In the name of Allah
The All Compassionate, the All-Merciful
26 Dhil-Hajja 1447 (12 June 2026)
Islamic Universal Association
20 Penzance Place, Holland Park
London, W11 4 PG
Imam Ali (a.s)’s advice in the Nahjal-Balagha – Part 138
Further to last week’s discussion on the first part of Imam Ali (a.s)’s Letter 3 in the Nahjal Balagha, I quote below a powerful text (second part) from it. It is a satirical sale deed addressed to Shurayh ibne Al-Harith, his Chief Justice, who had purchased an expensive house for eighty Dinars. By using the legal language of a real estate contract, the Imam is highlighting the spiritual folly of investing in this transitory world (Dunya):
“This is about a purchase made by a humble slave (of Allah) from another slave ready to depart (for the next world). He has purchased a house out of houses of deceit in the area of mortals and the place of those liable to perish. This house has four boundaries as follows: The first boundary is contiguous to sources of calamities; the second boundary adjoins the sources of distress; the third boundary adjoins devastating desire; and the fourth boundary adjoins deceitful Satan and towards this opens the door of this house.”
Key points:
- Parties: “Purchase made by a humble slave of Allah from another slave ready to depart” emphasizes that both the buyer and seller are mortals with no true ownership.
- Property: The words, “He has purchased a house out of houses of deceit in the area of mortals”, reminds the buyer that the physical structure is an illusion that will eventually crumble.
- The four boundaries:
Calamities: Worldly possessions attract envy, loss, and physical decay.
Distress: Maintaining wealth brings constant anxiety and worry.
Devastating Desire: The pursuit of luxurious items and properties is fuelled by endless and destructive greed.
Satan/the Door: The entrance to this lifestyle is often through temptation and the whispers of Satan and the ego.
- The Imam intended to remind his official and his readers that a true home is built through piety and preparation for the afterlife, rather than the accumulation of bricks and mortar. To be continued
Second sermon
The event of Mubahala
The significant event of Mubahala occurred on the 24th of Dhil-Hajja, 10 Hijri which demonstrated the piety of the Holy Prophet (s.a) and his Ahlul Bait. Moreover, another important event occurred during the month of Dhil-Hajja, when Ayahs 8 and 9 of Surah Ad-Dahr (Insan) were revealed, which was a great evidence of the superiority and excellence of Hazrat Fatima and Imam Ali (a.s) and their proximity to the Creator. The Ayahs read: “And they gave away food out of love for Him to the poor man, the orphan and the captive, (Saying): “We feed only for God’s sake; and we seek no recompense or thanks from you.” However, today I will discuss the event of Mubahala.
In 9 Hijri, the Holy Prophet (s.a) sent a letter to Abdul Haris Ibne Alqama, the Grand Bishop of Najran, the official representative of the Roman Church in the Hijaz, inviting him and his people to embrace Islam. The following year, i.e in 10 Hijri, a Christian delegation from Najran (a city near the Yemeni border), came to Medina to seek clarification about Jesus in light of the said letter. They maintained that Jesus was the son of God although the Holy Prophet (s.a) tried to explain to them that he was a servant of Allah (s.w.t), chosen by Him as His Prophet. At that time, Ayahs 59 and 60 of Surah Aale Imran were revealed: “Verily, the similitude of Jesus with God is like that of Adam; He created him of dust, then He said to him, “Be!” and he was. This is the truth from your Lord, therefore do not entertain any doubt.” But when the Christians remained adamant in their belief that Jesus was the son of God and categorically refused to accept the Holy Prophet (s.a)’s point of view, Ayahs 61-63 of Surah Aale Imran (the verses of Mubahala) were revealed: “And to him who disputes with you therein after knowledge has come to you say: “Come! Let us summon our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves; then let us invoke and lay the curse of God upon the liars! Verily, this is the true narrative. There is no god except Allah and verily God is the Almighty, the All-wise. But if they turn away, then, verily, God knows the mischief-makers.” Hence in accordance with Allah (s.w.t)’s command, the Holy Prophet (s.a) challenged the Christians to a Mubahala, that is to pray and invoke Allah (s.w.t)’s curse on the party that insists upon falsehood. ‘Mubahala’ means a ‘maledictory conflict’, and is derived from the Arabic word ‘bahala’ meaning ‘curse’.
In accordance with a hadith recorded in Bihar Al-Anwar, the Christians accepted the challenge and on the following day, the 24th of Dhil-Hajja, the Holy Prophet (s.a) came to the designated confrontation site with selected members of his family, namely, Hussain, Hassan, Fatima, and Ali (a.s). The Christians were surprised when they saw the Holy Prophet (s.a)’s Ahlul Bait, and they realized that if the Holy Prophet (s.a) had the slightest doubt in the truth of the message of Islam, he would not challenge them and if he had the slightest fear of the curse he would not have come with his close family members to face them. Therefore, they backed away from the confrontation and agreed to pay the jizya tax to the Islamic state in return for their protection and the following year many Christians converted to Islam. There are various Islamic sources explaining this event which clearly denote that those who came with the Holy Prophet (s.a) for Mubahala (Imam Ali, Hazrat Fatima, Hassan and Hussain) were infallible.
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