Hazrat Fatemah Zahra (s.a.) (the chief of all women in Paradise) was least interested in worldly possessions. She being a lady of exalted disposition, enjoyed great spiritual status and this was well-acknowledged by the Islamic world. She had all along remained aloof from the world and was wary of its trappings and deceit. However, after the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) demise, she agitated against the government to assert her claim over Fadak.
What brought about this change in her outlook to worldly possessions after snubbing them all her life? Why after recognizing the world for what it is ��” more worthless than a goat’s sneeze or the bone of a pig in the hand of a leper or lighter than the wing of a fly, did she embark on a prolonged struggle with the government over a piece of property?
What factors made her bear untold hardships, affliction and troubles in her crusade against the government? Were a small piece of land and a few date trees worth so much trouble? After all, she was fully aware that all her efforts would eventually be in vain and the government would not return the land to her. It is natural for conscious readers to raise such questions regarding Hazrat Fatemah Zahra’s (s.a.) anguished demand for Fadak.
The questions are not complex for students of Islamic history, particularly for those who have closely studied the events in the immediate aftermath of the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) demise. A cursory analysis of these events will provide the readers the answers they are seeking.
The first and primary reason was that Fadak was usurped to deprive Hazrat Fatemah Zahra (s.a.) of her lawful property and thus financially weaken the progeny of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.). Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) was already facing opposition in his claim for caliphate; by withholding the property of Fadak, an attack was being inflicted by the government to weaken him economically. It was anticipated by the government that the people would see Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) as financially weak and would disregard his claim to caliphate. In the process, they wanted to dent his social and religious status. This was the very tactic adopted by the hypocrites with regards to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in the early era of Islam, who had imposed economic sanctions against all the companions and helpers of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), thereby aiming to weaken him (s.a.w.a.) and his mission.
