Sparrows asked, "Then, what happen to Maryam?" Wary replied, "Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yasar said in his famous Seerah, 'The delegation of Christians from Najran came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). 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 (ﷺ) 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.
The Najran delegation came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in Al-Madinah, entered his Masjid wearing robes and garments, after the Prophet (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ) who saw them said that they never saw a delegation like them after that. Then Abu Harithah bin ‘Alqamah and Al-‘Aqib ‘Abdul Maslh or As-Sayyid Al-Ayham spoke to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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 Allah, 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.
“When these ayat came to the Messenger from Allah (ﷺ), thus judging between him and the People of the Book, Allah also commanded the Prophet (ﷺ) to call them to the Mubahalah, if they still refused the truth."
"What is Mubahalah?" asked Sparrow. Wary replied, "Mubahalah is to pray and invoke sincerely the curse of Allah upon those who lie. Many companions called to the Mubahalah, among them is Abdullah Ibn Mas'ood, radhiyallahu 'anhu, who called to prove that the waiting period (Iddah) of a pregnant woman ends when she gives birth to the baby, not three months as is normal. Among them also is Ibn Abbas, radhiyallahu 'anhu, who called to Mubahalah in the issue related to the reduction of inheritance's shares (when it is not possible for every heir to take his original share)." Sparrow asked, "Whether the “Mubahalah” should be done only between the people who are do monotheist and Muslims? Or it can be done between two Muslims?" Wary replied, "As regards whether this is permissible between Muslims, the answer is that it is permissible; the evidence is that the companions did so, as we already mentioned. It is more appropriate for a Muslim not to invoke the curse of Allah upon a Muslim except after establishing the evidence against him, trying to eradicate the misconception, advising and warning him. Allah knows best."
"So, the Prophet (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ)) and go back to your land.’ They came to the Prophet (ﷺ) 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.’" Then the Prophet (ﷺ) appointed Abu 'Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah as the trustee. He (ﷺ) said,
إِنَّ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَمِينًا، وَإِنَّ أَمِينَنَا أَيَّتُهَا الأُمَّةُ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ
"Every Ummah has a trustee, and the trustee of this Ummah is Abu 'Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah." [HR. Al-Bukhari, 3744]
References :Wary paused, then continued, "O my brothers and sisters, the first eighty-three ayat of Surah 'Ali Imran, related to the delegation from Najran that arrived in Al-Madinah on the ninth year of Hijrah (632 CE). These verses were revealed to refute Christians - ‘alaihim la’aainullah - who thought that Allah had children. Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.
The first five verses of Surah ’Ali-Imran explain the doctrine of Tauhid, the Oneness of Allah, which is the basic point of difference between Islam and other religions and between a disbeliever and a true Muslim. Those who believe in the Oneness of Allah (and in all His prophets, alayhimussalam) are Muslims and those who do not so believe, are known as disbelievers or non-Muslims. Allah said,
Tauhid is a consistent belief preached by all prophets. Adam, alayhissalam, was the first prophet who presented the message of Tauhid before human beings. That the message would remain effective after him through his progeny is not difficult to conceive. But, after a passage of time when the ways ' of the progeny of Adam, shifted away from the original message, there comes Prophet Nuh, who calls people towards the same principle. After a long passage of time, Prophet Ibrahim, Isma‘il, Ishaq and Yaqub, alayhimussalam, born in Iraq and Syria rise with the same call. Then follow Prophet Musa, Harun and other prophets in that order who all subscribe to the same principle of Tauhid and invite people to the same. Then, after another long passage of time, Prophet 'Isa rises with the same call. Moreover, Prophet 'Isa was the greatest one to prophecy about the coming of our Nabi Muhammad (ﷺ). The Qur’an has in various places described the history of Prophet 'Isa in quite a bit of detail and by way of introduction to his life story, has touched upon the story of his mother, Maryam, so that the Qur'an's message of reminding of the "days of Allah" be completed. Prophet 'Isa in the Qur’an, is sometimes called 'Isa'. In some places he is called the Maseeh "the Messiah" and in some other places is referred to as ' Ibn Maryam' the "Son of Maryam."الم"Alif, Lam, Meem." – (QS.3:1)
اللَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ"Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence." – (QS.3:2)
نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنْزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالإنْجِيلَ"He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel." – (QS.3:3)
مِنْ قَبْلُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَأَنْزَلَ الْفُرْقَانَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ"Before, as guidance for the people. And He revealed the Qur'an. Indeed, those who disbelieve in the verses of Allah will have a severe punishment, and Allah is exalted in Might, the Owner of Retribution." – (QS.3:4)
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَخْفَى عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الأرْضِ وَلا فِي السَّمَاءِ"Indeed, from Allah nothing is hidden in the earth nor in the heaven." – (QS.3:5)
هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَوِّرُكُمْ فِي الأرْحَامِ كَيْفَ يَشَاءُ لا إِلَهَ إِلا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ"It is He who forms you in the wombs however He wills. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise." – (QS.3:6)
In the end, it is Prophet Muhammad al-Mustapha (ﷺ) who graces the world with the common call of all prophets. Allah shapes all men and women in the wombs of their mothers according to His supreme wisdom which has created billions of men and women with clear distinguishable features establishing the identity of each individual distinct from all others. He is, therefore, the only One who should be worshipped.
Guidance and straying are from Allah alone. When Allah intends to guide someone, He makes his heart tilt towards what is good and right; and when He decides to let someone go astray, He turns his heart away from the straight path. This is just as it was said in a hadith of the Prophet (ﷺ). Shahr bin Hawshab said: “I said to Umm Salamah, ‘O Mother of the Believers! What was the supplication that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said most frequently when he was with you?” She said, ‘The supplication he said most frequently was,
يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِى عَلَى دِينِكَ
(Yā Muqallibal-qulūb, thabbit qalbī `alā dīnik).
“O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.” She said, ‘So I said: “O Messenger of Allah, why do you supplicate so frequently: ‘O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.’ He said: ‘O Umm Salamah! Verily, there is no human being except that his heart is between Two Fingers of the Fingers of Allah, so whomsoever He wills He makes steadfast, and whomever He wills He causes to deviate.'" [HR At-Tirmidhi, 3522, Hasan]
He is Allah, absolute in power. He does what He wills. Therefore, those who are concerned about how to remain firm in their faith, they go to the source - requesting and praying Allah for steadfastness.
This is the golden chain of prophets from Adam to the Last of the Prophets (ﷺ) upto whose time some one hundred and twenty four thousand blessed prophets were born in different periods, speaking different languages, living in different countries. All of them told and taught the same truth. Most of them did not even have the chance to meet each other. They were in an age when, communication through writing was not in vogue, which could make it possible for one prophet to have access to the books and writings of another and might help him to pick up the call of the earlier prophets as his own. Instead, what happened is that everyone from among them appeared centuries apart from each other, and had no source of information about other prophets, except the revelation received by him from Allah Almighty. The consensus of such a large group of persons consisting of not less than one hundred and twenty four thousand men of different times and places may be enough for establishing the principle, even regardless of their intrinsic trustworthiness. But when one looks at the personal qualities of the noble prophets, and at the highest possible standards of truth and justice set by them, one has to believe that their message is true and their call authentic. And Allah knows best."
- Shaikh Shafiurrahman Al-Mubarakpury, Tafsir Ibn Katheer, Abridged Volume 2, Darussalam
- Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi, Ma'ariful Qura'an Volume 2, Maktaba-e-Darul-'Uloom
