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Fatwa CenterThe Najraan delegation debating the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
Question
Asalam-u-Alaikum At the time of Prophet Sallalaho Alaihi Wasallam group of christians debate with our Prophet Sallalaho Alaihi Wasallam. could you please email me whole debate & most importantly in this debate Prophet Sallalaho Alaihi Wasallam asked about 4 Qualities of GOD which are not present in Esa Alaihi Salam & Her mother. Please mention those 4 Qualities of GOD as well Jazak Allah Asalam-u-Alaikum
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'ala yhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Al-Baghawi 
mentioned this debate in his interpretation of the fist verses of Chapter Aal-Imraan as he said: “Al-Kalbi, Ar-Rabee’ Ibn Anas and others said: “These verses were revealed concerning the people of Najraan, and they were 60 riders who came to the Prophet 
. This delegation included 14 men who were the most honorable amongst them, and among these 14 men, there were 3 men who were their decision makers: 1) Al-‘Aaqib, who was their leader and consultant and they never disagreed to his opinion, and his name was ‘Abdulmaseeh; 2) As-Sayyid: he was the person who was in charge of their luggage and who distributed food amongst them, and his name was Al-Ayhum, 3) Abu Haarithah Ibn ‘Alqamah, who was their Bishop and their scholar.
So, they entered the mosque of the Prophet after he had prayed ‘Asr prayer, and they wore jubbahs (long outer garment which is open in front and with wide sleeves) and upper garments, and the one who sees them would say: “We have never seen a delegation like them.”; i.e. in regard to beauty and elegance. So, the Prophet said: ''Leave them.'' So, they prayed to the direction of the east, and As-Sayyid and Al-‘Aaqib concluded their prayer with Salaam, so, the Prophet told both of them: ''Embrace Islam.” They said: “We became Muslims before you.” The Prophet replied: ''You are lying. What prevents you from Islam is that you claim that Allaah had a son and you worship the cross and you eat pig.” They said: “If ‘Eesa (Jesus) was not the son of Allaah, who was his father, then?” All of them argued with the Prophet about ‘Eesa. So, the Prophet told them: ''Do you not know that every son resembles his father? They said: “Yes.” He asked them: “Do you not know that our Lord takes care of everything, and He protects it and provides for it?” They said: “Yes.” So, the Prophet asked: ''Does ‘Eesa do any of this?” They replied: “No.” He asked: “Do you not know that there is nothing in the heavens or the earth that is hidden from Allaah?” They said: “Yes.” He said: “Does ‘Eesa know anything of this except what he is taught?” They said: “No.” He said: “Our Lord shaped ‘Eesa in the womb as He wished, and we cannot say how Allaah looks like as there is nothing like unto Him, and our Lord does not eat nor drink.” They said: “Yes.” He asked: “Do you not know that ‘Eesa's mother bore him in her womb in the same manner like other women bear children in their wombs and then she gave birth to him in the same manner like other women give birth to their children, then he was breastfed in the same manner like other infants are breastfed, and then he ate, drank and answered the call of nature? They said: “Yes.” Thereupon, the Prophet said: ''So, how can ‘Eesa be like what you claim him to be?” So, they kept silent, then Allaah revealed the first verses of Chapter Al-‘Imraan which were more than 80 verses.”
It becomes clear from this narration that the questions which they asked the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, were about ‘Eesa (Jesus) 
and we have not come across any narration that mentions his mother, may Allaah exalt her mention. Nonetheless, what is mentioned applies to both of them [to ‘Eesa and his mother].
Allaah Knows best.
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