﴿فَمَنْ حَآجَّكَ فِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ
مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْاْ نَدْعُ أَبْنَآءَنَا وَأَبْنَآءَكُمْ
وَنِسَآءَنَا وَنِسَآءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وأَنفُسَكُمْ﴾
(Then whoever disputes with you concerning him after the knowledge that has come
to you, say: "Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women,
ourselves and yourselves'') for the Mubahalah,
﴿ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ﴾
(then we pray), supplicate,
﴿فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتُ اللَّهِ عَلَى
الْكَـذِبِينَ﴾
(and we invoke Allah's curse upon the liars) among the two of us.
The reason for the call to Mubahalah and the revelation of the Ayat from the beginning
of this Surah until here, is that a delegation from the Christians of Najran (in
Yemen) came to Al-Madinah to argue about `Isa, claiming that he was divine and the
son of Allah. Allah sent down the beginning of this Surah until here, to refute
their claims, as Imam Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yasar and other scholars stated.
Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yasar said in his famous Sirah, "The delegation of Christians
from Najran came to the Messenger of Allah . The delegation consisted of sixty horsemen,
including fourteen of their chiefs who make decisions. These men were Al-`Aqib,
also known as `Abdul-Masih, As-Sayyid, also known as Al-Ayham, Abu Harithah bin
`Alqamah, of ﴿the family of﴾ Bakr bin Wa`il and Uways bin Al-Harith. They also included,
Zayd, Qays, Yazid, Nabih, Khuwaylid, `Amr, Khalid, `Abdullah and Yuhannas. Three
of these men were chiefs of this delegation, Al-`Aqib, their leader and to whom
they referred for advice and decision; As-Sayyid, their scholar and leader in journeys
and social gatherings; and Abu Harithah bin `Alqamah, their patriarch, priest and
religious leader. Abu Harithah was an Arab man from ﴿the family of﴾ Bakr bin Wa`il,
but when he embraced Christianity, the Romans and their kings honored him and built
churches for him (or in his honor). They also supported him financially and gave
him servants, because they knew how firm his faith in their religion was.'' Abu
Harithah knew the description of the Messenger of Allah from what he read in earlier
divine Books. However, his otherwise ignorance led him to insist on remaining a
Christian, because he was honored and had a high position with the Christians. Ibn
Ishaq said, "Muhammad bin Ja`far bin Az-Zubayr said that, `The (Najran) delegation
came to the Messenger of Allah in Al-Madinah, entered his Masjid wearing robes and
garments, after the Prophet had prayed the `Asr prayer. They accompanied a caravan
of camels led by Bani Al-Harith bin Ka`b. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah
who saw them said that they never saw a delegation like them after that... Then
Abu Harithah bin `Alqamah and Al-`Aqib `Abdul-Masih or As-Sayyid Al-Ayham spoke
to the Messenger of Allah , and they were Christians like the king (Roman King).
However, they disagreed about `Isa; some of them said, `He is Allah,' while some
said, `He is the son of Allah,' and some others said, `He is one of a trinity.'
Allah is far from what they attribute to Him.''
Indeed, these are the creeds of the Christians. They claim that `Isa is God, since
he brought the dead back to life, healed blindness, leprosy and various illnesses,
told about matters of the future, created the shape of birds and blew life into
them, bringing them to life. However, all these miracles occurred by Allah's leave,
so that `Isa would be a sign from Allah for people.
They also claim that `Isa is the son of Allah, since he did not have a father and
he spoke when he was in the cradle, a miracle which had not occurred by any among
the Children of Adam before him, so they claim. They also claim that `Isa is one
of a trinity, because Allah would say, `We did, command, create and demand.' They
said, `If Allah were one, he would have said, `I did, command, create and decide.'
This is why they claim that `Isa and Allah are one (Trinity). Allah is far from
what they attribute to Him, and we should mention that the Qur'an refuted all these
false Christian claims.
Ibn Ishaq continued, "When these Ayat came to the Messenger from Allah , thus judging
between him and the People of the Book, Allah also commanded the Prophet to call
them to the Mubahalah if they still refused the truth. The Prophet called them to
the Mubahalah. They said, `O Abu Al-Qasim! Let us think about this matter and get
back to you with our decision to what we want to do.' They left the Prophet and
conferred with Al-`Aqib, to whom they referred to for advice. They said to him,
`O `Abdul-Masih! What is your advice' He said, `By Allah, O Christian fellows! You
know that Muhammad is a Messenger and that he brought you the final word regarding
your fellow (`Isa). You also know that no Prophet conducted Mubahalah with any people,
and the old persons among them remained safe and the young people grew up. Indeed,
it will be the end of you if you do it. If you have already decided that you will
remain in your religion and your creed regarding your fellow (`Isa), then conduct
a treaty with the man (Muhammad) and go back to your land.' They came to the Prophet
and said, `O Abu Al-Qasim! We decided that we cannot do Mubahalah with you and that
you remain on your religion, while we remain on our religion. However, send with
us a man from your Companions whom you are pleased with to judge between us regarding
our monetary disputes, for you are acceptable to us in this regard.'''
Al-Bukhari recorded that Hudhayfah said, "Al-`Aqib and As-Sayyid, two leaders from
Najran, came to the Messenger of Allah seeking to invoke Allah for curses (against
whoever is unjust among them), and one of them said to the other, `Let us not do
that. By Allah, if he were truly a Prophet and we invoke Allah for curses, we and
our offspring shall never succeed afterwards.' So they said, `We will give you what
you asked and send a trusted man with us, just a trusted man.' The Messenger of
Allah said;
«لَأَبْعَثَنَّ مَعَكُمْ رَجُلًا أَمِينًا
حَقَّ أَمِين»
فاستشرف لها أصحاب رسول اللهصلى الله
عليه وسلّم، فقال:
«قُمْ يَا أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ بْنَ الْجَرَّاح»
فلما قام، قال رسول اللهصلى الله عليه
وسلّم:
«هَذَا أَمِينُ هذِهِ الْأُمَّة»
("Verily, I will send a trusted man with you, a truly trustworthy man.'' The Companions
of the Messenger of Allah all felt eager to be that man. The Messenger said, "O
Abu `Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah! Stand up.'' When Abu `Ubaydah stood up, the Messenger
of Allah said, "This is the trustee of this Ummah.''')
Al-Bukhari recorded that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah said on another occasion,
«لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَمِينٌ، وَأَمِينُ
هذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاح»
(Every Ummah has a trustee, and the trustee of this Ummah is Abu `Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah.)
Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "Abu Jahl, may Allah curse him, said,
`If I see Muhammad praying next to the Ka`bah, I will step on his neck.' The Prophet
later said,
«لَوْ فَعَلَ لَأَخَذَتْهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ
عِيَانًا، ولو أن اليهود تمنوا الموت لماتوا، ورأوا مقاعدهم من النار، ولو خرج الذين
يباهلون رسول اللهصلى الله عليه وسلّم لرجعوا لا يجدون مالًا ولا أهلًا»
(Had he tried to do it, the angels would have taken him publicly. Had the Jews wished
for death, they would have perished and would have seen their seats in the Fire.
Had those who sought Mubahalah with the Messenger of Allah, went ahead with it,
they would not have found estates or families when they returned home).'' Al-Bukhari,
At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i also recorded this Hadith, which At-Tirmidhi graded Hasan
Sahih.
Allah then said,
﴿إِنَّ هَـذَا لَهُوَ الْقَصَصُ الْحَقُّ﴾
(Verily, this is the true narrative) meaning, what we narrated to you, O Muhammad,
about `Isa is the plain truth that cannot be avoided,
﴿وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـهٍ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ
وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُفَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ﴾
(and none has the right to be worshipped but Allah. And indeed, Allah is the All-Mighty,
the All-Wise. And if they turn away,) by abandoning this truth,
﴿فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُفْسِدِينَ﴾
(then surely, Allah is All-Aware of those who do mischief.) for those who abandon
the truth for falsehood commit mischief, and Allah has full knowledge of them and
will subject them to the worst punishment. Verily, Allah is able to control everything,
all praise and thanks are due to Him, and we seek refuge with Him from His revenge.
﴿قُلْ يأَهْلَ الْكِتَـبِ تَعَالَوْاْ
إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَآءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلاَّ نَعْبُدَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ وَلاَ
نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئاً وَلاَ يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ
فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَقُولُواْ اشْهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ ﴾
(64. Say: "O people of the Scripture: Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah the same, and that we associate
no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah.''
Then, if they turn away, say: "Bear witness that we are Muslims.'')
﴿فَمَنْ حَآجَّكَ فِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ
مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْاْ نَدْعُ أَبْنَآءَنَا وَأَبْنَآءَكُمْ
وَنِسَآءَنَا وَنِسَآءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وأَنفُسَكُمْ﴾
(Then whoever disputes with you concerning him after the knowledge that has come
to you, say: "Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women,
ourselves and yourselves'') for the Mubahalah,
﴿ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ﴾
(then we pray), supplicate,
﴿فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتُ اللَّهِ عَلَى
الْكَـذِبِينَ﴾
(and we invoke Allah's curse upon the liars) among the two of us.
The reason for the call to Mubahalah and the revelation of the Ayat from the beginning
of this Surah until here, is that a delegation from the Christians of Najran (in
Yemen) came to Al-Madinah to argue about `Isa, claiming that he was divine and the
son of Allah. Allah sent down the beginning of this Surah until here, to refute
their claims, as Imam Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yasar and other scholars stated.
Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yasar said in his famous Sirah, "The delegation of Christians
from Najran came to the Messenger of Allah . The delegation consisted of sixty horsemen,
including fourteen of their chiefs who make decisions. These men were Al-`Aqib,
also known as `Abdul-Masih, As-Sayyid, also known as Al-Ayham, Abu Harithah bin
`Alqamah, of ﴿the family of﴾ Bakr bin Wa`il and Uways bin Al-Harith. They also included,
Zayd, Qays, Yazid, Nabih, Khuwaylid, `Amr, Khalid, `Abdullah and Yuhannas. Three
of these men were chiefs of this delegation, Al-`Aqib, their leader and to whom
they referred for advice and decision; As-Sayyid, their scholar and leader in journeys
and social gatherings; and Abu Harithah bin `Alqamah, their patriarch, priest and
religious leader. Abu Harithah was an Arab man from ﴿the family of﴾ Bakr bin Wa`il,
but when he embraced Christianity, the Romans and their kings honored him and built
churches for him (or in his honor). They also supported him financially and gave
him servants, because they knew how firm his faith in their religion was.'' Abu
Harithah knew the description of the Messenger of Allah from what he read in earlier
divine Books. However, his otherwise ignorance led him to insist on remaining a
Christian, because he was honored and had a high position with the Christians. Ibn
Ishaq said, "Muhammad bin Ja`far bin Az-Zubayr said that, `The (Najran) delegation
came to the Messenger of Allah in Al-Madinah, entered his Masjid wearing robes and
garments, after the Prophet had prayed the `Asr prayer. They accompanied a caravan
of camels led by Bani Al-Harith bin Ka`b. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah
who saw them said that they never saw a delegation like them after that... Then
Abu Harithah bin `Alqamah and Al-`Aqib `Abdul-Masih or As-Sayyid Al-Ayham spoke
to the Messenger of Allah , and they were Christians like the king (Roman King).
However, they disagreed about `Isa; some of them said, `He is Allah,' while some
said, `He is the son of Allah,' and some others said, `He is one of a trinity.'
Allah is far from what they attribute to Him.''
Indeed, these are the creeds of the Christians. They claim that `Isa is God, since
he brought the dead back to life, healed blindness, leprosy and various illnesses,
told about matters of the future, created the shape of birds and blew life into
them, bringing them to life. However, all these miracles occurred by Allah's leave,
so that `Isa would be a sign from Allah for people.
They also claim that `Isa is the son of Allah, since he did not have a father and
he spoke when he was in the cradle, a miracle which had not occurred by any among
the Children of Adam before him, so they claim. They also claim that `Isa is one
of a trinity, because Allah would say, `We did, command, create and demand.' They
said, `If Allah were one, he would have said, `I did, command, create and decide.'
This is why they claim that `Isa and Allah are one (Trinity). Allah is far from
what they attribute to Him, and we should mention that the Qur'an refuted all these
false Christian claims.
Ibn Ishaq continued, "When these Ayat came to the Messenger from Allah , thus judging
between him and the People of the Book, Allah also commanded the Prophet to call
them to the Mubahalah if they still refused the truth. The Prophet called them to
the Mubahalah. They said, `O Abu Al-Qasim! Let us think about this matter and get
back to you with our decision to what we want to do.' They left the Prophet and
conferred with Al-`Aqib, to whom they referred to for advice. They said to him,
`O `Abdul-Masih! What is your advice' He said, `By Allah, O Christian fellows! You
know that Muhammad is a Messenger and that he brought you the final word regarding
your fellow (`Isa). You also know that no Prophet conducted Mubahalah with any people,
and the old persons among them remained safe and the young people grew up. Indeed,
it will be the end of you if you do it. If you have already decided that you will
remain in your religion and your creed regarding your fellow (`Isa), then conduct
a treaty with the man (Muhammad) and go back to your land.' They came to the Prophet
and said, `O Abu Al-Qasim! We decided that we cannot do Mubahalah with you and that
you remain on your religion, while we remain on our religion. However, send with
us a man from your Companions whom you are pleased with to judge between us regarding
our monetary disputes, for you are acceptable to us in this regard.'''
Al-Bukhari recorded that Hudhayfah said, "Al-`Aqib and As-Sayyid, two leaders from
Najran, came to the Messenger of Allah seeking to invoke Allah for curses (against
whoever is unjust among them), and one of them said to the other, `Let us not do
that. By Allah, if he were truly a Prophet and we invoke Allah for curses, we and
our offspring shall never succeed afterwards.' So they said, `We will give you what
you asked and send a trusted man with us, just a trusted man.' The Messenger of
Allah said;
«لَأَبْعَثَنَّ مَعَكُمْ رَجُلًا أَمِينًا
حَقَّ أَمِين»
فاستشرف لها أصحاب رسول اللهصلى الله
عليه وسلّم، فقال:
«قُمْ يَا أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ بْنَ الْجَرَّاح»
فلما قام، قال رسول اللهصلى الله عليه
وسلّم:
«هَذَا أَمِينُ هذِهِ الْأُمَّة»
("Verily, I will send a trusted man with you, a truly trustworthy man.'' The Companions
of the Messenger of Allah all felt eager to be that man. The Messenger said, "O
Abu `Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah! Stand up.'' When Abu `Ubaydah stood up, the Messenger
of Allah said, "This is the trustee of this Ummah.''')
Al-Bukhari recorded that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah said on another occasion,
«لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَمِينٌ، وَأَمِينُ
هذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاح»
(Every Ummah has a trustee, and the trustee of this Ummah is Abu `Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah.)
Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "Abu Jahl, may Allah curse him, said,
`If I see Muhammad praying next to the Ka`bah, I will step on his neck.' The Prophet
later said,
«لَوْ فَعَلَ لَأَخَذَتْهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ
عِيَانًا، ولو أن اليهود تمنوا الموت لماتوا، ورأوا مقاعدهم من النار، ولو خرج الذين
يباهلون رسول اللهصلى الله عليه وسلّم لرجعوا لا يجدون مالًا ولا أهلًا»
(Had he tried to do it, the angels would have taken him publicly. Had the Jews wished
for death, they would have perished and would have seen their seats in the Fire.
Had those who sought Mubahalah with the Messenger of Allah, went ahead with it,
they would not have found estates or families when they returned home).'' Al-Bukhari,
At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i also recorded this Hadith, which At-Tirmidhi graded Hasan
Sahih.
Allah then said,
﴿إِنَّ هَـذَا لَهُوَ الْقَصَصُ الْحَقُّ﴾
(Verily, this is the true narrative) meaning, what we narrated to you, O Muhammad,
about `Isa is the plain truth that cannot be avoided,
﴿وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـهٍ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ
وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُفَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ﴾
(and none has the right to be worshipped but Allah. And indeed, Allah is the All-Mighty,
the All-Wise. And if they turn away,) by abandoning this truth,
﴿فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُفْسِدِينَ﴾
(then surely, Allah is All-Aware of those who do mischief.) for those who abandon
the truth for falsehood commit mischief, and Allah has full knowledge of them and
will subject them to the worst punishment. Verily, Allah is able to control everything,
all praise and thanks are due to Him, and we seek refuge with Him from His revenge.
﴿قُلْ يأَهْلَ الْكِتَـبِ تَعَالَوْاْ
إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَآءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلاَّ نَعْبُدَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ وَلاَ
نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئاً وَلاَ يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ
فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَقُولُواْ اشْهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ ﴾
(64. Say: "O people of the Scripture: Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah the same, and that we associate
no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah.''
Then, if they turn away, say: "Bear witness that we are Muslims.'')
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