How is Mubahala performed in this era?!
Mubahala occurs every day… Every human being contains within his body a mubahala between his intellect and his soul.
This is the second sermon of Friday, July 30, 2021.
By Scholar Shaykh Tammam Ahmad
Among the great events in the history of Islam is an incident known as the Mubahala, which God Almighty mentioned in His Noble Book. Mubahala in language means mutual cursing.
It is what opponents resort to after arguments are exhausted and discussions end—when one opponent insists on holding to his opinion and pays no heed to clear arguments or manifest truths. At that point comes mubahala.
It is the invocation for punishment upon the one who denies the truth. Therefore, God Almighty said: Then whoever disputes with you about it after [there has come to you] knowledge... (Aal Imran 61). Who disputes and continues in quarrel and debate.
Then whoever disputes with you about it after [there has come to you] knowledge, say, ‘Come...’
Here, the one initiating mubahala wants to rely on his own strength rather than the strength of his Creator. He wants to enter into mutual cursing, mubahala, and so he must renounce and disown the power of his Creator—if he can.
Say, 'Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then let us invoke the curse of Allah upon the liars.' (Aal Imran 61).
That a person calls everyone he relies on, everyone he finds in them strength, support, aid, and reinforcement, to face his opponent—and that both stand before Almighty God.
It is the possessor of truth who asks Almighty God to send down punishment upon the one who denied and rejected the clear evidences.
This incident took place in the month of Zhul-Hijjah, in this very month, in the ninth year after Hijrah. Regarding the exact date, there are various opinions: some said it was on the 24th, and others said it was on the 25th of this month.
The Christians of Najran were a people who wanted to debate the Prophet regarding the status of Jesus Christ. Thus, mubahala was proposed. However, they retreated from it when they witnessed what they witnessed of the virtue of the Commander of the Faithful (Imam Ali), Lady al-Zahra (Fatimah), Imam al-Hasan, and Imam al-Husayn, in the famous incident known as Ahl al-Kisa’ (the People of the Cloak)—when the Prophet gathered them under the cloak and proceeded to the mubahala. Seeing their great honor and immense status, the Christians refrained from mubahala and made peace with the Prophet by agreeing to pay a tribute, as historical sources mention.
Today, after this long period of time, how can mubahala occur in this era?!
A person is either a friend to his own self or its enemy. He is either an adversary to his own self or a supporter of it.
The wisdom behind mubahala is that when all means and arguments are exhausted, and the discussion ends, and someone still refuses to accept the truth—then one turns to supplication (du‘a).
So if one of us wants to prove something, wants to look for an opponent to confront, and finds no adversary other than himself—then if he rebukes or reproaches himself, blaming it for what it has committed of actions, deeds, or character—then let him observe: if the evidence is clear, he must not let his desire overpower his intellect, nor should he follow the path of misguidance while the sun of guidance shines before him.
Every human being contains within himself a mubahala between his intellect and his soul. If the conscience mediates between them, then sometimes his intellect overcomes his desires, and sometimes his soul overpowers his intellect. Thus, he either ascends or descends.
The dispute a person has with his own self occurs every day, every minute, every hour.
Just as the Christians of Najran came and the evidence was established, yet some of them held onto their views—you will also find many people today who see the truth clearly but still ignore it. That is why the supplication says:
"O Allah, show us the truth as truth and grant us the ability to follow it, and show us falsehood as falsehood and grant us the ability to avoid it."
The problem is not in establishing the truth—the problem is in whether a person sees it as such.
Thus, we say: "O Allah, show us the truth as truth."
Many people are deceived by their eyes, but hearts are not deceived—if they are guided by clarity and insight.
Mubahala happens every day. Every day in which we see the truth, then ignore it—we are among the losers, for we have contended against our own selves.
"And when man rushes into a matter without knowledge, he has indeed cut off the nose of his own soul, and is among the losers."
Before we demand our rights, let us consider what duties have been imposed upon us, and what obligations we must fulfill—so that we may be among the just: those who do not take what is not theirs by right, and who do not demand their own right until they fulfill what is due from them.
We ask God Almighty to make us and you among those who hear the word and follow the best of it.
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad—blessings by which You accept our prayers, answer our supplications, forgive our sins, erase our misdeeds, enrich our poverty, and mend our brokenness. Truly, You are capable of all things.
O servants of Allah, indeed, Allah commands justice, and good conduct, and giving to relatives, and forbids immorality, and bad conduct, and transgression. He admonishes you so that you may take heed. (An-Nahl 90)
O Allah, make us among those who, when reminded, remember; when restrained, refrain; when made to hear, listen; and when shown, see.
I say these words of mine and ask Allah’s forgiveness for me and for you.
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