The chief of Najran delegation told his colleagues...

The chief of Najran delegation told his colleagues; "By Allah, I see these faces who will annihilate all the Christians of the world if they turn towards Allah." This was the reason why they came to Muhammad (SA) and asked him to excuse them from participating in Al-Mubahalah. The Holy Prophet (SA) asked them to submit to the will of Allah and convert to Islam. They said that they were unable to fight with the Muslims but were ready to pay annual tax to live under the protection of Islam.

Thus this episode ended. The following conclusion could be drawn from this incident: The accompaniment of 'Ali (AS), Fatimah (AS), al-Hasan (AS), al-Husayn (AS) with the Holy Prophet (SA) in the course of Al-Mubahalah clarified that, in the holy Ayah "our sons, our women, and our near people" refers to none but the Holy Prophet (SA), 'Ali(AS), Fatimah (AS), al-Hasan (AS), and al-Husayn (AS).

In other words, by stating the word "ourselves", the Holy Prophet (SA) meant himself and 'Ali (AS), by "our women", he meant Fatimah (AS), and by "our sons", he meant al-Hasan (AS) and al-Husayn (AS). Thus, it becomes crystal clear that 'Ali (AS) is in the same rank as the Holy Prophet (SA) himself. It also becomes evident that the (AS) of the Holy Prophet (SA) were four persons.

This is because the members of the household of anyone are those which are commonly called as "ourselves, our women, and our children". If any other persons were considered as the , the Holy Prophet (SA) would have taken them along for Al-Mubahalah.

This is why we must judge about the 'Ismah (infallibility) of these four persons, for the Almighty Allah testifies on the 'Ismah and taharah (purity) of the (AS) of the Holy Prophet (SA): "...Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanliness from you, O ! and to purify you a (thorough) purifying (33:33)." (2) As related by Sunni and Shi'ah 'ulama', the Holy Prophet (SA) has stated: "The parable of my is that of Nuh's ark; those who boarded were saved while those who did not board were drowned".

(3) In another successive hadith, related by Sunni and Shi'ah 'ulama', the Holy Prophet (SA) has stated: "I leave two valuable things for you which will never be separated from each other till they meet me at Hawd al-Kawthar. They are the Allah's Book, Quran and the . You will not go astray after me as long as you remain in touch with them intimately and seek refuge under these two". IMAMAH A government organization…