Mubahala

Mubahala (Arabic مباهلة ) was a ritual of mutual cursing in order to recognize the truth in the sense of God's judgment that in ancient Arabia. The curse of God should be brought upon the mistaken.

Even Mohammed has resorted to this form of Ordals, in the context of his discussion of Christian emissaries of Najran oasis on the divinity of Jesus. According to the tradition of Ibn Ishaq Mohammed urged the Christians into submission. The however, replied that they had already been subjected to God. Mohammed accused them of lying because they ate pork, worship the cross and claimed that Jesus was the Son of God and called it under the following recitation Quran Sura to a Mubahala on.

" And if according to (all) the knowledge that you ( by God ) is approached, arguing ( any ) which ( interlocutor ) to you about it, tell! , Come! We want our and your sons, our women and your and us and you ( men ) itself (together) call and make thereto ( each party for itself ) a ( common ) oath and allowed to come to the curse of God those who lie. ' ( This will show, which of us is in possession of the truth. ) "

A member of the delegation, which was already converted to Islam were, therefore, warned that it is bad luck to curse a prophet. They met the next day in a secluded spot, the "Red Dune" near Medina. The Christians asked for time to consider and in view of the possible consequences and the growing power of Muhammad asked them to waive the ordeal. Mohammed agreed, but demanded tribute payments. It was concluded a treaty of protection, and the Christians of Najran received the rights and obligations of dhimmis.

For the Shiites was the event of the Mubahala of central importance, because on this occasion, the Prophet 's daughter Fatima, her husband Ali ibn Abi Talib and Hasan ibn Ali and their sons Husayn ibn Ali is said to have taken under his coat to fight against the Christians of Najran to compete. For this incident is an election of the family of the Prophet, the so-called " People of the House " Ahl al -bait derived. The statement in Sura 33:33 that God wanted to purify the " People of the House " is interpreted in the Shiite exegesis as advance reference to the Mubahala. To date, preserve various Shiite groups, such as the Alawites, the memory of the Mubahala in the form of a festival, which takes place on 21 Dhu al - Hijjah.

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