ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Ali the Magnificent Chapter Vii: Mubahala (maledictory Conflict) Towards the close of the nineth year of Hegira, embassies from all parts of Arabia came uninterruptedly to the Holy Prophet at Medina, to profess Islam and to declare the adherence of their tribes to . (Mention is made in the Holy Quran about this in Sura CX ANN ASR) (The Help). Uptill now, the Christians of Najraan (a city in the province of Yemen) had kept themselves aloof.

The Holy Prophet sent a letter, inviting them to embrace Islam. In response to that letter the Christians counselled among themselves as to what their course of action should be and ultimately sent a representative deputation of fourteen members to Medina to study the facts pertaining to the Prophet of Islam and his Mission. The deputation was headed by three scholars of repute. These were Abdul Maseeh Aaquib, Sayeed and Abdul Haris.

When these deputies reached Medina, they changed their clothes which they had worn on the journey, dressed themselves in silken garments, put rings of gold on their fingers and went to the mosque to greet the Prophet. All of them greeted the Prophet traditionally, but the Apostle of God did not respond and turned his face away from them.

They left the mosque and approched Osman and Abdul Rahman Ibn Auf, complaining "your Apostle wrote to us and invited us, but when we went to see him and wished him, he neifter reciprocated our wishes nor replied to us. Now what do you advise us to do? Should we go back or wait for another opportunity?" Osman and Abdul Rehman could not comprehend the situation.

At last they took r deputationists to Ali, who advised them to remove the clothes of silk and the rings of gold that they were wearing and to put on their priestly robes. The Holy Prophet would then willingly see them. Thereupon the Christian delegates changed into humble garments and presented themselves to the Apostle who then responded to their salutations and said, "By the Lord who has appointed me His Messenger, when they first came to me they were accompanied by Satan".

Thereafter the Apostle preached to them and requested them to accept Islam.