Fatema (PBUH), the Fulcrum of Faith

Condolences to you all on a very tragic day. Today is the 13th of the month of Jamadi al-Awwal, the day according to a version, the Most Noblest Lady of all times achieved martyrdom 75 days after the departure of her Illustrious Father from the mortal world.

So profound was her grief in the brief period that she lived after her father because of the calamities she had suffered at the hands of those who had usurped her inheritance, deprived her husband of his political rights, and smashed the door of her house upon her that she would lament at the graveside of her father with the following words:

“O Father the grief that befell me after you is of such magnitude that it would have turned bright days into dark nights.”

She was none other than Hazrat Fatema Zahra (Peace be upon her), the Immaculate Daughter of the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger, Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny).

Before we present you a special feature on this tragic anniversary, here is a famous statement from the Prophet:

“Surely my daughter Fatema is the Leader 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, (she) is a human houri, who whenever she stands in prayers in the presence of Her Lord (Exalted is His Name), her light illuminates the skies for the angels, like stars shine to people on Earth.”

This is how the Prophet of Islam described to his companions his only surviving offspring, who was alas, not destined to live more than two-and-a-half months or at the most 95 days after his departure from the mortal world.

As a matter of fact, the life of the noblest-ever lady that graced Planet Earth, who was the Pride of the Virgin Mary (peace upon her) and whose pristine purity, radiance of faith, devotion to divine commandments, perpetually abundant munificence, and other exemplary characteristics, God Almighty Himself has enshrined in the holy Qur’an (such as ayah 33 of Surah Ahzaab, ayah 61 of Surah Aal-e Imran, etc.), was cut short in the prime of youth by the afflictions to which she was subjected at the hands of a deviated group of the Prophet’s companions, no sooner did her father pass away.

It would be repetitive to say that her house was stormed with fire and crowbars by these persons who flung the door in her face and pinned her to the wall, resulting in miscarriage of the stillborn Mohsin – the Prophet’s youngest grandson and the first martyr of the Ahl al-Bayt.

What was the reason for commitment of such a cardinal sin by these persons, who had been witness to the practice of the Prophet to salute at Fatema’s doorstep, and to stand up and make her sit in his place whenever she entered his presence?

Didn’t they knew she was the “Siddiqat al-Kubra” or the Most Truthful Lady?

Hadn’t they heard the Prophet’s famous saying: “Fatema is a part of me and whoever displeases her, has displeased me; and indeed God is displeased at those who displeases me?!”

Was it not the wealth of her mother, the Immaculate Omm al-Momineen (Mother of all True Believers), Khadijat al-Kubra (peace upon her) that had fed them, clothed them, and sheltered them during the days of persecution of the neo-Muslims by the pagan Arabs in Mecca?

Weren’t they aware that if not for the valour and swordsmanship of her husband, Imam Ali (AS), they would have slain long ago by the Arab and Israelite hordes who used to impose battles upon Muslims – Badr, Ohad, Khandaq, Khaybar, Honayn etc.

How come they had chosen to incur divine wrath when facts and realities about Fatema and her household were as crystal clear as the shining sun?

The answers are obvious. It was their coveting of the political leadership of the Ummah, which neither God nor the Prophet had willed for them.

They thought that power will forever belong to them if the Prophet’s divinely-designated vicegerent is forced to acknowledge their usurpation of the caliphate under threats – a rope around his neck, a sword menacingly unsheathed at him, and his wife writhing in pain and agony.

Fatema Zahra (peace upon her), however rose to the defence of the right of her husband and in a sermon that remains eloquently impressive after the passing of a millennium and four centuries, she not just immortalized the fundamentals of Islam which they were breaching, but the rights of women, especially their inheritance.

On revelation of ayah 26 of Surah al-Isra’ which says “Give the nearest of kin their [due] right, and the needy and the traveller”, the Prophet had called his dear daughter and said: “Fadak is one of the territories for which we did not exhaust our horses or camels to acquire it; it is mine exclusively. Now, I gift it to you and your offspring according to God’s instructions.”

He was referring to the large orchard which was gifted to him by the people of Khaybar, and regarding which God says in the holy Qur’an in ayahs 6 and 7 of Surah Hashr:

“That which Allah gave to His Prophet from them; you did not spur any horse for its sake nor any riding camel, but Allah makes His prophets prevail over whomever He wishes, and Allah has power over all things.

“That which Allah gave to His Prophet from the people of the towns, are for Allah and the Prophet, the near of kin and the orphans, the needy and the traveller, so that they do not circulate among the rich among you. Take whatever the Prophet gives you, and relinquish whatever he forbids you, and be wary of Allah. Indeed Allah is severe in retribution.” (59: 6-7)

The Most Truthful Lady warned the self-styled caliph and his companions of divine punishment for their unjustified actions, including their seizure of Fadak, whose income she used to spend on the poor and needy. She told them:

"Now hang firmly to this cheap dromedary of caliphate of yours and release it not. But beware; the hump of this camel is injured while there are blisters and holes in its feet. It carries the scars of ignominy and the sign of the wrath of Allah. Eternal shame is attached to it."