"When Fatima was born, Allah (Exalted is His Name) revealed angel to speak the name Fatima with Muhammad’s tongue. Then said:

‘I have bestowed knowledge upon you and safeguarded you from menstruation.’" Then Abu Jaafar (AS.) added:

‘By Allah, Allah (Blessed and Exalted is His Name) bestowed knowledge on her and safeguarded her from menstruation with the covenant."

2. Imam Redha and Imam Jawad (AS) said:

‘Because she and her followers are protected from Hell, I heard Allah’s Messenger say this.

3. lmam Redha, quoting his Fathers (AS) said:

4. Imam Sadiq (AS) said:

"Do you know the explanation of (the name) Fatima? I said:

‘Inform me my Master’ He said:

‘She is safeguarded from evil’ He then added:

‘Had Amir Al-Mu ‘mineen not married her, no man on earth from Adam on would have been suitable for her until the Day of Rising."’

This narration was also reported by a group of Sunni scholars, among them being Ibn Shirooyah Ad-Dailami who said:

‘Had Allah not created Ali, there would not have been an equal to Fatima.

Besides Ad-Dailami, Kharazrni in Al-Manaqib, Munawi in Kunuz A1-Haqaeq, and Qandouzi in Yanabea AI-Mawaddah have reported this tradition by quoting Um Salamah and Al-Abbas, the Prophet’s uncle.

5. Kharghoushi and Ibn Batta reported in their books Sharaf An-Nabi and Ibaneh that Imam Sadiq (AS.) said:

‘Because she and her followers (Shiites) are safeguarded from the fire."’

6. Imam Redha (AS) said that his father quoted Amir Al-Mo’niineen (AS) as saying:

‘Fatima was given that name because Allah has safeguarded her and her progeny from the Fire; those who meet Allah as monotheists and believers in what I preach."’

The above mentioned traditions have also been narrated by a large group of Sunni scholars, among thern are:

1. Kharazmi in Maqtal A1-Hussain, p. 51, said:

‘My daughter was named Fatima because Allah (Glory be to Him) safeguarded her from the Fire."

2. Tabari in Dhakhaer A1-Uqbi, Qandouzi in Yanabea Al-Mawaddah p. 194 and Safawi in Nuzhat Al-Majalis reported that Ali Ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him)said:

‘Because Allah will surely safeguard her and her progeny from the Fire on The Day of Resurrection."

Fatirna’s name was dear to Ahlul-Bayt, they respected the name and those who held it. For instance, Imam Sadiq (A.S) inquired from one of his companions about the name to be given to his newborn daughter, the man replied:

"I named her Fatima."

Imam Sadiq then said:

"Fatima?! May the peace of Allah be upon Fatima. Now that you have given her the name Fatima, refrain from slapping or abusing her, rather honor her."

Besides this tradition, it was reported in Wasa’el V. 7, on the authority of Sukunei as:

"0 Sukunei what grieves you? I answered:

‘A girl has been born to me...’ He said:

‘Fatima!! Oh, Oh, Oh (in admiration). He then said, Now that you have named her Fatima, refrain from abusing cursing or slapping her"

Also in Safinat Al-Bihar, Imam Abu Al-Hassan Al-Kadhim (AS.) said:

"Poverty shall not enter a house inhabited by people having the names Muhammad... and Fatima from among women."

Iman Baqir (AS) commented the first of these three traditions: he stated:

"By Allah, He (Glory be to Him) bestowed her with knowledge and safeguarded her from menstruation with the covenant."

The covenant mentioned here refers to the corpusclen (seeds) world mentioned in the Holy Quran in the following verse:

They said: ‘Yea!" VII:172

In summary, this means that Allah Almighty drew forth from Adam (from his loin), his descendants in the form of seeds (or corpuscles), then presented them to him and said:

"1 will make a covenant with your descendants that they shall worship me without associating anything with me; I shall-in turn-guarantee their sustenance." He then said to them: "Am I not your Lord?"

They said: "Yes, we bear witness that you are our Lord."

He (Glory be to Him) said to the angels: "Bear witness." The angels said:

"We bear witness."

It was mentioned that Allah Almighty gave Adam’s descendants the ability to realize, understand, and hear His speech. He then placed them back in Adam’s loin. Therefore, mankind is held in Adam until everyone shall be brought forth by Allah at the time which has been destined by Him. So whoever adheres to Islam, holds to the covenant; and whoever disbelieves and rejects it, violates that covenant.

This account was derived from a large number of traditions and verified narrations. Imam Baqir (AS.) pointed out that it was decreed that Fatima would be safeguarded from menstruation in that world, which is also called the "World of Covenant."

In relation to the many traditions that spoke of the world of Covenant, we mention some of them herein as examples:

1. It was reported in Tafsir AI-Burhan that Imam Sadiq (AS.) said:

‘Am I not your Lord?’ They replied: ‘Yes.’ Therefore, I was the first of them to reply."

Abu Basir: "I exclaimed from Abu Abdullah -Imam sadiq (AS):

He said: ‘He implemented in them that with which they could answer Him when He asked; Aisha added: ‘He means the covenant. "‘

2. Zurarah reported that he inquired from Imam Baqir about what is meant by: "When thy Lord drew forth from the children of Adam-from their loins-their descendants," He said (It means that He drew forth) from Adam’s loins his descendants until the Day of Resurrection, so they came forth in the form of corpusclens. He then taught and acquainted them to His creation; and had He not done so, no one would have known His Lord.

3. When Umar Ibn Al-Khattab performed pilgrimage and embraced the (Black) Stone, he said: "I know-by Allah-that you are a stone which neither harms nor benefits, and had I not seen Allah’s Messenger embrace you, I would not have embraced you."

However, Imam Ali (AS.) said: "Abu Hafz, do not say this, for Allah’s Messenger did not embrace it (the black stone) save for wisdom he knew, and had you read the Quran and realized its interpretation, as others have, you would have understood that it can harm and bring benefits to you. It has two eyes and two lips and possesses a keen tongue that testifies for those who fulfill their obligations to it"

Umar then said: "Then show me that in Allah’s book, Abu Al-Hassan."

Imam Ali (AS.) said: "Allah almighty said:

"0 Umar, do not you say when you embrace the stone- ‘I have fulfilled my covenant, and kept my oath, so you may testify for me?’

Umar said: "Yes, by Allah."

Imam Au (AS.) then said: "It is for this reason that you do so."

A large group of narrations, which include a study regarding the world of Covenant, can be found such as AI-Ka fi collected by Al-Kulayni, A1-Bihar by Al Majlisi, and other collections of traditions.

Nevertheless, some scholars-may Allah forgive them--misunderstood these narrations which leads them to doubt their authenticity despite the unambiguous meaning of the verse.

In conclusion, it was since or even prior to the events of the world of seeds (which is also called the world of Covenant) that the Messenger of Allah and his Progeny’s-including Fatima’s- virtue was recognized.

This fact should not be doubted for there are many narrations which have been successively reported by scholars of both sects (Sunni and Shiite). All these narrations support this affair; the traditions which have been mentioned by the Shiite scholars are too numerous to include here. As for those which have been reported by the Sunni scholars, Safuri Shafe’i mentioned in his book Nuzhat Al-Majalis V. 2, P. 223, that Kesa’i and others said:

He then said: ‘This is her husband, Ali Ibn Abu Talib. "‘

Also, Asqalani in his book Lisan Al-Mizan V. 3, P. 346, writes that Imam Al-Hassan Ibn Ali Al-Askari (A.S.) reported that his Fathers quoted Jabir Ibn Abdullah as saying. "The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) said: ‘When Allah created Adam and Eve, they strutted through paradise and said: "Who are better than we?" At that moment they noticed an image of a girl like they had never seen before; from this girl came an illuminating light so bright that it almost blinded the eyes.