فَمَنْ حَآجَّكَ فِيهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا۟ نَدْعُ أَبْنَآءَنَا وَأَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَنِسَآءَنَا وَنِسَآءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وَأَنفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ 61
Translations
Then whoever argues with you about it after [this] knowledge has come to you - say, "Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then supplicate earnestly [together] and invoke the curse of Allāh upon the liars [among us]."
Transliteration
Faman haajjaka fihi min ba'da ma ja'aka mina al-'ilmi faqul ta'alaw nud'u abna'ana wa abna'akum wa nisa'ana wa nisa'akum wa anfusana wa anfusakum thumma nabtahil fanaj'al la'nata Allahi 'ala al-kathibin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the challenge of Mubahala (invoking divine curse upon the liars), wherein Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is instructed to invite those who dispute with him about Jesus (after clear knowledge has come) to a prayer where both parties invoke Allah's curse upon the one who is lying. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this represents the ultimate test of truth, as the Prophet confidently offered this challenge knowing that falsehood cannot withstand divine judgment. The comprehensiveness of 'our children, our women, and ourselves' emphasizes the sincerity and stakes of this declaration, as one would not risk one's entire family unless absolutely certain of the truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the early Medinan period in response to the delegation from the Christian people of Najran who came to debate the status of Jesus Christ with the Prophet. The context involves theological disputes about whether Jesus was divine or human, and this ayah represents Allah's final argument against those who persist in denying the truth after it has been clearly established.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim (2143) records that when the Prophet actually performed the Mubahala with the Christians of Najran, he brought Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husayn—demonstrating the literal fulfillment of this ayah. Additionally, the event is referenced in various historical accounts (Maghazi literature) where the Christians, witnessing the Prophet's absolute conviction and the radiance of those he brought, chose to withdraw rather than proceed with the curse.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that ultimate truth should be verifiable through sincere invocation of divine justice, and that genuine conviction in one's faith is demonstrated not through mere argumentation but through willingness to stake one's most precious possessions—one's family and life—on the truth of one's claim. For modern believers, it reminds us that confidence in Islamic teachings comes from clear knowledge, and that dialogue with those of different faiths should be rooted in peaceful coexistence rather than endless disputation.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِّن قَبْلِكَ مِنْهُم مَّن قَصَصْنَا عَلَيْكَ وَمِنْهُم مَّن لَّمْ نَقْصُصْ عَلَيْكَ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِىَ بِـَٔايَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ قُضِىَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ ٱلْمُبْطِلُونَ
And We have already sent messengers before you. Among them are those [whose stories] We have related to you, and among them are those [whose stories] We have not related to you. And it was not for any messenger to bring a sign [or verse] except by permission of Allāh. So when the command of Allāh comes, it will be concluded [i.e., judged] in truth, and the falsifiers will thereupon lose [all].
وَيَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنِّى عَـٰمِلٌ ۖ سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَن يَأْتِيهِ عَذَابٌ يُخْزِيهِ وَمَنْ هُوَ كَـٰذِبٌ ۖ وَٱرْتَقِبُوٓا۟ إِنِّى مَعَكُمْ رَقِيبٌ
And O my people, work according to your position; indeed, I am working. You are going to know to whom will come a punishment that will disgrace him and who is a liar. So watch; indeed, I am with you a watcher, [awaiting the outcome]."
۞ وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ ۖ فَإِذَا هِىَ تَلْقَفُ مَا يَأْفِكُونَ
And We inspired to Moses, "Throw your staff," and at once it devoured what they were falsifying.
قَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰكَ فِى سَفَاهَةٍ وَإِنَّا لَنَظُنُّكَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
Said the eminent ones who disbelieved among his people, "Indeed, we see you in foolishness, and indeed, we think you are of the liars."