Pars Today- According to a narration from the book, Sahih Bokhari, Fatimah (Peace upon her), the daughter of Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny) and Lady Khadijah (Peace upon her), had been introduced as the Leader of the women in paradise.
Fatimah, better known as Fatimah Zahra (614-632 AD), was the daughter of the Prophet and Lady Khadijah and wife of Imam Ali. She was among the Five Holy Ones (Āl-e Abā or Ashāb-e Kasā) [namely, Prophet Mohammad, Imam Ali, Lady Fatimah, Imam Hassan and Imam Hossein] who are known as Ma’sūm or Infallible) according to verse 33 (ayah Tațhīr) of chapter Al-Ahzāb of the holy Qur’an. Imam Hassan, Imam Hossein, Lady Zeinab and Lady Omm Kolthūm are her children. Zahra, Batūl, Seddiqa, Shahidah, Seyyedat-ul-Nisā’-il-Ālamin (Leader of all ladies of this world and Hereafter) are among her famous epithets and Omm Abihā (mother of her father) is her most famous agnomen. Fatimah was the only woman accompanying the Prophet on the day of Mubahalah (mutual imprecation) with the Christians of Najran. There is little account about her childhood and adolescence. There are only accounts about her accompanying the Prophet against the violence of polytheists, her presence in She’b Abu-Taleb and her migration from Mecca to Medina alongside Imam Ali.
Fatimah married to Imam Ali in the year 2 AH (623 AD). Social activities and accompanying the Prophet of Islam in some of the battles, including the conquest of Mecca, were among her activities after Hijra (migration from Mecca to Medina). In her testament, Lady Fatimah (Peace upon her) asked Imam Ali (Peace upon him) not to let her enemies to take part in praying for her body and her funeral. She also asked him to bury her at night.
Sermons
Famous measures and speeches have been reported in the texts of Sunni and Shia scholars from Lady Fatimah, especially, after the Prophet’s passing away. Khutbah al-Fadakiya (Fadak Sermon) is among her most famous speeches. Ibn Taifur (820-893 AD) was one of the Sunni scholars who have narrated this sermon.
Passing away
Three months after the Prophet’s passing away, due to the events which led to her injury and being hospitalized at home, she was martyred on the 3rd of Jamādi-al-Thāni, 11 AH (August 28, 632 AD) in Medina. As per her testament, she was buried at night and her grave has remained unknown till now. According to historians, Imam Ali (Peace upon him) performed the ritual washing of his wife’s body with the help of Asmā’ bint ʻUmays and he himself prayed for her body. A few people, also, took part in the prayer which have been mentioned in sources with differences of names. Most of the historical sources say that Imam Hassan, Imam Hossein, Abbas ibn Abdul-Mutalib, Miqdad, Salman, Abuzar, Ammar, Aqeel, Zubair, Abdullah ibn Masoud and Fazl ibn Abbas were the participants of this prayer.
Fatimiah and Day of Woman and Mother
The lovers of the Ahl al-Bayt (Peace upon them) hold mourning ceremonies during the days which are known as the period of her martyrdom. These days are known as Fatimiah in Iran and many other Muslim countries. Lady Fatimah’s birthday (20th of Jamādi al-Thāni) has been named as Woman’s Day and Mother’s Day. Fatimah and Zahra are the top female names in Iran and many other Islamic countries.
Activities
Lady Fatimah was very active in various fields. Migration to Medina, treatment of the Prophet in the battle of Uhud, presence beside Hamza’s body alongside Safiya (sister of Hamza and aunt of the Prophet) after the battle of Uhud [to sympathize with her], taking provision to the Prophet during the battle of Ahzāb (Khandaq) and accompanying the Prophet during the conquest of Mecca were among her activities before the Prophet’s passing away. But, the major part of Lady Fatima’s political activities was related to the short period of her life [75-95 days] after her father’s passing away.
Virtues
The sources of narration, interpretation and history among Shias and Sunnis have mentioned numerous virtues of Lady Fatimah. Some of these virtues have Qur’anic origin, like verse (ayah) Tațhīr and verse Mubahala. These virtues were revealed about the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet and their virtues and Fatimah was one of them. However, a number of these virtues have been mentioned in narrations, such as her being Bazʻa (part) of the Prophet and Muhaddatha (Archangel Gabriel would come to her and speak to her after the Prophet’s passing away).
Long obligatory and recommended prayers, midnight vigilance, prayer for others including neighbors, fasting, and visiting the tombs of martyrs were among the behavioral characteristics of Lady Fatimah (Peace upon her) which have been emphasized in the statements of the Ahl al-Bayt, and some of the companions and companions of companions. Accordingly, some supplications, such as Tasbihāt Fatimah Zahra, have been attributed to her in the books of prayer and supplication.
Fatimah’s position with God and Prophet
According to verse 23 of chapter Shūrā (known as verse Mawaddat), Sunni and Shia scholars believe that love of Fatimah has been commanded to Muslims by God. This verse clearly says that the reward of the Prophet’s mission is the friendship with and love of his relatives, which the interpreters maintain that they are the Ahl al-Bayt (immediate progeny) of the Prophet. According to the narrations, Ali, Fatimah, Hassan and Hossein are the relatives (or according to the interpreters) Ahl al-Bayt in this verse. In addition to verse Mawaddat, some narrations have been mentioned from the Prophet according to which God is wrathful with Fatimah’s wrath and pleased with her pleasure.
Prophet’s love of Fatimah and Fatimah’s love of Prophet
The Prophet loved Fatimah very much and loved and respected her more than anyone else. In the hadith, known as Bazʻa, the Prophet introduces Fatimah as part of his being and says that anyone who disturbs her has indeed disturbed me. This narration has been reported differently by first narrators such as Sheikh Mufid from Shia scholars and Ahmad ibn Hanbal from Sunni scholars. According to the narrations, when the Prophet of Islam was on a trip, Fatimah was the last one whom he bade farewell and, upon returning, she was the first one whom he paid a visit to.
Most superior woman
Numerous narrations have been mentioned by Shia and Sunni scholars which introduce Fatimah as the superior woman to the women of paradise, the women of this world and the Hereafter and the most superior lady of the Ummah.
Only Lady in Mubahala event
Among Muslim women, Fatimah was the only one who was chosen for the Prophet’s Mubahala (imprecation) with the Christians of Najran. This event has been narrated in verse Mubahala. Fatimah, Imam Ali, Imam Hassan and Imam Hossein accompanied the Prophet in the event.
Continuation of Prophet’s generation through Fatimah
Continuation of the Prophet’s generation and progeny of Mohammad through Fatimah has been mentioned among her virtues. Some interpreters believe that continuation of the Prophet’s generation through Fatimah is the manifest meaning of Kowsar, which means ample goodness in chapter Kowsar.
Generosity
Generosity has been mentioned among the behavioral characteristics of Lady Fatimah (Peace upon her). In her marital life with Ali (Peace upon him), during dire economic conditions, she led a simple life and always spent (in the way of God). Donation of her new dress to a needy in the night of her wedding, giving her necklace to a poor person and giving her food to a destitute, an orphan and a captive in consecutive evenings, are among these cases. According to the narrations and interpretations, after Fatimah, Ali, Hassan and Hossein gave their food for Iftar (breaking fast) to the needy, the verses of chapter Insān (al-Dahr) were revealed in their honor.
Knowledge
According to historical narrations, Lady Fatimah used to answer jurisprudential and ideological questions of women who referred to her. Narrations shape an important part of Fatimah’s heritage. These narrations include ideological, jurisprudential, moral and social issues. Some of her narrations have been mentioned in the books of Hadith of Shia and Sunni scholars. A number of these narrations have been gathered in independent compendiums such as “Musnad Fatimah” and “Akhbar Fatimah”. Some of these books have been lost in the lapse of time and there are quotations from the books of narration, translation, and bibliographies of narrators and authors of these books.
Tasbīhāt Fatimah
Tasbīhāt Fatimah is a special zikr (prayer in remembrance of God) which Fatimah learnt from the Prophet. There are numerous accounts in the Sunni and Shia sources on how it was taught to Lady Fatimah. This Tasbīhāt is recited after ritual prayers among various Islamic denominations.
Some sources:
Ibn Athir Jazari, Ali ibn Mohammad, Asad al-Ghaba fi Marifat al-Sahaba
Ibn Hajar Asqalani, Ahmad ibn Alai, Tahzib al-Tahzib
Ibn Saad, Mohammad ibn Saad, al-Tabaqat al-Kobra
Ibn Abd-ul-Berr, Yusuf ibn Abdullah Qortobi, al-Estiab fi Marifat al-Ashab
Ibn Asaker, Ali ibn Hassan, Tarikh Madinah Demashq
Ibn Kathir, Ismail ibn Umar, Tarikh Ibn Kathir
Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal
Belazeri, Ahmad ibn Yahya, Ansab al-Ashraf
Hakem Neishabouri, Mohammad ibn Abdullah, al-Mustadrak ala-Sahihayn
Tabari, Mohammad ibn Jarir, Tarikh Tabari
Majlesi, Mohammad Baqer, Behar al-Anwar
Moslem Neishabouri, Moslem ibn Hajjaj, Sahih Moslem
Yaqoubi, Ahmad ibn Es’haq, Tarikh Yaqoubi
Key phrases: Who is Fatimah? Who is Prophet’s daughter? narrations about Prophet’s daughter, Lady Fatimah
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