Fatima Al-
Zahra (as)
Mohammed (SAWW) was the
great leader of all time, and the last messenger to mankind. He had laid
out the course of truth to people by setting out an example of the
perfect human. Perfect in all aspects. Muslim men seeking the truth
resort to the personality of this great prophet for guidance and
direction.
While the women of Islam
do recognize the role the prophet s daughter Fatima Zahra (AS) as the
example set out for them to follow by Islam. So what is it about Fatima
Zahra (AS) that makes her so special, and so great? Allah (SW) has
created Fatima Zahra (AS) to be a sign of his ability to create a female
complete with all morals and personality. The personality of Fatima
Zahra (AS) is of high nobility, and new aspects of this great
personality continue to be discovered. And as time goes on more and more
is learnt from this great lady.
Only those that know her
(AS) and know what she has gone through during her short life of 18
years will begin to understand what she stood for and what kind of
service she gave to Islam. It is also those that love her are the lovers
of the divine truth. Many of us know her by the name and only by that,
others may know her as being the daughter of Mohammed (SAWW) and wife of
the leader of the faithful Ali (AS), again only by that, some may know
of her martyrdom and cry with their whole being when hearing about it,
yet they don t thoroughly know her (AS). She is Fatima, siddiqua ( the
honest ), Al-Mubarakah ( the blessed one ), At Tahira (virtuous ),
AzZakeah ( the Chaste ), Ar Rathiatul Marthia ( she who is gratified and
who shall be satisfied ), Al-Muhadathah ( a person other than the
prophet that the angels speak to ), and Az Zahra ( the Splendid ). Her
name "Fatima" was chosen by Allah (SW) and was revealed to Mohammed (SAWW).
She also had other names : Al-Batoul ( the pure one ), Al-Adra ( the
Virgin ), Al-Hania ( the affectionate one to her children ). She was
also titled Umu Abeeha ( her father’s mother).
Lady Fatima (AS) was
welcomed into this world by her warm and affectionate parents, Mohammed
(SAWW) and Khadija (RA) on the 20th of the month of Jumada second.
Khadija used to give her children to other women to be nursed but when
Fatima (AS) was born Khadija (RA) undertook her nursing. While the
prophet (SAWW) brought her up in an environment of knowledge and
spirituality. Fatima (AS) herself was equipped with special intelligence
and so was quick to realize the meaning of faith, piety and the reality
of Islam. Fatima (AS) faced many hardships and sorrows during her life.
Early on she was faced with those infidels and polytheists that fought
her father and his family. She became an orphan at a young age, the
death of her mother when at the age of about seven or eight caused her
great sadness. She was forced to immigrate to Medina due the infidels
agitation. The time the prophet Mohammed (SAWW) was going through was
very harsh, too many people wanted to stop the new faith and to do so
many plots to injure and kill him were set out. Mohammed’s (SAWW)
suffering was causing Fatima (AS) to suffer as well, as the love for her
father led her to the sorrow and sadness in watching him being
mistreated. At home Fatima was mistreated and abused by some of the
prophet’s jealous wives.
Fatima (AS) spent her life
in struggle, resisting poverty and difficulties. One of the happy
moments in Fatima’s (AS) life is her marriage to Imam Ali (AS). The two
great infallible characters coming together to be partners in life was
magnificent unity. We can only imagine the great marital happiness Ali
and Fatima enjoyed. It is worthwhile noting that such splendid persons
who have a high status lived humble and modest lives. As a wife, Fatima
(AS) displayed the perfect role model, Ali (AS) had 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. As a mother, Fatima (AS) gave birth to the great Imams Hassan and
Hossein (AS), she also gave birth to Lady Zainab (AS) and Lady Um
Kulthum. All of whom were victims of historical oppression and sorrowful
inflictions. As a mother she raised the chiefs of martyrs, and ladies of
such strong will and faith that withstood pains (in particular during
Karbala ) which strong men can barely put up with. The death of Mohammed
(SAWW) left Fatima (AS) very sad. This was a great loss to her as she
was to miss him dearly. The agonies kept on coming to Fatima (AS), yet
she persisted in glorifying Allah (SW) and spending generously in his
exalted path. Fatima was angered when the rights of Caliphate were taken
from her husband and she stood up to those arrogant ones and fought for
justice. She kept on fighting until the last days in her life. It was a
short life which endured many calamities and severe hardships. Not many
days after the death of the prophet (SAWW), Fatima (AS) was injured by
infidels and martyred. It was shown that even in the short period of
Fatima’s life after the death of the prophet (SAWW) there s a long tale
of agony and grief. She was like a withering flower that never really
blossomed. She had left this world with the happy knowledge of meeting
her father and left behind a model for the true path. She had been a
model for our daily lives, fighting injustice and oppression and
standing on the side of truth. Her life serves as an example for each
one of us. The prophet (SAWW) said: "Surely my daughter Fatima is: the
mistress of all women from the beginning to the end, she is part of me,
and the light of my eyes, she is the flower of my heart, and is my soul,
(Fatima) is a human huri, who whenever she stands in prayers in the
presence of her lord (Exalted in his name), her light illuminates the
skies for the angels, like stars shine to people on Earth". |