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This Part’s Research Before entering into the details, we would like to point out to the discussion in this Part to be centering around these points:
1. A dispute with one person does not prohibit him from respecting that person’s wife for one reason or another.
2. Ali (A.S.) taking Fatima (A.S.) to the houses of the Ansar to solicit their support demonstrates the loftiness of her status and of the respect which she enjoyed in the Islamic society.
3. Those brought by `Omer to the house of al-Zahra’ (A.S.) objected when he threatened to burn the house and everyone inside it, so they said to him, “But Fatima (A.S.) is inside!” He said to them, “So what?!” This has many implications:
One: Al-Zahra’ (A.S.) enjoyed a status which could not be ignored. Two: The hearts of those brought by `Omer were filled with love for al-Zahra’ (A.S.); so, how can we imagine that they would assault her? Three: Even if they did not love al-Zahra’ (A.S.) nor respect her, they went there only to subdue the opposition and to arrest Ali (A.S.) and had no business with al-Zahra’ (A.S.) even if she was present there and then, and this is what `Omer meant when he said, “So what?!” Four: There is more than one narrative discussing people’s respect for al-Zahra’ (A.S.); so, how could anyone dare to assault her? Five: Their going there, i.e. Abu Bakr and `Omer going to the house of al-Zahra’ (A.S.) and requesting her to forgive them, shows the greatness of the status which she enjoyed in the Islamic society especially among senior sahabis. Six: Al-Zahra’ (A.S.) was pleased with both senior sahabis when they visited her seeking to appease her. Seven: The reception awarded by al-Zahra’ (A.S.) to both senior sahabis proves the invalidity of the tradition of hers which says, “It is best for a woman that she neither sees men, nor men should see her.” |