In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most
Merciful
Fatima Az-Zahra (A)
By
Dr.Syed H. Akhtar
Austin, Texas
When writing about the greatness of a personality, one needs
a gold standard with which to compare the strengths and weaknesses of that
individual. However, if that person is herself the gold standard, then it makes
it impossible to adequately describe her greatness. Hazrat Fatima az-Zahra (A)
was such a
It is related that Imam Jafar
As-Sadiq (A) said: “Fatima has nine names
near (to) Allah swt, they are: Fatima,
As-Siddiqa (the honest), Al-Mubarakah (the blessed one), AtTahirah
(virtuous), Az-Zakiyah (the chaste), Ar-Radhiyatul-Mardhiah (who is gratified and shall be satisfied), Al-Muhaddathah (the one to whom angels
speak), and Az-Zahra (the splendid.)
I will quote a few passages from the introduction of the
Book titled “Fatima the gracious” by Abu Muhammad Ordoni, the Jordanian
scholar:
“Fatima is a female created by Allah
swt to be a sign of His marvelous and unprecedented Might. For, the Almighty
Lord created Muhammad (S) as a sign of His among the Prophets; and created from
him a daughter, Fatima Zahra, to be a Sign of His ability to create a female
possessing all moral excellence and talents. In fact, Allah the Almighty
bestowed Fatima with a vast share of greatness and high level of majesty, which
no other woman can ever claim to have reached.
She is one of the prominent people close to Allah swt, whose greatness was acknowledged by the
Heaven before the creation of mankind; and in whose regard verses from the
Qur’an that are
(being read) and will be read day and night until
the day of
resurrection, were revealed.”
Fatima’s (A) genius is
considered an example of a Muslim woman’s adherence to noble traits. She is a
perfect example of how a daughter, a wife, and a mother should act while
keeping her decency and pure character. She also shows us the Muslim women’s role
in social fields within the limits of religion and virtue. Her life confirms
that Islam does not deprive women of acquiring scientific, cultural and
literary knowledge;”
The merits of Hazrat Fatima (A) are many. Numerous verses
in the Qur’an are revealed in her praise. Some of the well known verses in the
Qur’an in praise of the Ahlul Bayt, including Fatima (A) are these:
1. Verse
of Mubahila. Chapter 3: v.61
2. Verse
of Purity. Chapter 33: v.33
3. Verse
of Muwaddat. Chapter 42: v. 23
4. Verses
of Surah Ad-Dahr. Chapter 76
Traditions referring to the merits of
Hazrat Fatima (A)
In Tareekh Baghdadi it is related
to Prophet (S) that he said: “The best of
your men is Ali Ibn Abu Talib, and the best of your women is Fatima Binte
Muhammad.”
Prophet (S) also reported to have said: “Fatima is part of me, that which annoys her
annoys me, and that which harms her harms me.”(Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim,
and Sahih Tirmidhi...)
Fatima (A), the daughter:
She loved and cared for her
father and attended to him when he was ill or injured in one of the battles to
defend Islam. After the death of her mother, Hazrat Khadija, she attended to
the Prophet (S) even more often and consoled him during times of hardship, so
much so that he called her "Ummi
Abiha” which means "mother of
her father."
The Prophet (S) used to stand up to receive her when
she visited him. It was clearly against the Arab custom for a father to stand
up for his daughter. This shows the high spiritual status accorded to Fatima by
Allah swt.
It is related that Anas bin
Malik’s mother said: “Fatima was like a
moon on its full night, or the sun covered by no clouds. She was white (fair)
with a touch of rose color on her face, her hair was black and she had the
beautiful features of the Messenger of Allah (S).”(Mustadrak Al-Hakim)
Qandozi reported that
Hazrat Aisha said: “Whenever the Prophet
(S) returned from a trip, he would kiss Fatima’s throat and say: ‘From her, I
do smell the fragrance of Paradise.’”
Fatima (A), the wife.
Her home environment was an
example of harmony, peace, tranquility, and modesty. She helped her husband in
his worldly and religious affairs, and cooperated with him in achieving his
exalted mission.
It is written in Al-Bihar, on the
authority of Manaqeb that Imam Ali (A) said: “By Allah, I never angered Fatima, or forced her to do something (she
did not like, up to the day she died. nor did she ever anger or disobey me. In
fact, when I looked at her, depression and sadness would be removed (from my
heart.)
Al-Ayyashi in his Tafseer of the
Qur’an reported that Imam Al-Baqir (A) said: Fatima vouched to take care of the household work, make dough, bake
bread and clean the house; Ali in return vouched to take care of the outside
work (such as) gathering firewood and bringing food stuff.”
Fatima (A), the
mother:
It is sufficient to say that
Fatima (A) raised two boys, Hasan and Husain, the leaders of the youth of
paradise who were the Purified and Infallible Imams. She raised two daughters;
Zainab and Umme Kulthum. The older one was Zainab (A) who carried on Imam
Husain’s mission to the court of Yezidbin Mu’awiyaand ensured its success.
Fatima (A), the
teacher:
Being brought up by the Prophet
(S) of Allah (the City of knowledge) and
in company of her husband (the gate to
the city of knowledge) it is easy to understand why she was highly
enlightened in the knowledge of the Qur’an and the Islamic Law.
It is reported in Al-Bihar that a lady came to
Hazrat Fatima with questions, and then repeatedly came with more questions.
Then she felt embarrassed and said she did not want to inconvenience Fatima. At
this Hazrat Fatima answered:
“Ask me regarding any thing which comes to your mind ….” “My reward for (answering) every inquiry is
more than that which fills (the space) between the ground and the Throne
(heaven) with pearls; thus, I should be more apt to answer your questions.”
Quotes from Fatima
(A).
1. It
is attributed to Imam Sadiq (A) that he heard from his forefathers that Hazrat
Fatima (A) had said that: “The man who is
observing a Fast would not gain any thing when his tongue, ears, and limbs are
not safe from sin.”
2. “Allah
fixed the reward for His obedience and torment for His disobedience so that He
may restrain His servants from His Wrath and Fury and lead them to paradise.”
3. “You
the servants of Allah are the ones to maintain His injunctions and
prohibitions, and carry His religion and His revelations, and are the trustees
of Allah upon your souls, and propagators of His religion among other nations.”
4. “The
Book of Allah is the guide to its followers toward the pleasure of Allah.
Listening to it (carefully) leads to the Salvation. The enlightened and
conspicuous evidences and proofs of Allah can be obtained through it. … .”
5. “Allah
rendered alms for the purity of your souls and for flourishing and expansion of
your sustenance.”
6. “And
(Allah made) kindness to the parents as a protection (shield) to His wrath and
displeasure.”
7. “And
Allah made the vow performing (fulfilling of vows) as a medium for forgiveness.”
The quotes
2-7 are from “Fascinating discourses of the 14 Infallibles” by the Islamic
Propagation Organization, translated by Javed Iqbal Qazilbash; Ansariyan
Publications. (http:://www.al-islam.org/masoom/sayings/fatema.html)
In Conclusion:
Fatima (A) held a pivotal place in the family of the
Prophet (S). She had the distinction of: being the daughter of the most beloved Prophet (S) of Allah swt;
the wife of the First Imam who was the purified one, and the only one to bear the
title of Amir-ul-Mu'mineen; the
mother of two Imams who are the leaders
of the youth of paradise. She is the one from whose progeny 11 Infallible Imams came. She herself
was purified and infallible, granted divine knowledge, bestowed with wisdom,
reasoning, intellect and Grace. The Tasbih
formula that was a gift to her by Allah swt through His Prophet (S), the
recitation of which is a source of forgiveness, mercy and reward for her
followers. Allah has promised her the privilege of Intercession on the Day of
Judgment, on behalf of those who love her, send salutations on her, and adhere
to the teachings of the fourteen Infallibles. No woman comes close to her
exalted status.
May we be among those who earn
the intercession of Hazrat Fatima AzZahra. A.S.
Aameen.
