Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

94 'Ali ibn Abi Tilib in Makkah
2. He was one of those concerning whom AUah revealed the words:
(Then whoever disputes with yon concerning him ['Eesa (Jesus)]
after [all this] knowledge that has come to yon [i.e. 'Eesa (Jesus)
being a slave of AUah, and having no share in Divinity], say [0
Muhamnlad]: 'Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women
and your women, ourselves and yourselves - then we pray and
invoke [sincerely] the Curse of Allah upon those who lie.')
(Qur'an 3: 61)
That had to do with the delegation from Najrk, when the
Prophet (g) debated with them about 'Eesa ibn Maryam [Jesus, son
of Mary ('alayhi as-saZLim -peace be upon him)], and said that he
was the slave of Allah (@) and His Messenger, and His Word that
He bestowed upon his blessed mother. He told them that 'Eesa was
not God or the son of God or the third of three, and he called them to
Islam, but they refused, so he invited them to pray and invoke
sincerely the curse of AUah (s) upon those who are lying. It was
narrated that ' k c ibn Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqgs said: When the words,
(Say [O Muhammad]: 'Come, let us call our sons and your sons ...)
were revealed, the Messenger of Allah (g) called 'Ali, F26mah,
Hasan and Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them all) and said: "0
Allah, these are my family."'28
3. The Qur'an confumed his view that jihad is superior to
maintenance of al-Masjid al-Hark. In al-Saheeh it is narrated that a
man said: I would not care if I do not do any deed after becoming
Muslim except maintaining al-Masjid al-Hargm. 'Ali ibn Abi T%b
(&) said: "Jihad for the sake of Allah is better than all of that."
'Umar ibn al-KhatJiib said: "Do not raise your voices at the minbar lZ9
of the Messenger of Allah (g). When the prayer is over, I will ask
him about that." He asked him, and Allah revealed this verse:
(Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims and
the maintenance of Al-Masjid al-Harim [at Makkah] as equal to the