Fatima az-Zahra (A)
By Syed H. Akhtar
[Dr Syed H. Akhtar is a Physician and his specialty is
Cardiology. He lives in 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 personality. Her merits are unmatched by any woman known in history
and Allah (swt) Himself testifies in the Qur’an about her purity and piety.
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),
At-Tahirah
(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:
- Verse of Mubahila. Chapter 3: v.61
- Verse of Purity. Chapter 33: v.33
- Verse of Muwaddat. Chapter 42: v. 23
- 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 Yezid bin Mu’awiya and 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 az-Zahra. A.S.
Aameen.
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