#86. WORD ON MUBAAHALA
“Sallamu alaikum ya admin pls what is concept “MUBAAHALA” technical and shariah meaning, jazakhallahu khairan. Ibn Hajar said ‘It is known by experience that he who calls to Al-Mubaahala while being a liar, one year would not pass after the day of Al-Mubaahala except that he is perished. This indeed happened to me with a person who used to be inclined toward atheists and he did not live after this more than two months.’
ANSWER
Wa alaykum salaam warahmatullaah wabarakaatuh
Alhamdulillaahi Rabbi Al-Aalamin
Mubaahalah literally is used to mean ‘sending of curses’. It is mentioned in Lisaanu Al-Arab that it is when two disputing parties come together to curse themselves if they were on error in the matter upon dispute.
Technically in the Shari’ah, it is done to prove the truth to the generality of people.
Verses of the Qur’an and the Ahaadith show explicitly the permissibility of Mubaahalah to prove the truth and disprove falsehood as Allah commanded the Rasul – salallaahu alayhi wasallam – to carry it out with the Christians of Najraan.
Most of the Ulamaa hold that each party would say:
‘I do the mubaaahala with him on such and such a thing, that the curse of Allah be upon the liars among us.’
The Ulamaa mention how grave it is and that it should not be done except for Allah’s sake Alone, the establishment of evidences on the opponent, and for the sake of matters that affect guidance of others.
Of the Salaf, many such as Ibn Abbaas, Al-Awzaa’i, Ibn Mas’ud and others called to Mubaahalah as has been recorded in the books of Aathaar
As for the statement of Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar – rahimahullaah to which you referred where he said:
“And of what is known by experience is that whosoever does the Mubaahalah while upon error, does not complete a year dating from the day of the Mubaahalah. And similar happened with me with a man that attributed himself to some atheists, he didn’t survive thereafter but two months.”
Ref: ‘Fat’hu Al-Baari’ 8/95
Then you should know that there is nothing in that statement that says that the aftermath of any Mubaahalah must take its effect within one year. Rather, the Imaam was merely telling us his experience.
Neither the Rasul – salallaahu alayhi wasallam – nor any of the Salaf ever mentioned that the effect of Mubaahalah must even be in this world.
It is Allah’s curse and He alone chooses when and how it will take effect.
Asides that, there have occurred in our history other Mubaahalah where the party on error lasts beyond a year.
And perhaps the questioner is hereby referring to a statement made by Turki Al-Bin’ali concerning the passing away of Al-‘Adnaani. It should be known that Al-Bin’ali is of those who use quotations of scholarly statements like a media tool to support and praise whatever position and action taken by the group to which they belong, whether right or wrong. Their commanders and members will carry out a deed first. Then when it is pointed out to them the wrong in their action, they will ask ‘scholars’ of his like to write in its defence.
And the writer of these lines is of those who knows Bin’ali’s writings well, alhamdulillaah.
We ask Allah to guide us in the time of Fitnah to what is best and right.
Baarakallaahu feekum
Jazaakumullaahu khayran
