Hayatus Sahabah - The Lives of the Sahabah - Part 1 of 3

THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH @%@!&3 (VoL-I) 163
our wives, yourselves and ourselves. Then we shall (co/lectiw&) pray
sincerely (to AZ/aah) and place Allaah's curse on the liars." {Surah Aal
Imraan, verses 59-61 )
(After Rasulullaah recited these verses to them,) They refused to accept it
(and rather accepted the cHallenge of ~ubaahala(l) offered in the last verse
above). Consequently, Rasulullaah k%@ arrived the following morning (for the
challenge) together with Hadhrat Hasan BGw and Hadhrat Husayn ~W
wrapped in his shawl. Behind him came Hadhrat Faatima S.- and his many
wives. (Seeing this) Shurahbeel said to his two companions, 'You know well that
the people from the entire top and bottom parts of our valley always return
content with my decisions. I swear by Allaah that what I see here is an extremely
serious and weighty affair. If he is a sent Rasul, we shall be the first Arabs to be
an eyesore for him and the first to oppose him. This insult will not leave his heart
nor the hearts of his companions until they destroy us. We are also the closest
Arabs to them (and are most prone to any pending attacks). If he is a sent Rasul
of Allaah, then to engage him in Mubaahala would even destroy the hairs and
fingernails of each of us on earth."
The two asked him, "What then is your proposal, 0 Abu Maryam?" Shurahbeel
said, "I propose that we negotiate (a treaty) with him for I do not see him to be
one who would ever make futile clauses." The two said to him, "We leave you to
do as you see appropriate." Shurahbeel went to see Rasulullaah @$?@ and said, "I
propose something better than Mubaahala." "What is that?" asked Rasulullaah
@%. Shurahbeel replied, "You have today and tonight to pass judgement
(formulate the clauses of a treaty). We are prepared to accept whatever clauses
you make." Rasulullaah @% asked him, "Perhaps there are people left behind
who may criticise you (for this)." ~hurahbeel said, "You may ask my two
companions." When Rasulullaah asked them, they said, "The people from
the entire top and bottom parts of our valley always return content with the
decisions of Shurahbeel." Rasulullaah k%@ then returned home without carrying
out the Mubaahala." The next day, they met Rasulullaah @%% and wrote the
following letter:
In the name of AUaah the Most Kind the Most Merciful
This is the treaty that the Nabi and Rasool of Allaah Muhammad has
written for the people of Najraan. He has determined that all their'fruit
crops, their gold, their silver, their produce and their slaves would
remain their property on condition that they pay two thousand sets of
clothing; a thousand every Rajab and the other thousand every Safar.
Other clauses are also mentioned in the narration. (2)
A narration of A/ Bidaaya wan Nihaaya (Vo1.5 Pg.55) adds that .the witnesses to
(1) Mubaahala: When two conflicting parties conectively make du'aa to Allaah that He should destroy
the party that is wrong.
(2) Bayhaqi as quoted in the Takeerrof Ibn Katheer (Vol.1 Pg.369).