Lady of the Universe - Fatima al-Zahra رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا

Lady of the Universe: Fāṭima al-Zahrāʾ رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا

Muhammad Bilal Sa’eed Madani

Sayyida Fāṭima رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا is the most beloved daughter of the noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Honoured with many titles and honorifics, she is hailed as the leader of the women of Paradise and the leader of the women of the worlds. As a shining reflection of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, her appearance, disposition, and deportment mirrored the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.^[1]

Her blessed birth

She was born five years before the announcement of Prophethood^[2] in the home of Sayyida Khadīja al-Kubrā رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا, because of which, it is called the mawlid Fāṭima.^[3] Her birth illuminated the surroundings of Makka and the radiance of her being enlightened its citizens.

As with all her children, Sayyida Khadīja رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا did not entrust Sayyida Fāṭima رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا to a wet nurse, choosing to personally care for her instead. Thus, Sayyida Fāṭima رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا was nurtured under the careful supervision of Sayyida Khadīja رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا. ^[4]

Her godliness and devotion

The worship of Allah Almighty was central to her life. As a devoted servant of her Lord, she spent her days fasting and her nights standing before Him in prayer with utmost love and heartfelt devotion.^[5] This deep reverence for Allah Almighty permeated every area of her life. Even on the first night of her marriage to Sayyiduna ʿAlī رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, she spent the entire night with him in Salah, praying to and beseeching Allah.^[6]

Her modesty

No unrelated man ever saw her, not even her shadow. Her modesty and humbleness is well known. Before her demise, she willed for her funeral rites to be carried out in a way that would prevent any man seeing her. Even on the Day of Reckoning, when all humanity will be gathered, mankind will be ordered to lower their gazes before she crosses the Bridge, so nobody will see her.^[7]

Spending in the Way of Allah

Spending in the Way of Allah was her most beloved of deeds. This quality of hers was even mentioned by Allah Almighty, in the Holy Quran.^[8]

Her marital life

The marriage of Sayyidunā ʿAlī and Sayyida Fāṭima رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما was a union of great splendour and esteem. Allah Almighty was pleased with this union, and it was blessed with the prayers, advice, and kindness of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. According to one narration, they were married on the 26^th or 27^th Safar, 2 AH.^[9]

After marriage, she diligently undertook her household responsibilities. Although she faced many challenges and difficulties, her patience and forbearance were unshaken. She worked the flour mill which would leave painful marks on her blessed hands and undertook the laborious task of filling and carrying water containers among other demanding chores.^[10] Yet, her heart remained patient and her tongue grateful to Allah Almighty.

Raising children

She had three sons, Ḥasan, Ḥusayn, and Muḥsin, and three daughters, Zaynab, Ruqayyah, and Umm Kulthūm. Sayyidunā Muḥsin and Sayyida Ruqayyah passed away in infancy.^[11]

Her love for the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Her heart brimmed with unwavering reverence and unbound love for the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. When he would visit, she would seat him in her place, rejoice when he would be happy, and grieve when he was sad.

Even as a child, she was a brave soul who was willing to face anyone or anything for the sake of Allah’s Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. In the early days of Islam, the disbelieving leaders of Quraysh placed camel entrails on the Prophet’s back while he prostrated in the vicinity of the Kaʿba. When Sayyida Fāṭima رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا—who was a child at the time—was told of this, she rushed to his aid and immediately removed the entrails.^[12]

In the Expedition of Uhud, many Companions were martyred or injured, and the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was also wounded. In the heat of the battle, Sayyida Fāṭima رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا stood by her father, nursing him and washing his wound with water. Realising that the bleeding is not stopping, she took a piece of a palm mat, burnt it to a cinder, and rubbed its ashes into the wound on the blessed face of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم until the bleeding was stemmed.^[13]

The love of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم for her

Our master, the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم often expressed his love and affection for his dear daughter, Sayyida Fāṭima رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا. Whenever she visited, he would seat her in his place.^[14] She was the first person he would meet after returning from a journey.^[15] Once, he remarked, “My daughter Fāṭima is part of me. I dislike whatever she dislikes, and I am pained by whatever pains her.”^[16]

Her love for the honourable wives of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

She shared mutual love and respect with the Mothers of the Believers. A glimpse of this can be seen from the following incident. Sayyida ʿĀʾisha al-Ṣiddīqa رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا was asked: “Who did the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم love the most?” She replied: “Fāṭima.” She was then asked: “From the men?” She replied: “Her (Sayyida Fāṭima’s) husband.”^[17]

Explaining this hadith, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na’eemi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه said:

This demonstrates Sayyida ʿĀʾisha’s truthfulness and selflessness as she did not call herself or her blessed father the most beloved people to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Rather, whoever in her knowledge was most entitled to this was named openly and clearly. This is also evidence of her utmost humility. If this very question was asked to Sayyida Fāṭima رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا, she would have said the most beloved of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was Sayyida ʿĀʾisha رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا, and

her blessed father. We thus can clearly ascertain the level of purity found in the hearts of these blessed individuals. As for the contingent of people who consider these luminous personalities to be enemies of one another; there is only regret and lament for them.^[18]

Her passing from this world

After the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم left this world, Sayyida Fāṭima رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا was overwhelmed with grief and unrest, spending her days and nights crying and yearning to be with him. Only six months after the passing away of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, Sayyida Fāṭima رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا succumbed to her sorrows and left this temporary world on 3^rd of Ramadan.^[19] According to an authentic narration, the first Caliph of Islam and Commander of the Faithful, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ led her funeral prayer.^[20] She was laid to rest in al-Baqīʿ cemetery in Madina, as per the most reliable account. ^[21]