We will summon our sons and your sons...

We will summon our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and our souls and your souls, then we will pray humbly (to our Lord) and (solemnly) invoke the curse of Allah upon those who lie. 3:61 [1] Al-Durr al-Manthur, vol. 3, p. 28, printed in Egypt, notes on Chapter al-An`am. The exegesists assert that the above verse, known as the mubahalah, was sent down after the Prophet had argued with the heads of Najran Christians and they still persisted in their views.

Then upon Gods command the Prophet, accompanied by `Ali ibn Abi-Talib, the Prophets daughter, Fatimah, Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn (a.s) advanced towards the Christians to invoke the Curse of Allah. The Christian leaders, having observed the Prophets conduct and that of his household, were filled with terror for their lives, and requested the messenger of God to abandon the invocation of curse. The holy Prophet agreed, and the issue was settled after an agreement had been concluded.

The Shiite and the Sunnite scholars unanimously agree that the Commander of the Faithful, Fatimah, Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn (a.s) did accompany the holy Prophet on the day of Mubahalah. It thus becomes clear that the phrase our sons uttered by the messenger of God, signifies Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn, and that Hasan and Husayn (a.s), mentioned in the above verse, are considered as the Prophets children.

Having mentioned many a narration as comments on the Quranic verse in question, the commentators have clearly testified our above assumption. Some of them are as follows: a) Jalal al-Din Suyiti quotes Hakim, and Ibn Mardawayh and Abu-Na`im on the authority of Jabir Ibn `Abdullah as saying by our souls, i.e. anfusana is meant the messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his descendents) and `Ali; by our son, Hasan and Husayn by our women, Fatimah.[1] [1] Al-Durr al-Manthur, vol. 2, p.

39, printed in Beirut. b) Fakhr Razi, after quoting the above narration, says in his exegesis, Know that this narration is recognized as valid by the exegesists and by those conversed with traditions;[1] then he adds, The above mentioned verse (i.e.