At sunrise people gathered to participate in Fatima's funeral, but
they were informed that the darling of Allah's Messenger (P.B.U.H.)
had been secretly buried during the night.
Meanwhile, Ali (A.S.) made the shapes of four fresh graves in
Baqi' so as to conceal the location where Fatima was buried. When the
people entered the graveyard, they were confused as to which spot was
actually Hazrat Fatima Zahra's grave; the people turned towards each
other and with feelings of guilt said:
"Our Prophet (P.B.U.H.) has not left behind but one daughter,
yet she has died and was buried without our participation in the funeral
or the prayer rituals. We do not even realize the place where she has
been buried!"
Noticing that a revolt might be ignited because of the emotional
atmosphere this event created, the governing party announced:
"Select a group of Muslim women and ask them to dig these graves so
that we may find Fatima and perform prayers on her."
Yes! They attempted to execute the plan, violating Fatima's will and
causing Ali's (A.S) attempts to hide the grave to lie vainly.
Have they forgotten Ali's sharp sword and his well-known courage!!
Did they really think that Ali would remain indifferent to their
outrageous actions up to the point of letting them dig Fatima's grave?
Imam Ali (A.S) did not fight back after the Prophet's (P.B.U.H.)
death because he considered the Muslim's unity and overall interests.
Yet, this did not mean that he would ignore their villainous crimes
against Fatima even after her death. In other words, Ali (A.S)
was asked by the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) to have patience, but only to
a certain extent; when Ali (P.B.U.H.) received the news of the
about-to-be-executed plot, he put on his fighting gear and rushed
towards Baqi'. A man from among the people called out:
"This is Ali Ibn Abu Talib leveling his sword and saying:
'If anyone moves even a mere stone from these graves, I shall strike
even the "back of the last follower of the unjust.”’”
People who realized Ali's seriousness, took his threats with complete
belief that he would do just as he said if anyone were to oppose him.
Yet, a man from the governing ones addressed Ali (A.S) by saying:
"What is the matter, Abu Al-Hassan?! By Allah, we shall dig her grave
out and perform prayers on her."
Ali (A.S) then grabbed the man by his clothes shook him and threw him
to the ground and said;
“Son of the Sawada! I have abandoned my right to prevent people from
forsaking their faith, but as regards Fatima’s grave, by Him in whose
hand is my soul if you and your followers attempt to do anything to it,
I will irrigate the ground with your blood!!"
At this, Abu Bakr said;
'Abu Al-Hassan, I ask you by the right of
Allah's Messenger and by Him who is above the Throne: leave him
alone and we will not do anything, which you would not approve of…"
Thus, until this day, the location of Fatima's grave remains a
secret.