What is Mubahala?

Mubahala is a practice in Islamic tradition that involves invoking Allah's curse upon the one who is lying in a dispute. It is often associated with an event during the time of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ when he faced a delegation from the Christians of Najran. The Qur'an refers to this event in Surah Al-Imran, where Allah instructs the Prophet on how to proceed with the Christians regarding their claims about Jesus.

The verse states: And whoso disputeth with thee concerning him, after the knowledge which hath come unto thee, say (unto him): Come! We will summon our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves, then we will pray humbly (to our Lord) and (solemnly) invoke the curse of Allah upon those who lie. 3:61. This instruction emphasizes the seriousness of the dispute and the willingness to seek divine judgment through prayer.

The practice of Mubahala illustrates a profound level of faith and confidence in one's beliefs, as it calls for both parties to bring their families and invoke Allah's wrath on the liar. It serves as a means of resolving serious theological disputes and affirms the importance of truthfulness in matters of faith.