Salaam dear young friends, and heartiest felicitations on the occasion of memorable day and a week which has saw a string of auspicious days.
Well, as you all know, today is the 24th of Zilhijja, and is famous as the Day of Mubahela. It is the day on which Islam triumphed in a unique manner in a novel debate.
In 9 AH, a delegation of Christians of the Yemeni region of Najran (currently under Saudi occupation) came to Medina to debate with Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) on the nature of Prophet Jesus (AS). The Prophet of Islam lodged them in courtesy and allotted to them a corner of the Masjid Nabi to conduct their prayers and other rituals of Christianity.
After several days of debate and citing of irrefutable proofs by the Seal of Messengers that it is against the glory of God Almighty to have a son, when the Christians stuck to their irrational belief that the virgin-born Messiah was godson, the Lord Most High revealed ayahs 59 to 61 of Surah Aal-e Imran, challenging the two sides to assemble outside the city and invoke Divine Wrath on the liars.
On revelation of these ayahs, the Prophet of Islam calmly and confidently strode into the place of rendezvous, and to the surprise of the Christians of Najran, who were present with their women and children, none of his companions were with him, nor were any of the nine wives that he married in the last ten years of his life, out of social necessity in order to break the taboos of Age of Ignorance, following the passing away in Mecca of his loyal wife of 25 long years, Hazrat Khadija (SA). The only persons accompanying him were four in number, of which two were mere children. And of the two grownups, there was only one male in the prime of his manhood, while the other was a fully veiled lady.
These Fantastic Four were Prophet Mohammad’s (SAWA) Immaculate Daughter Hazrat Fatema Zahra (SA), his Infallible Son-in-law Imam Ali (AS) and his Impeccable Grandsons Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Husain (AS).
On seeing these radiant visages, the Christians were struck with awe. The chief priest advised his flock not to enter into a match of malediction with such pure personages, who were clearly covered with an aura of celestial light. He said if they were to raise their hands to invoke the curse of God, mountains would move and none of the people of Najran who had challenged them would remain alive.
It was indeed a grand victory of not only the truth of Islam but of the prime position of the Ahl al-Bayt as the divinely-decreed leaders of the Ummah after the passing away of the Prophet.
A further proof of the majesty of the Ahl al-Bayt was revelation of the Verse of Purity (Holy Qur’an 33:33) in their favour.
A day later (which is tomorrow) on the 25th of Zilhijja, God Almighty revealed 18 ayahs of Surah Dahr (5 to 23) in praise of the Ahl al-Bayt, when in order to fulfill a vow, Imam Ali (AS), Hazrat Fatema Zahra (SA), Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Husain (AS), and their maid Fizza (SA) fasted for threr consecutive days without any food to break the day’s fast, since on all three evenings they gave away whatever meagre food they had to the destitute, the orphan, the freed prisoners that knocked on their door.
Well friends, that was all for this week. Take care and goodbye till we meet again.