The burning of the door and the death of Janabe’ Mohsin
Umar ordered the group to gather the wood and he, himself came forward with the fire.[1] He was screaming, “Burn the house! Burn the house along with its people!”[2]
Janabe’ Zahra (s.a.) raised her voice and wailed, “O father! O Prophet of Allah! After your departure, Ibne Khattab (Umar) and Ibne Quhafah (Abu Bakr) troubled us a lot and caused us distress to no end.”
When the people heard the wailing of Janabe’ Zahra (s.a.), they too began weeping and, in that condition, left that place. Now just Umar and a few people remained there.[3] Umar asked for the fire and set the door alight.[4] The wood gathered at the door caught fire.[5] The entire house was filled with smoke.[6] Qunfuz put his hand inside to open the door.[7]
Janabe’ Zahra (s.a.) held the door tightly with both her hands and prevented them from opening the door. She said, “I implore you for the sake of Allah and for the sake of my father, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.)! Leave us alone and return to your homes.”
Umar ordered Qunfuz to bring a whip and strike Janabe Zahra (s.a.) with it. The whip struck her on the hand and left a black mark on it.[8]
Umar then kicked at the door and broke it down.[9] Janabe’ Zahra (s.a.) turned her womb away from the door to protect it and shield it from the door. All this while, Umar kept on kicking the door.[10] He crushed Janabe’ Zahra (s.a.) with great force between the door and the adjoining wall. She was in so much difficulty that it appeared that she would die there.
A nail on the door pierced her chest.[11] Her chest and arms were stained with her blood – blood that was flowing with great force from her wounds.[12] She fell on her face and came down to the ground. At this time, the fire was still burning.[13] She raised her voice in a heart-rending plea, “O father! O Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.), look at what the people have done to your darling daughter! O Fizzah! Come and help me. By Allah! they have killed the child in my womb.”
She managed to stand with support from the wall. She was in severe pain and was experiencing intense weakness.[14] The 6-month old Mohsin was martyred in her womb.[15] At that time, Umar entered her house….(here at this place, the narrator has described the such horrifying events that one cannot even enumerate…)[16]
Hazrat Ali (a.s.) came out in such a condition – his eyes were reddened and his head uncovered. He placed his cloak over Janabe’ Zahra (s.a.). He embraced her and called out to Fizzah, “O Fizzah, come and support your princess. See how she has been suffering at the door.” Janabe’ Mohsin was martyred at that spot. Hazrat Ali (a.s.) said, “He will meet his grandfather – the Holy Prophet (a.s.) and describe this tragic event to him. O Fizzah! Please take Fatemah inside the house.”[17]
He then turned towards Umar and grasping his back, shook him hard and threw him on the ground such his nose and neck were severely injured. He wished to kill Umar, but was reminded of the will of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.). The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) had recommended him to bear difficulties after him (s.a.w.) with patience and fortitude.
He said to Umar, “O son of Sahhak. I swear by that Lord who favored Mohammed (s.a.w.) with prophethood. If I would not have been bound by the promise made to the Quran and the Prophet (s.a.w.), you would not have been able to enter my house.”
Umar began pleading with Hazrat Ali (a.s.) and begged him to release him. He called out to the people for help. The people entered the house of Hazrat Ali (a.s.). He (a.s.) raised his sword. Qunfuz ran towards Abu Bakr to inform him of this turn of events. Abu Bakr was fearful that Ali (a.s.) would step out of his house brandishing his sword. Surely he was well aware of the courage, the lion-heartedness and bravery of Ali (a.s.). He ordered Qunfuzthat if he does not step out of his house, then you arrange to destroy it. If he still does not relent, then you set fire to the house.
Qunfuz returned to the house of Hazrat Ali (a.s.), and along with some of his rogue companions entered the house without permission. Hazrat Ali (a.s.) raised his sword, but the large crowd of people prevented him from using it. At that moment the people were fighting amongst themselves.[18]
Umar said to Hazrat Ali (a.s.), “Stand up and swear allegiance to Abu Bakr.” Hazrat Ali (a.s.) sat down on the ground and did not move from there. Umar grabbed the hand of Hazrat Ali (a.s.) and ordered him to stand up. Ali (a.s.) refused.[19] At that moment some people wound a rope around his neck.[20]
[21] The pulled him with his clothes and dragged him into the mosque. Janabe’ Zahra (s.a.) implored them, begged them for the sake of Allah that they should release Hazrat Ali (a.s.).[22] She tried to become a shield between her husband and the people and pleaded, “I will not permit Ali (a.s.) to be dragged with such cruelty and injustice. Woe be upon you, O people! How soon did you usurp our rights in relation to Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w.).” She intended to rescue Hazrat Ali (a.s.) from the clutches of the people[23] –in fact many from the crowd released Ali (a.s.) on account of her.
Umar ordered Qunfuz to whip Janabe’ Zahra (s.a.) and he engaged in this heinous task with great force and brutality. He lashed her back and her arms to the extent that the signs of the whipping were soon visible on her body.[24] In another narration, it is reported that Qunfuz struck her face due to which her eyes were severely injured.[25] In another report, it is narrated that Qunfuz pushed her so hard that her ribs were smashed by the impact and the child in her womb breathed his last. Then she remained bed-ridden in this condition till the last days of her life.[26]
Another narration states that Qunfuz struck her with the whip on her face, her sides and her arms such that the blue marks of the injuries remained on her arms till she was martyred.[27] If not anything, one can surely say that this event was the primary cause for her martyrdom.[28]
Another report mentions that Khalid ibne Waleed struck her with his sword.
Yet another report informs us that Khalid ibne Waleed pushed the door with great force on her. It is for this reason that reliable historians hold Khalid responsible for the death of Janabe’ Mohsin in the womb of his mother.[29]
As per another narration it is reported that, Moghayrah Ibne’ Sho’bah struck her with his sword with such force that she bled profusely. Or that he caused the door to fall on her womb. Historians have also held Moghayrah responsible for the martyrdom of Janabe’ Mohsin.[30]
A report relates that Umar spoke to the people who had gathered around him, “Strike Fatemah and beat her.” Upon hearing this, the people rained blows and lashes upon her. The beloved of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) was drenched in her own blood. The effect of this hardhearted lashing remained with her till she was finally martyred.[31]
Some narrations state that Umar struck Janabe’ Zahra (s.a.) with the sheath of his sword, and lashed her with a whip till her arms were blacked by the wounds.[32] And these marks remained with her till she died.[33]
Salman reports that I saw Abu Bakr and some of his companions weeping. Each person present there was crying. Only Umar, Khalid Ibne Waleed and Mughayrah ibne Sho’bah remained unaffected by the entire episode. Umar was saying, “What do we have to do with the useless talks of women?”[34]
[1] Tafseer'e Ayyashi, volume 2 page 307
[2] Al Milalo was Nihal, volume 1 page 57
[3] Al Imamah was Siyasah, volume 1 page 20; Al Mustarshid, page 377/378
[4] Sulaym Ibne' Qays, page 250
[5] Al Hidayatul Kubra, page 407; Behaarul Anwaar, volume 53 page 19
[6] Ash Shafi by Sayyed Murtaza, volume 3 page 241
[7] Al Hidayatul Kubra, page 407; Behaarul Anwaar, volume 53 page 19
[8] Wahi Mudrak page 178/179 and pade 407; Behaarul Anwaar, volume 53 page 13
[9] Tafseer'e Ayyashi, volume 2 page 67; Al Ikhtesas, page 176
[10] Dalaelul Imamah, volume 2; Behaarul Anwaar, volume 30 page 294
[11] Muattamire’ Ulamae’ Baghdad, page 63
[12] Kaukabe' Durriyah page 194-195
[13] Al Hidayatul Kubra, page 178/179
[14] Dalaelul Imamah, volume 2; Behaarul Anwaar, volume 30 page 294
[15] Al Hidayatul Kubra, page 407; Behaarul Anwaar, volume 53 page 19
[16] Dalaelul Imamah, volume 2; Behaarul Anwaar, volume 30 page 294; Behaarul Anwaar, volume 30 page 349; Al Hidayatul Kubra, page 179/407; Al Mukhtasar, page 44/45. As per some traditions, these crimes were committed when Hazrat Ali (as) was being dragged away. Refer Kaukabe' Durriyah page 195
[17] Al Hidayatul Kubra, page 407
[18] Sulaym Ibne' Qays, page 74
[19] Shar'he Nahjul Balagha, volume 2 page 57 and volume 6 page 49
[20] Sulaym Ibne' Qays, page 74; Rejaale’ Kashi, volume 1 page 37; Al Ihtejaj, page 73; As Seraat Al Mustaqeem, volume 3 page 25; Kaukabe' Durriyah, volume 1 page 194-195
[21] Al Iezaah, page 367; Basaerud Darajat, page 275; Tafseer'e Ayyashi, volume 2 page 67; Ash Shafi volume 3 page 244; Al Ikhtesas, page 11/186/275; Al Mustarshid, page 371; Al Manaqeb, volume 2 page 247; Shar'he Nahjul Balagha, volume 6 page 45
[22] Shar'he Nahjul Balagha, volume 2 page 50
[23] Kaukabe' Durriyah, page 194/195
[24] Ilmul Yaqeen, volume 2 page 677
[25] Seeratul Aimmah Isna Ashar, volume 1 page 145
[26] Sulaym Ibne' Qays, page 75; Al Ihtejaj, page 73; The breaking of her ribs has also been reported in other narrations like Sulaym Ibne' Qays, volume 2 page 907; Amali Sudooq, page 114 (Beirut print, page 100); Al Fazael, page 9; Al Mukhtasar, page 61-109; Behaarul Anwaar, volume 1010 page 44; Faraedus Simtayn, volume 2 pahe 35; Irshadal Qoloob, page 295
[27] Sulaym Ibne' Qays, page 134; Al Kashkul by Aamili, page 73/74; Hadeeqatush Shiah; page 30; Kaukabe' Durriya, volume 1 page 194/195
[28] Ilmul Yaqeen, volume 2 page 676/677
[29] Al Kashkul, page 73/74; Hadeeqatush Shiah; page 30
[30] Al Ihtejaj, page 27; Jalael Uloom by Sayyed Shobbar, volume 1 page 193
[31] Sulaym Ibne' Qays, page 74 and page 250; Kamil Bahai, volume 1 page 305; Jannatul Jolood, page 19
[32] Janatul Aasemah, page 252; Ash Shams Az Zoha, page 154
[33] Masaebal Ma’soomeen, page 127 and in many of the books whose names will be provided.
[34] Sulaym Ibne' Qays, page 75; that the other were crying is also found in Al Imamah was Siyasah, volume 1 page 20; Al Mustarshid, page 377/378
