Continued from Part I....
Her Merits:
Many scholars have written books about the attributes and virtues of Hadrat Fatima (s.a.w.a.). The truth is that her attributes are so numerous that it is not possible to describe them all. It is suffecient that Fatima (s.a.w.a.) is the mother of 11 Imams who have been chosen by Allah.
The Messenger of Allah(s.a.w.a.) and Fatima(s.a.):
Ibn Athir and Tabarani have quoted from Imam Ali(a.s.) that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said to Fatima(s.a.): “Allah becomes angry when you become angry, and Allah is satisfied when you are satisfied.”[1]
Shaikh Saduq(a.r.) and Allama Majlisi(a.r.) have recorded several versions of this tradition.[2]
Zayd ibn Arqam said: The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said to Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Husain: “Whoever is your enemy, I am his enemy! And whoever is your friend, I am also his friend.” [3]
Ibn Abbas said:”Whenever the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) was leaving for a trip, the last one he goes to for saying goodbye was Fatima (s.a.w.a.) and whenever he returned, she was the first who received his greetings. If Fatima’s position before Allah had been not so high, he would not have acted like that.”[4]
Ibn Abbas and others have related that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) drew four lines on the ground and said:”Do you know what these lines are?” the people said:”Allah and his Prophet (s.a.w.a.) know better.” he then said: “the best women in heaven are Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad, Maryam bint Imraan and Asiyah bint Muzahim.”
The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) has also praised Fatima and her dear mother Khadija (s.a.), in other speeches, such as the ones in which he said: “The best women in the heaven are four: Fatima, Khadija, Maryam, and Asiyah.” [5]
Imam Sadiq (s.a.w.a.) has quoted from his forefathers that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said:”On the Judgment Day, a caller from inside the throne will announce:”O people close your eyes, for the daughter of the dearest to Allah (i.e., the Prophet) is going to her castle...”[6]
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) many times said, in similar way: “Fatima (s.a.) is a part of me, the light of my eyes, and the fruit of my heart. Whoever harms her, harms me, and whoever makes her happy, makes me happy. She will be the first of my family to join me.”
Regarding Fatima (s.a.), her husband and children, he(s.a.w.a.) said: “O Lord, you know that these are my household, and the dearest people to me. Thus, love whoever loves them; and be enemy to whoever is their enemy...”[7]
Umar ibn Khattab quotes the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as saying: “Fatima, Ali, Hasan and Husain will be in the highest in heaven, in a white dome with the Throne of the Beneficent as its ceiling.”[8]
Zahra’s(s.a.) divine position:
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: “If Amir Ul-Momineen(a.s.) had not married Zahra (s.a.), there would have been no one, on earth, equal to her until the Day of Judgment.”[9]
He also said: Fatima(s.a.) has been called Zahra because the Glorified Allah created her from His Glorious Light. When it shone, all the heavens and the earth were bright with that light and the angel’s eyes were closed, and they bowed down before Allah. Then they said:”O our Lord and Master, what is this light?”
Allah revealed to them, “It is a light from My light, which is in Heaven. I took it from My Glory, and put it in the lines of one of my Messengers, who is the best. From this light, Imams will come, and who will be steadfast in obedience to My commands.”[10]
Someone asked Imam Sadiq (s.a.) that why Fatima(s.a.) was named Zahra. He replied: “Because, when she was standing in prayer, her light shone for those in the Heaven, the way the stars shine for those on earth.”[11]
Imam Sadiq has also stated:
“Fatima was called Mohaddatha because angels descended from heaven and addressed her (as the addressed Mary): “O Fatima, God chose you and purified you; and chose you from among all women.”[12]
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said: ”O Fatima, do you know why you have been named Fatima?” then he himself added; “Because your followers and you will be saved from the fire.”[13]
Ibn abil Hadid said:”Ali’s marriage to Zahra occurred after Allah, with the angels as witnesses, married them (in Heaven).”[14]
Zahra’s(s.a.) worship:
Imam Hasan (a.s.) said:
“There is no one more devoted to Allah than Fatima (s.a.w.a.). She stood [in prayer] until her feet swelled.”
He also said:” My mother worshipped [Allah] at her prayers niche (Mehrab) a great deal and I heard her praying for all the Believers except herself...”[15]
Her contenment and forbearance:
Once, the Holy Prophet(s.a.w.a.) and the people were waiting for Hazrat Bilal. When he arrived, the Holy Prophet(s.a.w.a.) asked:”Why are you late?” Bilal said: “I went to Fatima(s.a.) to pay her what I owed her. She was grinding flour and her son, Hasan, was near the mill crying. I asked her what I should do, to pick up the child, or grind the flour.” She replied: “I will take care of the child.” So I took over the grinding and that is why I am late.” The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said: “You were merciful to her and Allah is merciful to you.”[16]
Janabe Salman(a.r.) says:”Fatima was grinding oats and Husain was crying because he was hungry. I said:”O daughter of the Prophet! Why do you not ask Fizzah (the virtuous woman who helped Hazrat Fatima (s.a.)) to help you?”
She replied: “The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said that housework should be divided such that Fizzah works one day and I work the next dat. Fizzah worked yesterday.”[17]
Many times it happened that there was nothing in the house to eat, but Fatima (s.a.w.a.) never complained, because she did not want Ali (a.s.) to be ashamed and unhappy. Allah, because of this respect, sent Divine food, fruit and clothing to them.[18]
Aaisha’s testimony:
Fatima’s excellence and virtues were so great that even Aaisha could not neglect them. She said: “I have never seen anyone more similar to the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) than Fatima(s.a.). Whenever she entered the room, the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) stood up. He was kind to her and kept her close to him.” Aaisha also said:”I never saw anyone more truthful than Fatima, except for her children.”[19]
Ibn Abdul-Bar and Ibn Athir have related a tradition from Jumayi ibn Umair in which he asked Aaisha,”Who is the most beloved to Prophet (s.a.w.a.)?”
She said: “Fatima(s.a.).”
Then he asked: “And among the men?”
She said: “Ali(a.s.)” [20]
[1] Usd ul-Ghabah, vol.5, p.522; al-Mujam ul-Kabeer, vol.22, p.402
[2] Uyun Akhbar ar-Rida, vol.2, p.29, Bihar ul-Anwar, vol.19, p.43
[3] Usd al-Ghabah, vol.5, p.522
[4] Bihar ul-Anwar, vol.43, p.40; al-Istiab, vol.4, p.1895; Usd al-Ghabah, vol.5, p.52
[5] Al-Istiab, vol.4, p.1895; al-Mujam al-kabeer, vol.22, p.402; Bihar ul-Anwar , vol.43, p.51; Rayaheen ash-Sharia, vol.1, p.218
[6] Bihar ul-Anwar, vol.43, p.62; Usd ul-Ghabah, vol.5, p.523; al-Mujam al-Kabeer, vol.22, p.400.
[7] Bihar ul-Anwar, vol.43, p23, 24, 39; A’lam an-Nisa, vol.4, p.125.
[8] Bihar ul-Anwar, vol.43, p.76.
[9] Al-Kafi, vol.1, p.461; Kitab al-Hujjat, section regarding Zahra’s birth; ‘Ilal ash-Sharaee’, p.178
[10] Bihar ul-Anwar, vol.43, p.12, 14, 15
[11] Elaal ash-Sharaee, p.181.
[12] Dalail al-Imamat, p.11.
[13] Ilal ash-Sharaee, p.179.
[14] Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, vol.9, p.193
[15] Bihar ul-Anwar, vol.43, p.76, 82; Rayaheen ash-sharia, vol.1, p.179.
[16] Bihar al-Anwar, vol.43, p.76.
[17] Bihar ul-Anwar, vol.43, p.28
[18] Bihar ul-Anwar, vol.43 p.59, 68, 73, 77.
[19] Al-Istiab, vol.4, p.1896; Bihar ul-Anwar, vol.43, p.25, 68.
[20] Bihar ul-Anwar, vol.43, p.38; al Istiab, vol.4, p.1897; Usd al-Ghabah, vol.5, p.522.