It is reported that Harun al–Rasheed said to Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (as),
“You consider yourself to be the Prophet’s offspring, whereas one’s progeny should
descend from his son. You descend from the Prophet’s daughter”.
Imam did not want to reply but Harun insisted that Imam present a proof and said to him,
‘You have to present your proof. You claim to be Imam Ali’s (as) progeny and you are fully
versed in the Qur’an and there is not a single letter in the Qur’anic verses
which you do not know. You have heard God’s words:
وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَٰٓئِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّآ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مِن شَىْءٍ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ
And there is no animal that walks upon the earth nor a bird that flies with its two wings but (they are) genera like yourselves; We have not neglected anything in the Book, then to their Lord shall they be gathered.
And you claim you are not in need of the ulama’s verdict and the analogy they follow.’
In answer to Harun, Imam recited the following Qur’anic verse:
وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ إِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ كُلًّا هَدَيْنَا وَنُوحًا هَدَيْنَا مِن قَبْلُ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِۦ دَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيْمَٰنَ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُوسُفَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَهَٰرُونَ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And We gave to him Ishaq and Yaqoub; each did We guide, and Nuh did We guide before, and of his descendants, Dawood and Sulaiman and Ayub and Yusuf and Musa and Haroun; and thus do We reward those who do good (to others).
وَزَكَرِيَّا وَيَحْيَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَإِلْيَاسَ كُلٌّ مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ
And Zakariya and Yahya and Isa and Ilyas; every one was of the good;
Imam then asked Harun, ‘Who was Jesus’s father?’ Harun answered, ‘Jesus had no father.’
Imam said, ‘God has linked him to the Prophets through Mary. He has likewise linked us to the
Prophet (saws) through our mother, Fatimah (sa), peace be on her.’
Presenting another evidence, Imam recited the verse of mubahalah
فَمَنْ حَآجَّكَ فِيهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا۟ نَدْعُ أَبْنَآءَنَا وَأَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَنِسَآءَنَا وَنِسَآءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وَأَنفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلْكَٰذِبِينَ
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.
and said,
‘No one has ever claimed that the Prophet (saws) has admitted anyone other than Ali (as),
Fatimah (sa), Al–Hasan(as) and Al–Husain (as) into his cloak on the day of mubahalah (prayer of contest).
Therefore, “our sons”, in the verse refers to al–Hasan and al–Husain (p.b.u.th.), “our women” refers
to Fatimah, peace be on her, and “our souls” refers to Ali (as).
Prophet's Progeny
