In the Name of Allah, the Infinitely Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

A Brief Biography of Lady Fatima Az-Zahra(as)
The daughter of the Last Messenger (pbuh&hf)
and the Mother of the Imams (as)

Fatima Az-Zahra

Most historians agree Lady Fatima was born five years after Prophethood, on the 20th of Jumada-Al-Thani in Mekkah. Fatima was one of the four daughters of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hf) and his first wife, Khadijah bint-Khuwailid (as). Fatima’s relationship with her father had set an exemplary model of a father-daughter relationship; he showered her with admiration and love. Upon his return home from journeys the Prophet visited Fatima before going home. And Fatima was the last person whom the Prophet used to bid farewell before his expeditions. When she approached her father he would rush to greet her, kiss her hand, and offer her his seat.* As a child she remained by his side and remained so throughout her short-lived adulthood. Fatima married her cousin, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as), of which the Prophet said: “I give you in marriage to the first Muslim and best mannered man.” ** Fatima and Imam Ali had two sons, Imam Hassan (as) and Imam Hussein (as), and two daughters Zeinab (as) and Um Kulthum (as).

* Tirmadhi and Ibn Abdu Rabbeh, Eqd Al-Farid, vol. 2, p. 3.

**Ryadh An-Nadherah, vol. 2, p. 194.

Fatima is usually called 'Fatima az-Zahra’; the Messenger of Allah said Lady Fatima was given that name "because she and her followers are protected from Hell." Lady Fatima has various names all of which illustrate the high respect in which Fatima is held. They are as followed:

·        Fatima

·        Siddiqah (the honest)

·        Al-Mubarakah (the blessed one)

·        Al-Tahirah (the pure)

·        Az-Zakiyah (the chaste)

·        Ar-Radhiatul Mardhiah (she who is gratified and who shall be satisfied)

·        Al-Mardiyyah (the one pleasing to Allah (swt))

·        Al-Muhaddathah (a person other than a prophet, that the angels speak to)

·        Az-Zahra (the illuminating)

Allah Has Said:

“Surely Allah wishes to remove all abomination from you, O People of the House, and purify you with a great purification.”

Holy Quran 33:33.

Muslim scholars have asserted that this verse particularly refers to Ali, Fatima, Hassan, and Hussein.

“Say: ‘No reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin…”

Holy Quran 42:23.

Prophet Mohammad Used to Say:

"Whoever hurts Fatima, hurts me, and whoever hurts me, hurts Allah, exalted be His Majesty!"

Ibn Majah, Sunan, vol. I, p. 644.

"Allah becomes wrathful for Fatima's anger, and is pleased at her pleasure."

Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5, p. 26, Ryadh An-Nadherah, vol. 2, p. 194.

"The most excellent among the women of the world are: Maryam (as) daughter of 'Imran (that is, the virgin Mary, mother of prophet Esa), Asiyah (as) daughter of Muzahim (wife of Pharaoh), Khadijah (as) daughter of Khuwailid and Fatima (as) daughter of Muhammad."

Muslim Ibn Hajjaj, Sahih, Halabi Press Cairo, n.d. (2 vols.) vol. II, p. 370-371.

The Prophet having spread over Fatima, Ali, Hassan and Hussein a khaybarite (a mantle made from the region of Khaybar) mantle and prayed saying: "O Allah, these are the People of my Household, remove all abomination from them and purify them with a great purification!" Umm Salamah said: "I too, O Apostle of Allah, I am of the People of your House!" He answered: "Your lot shall be good!"

A condensed version of: The Event of Cloak. Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari narrates on the authority of Lady Fatima.

Others Have Reported Her excellence and High Distinction:

"I never saw a man more beloved of the Apostle of Allah than 'Ali, or a woman more dear to him than Fatima."

Tradition from Aishah.

The Commander of the Faithful said: "I asked the Messenger of Allah, 'Who is more beloved to you, Fatima or I?' He answered, 'Fatima is more beloved to me, and you are dearer to me than she is.'"

 Muslim transmitters.

"Fatima is the most excellent of all the women of the world."

Tradition from Anas ibn Malik.

'Abdu 'r-Rahman ibn 'Awf' said: "I heard the Apostle of Allah say, 'I am a tree, Fatima is its trunk and Ali is its pollen. Hassan and Hussein are its fruits, and our followers (Shi'ah) are its leaves. The roots of the tree are in the Garden of Eden, and its trunk, fruits and leaves are in Paradise.' "

Muslim transmitters.

Az-Zahra’s Martyrdom

During the time of the Holy Prophet’s illness, Fatima used to visit him every day. Aishah saw her crying beside him, then she saw her laugh immediately afterwards. When she was alone with her, she asked her what had made her cry, then what had made her laugh immediately afterwards, and she said, 'I am not to betray the confidence of the Messenger of Allah’. After the Prophet had passed away, she explained to Aishah. She had cried because he told her he would be collected to Allah during the illness, and then she laughed when he told her she would be the first of his family to join him. Six months later Fatima was martyred.

Most historians agree Lady Fatima died at the age of 18. However, there is much disagreement among traditionalists as to the exact spot of her grave. Some traditionalists have asserted that she was buried in Baqi' cemetery in Medinah. Others said that she was buried in her own chamber, and that when the Umayyad rulers enlarged the Mosque of Medinah, her grave came to be in the sanctuary. Still others argued that she was buried between the grave and pulpit of the Prophet. It is to this that the Prophet alluded in his saying: " There is between my grave and pulpit a garden of the gardens of Paradise." The first view is unlikely, while the two other views are nearer to the truth.

The Commander of the Faithful (Ali) himself took charge of her washing. It is reported that Asma' daughter of 'Umays assisted him in washing her. Asma' related: "Fatima had stated in her will that no one should wash her corpse except Ali and I. Thus we washed her together, and the Commander of the Faithful (as) prayed over her along with Hassan and Hussein, 'Ammar ibn Yasir, Miqdad, 'Aqil' az -Zubayr, Abu Dharr, Salman, Buraydah and a few men of Banu Hashim. They prayed over her in the night, and in accordance with her own will. Ali the Commander of the Faithful buried her in secret."

Lady Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, is without doubt the best of the women of all the worlds. She is the only female in the 14 Infallibles and therefore has a very special place in that she was the Daughter of the Prophet, the wife of the first Imam and mother of the rest of the Imams. The Prophet once said: “Every daughter’s children are called to their Father, save Fatima’s children; for I am their Father.”