Curse For Truth: Soofiya's Research On Mubahala Held In Kozhikode Gets Global Attention
Soofiya Mahmood, a research scholar from MES Kalladi College in Kerala, presented an academic paper, shedding light on the Mubahala, a practice of mutual cursing to resolve disputes peacefully in Islam. The event drew international attention when the researcher pointed out that the Mubahala, an intriguing ritual that was only tried and aborted in an organised way in Arabia during Prophet Muhammad’s period, was systematically held in Kerala’s Kozhikode in 1989.
The research paper presented at the University of Chicago in the USA in March this year noted that the ritual was held at Kodiyathoor between Ahmadiyaas and Anjuman Ishaath-e-Islam, a youth group formed to counter the Ahmadiya thoughts, comprising scholars from different Muslim groups in Kerala.
A lawful practice, Mubahala involves a conditional self-curse and oath as a final resort to resolve disputes. During the practice, both sides curse themselves, stating that if they are lying, God’s curse will be upon them, pushing them to suffer the punishment of God if they lie during the ritual.
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Speaking to the Timeline, Soofiya says the ritual has been backed by authentic Islamic texts, and the Holy Quran chapter 3 verse 61 has mentioned the practice. Throughout Islamic history, the practice was structurally held only once, which was aborted following the repeal of the Christian group. The event occurred during the prophet Muhammed’s period when he challenged the divinity of Jesus (Prophet Isa in Islam). However, the Christian group withdrew from the practice, which was then aborted, remarks Soofiya.
Explaining the circumstances that led to the organised Mubahala practice in Kozhikode, Soofiya describes it as being held at a time when the Ahmadiyaa group was threatened with ideological challenges posed by the mainstream Muslims using the group’s own original texts. With no alternative, the Ahmadiyyas, reportedly to save their face from the contradictions pointed out by the Sunni scholars in their own text, decided to agree to participate in a Mubahala, which was a matter of pride for them, according to Soofiya.
Soofiya Mahmood in USA
The practice was then finally held at Kodiyathoor on May 28, 1989, where leaders of both groups, from a stage set up for its purpose, performed the Mubahala. The rituals were conducted in the presence of the participants’ family members, including women and children, as per the pre-requirement for the exercise.
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As the participants waited for at least six months for God’s expected wrath upon the liar in the form of any personal catastrophe or loss, nothing significant happened to either side, which led both the sides to claim victory. The Ahmadiyya side complained of improper and errored prayer during the ritual, said Soofiya, who is currently pursuing her doctoral degree under Assistant Professor Dr. O P Salahudheen, adding that Ahmadiyya’s descendants still exist in the area, but the ideology’s proliferation was reduced significantly.
Mainstream Muslims consider Ahmadiyyas as non-Muslims due to the group’s claims that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the group, is a messenger of god who came after the final messenger, prophet Muhammed, according to Soofiya. There is also some other fundamental differences that ideologically distance Ahmadiyaas from others, including the argument that the prophet Isa has died, which is against the mainstream Muslim’s belief that Allah lifted the messenger, foiling the enemy’s attempt to crucify.
Soofiya says she plans to publish her research work, which she believes would drive scholarly attention to study Mubahala practice in Islamic history.
