The Special Women

Fatima Bint Mohammad

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Fatima bint Mohammad ibn Abdullah, was the daughter of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) and Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. She was the fifth child of the couple. She was married to Ali Ibn Abi Talib, who was a cousin of her father and later on became the fourth caliph of Islam.She had four children, two sons and two daughters. 

She was bestowed with the following titles – “Az-Zahra” which means “The Resplendent one”in reference to her radiant shinning face. She was called as “Al-Batul” referring to her pure character. She was an inspiration to all women and embodied the qualities of courage, loyalty, humility and selflessness.

She was nick-named as Umm Abiha (mother of her father) as she tooke special care of her father after the death of her mother Khadijha (RA)

Fatima, her Father and his Prophethood

Fatima (RA) was around the age of five, when her father received Prophethood. Her father< Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) loved her immensely, after every battle , on return he would first go to the Masjid to pray two units of prayer and then go to visit his daughter Fatima (RA) before he went to meet his wives.

She had a very special status with her father and He (peace be upon him) said.             “ Fatima is a part of me and whoever make her angry, makes me angry” (Sahih Al Bukhari 3714)

Narrated Aisha (RA) “I have not seen anyone closer in conduct, way and manners to that of the Messenger of Allah in regards to standing and sitting that Fatima the daughter of the Messenger (peace be upon him)”. (Tirmidhi 3872)

She also said “Whenever Fatima would enter upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) he would stand up, kiss her forehead and he would sit her in his sitting place. And whenever the Prophet (peace be upon him) would enter upon her she would stand up from her seat, kiss his hand and sit him in her sitting place” (Tirmidhi 3872)

 

Fatima (RA) grew up as a Muslim, and witnessed the torture of the Quraysh on her father. One story which should move us all is when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was praying in the courtyard of the Kaaba (Masjid Al Haram -Makkah) the disbelievers led by Abu Jahal came and threw the intestines of the camel on him as he went into sujood, Fatima witnessed this and with tears in her eyes ran up to her father and cleaned the dirt on him. She lashed out against the Quraysh and invoked Allah against them. 

 

 

Fatima and marriage with Ali Ibn Abi Talib

Fatima was married to Ali Ibn Abi Talib, who was the cousin of her father. She married him two years after Hijra, after the battle of Badr, she was 15 years of age then and Ali was 21 years old. They lived together when she became 18 years of age. Her father prepared basic necessities required for a living, as Ali (RA) was very poor. She used to work very hard.

One day, tired from the daily routine she went to ask her father for a servant to assist her in the daily chores. Her father was not at home and when he returned, he came to know about her visit and request, he visited the house of Fatima and Ali and said  “ May I not direct you to something better than what you have asked for?” He then taught them the tasbih Subhan Allah x 33 times, Alhumdullilah x 33 time, Allahu Akbar x 34 times. (Sahih Al Bukhari 3502, Sahih Muslim 2727)

One day Fatima went up to her father, she was upset and said Ali (RA) is planning the daughter of Abu Jahl (enemy of Islam). Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) stood up and told Ali (RA) “Fatima bint Mohammad is part of me and I don’t want her to be tested, and by Allah she cannot be happy with the daughter of the enemy in the same house” So Ali (RA) did not marry the daughter of Abu Jahl and did not marry anyone else as long as Fatima was alive. 

Fatima and Ali had four children, two sons and two daughters. Her sons were Hassan(RA) and Hussain(RA). When Fatima gave birth to Hassan(RA), Prophet  Mohammad (peace be upon him) was there, he gave azan (prayer call) into the newborn infant’s ears. He suggested to Fatima and Ali to make the aqiqa for the birth of the baby.

Status of Fatima(RA)

Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said “An angel came to me today and he sought permission from Allah to give salam and convey the message that Fatima bint Mohammad is the best woman of Paradise and Hassan & Hussain are the best youths of Paradise”. (Tirmidhi)

Death of Fatima(RA)

She was the only daughter who survived the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) three daughters passed  away during his lifetime

When the Prophet (pbuh) fell sick in his last days, Fatima came to him, she bent over and kissed him, he whispered something to her, she lifted her head and cried, then she bent over him again, her father again whispered something to her, she raised her head and this time she laughed. 

After he passed away, the companions took the body of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to bury him. When they came back Fatima(RA) looked at them and said “How could you get yourselves to throw dirt onto the Messenger?” And look at the faith of the companions they looked at her and said “Daughter of Mohammad, that’s what he taught us”

Aisha (RA) asked her later on, what the Prophet (peace be upon him) had whispered into her ears before his death which made her cry and then laugh,. She said “The first thing he said to me which made me cry was that he had not much time left, then he said that I was the first one to follow him, so I smiled”. (Tirmidhi 3872)

She passed away six months later at the age of 28. She was buried in Baqi (Madina) by her husband Ali (RA) May Allah be pleased with her.