The Visage of Hazrat Fatema (SA)

She had been promised that she would be the first one from among the family to join her father in afterlife. When she heard these words from her father on his deathbed, her tears gave way to a smile. Now, ninety-five days later she was all prepared to depart for the heavenly abode to join her father. She was happy for the final journey but sad at the circumstances leading to her departure. She was in the prime of her youth and suffered untold calamities in this short period after her father had passed away. The Prophet used to show the utmost respect to her, but after him she found that her inheritance was seized by the new rulers on the pretext that whatever the Prophets leave is charity and not inheritance. She defended her rights, not for some paltry materialistic things, but to show to all humanity that Islam guarantees the rights of women. In support of her rights she cited verses from the Holy Quran, where God Almighty says Solomon inherited David. The people had no answers to her logic but worldly greed prevented them from restoring her rights. However, the greatest blow she suffered was the usurpation of the rights of her husband, Imam Ali (PBUH), the divinely-designated successor of the Prophet. In a memorable sermon, rich in Arabic metaphors, she tried to show the new rulers the folly of their action in deviating from the principle of Vilayat or Islamic Leadership, but to no avail.

Hearts had hardened and the sequence of sufferings was so fast that she was not even allowed to weep for her father in her home, because it seemed, her wailing was disturbing the sweet dreams of the new rulers. She had to go outside Medina to remember her father at a small room built by her beloved husband to protect her from the torrid heat of the Arabian sun. It was called "Bayt ol-Hozn" or "House of Grief". The magnitude of her sufferings were so much that she would recite at the tomb of the Prophet: "O Father after you such great calamities have fallen upon me, that the sorrow is enough to turn bright days into dark nights".

This was the elegy of Fatema az-Zahra (SA), in whose honor the Prophet used to stand to his feet whenever the beloved daughter entered his presence. He would salute at her doorstep in the mornings, but alas, this very threshold had been desecrated by a mob of miscreants who came with fire and iron bars, threatening to burn the house if her husband does not come out and swear allegiance to the new rulers. Fatema (SA) refused to surrender Imam Ali (PBUH) and told them her four little children were also in the house. The thugs refused to hear the words of the daughter of their Prophet and beat down the door, which  tragically fell upon her and pinned her to the wall. As a result she suffered a miscarriage. But despite this pain, she defended her husband when the rogues tried to drag him out of the house.

Fatema (SA) now lay on her deathbed, prepared to leave behind the world and its tribulations. She had spent 95 awful days after her father and was now looking forward to join him in heaven. Those who had oppressed her sought permission to see her in the last moments of her life. But she refused, since she was aware of their hypocritical nature. She told her dear husband to tell them that she was displeased with this group. She reminded them of her father’s famous hadith, which says:

“Fatema is a part of me, whoever displeases her has displeased me and whoever displeases me has displeased Allah.”

People acknowledged her words. Finally the moment came, when her soul flew to the ethereal heavens leaving behind a grief-stricken husband and four young children. What a sad moment was this day for her sons Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein and daughters Hazrat Zainab and Hazrat Omm Kolsoum (peace be upon them). As per her will, Hazrat Fatema (SA) was laid to eternal peace in an unmarked grave in the dead of night, with only her immediate family and few close confidantes attending the funeral. What a great tragedy it was!

Here we present to you part of the statement of her grief-stricken husband Imam Ali (PBUH) while laying her to eternal rest. The words are preserved in the valuable book Nahj ol-Balagha or Highway of Eloquence, read:

“O Prophet of God, peace be upon you from me and from your daughter who has come to you and who has hastened to meet you. O Prophet of God, my patience has been exhausted, and my power of endurance has weakened, except that I have ground for consolation in having endured the great hardship and heart-rending event of your separation. I laid you down in your grave when your last breath had passed while your head was resting between my neck and chest. Surely, we are from God and unto Him shall we return.

Now the trust – i.e. your daughter – is being returned and what was given is being taken back. As to my grief, it knows no bounds, and as to my nights, they will remain sleepless till God chooses for me the house in which you are now residing.