider their options and then accepted to have the Mubahila after two days. In their consultations among themselves, the grand Bishop Abu Harisa told his companions that if tomorrow, Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) brings his companions and his tribesmen and military might with him for Mubahila then they should accept the challenge without fear but if he brings only the members of his family, then never accept the challenge.

Whom did the Prophet(sawaw) take with him 

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The Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) selected a place close to Madina for the Mubahila which was then cleaned and prepared by Hazrat Salman Farsi(r.a.) and the next day the Christian delegation reached the designated place. A number of muhajirren and ansaar also gathered at the site.  The Holy Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) took with him Imam Hasan(a.s.), Imam Hussain(a.s.), Bibi Fatima(s.a.) and Imam Ali(a.s.) and headed towards the site in a manner that Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) was leading the group holding Imam Hasan(a.s.) and Imam Hussain(a.s.) and Bibi Fatima(s.a.) was behind him and Imam Ali(a.s.) was behind Bibi Fatima(s.a.).

Saad bin Abi Waqas relates that when the Ayat-e-Mubahila was sent down, Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) called Imam Ali(a.s.), Bibi Fatima(s.a.), Imam Hasan(a.s.) and Imam Hussain(a.s.) and said "O my Allah(swt), these are my Ahl-e-Bait" . (Sahih Muslim, Vol.2, Page 287).

Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) sat down under a tree with these weighty personalities and said that when I pray to God, you all should say 'Ameen'. When the Christian delegation saw a woman, two children and only one man with the Prophet(sawaw), they got scared and worried and Abu Harisa chanted "O my christian friends, I am seeing such bright faces that if they pray that God move this mountain from its place then the mountain will be moved.  I warn you, do not have Mubahila with them or you all will be destroyed and banished."

The Christian delegation was still amazed and frightened when the brother of Abu Harisa, Karz ibn-e-Alqama stated that "O my fellows, it appears that Mohammad(sawaw) is the same last apostle and prophet that has been mentioned in our sacred books. We should not have Mubahila with them because anyone who had Mubahila with the prophets in the past as well was destroyed. Look around you and observe that the signs of your destruction are appearing."  When they looked around, they observed that the entire atmosphere had changed and it appeared that a furious storm is in offing.

Result of the Mubahila

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Witnessing this, they backed off from the contest and requested that their friendship be accepted. Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) accepted their request and asked Imam Ali(a.s.) to write the agreement according to which the Najran tribes accepted to pay 'Jazia' and live under the protection of the Muslims.

22nd ZilHijjah 1431 A.H. - Martyrdom of Hazrat Meesum Tammar(a.r.) and Tiflan-e-Muslim(a.s.)

22nd ZilHijjah 1431 A.H. - Martyrdom of Hazrat Meesam-e-Tammar(a.r.) - a freed slave of Imam Ali(a.s.) and his close associate. This is also the day of martyrdom of the sons of Hazrat Muslim ibn-e-Aqeel(a.s.) who were brutally killed in Kufa.

Hazrat Meesam-e-Tammar(a.r.)

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He was a slave of a woman of bani-Asad. Imam Ali(a.s.) bought and then freed him. He was a man of high character and a true lover of Allah(swt), Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) and his Ahl-e-Bait(a.s.).

He name was Meesam. He used to sell dates and therefore his name became Meesam-e-Tammar. Imam Ali(a.s.) taught him many branches of knowledge which included ilm-e-manaya wal balaya (the knowledge of death and future calamities) and ilm-e-Taweel (Interpretation and exegesis of Quran). There are several instance quoted in history where Hazrat Meesam(a.r.) foretold events and even his own manner of death as taught to him by Imam Ali(a.s.). Famous narrator of Quranic traditions, Abdullah ibn-e-Abbas(a.r.) used to consult and take notes from Meesam(a.r.).

Once Meesam(a.r.) was informed by Imam Ali(a.s.) that in his final days he would be asked by the cruel governor of Kufa Ubaidullah ibn-e- Ziyad (la) to denounce Imam Ali(a.s.) and talk bad of him. Meesam said he would never do it. Imam Ali(a.s.) informed him that if he does so, his hands and feet will be cut off and he will be hanged and finally his tongue will be cut off as well and he will die as a consequence after two days. Meesam said if that all was due to the love of Imam Ali (a.s.) and for the sake of Allah(swt) then he would not hesitate in accepting it and it seemed easy for him.

Months and years passed by. Imam Ali(a.s.) was martyred then Imam Hassan(a.s.) was martyred and Meesam kept waiting for the time. Finally came 60 A.H. when Ubaid-ullah ibn-e-Ziyad was appointed governor of Kufa. He called for all supporters and lovers of Ahl-e-Bait(a.s.) and Meesam’s name was among the top. He summoned Meesam and asked him to dissociate himself from Imam Ali(a.s) and talk bad about him. Meesam plainly refused. The governor told him that he would cut his hand and feet and would hang him. Meesam said my Mawla already had informed me that a cruel man whose mother will be of bad character would cut my hand and feet and would cut off my tongue before killing me. Ibn-e-Ziyad(la) said that you are both liars and I will cut off you hand and feet but will leave your tongue intact to prove that your Mowla lied (naozo billah).

When Meesam’s hand and feet were cut off and he was hanged upside down on the date tree that Imam Ali(a.s.) identified, Meesam called with a loud voice that people gather around him and he will relate traditions about excellence of Imam Ali(a.s.) and his secret ahadith. Many people gathered and Meesam started relating ahadith of Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) about the excellence of Imam Ali(a.s.). When ibn-e-Ziyad(la) got this news he ordered the tongue of Meesam be cut for fear that people might rise up against him. Finally as predicted by Imam Ali(a.s.), Meesam’s tongue was cut off and due to extensive bleeding, he was martyred on 22nd ZilHijjah after having been hung upside down for two days.

Inna lillahe wa inna ilehe rajeoon.

Martyrdom of Children of Hazrat Muslim ibn-e-Aqeel(a.s.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hazrat Muslim(a.s.) had taken with him his two sons Muhammad and Ibraheem. After Hazrat Muslim(a.s.) was martyred, Muhammad and Ibraheem were also arrested and put into a dungeon. It is said that Muhammad was just eight years old and Ibraheem was ten years old.

On the 22nd of ZilHijjah when the jailer came to give the children their evening meal, he saw them saying their prayers. The jailer waited. When the boys had finished their prayers, he asked them who they were. When the jailer learnt that they were the sons of Muslim Ibne Aqeel and the grandsons of Imam Ali(a.s.), he let them escape.The children came out of the prison.

It was a dark night. Their first thought was to go to Imaam Hussain(a.s.) and warn him not to go to Kufa. Everywhere they went, they found the roads blocked by Ibne Ziyad soldiers. It was impossible to get out of Kufa. Now it was almost day-break. Where could these two young boys go?

They found themselves by the side of the river Euphrates. They drank some water from the river and then went up a tree to hide for the day. Just then a woman came to the river to get water. She saw the two young boys and asked them who they were. Ibraheem said, "We are two orphans, could you please leave us alone and not tell any one that you have seen us?" The woman asked them to accompany her to her mistress who would help them.

The woman's mistress was a kind lady. After talking to the boys for a while she realized who they were. She gave them food and said to them, "You can spend the day here and I will try to help you. Unfortunately my husband Harith is working for Ibne Ziyad. He is out at the moment.

You can rest in the spare room but make no noise otherwise when he comes back, he will find out you are here". The children said their prayers and went to sleep. In the evening Muhammad woke up and started crying. Ibraheem asked him why he was crying. Muhammad said "I saw our father in a dream. He was calling out for us". Ibraheem said, "Brother, be patient. I also saw our father in a dream beckoning us to him". They both started weeping. Harith, who had come back heard the children crying. He opened the door and asked the children who they were. On learning they were the sons of Muslim Ibne Aqeel, he tied both the boys to a pillar. Harith's wife tried to stop him, but he beat her up. Harith wanted to collect the reward which Ibne Ziyad had offered to anyone capturing the children.

The children spent the whole night tied to the pillar. In the morning Harith dragged them to the river-bank. He took out his sword. Ibraheem asked him, "Harith, are you going to kill us?". Harith said "Yes !".

Ibraheem said, "In that case give us time to finish our morning prayers". The two boys said their prayers. They raised their hands and cried out "Inna Lillaah wa Inna IIay-hi Rajeeoon! O Allah we are coming to you. Give our mother courage when she hears of our death and judge between us and our killers!!". Muhammad cried that he be killed first since he was younger and was scared to see his brother killed in front of him. Ibrahim said the same since he did not want to see his younger brother killed in front of him. Finally the two innocent brothers embraced each other and the sword of Harith slashed them both dead. Their bodies were thrown in the water but Harith witnessed that the two head quashed bodes came floating close to each other and the two brothers embraced each other once again.

Ala lanatullahe alal qaum-iz zalimeen. May Allah curse the cruel tribe which committed atrocities on Aal-e-Mohammad(pbut).