Malediction
Useful information:
The Verse of Malediction (mubahilah): "But whoever disputes with you in this matter after what has come to you of knowledge, then, say, 'Come, let us call our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves, and let us beseech Allah and invoke His curse upon the liars'." This milestone event in Islamic history has been narrated by all the historians, narrators, and commentators of the Qur'an and is an event which reveals the exalted status of the Family of the Prophet ( pbut ). The narrations say that a delegation of Christians from Najran came to the city of Madinah in order to meet with the Holy Prophet ( pbuh&hf ) to discuss his prophethood and the new religion he was bringing. The Holy Prophet ( pbuh&hf ) proved to them that Jesus ( pbuh ) was the son of Mary - a human being, a prophet, and a servant of Allah, as the Qur'an states - and that regarding him as the son of God is blasphemy since Allah, the Exalted, is high above such human characteristics. After discussing these points fully and convincingly, when the Prophet ( pbuh&hf ) found them still deliberately persisting in their false beliefs and traditions - namely, the deification of Prophet Jesus ( pbuh ) - Allah revealed this verse which was a major challenge to the Christians to pray and invoke Allah that a curse may overtake the party that insists on falsehood. Early the next morning, on the 24th of the lunar month of Dhul Hijjah , in accordance with Allah's command, the Holy Prophet ( pbuh&hf ) arrived at the meeting holding Husayn in his arms and leading Hasan by his hand, followed by his beloved daughter Lady Fatima, behind whom came his son-in-law and cousin 'Ali ibn Abi Talib carrying the banner of Islam. Seeing that the Prophet ( pbuh&hf ) was accompanied only by his immediate family, the Christians were convinced that he was truthful; otherwise, he would never have dared to bring his dearest kin along. The Christian delegation backed away from the maledictory confrontation and agreed to retreat back to Najran.