An interesting debate sees Imam Moosa Kazim (a.s.) showing Haroon Abbasi, the caliph of his time, how the infallible Imams (a.s.) were the sons of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) by virtue of the Mubahelah verse of Surah Ale Imran (3): 61.
Haroon asked Imam Moosa Kazim (a.s.) – How are the Imams (a.s.) the sons of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) while relationship is through the father and not the mother?
Imam Moosa Kazim (a.s.) replied with the Verse of Mubahelah: ‘But whoever disputes with you in this matter after what has come to you of knowledge, then say: Come let us call our sons and your sons and our women and your women and our near people and your near people, then let us be earnest in prayer, and pray for the curse of Allah on the liars.’ (Surah Aale Imran (3): Verse 61)
He (a.s.) added: None has claimed that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) took anyone apart from Ali (a.s.), Fatima (a.s.), Hasan (a.s.) and Husain (a.s.) for Mubahelah. Therefore this verse is interpreted thus – ‘Our sons’ are Hasan (a.s.) and Husain (a.s.), ‘Our women’ is the Truthful (Siddiqah), the Pure (Taherah) Fatima (s.a.) and ‘Our selves’ means Ameerul Momineen Ali b. Abi Talib (a.s.).
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) is the ‘self’ of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) – All scholars are unanimous on the fact that Jibraeel said at the time of Ohad: ‘O Muhammad, these sacrifices are all from Ali.’ The Messenger (s.a.w.a.) replied – This is so because, I am from Ali and Ali is from me. To this Jibraeel replied – And I am from both of you O Messenger of Allah – there is no youth except Ali and there is no sword other than Zulfiqar.
The likeness of Ali is the same as Ibrahim (a.s.) as mentioned in the Quran:
They said: We heard a youth called Ibrahim speak of them. (Surah Ambiya (21): Verse 60)
We take pride in Jibraeel’s praise for surely he is from us
- Al-Ehtejaaj vol. 2 p. 292