In the darkness of the jet-black night, when eyes were asleep and voices were silent, a Heavenly procession left Ali’s house while carrying the Messenger of Allah’s daughter to her final abode. The heartbreaking procession moved towards an unknown location followed by a small number of devoted ones… They were Ali, Hassan, Hussain, Zainab and Umme Kulthum… Abu Dhar, Ammar, Miqdad, and Salman were following them.
Where were the thousands who inhabited Medina?! One asks, and the answer came: Fatima (A) requested that they may not be present at her funeral!!
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| JANNATUL BAQI BEFORE DESTRUCTION |
At sunrise people gathered to participate in Fatima’s funeral, but they were informed that the darling of Allah’s Messenger (S) had been secretly buried during the night.Meanwhile, Ali (A) made the shapes of four fresh graves in Baqi’ so as to conceal the location where Fatima was buried. When the people entered the graveyard, they were confused as to which spot was actually Lady Fatima Zahra’s grave; the people turned towards each other and with feelings of guilt said:
"Our Prophet (S) has not left behind but one daughter, yet she has died and was buried without our participation in the funeral or the prayer rituals. We do not even realize the place where she has been buried”
Noticing that a revolt might be ignited because of the emotional atmosphere this event created, the governing party announced: “Select a group of Muslim women and ask them to dig these graves so that we may find Fatima (A) and perform prayers on her.”
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| JANNATUL BAQI AFTER DESCTUCTION |
Yes! They attempted to execute the plan, violating Fatima’s will and causing Ali’s attempts to hide the grave to lay vainly.Have they forgotten Ali’s sharp sword and his well-known courage!! Did they really think that Ali would remain indifferent to their outrageous actions up to the point of letting them dig Fatima’s grave?!
Ali (A) was asked by the Prophet (S) to have patience, but only to a certain extent; when Ali (A) received the news of the about-to-be-executed plot, he put on his fighting gear and rushed towards Baqi’. A man from among the people called out:
“This is Ali Ibn Abu Talib leveling his sword and saying: If anyone moves even a mere stone from these graves, I shall strike even the “back of the last follower of the unjust.”
People who realized Ali’s seriousness, took his threats with complete belief that he would do just as he said if anyone were to oppose him. Yet, a man from the governing ones addressed Ali (A) by saying:
“What is the matter, Abu Al-Hassan?! By Allah, we shall dig her grave out and perform prayers on her.”
Ali (A) then grabbed the man by his clothes, shook him and threw him to the ground and said:
“Son of the Sawada! I have abandoned my right to prevent people from forsaking their faith, but as regards Fatima’s grave, by Him in whose hand is my soul, if you and your followers attempt to do anything to it, I will irrigate the ground with your blood!!”
At this, Abu Bakr said; “Abu Al-Hassan, I ask you by the right of Allah’s Messenger, and by Him Who is above the Throne: leave him alone and we will not do anything which you would not approve of…”
Thus, until this day, the location of Fatima’s grave remains a secret.
( Reference : Fatima The Gracious , Chapter 55 , 'A QUIET FUNERAL' )
