The Najran Pact,

Mobaahelah (Mubahilah)

Last part (19)

The christian account of the Najran Pact

The christian sources do acknowledge the signing of a treaty as the result of a religious discussion between the Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and the Najran delegation to Medina, known to them as the “Najran Pact” or “Najran Treaty”:

“Later, they undertook a religious discussion with the prophet… ended with signing a treaty between the two parties. Muhammad concluded a treaty with their Chiefs and Bishops, which on payment of a tribute of 2000 pieces of cloth, valued at 40 dirhams each, secured them in the undisturbed profession of their ancestral faith … According to the treaty, the people of Najran … were exempted from paying the Jizya required of all non Muslims. The peace agreement also stipulated that the town supply 30 sets of armor, 30 horses and 30 camels for operations along the Gulf coast or in Yemen.”. (Nicolle, David (1994). Yarmuk Ad 636: The Muslim Conquest of Syria. Osprey Publishing. As cited in the English Wikipedia)

Let us now briefly look at this claim:

Interestingly the christian sources are claiming that the Najranites “were exempted from paying the Jizya required of all non Muslims”. Here, one question is why were they supposedly exempted from something which was required of all nonmuslims?!!! And another question is, in that case then what were the 2000 pieces of cloth and …?!!!

In order to investigate this claim we should understand what Jizia is. On the one hand in a sense, Jizia may be considered as a form of compensation paid by the nonmuslim ‘people of the book’ being considered as citizens of the Islamic country for the protection of their human rights, properties and lives for which the Islamic government assumed responsibility. But Jizia is not to be considered as a regular tax paid in mutual respect by the ‘people of the book’ to the Islamic government; i.e. the acceptance of Jizia by the Islamic government absolutely does not indicate the authentication  and confirmation of the beliefs of those who pay Jizia. Rather Jizia is to humiliate those who knowingly follow distorted beliefs and for worldly gains and …, have turned their backs to the genuine teachings of the previous Prophets of Allah and as the direct result have rejected the Religion of Truth, i.e. the True Islam. Therefore perhaps Jiziya may be considered as some kind of a magnanimous prerogative granted to those who were once given a Divine Book, giving them time to come to their senses …; the humiliation of paying the Jizia constantly reminds the nonmuslim ‘people of the book’ of their concealment of the Truth … and it is a second chance for them to realize the immodesty and insincerity and sinfulness of concealing the one and only Truth of Allah and to, AllahWilling, knowingly and humbly repent, submit and join the Right Path of Allah …

Let us see what the Majestic Qur’an says in regard to Jizya:

Qur’an 9:29 Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor do they forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, nor follow the Religion of Truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the Jiziya by their own hands in submission while they feel inferior and subdued.

Imam Saadeq (SBUH) in regard to this verse has said that the reason for paying Jiziya is so that they become distressed and Regretful, and then accept Islam; the Imam (SBUH) has explained further that the amount of Jizia is decided by the Infallible Imam in accordance to their ability. (Tafsir Jaame’, vol. 3, p. 100; …)

Here it is noteworthy to mention that some believe that these types of laws such as Jizia are only for the time of True Islamic governments, i.e. the  government of Infallible Ones (SBUT); undoubtedly the correct execution of all laws are only at time of True Islamic governments of the Infallible Ones (SBUT) … In any case, for now we try our best to keep the Truth alive and to present, peacefully, the Truth in an undeniable manner to any Truth-seeking and thus living heart … until the glorious day when Hadrat Mahdi (SBUH), the only Remained Infallible member of the AhlulBayt of the Prophet Mohammad (SBUH&HA) on this old earth, shall emerge and later Hadrat ‘Eesa (SBUH) shall be commanded to descend, and …

It is important to keep in mind that christians are aware of the humiliation and mortification attached to the payment of Jizia. This is why they claim that the Najranites “were exempted from paying the Jizya required of all non Muslims”. And in order for this claim to be believable they had previously paved the way:

Remember! In spite of the blasphemous state of the Najranites’ beliefs which was proved in part 1 of this writing … they had also claimed that the christians Of Najran have been praised in the Majestic Qur’an, which the falsehood of this issue has been clearly presented in part 10 of this writing. Their obvious step by step scheme is that thru making people believe that Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) have approved and praised the Najran Christians then they can logically claim that they were exempted from paying the humiliating Jizia … and finally they can make the unknowing people believe that in general the beliefs of christians are approved by Qur’an and thus becoming a christian is confirmed by the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) … the obvious result of this satanic scheme, on the one hand, is to make the unknowing christians more steadfast in their blasphemous beliefs and on the other hand, to convert some weak Muslims to christianity, and thus to achieve the goal of Shaytaan which is to deviate as many children of Adam as possible from the Right Path; Shaytaan (Satan) said to Allah:

Qur’an 7:16 … I will certainly lie in wait for them in Thy Right Path.

Here it is noteworthy to emphasize that in most cases the regular masses of jews, Christians, sunni and … are unaware of the schemes of their leaders and so called scholars, thus the leaders and their knowing followers are whom we mean when we say jews, christians, sunni and … But we do hope and pray that the sincere jews, christians, sunni and … may rethink their position and keep in mind that upon leaving this transient world every one has to separately answer to Allah regarding what he/she has or has not done in this world …

And in the midst of all schemes let us never forget:

Qur’an 5:17 Indeed Kafara کفر (in blasphemy have been) those who say surely Allah is the Masih (Messiah, Christ) son of Maryam (Mary). Say: "Who then possess any thing before Allah, if He intended to destroy the Masih son of Maryam, his mother, and all every - one on the earth? And for Allah is the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and all in between. He creates what He wills. And Allah has power over all things."

Qur’an 9:30 … And the Nasaara (Christians) say: The Masih (Messiah) is son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are deluded away (from the Truth)!

Now let us look at a part of the so called Najran Pact between the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and the Najranites as claimed by the christians:

“This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them … Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate. No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them …” (Sakeenah, Maryam (2010). Us versus Them and Beyond. The Other Press. As cited in the English Wikipedia)

Firstly let us notice that it is stated: “as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far”; implicitly, malevolently and treacherously validating and legalizing even new adoption of christianity any where within the Islamic territory!!!

Secondly let us pay attention that the christians constantly wish to implicitly make Islam and the Prophet Mohammad (SAWA)- the Last and most exalted Prophet of Allah, introduced as such by all previous Prophets including Moses and Jesus (SBUT)- and the Muslims look as the servants of christians; in the same manner that jews wish so, for, the leaders of jews and christians are the two sides of the same coin!!! AAAAAHHHHH!!! “we are with them”, “by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them”, “have my secure charter against all that they hate”, “The Muslims are to fight for them” …

It is true that under the terms of Jizia the payers of Jizia were not allowed to join any battle but this was absolutely not because the Prophet of Islam and the Muslims “hold out against anything that displeases them” or “against all that they hate” … and therefore the Muslims were to honor and serve them, and fight for them.

In order to better understand a reason behind such a term in Jizia treaty, let us refresh our memories and review a few previously mentioned facts:

In part 13 of this writing it was mentioned that the Prophet (SAWA) had dispatched letters and messages to all the countries, including to Najran. In the letter to the Najranites it was stated: “all of them should accept Islam and if they accept, they would be considered as brothers in Faith and if they refuse and express arrogance, and do not accept Islam, they must in all humility pay the Jizya voluntarily. And if they refuse this also, and show enmity, they must be prepared for a great battle. And the verse 3:64 was mentioned in the letter …”

And let us remember that their first reaction to this letter was: “Thus all the tribes reached an agreement that all of them should attack Medina in a united manner and fight the Holy Prophet.” Then it was one of their sincere scholars who had brought faith in the Last Prophet (SAWA) but had concealed his faith from his companions, Abu Hamid Husain [ or Hasin] bin Al-Qama, Abu Harith, who tried to convince them to adopt a soft approach; in his sermon he said: “…Delay this matter and think upon it … Most problems should be solved through peace agreements and war is not the preferable option.”

But remember Karz bin Sireen Harithi a commander of their forces responded: ““O Abu Harith, you must be mad …” Karz said in an extremely harsh manner, “Shall we leave our religion on which we have been brought up? Although our forefathers have followed only this faith and the rulers of the world know us because of this and respect us. Shall we agree to pay Jizya in humiliation? No, by Allah, we cannot accept either of the options till we do not take out the swords from the scabbards and till we have not widowed innumerable women …”

It was then Sayyid, a worldly politician and a so called religious personality, who reminded them: “If we remove one sword against Muhammad, innumerable swords would come out from his side, because all Arabs have become subservient to him and all the tribes have accepted his suzerainty … The King of Iran and the Caesar of Rum are helpless before him … Very soon you and those who fight in your support will be destroyed …”

Then remember that Jahiz bin Sarakha Barikhi another typical politician “who was a very respectable personality in the view of Christian King” suggested: “We should go to Muhammad and accept his obedience and give whatever he demands. Then correspond with Christian Kings … When you receive help from all sides, you must mobilize the people of your tribe … After that you must together turn to confront Muhammad and then his army will not dare to engage and all of them will be humiliated and defeated. You will be able to destroy them in a short time … then you will be considered to be the greatest in the world, like the Kaaba which is in Tahama and to which people head from all the corners of the world …”

And remember: “Everyone liked this suggestion of Jahiz bin Sarakha and it was decided to adopt it as a resolution.”

Let us pay attention that the final resolution of the Najranites was to pretend and to go to the Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and accept his obedience and give whatever he demanded at first, then later to join forces and confront the Prophet (SAWA) and to destroy Muslims all together.

So from this aspect, it is quite obvious why the people under the Jizia Pact were not allowed to participate in any war activities; because if they were allowed, they would join forces and plot mutinies and new schemes against Muslims. It was a necessary step that had to be taken in view of their treacherous attitude which the Prophet Mohammad (SBUH&HA) with His Allah Bestowed Knowledge was quite aware of.

After the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) the Allah Bestowed Khaliphate (Successorship) of Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) was usurped and thus none of Islam’s heavenly and perfect laws were correctly practiced … And if it was not for the presence of Hadrat ‘Ali and the next Infallible Imams (SBUT), Islam would have been totally assassinated …

As cited in the English Wikipedia, Goddard, Hugh (2000) in A History of Christian-Muslim Relations, New Amsterdam Books, states that “They [Najranites] were ordered by Umar ibn al-Khattab to vacate the city and emigrate out of the Arabian peninsula …”

‘Umar- one of the two major original usurpers of the Allah Bestowed Khaliphate position of the AmirulMo’menin (SBUH)- was very displeased to watch the Najranites openly pay Jizia twice a year, an act which continuously reminded the Muslims and christians  both, of the Mobaahelah and thus the sublime position and rightfulness of the AhlulBayt (SBUT) … so ‘Umar (La’n be upon him) finally expelled the Najranites to stop this constant guiding reminder …

“Eventually the Old Najran which was Christian disappeared, and is now represented by Al-Ukhdood, a desolate village, while another Najran which is Islamic, has now appeared in its vicinity.” (Frankfurter, David (1998). Pilgrimage and Holy Space in Late Antique Egypt. BRILL. As cited in the English Wikipedia)

… And now sadly and unsurprisingly we see that, the government of Saudi Arabia, following the footsteps of their illegitimate fathers AbuBakr, ‘Umar and …, still call the place where the original Najran was as “Al-Ukhdood”, ignorantly and malevolently confirming the christian claim that the Al-Ukhdood people praised in Qur’an 85:4-8 were the christians of Najran … an issue which we have proven to be totally false in part 10 of this writing. It is undoubtedly to the benefit of the sunni wahaabi Saudis that the distorted christian story of Al-Ukhdood may overshadow the event of Mubahilah and thus the rightfulness of the Shi’ah belief and the untruthfulness of the sunni, and the undeniable fact that Abubakr, ‘Umar and … (La’n be upon them) were usurpers and liars …

It is also noteworthy to mention that prior to the Hajj al-Weda’ (the Farewell Hajj) of our beloved Prophet Mohammad (SBUH&HA), Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) was in the Yemen area; one of his missions was to collect the Jizia. Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) then together with about 12000 Muslims from Yemen joined the Prophet (SAWA) at Hajj al-Weda’. And as for the year in which the Mubahilah occurred it seems most likely it was in the year 9 A.H. or before.

And another final note is that from different Hadiths regarding the Emergence of Hadrat Mahdi (SBUH) it seems that he (SBUH) at the beginning will collect Jizia from the so called jews, christians and even the Naasebi among the sunni (the uncompromising and unreasonable adversaries of the AhlulBayt (SBUT) and their followers) … But later when all the proofs are completed including the return of Hadrat ‘Eesa (SBUH) and other chosen ones and performing under the command of Mahdi (SBUH) … Mahdi (SBUH) shall no longer accept Jizia … With all the undeniable presented proofs people will either accept Islam willingly or they will have to face Hadrat Mahdi’s forces … And absolutely no one shall prevail over the forces of Mahdi (SBUH) … Until the beautiful day when every one will affirm faith in and allegiance to the oneness of Allah and to the Prophethood of Hadrat Mohammad (SAWA) as the very last Prophet of Allah and to the Wilayat of the AhlulBayt (SBUT), and True and genuine Justice and peace will spread everywhere …

May Allah hasten his glorious Appearance … AAMEEN …

The end …

[A note:In part 11 of this writing where the reference: Frankfurter, David (1998). Pilgrimage and holy space … is indicated, the correct reference as cited in the English Wikipedia is:

Khan, Sir Muhammad Zafrulla (1980). Muhammad, seal of the prophets. Routledge.]