Hazrat Fatima Zahra (SA), the mother of her father

For 90 days Hazrat Fatima (SA) had sat beside the tomb of her dear father, and in doleful whispers, disclosed to him her inner feelings because the people of Medina had complained that her grief for the Prophet was disturbing their peace. It was a strange way indeed for Muslims to behave. But now the holy lady whose body and feelings had been inflicted with grievous injuries by people who had denied her rights lapsed into the last moments of mortal life.

Her devoted husband, Imam Ali (AS) and four children surrounded her bed. A bitter sense of grief was looming upon the Household of the Holy Prophet (S). A strange feeling was constricting Ali’s throat. He remembered how his dear wife had dedicated her entire life to the path of Allah. The scenes of Hazrat Fatima’s kind and gentle conduct were passing through Imam Ali’s mind. He remembered Fatima (SA) engrossed in midnight prayer, supplicating for the well being of neighbors.

Meanwhile, Imam Ali (AS) recalled the Prophet Muhammad’s (S) words, “God is angered by Fatima’s anger and is pleased at her satisfaction.”

He also remembered the last will of the Prophet Muhammad (S) about his daughter Fatima (SA).

In the meantime, Fatima (SA) opened her mouth and said, “My cousin, in my marital life with you, I never lied to you or acted against your will.”

These heartrending words deeply affected Imam Ali (AS).

She added, “Now the angels, along with the Prophet Muhammad (S) are coming towards me. Greetings to Gabriel, greetings to the Messenger of Allah, greetings to your promised words, O my father, greetings to your sweet smile.”

Thus, Fatima (SA), left the world a martyr, and it could be said that her noble spirit was carried on the wings of the angels to the presence of her Creator, Almighty Allah.

Imam Ali (AS) took Fatima’s hand looked at the sky and remembered the day that the Prophet Muhammad (S) had blessed their marriage by putting her hand in his. But, now it was the time of separation. Shedding tears of sorrow, Imam Ali (AS) told Fatima (SA) in a trembling tone, “After you, I will not have a happy moment in the world. I am crying because I fear my life may be prolonged after your death.”

It was on Jamadi al-Thani 20, 5 years after the divine revelation (corresponding to 613 CE), that the Prophet Muhammad (S) and his faithful wife Hazrat Khadijah (SA), were blessed by the birth of a baby girl, whom the Prophet (S) named Fatima (SA).

The Prophet said, “I named my daughter Fatima because Allah has protected her and her followers from the fire.”

She was also known as Zahra or the Radiant. The childhood era of Hazrat Fatima (SA) was the most difficult era in the history of Islam because the small community of Muslims living in Mecca was under increasing pressure from idolaters and unbelievers.

Fatima (SA) was raised in the prophetic school of her father and in the loving lap of her mother Khadijah (SA). Since childhood, Fatima (SA) witnessed the sufferings of her father, and was always at his side to comfort him.

Once, a group of misguided Arabs, led by Abu Jahl, whose name means the father of ignorance, threw a sheep’s embryo on the Prophet’s head while he was praying. As Fatima (SA) heard the news, she rushed to her father’s side and began cleaning his apparel. Then, she bravely scolded Abu Jahl and his ignorant friends.

Following the demise of Hazrat Khadijah (SA), the young Fatima (SA) took upon herself all the household tasks and was often referred to by her father as an angel in human guise, and as a part of his heart.

Whenever the Prophet (S) looked at his daughter, he became filled with joy. After his migration to Medina, the Prophet rejected all offers for Fatima’s hand from wealthy Arabs, and married her to his young cousin, the valiant Ali (AS). It was said that if there had been no Ali (AS), Fatima (SA) would have remained without a consort because her position was greater than Mary (SA), the mother of the Prophet Jesus (AS), and that no man could be worthy of her hand.

Prophet Muhammad (S) used to stand whenever his daughter entered the house, and despite the objection of some of his wives, he always showed the greatest love and respect for his dear daughter. Before going on a trip, Fatima’s house was the last place where the Prophet would bid farewell, and after returning from the trip, it was the first place that he would visit. The ultimate sense of love, kindness and devotion between father and daughter was manifested in the name the Prophet gave her, that is “Umm Abiha”, which means mother of her father.

Hazrat Fatima (AS) imbibed from the divine sources of her father’s knowledge. The great lady, who used to perform all household tasks for her husband and small children, also used to spend part of her time answering the scientific and jurisprudential questions of the other women of Medina.

In response to the requests of a certain woman who asked the Prophet’s daughter to excuse her for asking so many questions, Hazrat Fatima (SA) said, “For each of the answers I give you, I receive a reward from Allah. So, I will never feel bothered whatever you ask me.”

The statement confirms the exalted value of her science and knowledge. Fatima (SA) was an intelligent woman who was well aware of the plots of the hypocrites and exposed them with her bold statements of truth, as was seen after the death of the Prophet, when certain people usurped the rights of the Household of the Holy Prophet (S).

Hazrat Fatima (SA) also participated in social arenas to defend Islam. The presence of Fatima (SA), her husband Imam Ali (AS) and sons Imam Hassan (AS) and Imam Hussein (AS), along with the Prophet (S) at the field of Mubahela for debate with the Christians of Najran, as specified by verse 60 of Sura A’lay Imran, is ample proof of her lofty position.

Fatima (SA) is a perfect role model for all generations and eras. The Almighty Allah created Fatima (SA) as the most perfect woman in the world, in order to reveal that being a woman is not an obstacle in the way of growth and perfection. At a time when all world civilizations oppressed women and the Arabs considered the birth of a girl a shame, the Almighty revealed the Sura Kausar to the Prophet Muhammad (S) in praise of Hazrat Fatima (SA) naming her the heavenly fountain.

In addition, Allah decided that the Prophet’s progeny should not be through male issue, but should survive through his daughter Fatima (SA). So, Fatima’s house was thus the bridge connecting the Prophet Muhammad (S) to the entire Ummah. Divine guidance was placed in the house of Fatima, and as declared by the Prophet his divinely ordained successor was his dear cousin and son-in-law Imam Ali and after him his sons Imam Hassan (AS) and Imam Hussein (AS).

The Household of the Holy Prophet (S) were thus the divinely chosen elite of the society in terms of science, philosophy, virtue, justice and righteousness.

Imam Ali (AS) and Fatima (SA), who had been raised under the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (S), led a simple married life and reached the highest stages of divine perfection. They raised their children in the school of the Prophet Muhammad, each of whom played a key role in history. The house of Fatima (SA) was a center for social affairs, a practical school of education, and a place of faith and humanitarian values. The house was governed by transcendental moral virtues.

In many verses of the Holy Quran, Almighty Allah has noted the grandeur and dignity of the noble family.

Once, Imam Hassan (AS) and Imam Hussein were both struck with illness. So, Ali (AS) and Fatima (SA) made a vow to fast three consecutive days if their sons regained their health. After Imam Hassan (AS) and Imam Hussein (AS) recovered from their illness, the family decided to carry out their vow along with their maid Fezzah. At the end of the first day of fasting, when the family were about to break the fast, a poor person knocked on their door and said, “Greetings upon the Household of the Holy Prophet. I am a needy Muslim who has come to you to be fed. May Allah bestow heavenly food on you.” So the family members gave all their supper to the man. At the end of the second day’s fasting, a traveler knocked on the door and asked for food, and the holy family gave away their meal, and broke their fast with only water. On the third day, again the noble family gave away the meal they had prepared to a freed prisoner who happened to knock on their door.

On the morning of the fourth day, Imam Ali (AS), along with his sons -- Imam Hassan (AS) and Imam Hussein (AS) -- went to the Prophet (S). When the Prophet learnt of the story, he went to Fatima’s house, where he found her engrossed in prayer despite excessive hunger. The Prophet (S) became concerned. But suddenly, the Prophet (S) felt signs of divine revelation and the verses of Sura Insan, or Sura Dahr, as it is also named were revealed to the Holy Prophet (S) in praise of his household.

(Based on a text published by IRIB)