Fatimah Zahra (SA), Only Reminiscent of Prophet (S)

September 13, 1999 - 0:0
Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (SA) was born on Jamadi-ul Sani 20, 11 B.H. or 8 B.H. (611 or 614 A.D.) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Mohammad (S) the Prophet of Islam was her father and Khadijeh Kobra her mother. Hazrat Zahra was the only child survived in the family, because their only son died in his childhood and the other three daughters were all passed away either in their young adulthood or their adulthood before marriage.

Respecting the reminders (including children) of any social reformer is in fact respecting the reformer himself and vice versa. Fatimah (SA) is regarded not only as reminder of the great Prophet (S), and his sole blood link with his next generation, but because she is the most eminent lady of Islam who has grown up in a unique and pious family, and because she's been trained by a pious father to receive the honor of infallibility'' which is a divine protection against misdeeds in Islamic theology.

Infallibility is a status in Islamic theology which requires the personality to protect himself/herself against any wrongdoing during his/her span of life. In the great religion of Islam only 14 personalities enjoy the honor of infallibility who have been assigned by the Almighty to be the epitome of the all generations. Hazrat Fatimah (SA) is the only feminine of the 14 infallible characters in Islam. It should be mentioned, however, according to Islamic views, all the divine messengers were dignified with the honor, too.

Bearing the status gains much emphasis when we think of the fact that during her short life (18 or 21 years) she has put behind a very hard time. She stood many social and family hardships single-heartedly. Once, during the last days of her life, she said Much sorrow and grievance befell upon me that could turn the brightest day into the darkest night.'' The grief of losing her mother at the age of 6 and her father at the last months of her life shattered her tender spirit and fragile body.

Still heartbreaking are the events that Islam and the Muslims faced during those two decades. Fatimah was the first one to see the social pressures on the newly risen revolution of Islam, and its leadership. From the time supporters of the old idolatry mocked, cursed, and attacked messenger of monotheism, called him liar, magician and mad, Fatimah was associated with pain and sorrow to the moment of death.

She was worried about the future of Muslims even during the moments of her demise. She manifested the behavior of a real Muslim in her short life. Such characteristics as the following reveal her eminent role in the history of Islam: 1- Hazrat Fatimah (SA) believed that a Muslim woman should take part in the socio-political scene of her society. But at the same time, she should create a comfortable place at home for the members of the family, bring up the children, and provide peace of mind for her husband so that he will be able to confront difficulties facing him outside the home.

Therefore, before her marriage, due to her age that was not yet fit for social activities, she spared no effort at taking care of her father. This is why she was known as Omm-e Abiha', meaning one who mothers her father'. After she married Imam Ali (AS), she undertook all household duties and asked her husband to take on responsibilities which had to be handled outside the home.

In fact, the husband and wife had called on the Holy Prophet (S) to divide the tasks of life between them, and the prophet had divided the tasks as mentioned above. Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (SA) had noted, "No one knows how pleased I was with the way my father assigned the duties to us." The reason why she was so delighted at the way her father had assigned the duties was because she believed that a Muslim woman should deal as little as possible with the men with whom she is not religiously intimate.

Consequently, she spent all her life in running the house, bringing up her four children, spinning wool and weaving, making clothes and dress and darning them, and even pulverizing wheat and making bread. Nevertheless, Hazrat Fatimah (SA) followed the socio-political issues arising in the society carefully and, when necessary, she entered the social and political scene, playing the role as a prominent personality and doing whatever she considered necessary.

For instance, following the departure of the Holy Prophet (S), the crucial negotiations that she held with the important political figures on the leadership of the Islamic world and historic speeches that she made on several occasions to the people in Medina and the wise stands that she took at different junctures all serve to demonstrate her political wisdom. The speeches and negotiations, which are preserved in creditable sources, and her appropriate stands on the crucial issues of her time are praised from a political viewpoint even today although some 1407 years have since passed.

Hazrat Fatimah (SA) was also quite learned and knowledgeable about cultural matters and those linked to religious beliefs. 2- Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (SA) was the Holy Prophet's only child who had survived. Also, the Muslims knew well that how much she was loved by the Holy Prophet (S), the leader of the Islamic world. Anybody could easily be prompted into abusing the father's power and influence for worldly gains.

But far from doing so, Hazrat Fatimah (SA) lived the life of the poorest. Rejecting her many suitors who were all among the wealthy and from the leisure classes and accepting the proposal of marriage made by Imam Ali (AS), who had to sell his armour to meet the cost of the wedding ceremony and buy the necessary household appliances, serves as a token of her virtue and lack of interest in the material world.

3- Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (SA) prayed incessantly to the Almighty God and was also a prominent figure regarding worship. Her standing so long for saying prayer had made her legs swell. While praying she shivered with awe of the Almighty God and wept so hard that her dress got drenched. Hazrat Fatimah (SA) passed many nights reciting the Holy Qoran and saying prayer.

Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (SA) passed away on Jamadi-ul Sani 3, AH 10 (Sept. 6, AD 631), some 95 days after the departure of the Holy Prophet (S). Her death was due to the severe injuries that she suffered during the events following her father's departure. With her sad departure, Hazrat Fatimah (SA) made the all the liberal-minded people mournful forever. She was buried in Medina, Saudi Arabia, but the exact location of her grave is not known.

Due to the unfavorable atmosphere prevalent in Medina, the hub of the Islamic world, Hazrat Fatimah (SA) had decided that only some specific individuals attend her burial ceremony and that the location of her grave remain a secret. Her will, which was agreed to by her husband Imam Ali (AS), was acted upon following her death. Hazrat Fatimah (SA) gave birth to two sons, Imam Hassan (AS) and Imam Hussein (AS), each of whom ruled the world of Islam for some 10 years before being martyred, and two daughters, Hazrat Zainab (SA) and Hazrat Omme-Kolsoom (SA), who were among the dignified and noble ladies of their time.