Hazrat Fatimah’s Pains for Islamic Society

 

Fatimah (peace be upon her) did not live according to the norms, accepted by the society. She always felt a thorn in her eyes and was tormented by it, as the thorn that her husband felt in his eyes, and that was the poisonous thorn of the Caliphs’ arrogance.

The human-like bullies tried to belittle her grandeur and sublimity and did intolerable damages on her soul and body. The torments were diverse and painful for her. Some of them were:

1. Ummah Discrepancy:

The discrepancy among Ummah took roots from the arrogance of the chieftains’ of the society. Once, they were living in ignorance, contempt and disgrace, but it was Mohammed (peace be upon him and his descendants), who managed to elevate their minds and ranks. Soon after his demise, they passed everything into oblivion; and as a result, they weakened the Islam.

Disunity for Islamic Ummah was a grief and took root from the Caliphs’ disobedience, which caused the collapse of the regulations, and jeopardized the life of the newly-established Islam in the days of Fatima (peace be upon her).

Being in fact the guardian of Islam, she suffered from these threats, because she was witnessing the devoted efforts of her father, her husband, and the great men of Islam in vain, and the blood of the martyrs, futile. Due to this fact, she expected a dark future for Islam.

Fatimah (peace be upon her) never complained that why she had got a poor life, never cried that why she had not got wealth and property, why she did not live aristocratically, but on the contrary, she felt pity for the arrogance and self-centredness, causing anxiety and disunion for the Ummah.

2. Injustice Settlement:

It was as if the whole devoted efforts of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) and the great men of Islam were to promote the ranks of the sheikhs. It was as if the people devoted themselves so as to make Abubakr attain Caliphate, and he abandoned it to Omar after himself. And on the whole, it is as if all the Muslims’ depravity, disappointment, holy wars, and conflicts were to attain position and title for Caliphs.

If only Caliphs had had any privilege over others except illogicality; if only they were truth seeking, well-intentioned, and well-aware of the ideological aspects of Islam. But unfortunately, it was not so.

Witnessing how the Caliphs’ sharp claws of arrogance had held the body and soul of Islam, how the injustice had settled itself in the place of justice, and how Ali (peace be upon him), the chosen of Allah and His Messenger, had been removed from his real position irritated Fatimah.

Fatimah (peace be upon her) was sorrowful on the account that she was observing Abubakr on the Prophet’s pulpit, and Ali (peace be upon him), who was indeed the leader, deprived from his right. Although this unjust settlement had a short life, it was intolerable for Fatimah (peace be upon her) and burnt her heart.

3. People’s Poverty:

The material poverty is not only meant here, because it can be curable, but what about the spiritual, moral, cultural, and ideological poverty? The people were in the mid of the way to attain their purpose, but the new policies prevented them from continuation, and put them on the way of ignorance, unawareness, and collapse again. Because the Caliphs had themselves nothing to deliver, and their minds could not satisfy the peoples’ needs. Therefore, the people were kept passive, and even sometimes it was pretended through imposing their ideas that truth was what they said.

Besides, she was sorrowful due to the fact that she could observe that a lot of weakened people had nowhere to resort, and nobody felt responsibility for them. They had to attach themselves to one of the poles or blocs to continue their lives, and attachment could endanger their beliefs and, as a result, Islam.

4. Lack of Confidence:

The main problem, originated by the enemy, was that the peoples’ relationship with Ali and Fatimah (peace be upon her) was limited. The society was not in parallel with Ali and Fatimah (peace be upon her), because the people did blindly obey the Caliphs, and therefore, did not elevate.

The situation in which the people were put in it signified that their future were dark. Their purpose was limited to gluttony and extravagance. Their atmosphere was polluted and pernicious. They were divested of their rights, and they had no right to complain.

Fatimah (peace be upon her) witnessed how the seed, planted today, was growing. It was as if she could foresee the stroke of the sword, killing Ali (peace be upon him), in the mosque while praying, could observe Hassan’s peace treaty for Ummah safety, could witness the martyrdom of her dear son, Hussein and his shout, saying,

“ هل من ناصر ینصرنی”‌

[is there anyone to assist me?].

She then could see that her generation consisted of the Imams and the religious leaders were martyred in prisons because of the people’s short-sightedness as well as the wrong basis, founded in the society by unjust Caliphs.

?Whose coffin is this

 

Fancy brings a group to sight

Carrying a coffin in the mid of night.

Whose coffin is this?

It is Zahra’s, the Prophets only daughter,

She willed to be buried in the night’s cover,

Ah! Alas! How soon changed the course!

They awaited the Prophet to die and with him his force.

Till yesterday they were in the guise of Islam;

Today they retreated to the back in nimble calm.

With rowdies came the people of Saqifa,

To set fire the House of Fatema,

The House where Angels descended

Now flames from it to the sky ascended.

”‌So what?”‌ Said one of them

Who in this job was at the helm?

When he was told Zahra was behind;

But he had gone deaf and blind.

Enraged only revenge to find,

He battered down the door by force

And Zahra got pressed to the wall at the same force.

She miscarried and in pain said:

O Fizza my maid; rush to my aid.

She never recovered from the injury

Nor was she relieved of the fury.

Thus martyrdom such entailed.

Shows who TRUE and who in Faith FAILED,

Her years were still in bloom

Not ripe to doom.

Who is the poet? All to see will long

When I rise from grave humming your song

Your intercession with God all of us long.

 

 

Biography of Hazrat Fatemeh

 

 

The great lady, Hazart-e Fatemeh Zahra (S.A) was the dear daughter of the Prophet, Mohammad (S.W). Some Shiite scholars believed that she was born on 20th of Jamadi-ul-Sani, 5 th A.H. But the majority of Sonnah research scholars declared that her birth had happened 5 years before Be’sat (Prophet’s a postleship). By the God’s will, prophet (S.W) named her “FATEMEH”. She also had some other appellations like: Zahra, Batool, Tahereh, Razieh, Maryam-e Kobra, and Sedigheh.

 

In her childhood, she contemplated the Mecca’s pagans’ great animosities,and also suffered 3years in the place named Sha’be Abitalib under a very difficult condition.
Her mother, Hazrat-e Khadijeh (S.A) died in 10th A.H. immediately after the death of Aboutalib, the sincere friend and supporter of the Prophet Mohammad (S.W). This great grief caused that She and Hazrat-e Ali (Pbuh) and the Prophet (S.W) named that year “Om-ul-hozn” which meant the Grief year. On 13th of Be’sat (the prophet’s apostleship) on the Prophet’s order, his family and companions immigrated to Medina.

During the time Medina was the deponent of many wars between the Prophet and the pagans, in and out of the country. Hazrat-e Fatemeh (S.A) married to his cousin, Hazrat-e Ali (Pbuh), who was one of the most important characters in Medina. Since Hazrat-e Ali (Pbuh) was always at wars, especially for the ten years after the immigration to Medina, so she accomplished all the responsibilities of the family.
Though Hazrat-e Fatemeh (S.A)’s life was full of troubles and sufferings but the death of Hazrat-e Mohammad (S.W) was the most grievous one. The event, which was the beginning of the more bitter troubles such as the pagans’ outrages upon the decency of their family. Those events motivated her to be the great supporter for Hazrat-e Ali (Pbuh). Her speeches in Medina mosque, and the addressees to Ansar and Mohajer’s women, to persuade them to support Hazrat-e Ali (Pbuh) could be mentioned as examples.
Hazrat-e Fatemeh (S.A) died soon after the death of his father because of the imposed spiritual and physical sufferings. She was buried in a secret place according to her will.

LESSONS FROM THE HAZRAT-E FATEMEH ZAHRA’S LIFE AND CHARACTER

Her Excessive Passion for God

The Prophet Mohammad (S.W) asked his daughter: “ Dear Fatemeh! What do you wish for? Now here is an angel who has the God’s message to grant you whatever you want.”
Hazrat-e Fatemeh (S.A)said: " I would like to be the God’s servant and my desire is only to see the wonderful appearance of God."

Her “Fearing” of the Divine Punishment:

When the Verses of punishment were sent down to Hazrat-e Mohammad (S.W), he and his companions cried hard. Hazrat-e Zahra (S.A) asked the reason for crying and the Prophet (S.W) recited the Verses to her.
Hazrat-e Fatemeh (S.A) fell on the ground fearfully and said: “ Woe to the person who will enter the Hell.”

Her eagerness to acquire knowledge:

Her father was the best teacher of humanity, morality, Islam and the unity of God .She learned a lot of things from her father and her husband [Ali (Pbuh)].She gathered them all and wiht the help of her husband wrote a book named "Mos-haf-e Fatemieh".

Her unadorned appearance:

Salman Farsi said: “ Once I saw Hazrat-e Fatemeh(S.A) with a plain cover. It made me wonder and I thought the daughters of the Iranian kings and the Rome Caesars sat on the golden seats and wore embroidered clothes but why did the daughter of the Prophet (S.W) wear such plain dress and cover?
Hazrat-e Fatemeh responded: “ Oh! Salman, on the Day of Resurrection, God will provide us with golden seats and adorned clothes.”

About Her prayer:

There are a lot of narrations about Fatemeh Zahra(S.A)’s prayers, especially about the prayers in which She had conversations with God. She was the best worshiper.

She was the companion of Her husband:

In difficult situations caused by the death of Hazrat-e Mohammad (S.W), She told Her husband: “My dear Ali! I sacrify my life for you, I will always remain with you. I am in consort with you in all your happiness or troubles and sufferings

Her behavior with her children:

Hazrat-e Fatemeh (S.A) strove to bring up Her children as the brave and virtuous ones in the society.

Why Was She Martyred?

She was the symbol of womanhood. She embodied in her translucent personality all those qualities that made her a paradigm of virtue.
The Prophet saluted at her door. The celestial angels sang her praise. Even God Almighty called her the blessed fountain of Kowsar and vouchsafed her virtue in the Verse of Purity (Holy Qua’an 33:33).
Yet we see a strange sight at her threshold following the passing away of her father. A group is clamoring with democratic abandon, threatening to burn down her house if her husband does not come out and acknowledge the vote of the gathering at Saqifa Bani Sa’da.
Was it a demonstration of freedom of expression and thought by the Arabs of Medina? Were they right in questioning the divine decree of Wilayat-a-Mutlaqa to which they had so solemnly sworn allegiance at Ghadeer Khum only a few months before? Or was the devil at work to create dissent and mislead a great nation yet again, as he had done before with the followers of the Prophets, such as Moses (S.A) and Jesus (S.A), in the absence of these divinely appointed personage?
These are the questions that spring to mind when we see the pathetic situation of Medina in the months immediately after the departure of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).
Power was now in the hands of people who had fled the battle scenes in the time of the Prophet, or had accepted Islam only for political gains. They were now bent upon a destructive course by transgressing the limits set by Allah.
Fatemeh (S.A), tried to awaken them to the injustice and corruption which was in its embryonic stage. She cautioned them against the violations of the principles of social justice that was to permeate the Islamic administration so painstakingly built by her father, but to no avail. She warned:
“O’ Muslims! You have been advised not to leave us, not to leave the Prophet’s family alone and keep distance from the axis of Islam (Imamate), otherwise you would be confused and vanquished…
“He (the Prophet) left a book that contains secrets as well as understandable and applicable subjects, but Quran is waiting for someone (Imam) to whom it can reveal its secrets, open the doors of knowledge and narrate what is to be read and heard.
“O’ Muslims! How can you reach destination from the black and white (mere letters) of Quran, unless there be an enlightened, chaste and well informed scholar (Imam)…
“Rest assured of the coming sedition. Get ready for a splitting sword and a cruel aggressor, perpetual embarrassment and tyranny of the unjust…”
They did not listen. Greed for political power had made them blind and oblivious to divine commandments. The miscreants went ahead and battered down the door of Fatemeh on Fatemeh herself.
The Prophet’s daughter was seriously injured. Although she attained immortal martyrdom, her warnings proved prophetic, especially when we see the tyranny of the Umayyuds and Abbasids that followed the “democratic vote” of Saqifa and the splintering of Muslims into parties and sects.

A PART OF IMAM KHOMEINI (Rh)’S MESSAGE ABOUT HAZRAT-E FATEMEH ZAHRA (SA)

If Hazrat-e Fatemeh were a man, she would be a Prophet. If she were a man, she would be on the place of the God’s Prophet. She was the essence of humanity . She was a divine creature who appeared in human body…
. She was a divine creature who appeared in human body…
…Hazrat-e Fatemeh (S.A) was a woman who came up to all the prophets’ hopes and desires. She manifested all the honorable character and prestige. She was not an ordinary woman. She was a divine woman and the sign of humanity …She is the pride of the world.

Death

 

HAzRAT fatemah did not survive more than seventy-five day after the demise of her father. she breathed her last on the 14th jumada'l - ula 11 AH. Before her demise she bequeathed the following as her will to Imam 'Ali: 1. O ` Ali, you will personally perform my funeral rites. 2. Those who have displeased my should not be allowed to attend my funeral. 3 .My corpse should be carried to the graveyard at right. Thus Imam ` compliance with her will , performed all the funeral rites and accompanied exclusively by her relatives and sons carried her at night to Jannatu l-Baqi, where she was laid to rest and her wishes fulfilled.

The Holy Prophet said:

"whoever injures (bodily or sentimentally ) fatemah, injures me ; and whoever injures me injures Allah; and whoever injures Allah practices unbelief. O fatemah ! If your wrath is incurred, it incurs the wrath of Allah; and if you are happy, it makes Allah happy too."

M.H. shakir writers:

fatemah, the only daughter of the Holy prophet of Islam, was born I Mecca on 20 Th. Jumada ' th - thaniyah 18 BH. The good and noble lady Khadijah and the apostle of Allah bestowed all their natural love, care and devotion on their lovable and only child fatemah, who in her turn was extremely fond of her parents. The princess of the House of the Prophet, was very intelligent, accomplished and cheerful. Her sermons, poems and sayings serve, as an index to her strength of character and nobility of mind. Her virtues gained her the title " Our Lady of light. she was tall, slender and endowed with great beauty, which caused her to be called " az - Zahra' " ( the Lady of Light). she was called az - Zahra' because her light used to shine among those in Heaven. After arriving in Medina, she was married to ` Ali , in the first year hijrah, and she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Her children, Hasan, Husayn, Zaynab and umm kul-thum. are well - known for their piety , goodness and generosity Their strength of chracter and actions changed the course of history. The Holy Prophet said, " fatemah is a peace of my heart". He would go out to receive his doughtier whenever she come from her husband's house.

Every morning on his way to the Mosque, he would pass by fatemah's house and say: " as-salamu ` alaykum ya ahlul-Bayti`n-nubuwwah wa ma` dani ` r - risala " ( peace be on you O the Household of prophet hood and the source of Messengership) fatemah is famous and acknowledged as the " sayyidatu 'n-nisa'i ' l-alamin " ( Leader of all the women of the world for all times ) because the Prophethood of Mohammad would not have been everlasting without her. The Prophet is the perfect example for men, but could not be so for women. For all the verses revealed in the Holy Qur'an for women, fatemah is the perfect model, who translated every year into action. In her lifetime, she was a complete woman, being Daughter, wife and Mother at the some time.

Muhammad during his lifetime, gave fatemah a gift of very extensive farm lands, famous as Fadak, which were documented in her name, as her absolute personal property. An heiress to the remainder of her mother`s wealth, a princess who was the only daughter of the holy prophet who was also a ruler, a lady whose husband was the conqueror of Arab tribes and second only to her father in and position, fatemah could have led a luxurious life. But in spite of her wealth and possessions, she worked, dressed, ate and lived very simply . she was very generous; and none who come to her door, when away empty handed. Many times she gave away her all and herself went without food. As a daughter, she loved her parents so much , that she won their love and regard to such and extent that the Holy prophet used to rise, whenever she come near him As a wife, she was very devoted.

She never asked ` Ali for anything in her whole life. As a mother , she cared for and brought up wonderful children; they have lift their marks on the face of the world , which time will not be able to eraze. The death of the Apostle, affected her very much and she was very sad and grief- striken and wept her heart out crying all the time. unfortunately, after the death of the prophet, the government confiscated her famous land of Fadak and gave it to the state. fatemah was pushed behind her him door ( when they attacked the house of ` Ali and took him to force him accept the caliphate of Abu Baker), so that the child , she was carrying was hurt and the baby boy Muhsin was still born.

Her house was set on fire by the Government. The tragedy of her father's death and the unkindness of her fathers`s followers, were too much for the good , gently and sensitive lady and she breathed her last on 14 Th. Jumada ` l - ula 11 AH, exactly seventy - five days after the death of her father, the Holy prophet of Islam. fatemah died in the prime of her life at the age of eighteen, and was buried in jannatu 'l-Baqi ` Medina.

 

The Property of Fadak

 

The Holy Prophet during his lifetime gave HAzRAT fatemah a gift of very extensive from land , known as Fadak , which was documented in her name as her absolute property. The death of the Holy Prophet affected her very much and she was very sad and grief - stricken and wept her heart out crying all the time . she was confronted, after the demise of her father, with the deprivement of the rightful claim of leadership of her husband Imam ` Ali , and the usurpation of her inheritance, the Fadak. Throughout her life, she never spoke to those who had oppressed her and deprived her of her rightful claims. She requested that her oppressors should be kept away even from attending her funeral. Her ill - wishers even resorted to physical violence. Once the door of her house was pushed on her , and the child she was carrying was hurt and the baby - boy was still born. Her house was set on fire. Having been molested and strichen with grief, which crossed all limits of forbearance and endurance , she expressed her sorrows in and elegy composed by herself to mourn her father the Holy Prophet. A couplet of the elegy, with particular reference to her woeful plight, she expressed thus: O my father ! after your death I was subjected to such tortures and tyranny that if they had been inflicted on the `Day' , it would have turned into ` Night'.

 

Her Ethical Attributes

Hardrat fatemah inherited the genius and wisdom, the determination and will - power, the piety and sanctity, the generosity and benevolence, the devotion and worship of Allah, the self - sacrifice and hospitality, the forbearance and patience, and the knowledge and nobility of disposition of her illustrious father , both in words and deeds. " I often witnessed my mother, "says Imam Husayn, " absorbed in preayer from dusk to down. "Her generosity and compassion for the poor was such that no destitute or beggar ever returned from her door unattended

 

 

 

 

 

Marriage

When fatemah come of age, there come forward a number of aspirants to ask for her hand in marriage. The Holy prophet was awaiting the Divine order in this respect, till Imam ` Ali approached him and asked for her hand in marriage. The Holy Prophet come to HAzRAT fatemah and asked, " My daughter ! Do you consent to be wedded to ` Ali, as I am so commanded by Allah ? " HAzRAT fatemah thereupon bowed her head in modesty. Umm Salamah narrates: " The face of fatemah bloomed with joy and her silence was so suggestive and conspicuous that the Holy Prophet stood up reciting ` Allahu Akbar' ( Allah is most great ) .

fatemah's silence is her acceptance." On Friday, l st. dhi'l - hijjah 2 A H , the marriage ceremony took place. All the Muhajirun ( Emigrants) and Ansar ( Helpers) of Medina assembled in the mosque while Imam ` Ali was seated before the Holy Prophet with all the ceremonious modesty of a bridegroom. they Holy Prophet first recited an eloquent sermon and them announced: I have been commanded by Allah to get fatemah wedded to ` Ali, and so I do hereby solemnize the matrimony between ` Ali and fatemah on a dower of four hundred mithqal of silver. Then he asked Imam ` Ali, " Do you consent to it, O `Ali ? " Yes, I do , O Holy Prophet of Allah! " replied Imam ` Ali. Then the Holy Prophet raised his hands to pray thus O my god ! bless both of them , sanctify their progeny and grant them the keys of The beneficence, Thy treasures of wisdom and Thy genius; and let them be a source of blessing and peace to my ummah. Her children; Imam Hasan, Imam husayn, zaynab and um kultun, are well - known for their piety , goodness and generosity. Their strength of character and action changed the course of history and fortified Islam which otherwise would have been lost to mankind

 

HAZRAT fatemah

Hazrat fatemah, was the only daughter of the Holy Prophet and Hazrat khadijah. the circumstances of her birth are described by HAzRAT khadijah as follows: At the time of the birth of HAzRAT fatemah, I sent for my neighboring qurayshite women to assist me. They flatly refused, saying that I had betrayed them by supporting Mohammad. I was perturbed for a while, when , to my great surprise, I sighted four strange tall women with halos around them , approaching me. Finding me dismayed, one of them addressed me thus, " O Khadijah! I am Sarah, the mother of Ishaq, and the other three are, Mary the mother of Christ, Asiyah the daughter of Muzahim, and Umm kulthum, the sister of Moses. We have all been commanded by God to put our nursing knowledge at your disposal." saying this, all of them sat around me and rendered the services of midwifery till my daughter fatemah was born. The motherly blessings and affection received by HAzRAT fatemah were only for five years, after which HAzRAT Khadijah left for her heavenly home . Hereafter the Holy Prophet brought her up