The Incomparable Virtues of Fatemah Zahra (s.a.) in the Sunnah
Hazrat Faatemah (a.s.) is called Faatemah because nobody can fathom her position. The only way to get some insight into her august position is from the sayings of the holy infallibles (a.s.).
The following are some of the quotations from Sunni books listing her virtues and underscoring her status:
1) Cause of creation of the universe
Numerous Sunni narrators like Shaikh al-Islam al-Hamuee (exp 732 A.H.) has documented in his book Faraaed al-Simtain book 1, pg 36, from Ibne Abbas, who quotes from Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.):
When Allah created Hazrat Adam (a.s.) and angels prostrated before him, Hazrat Adam (a.s.) asked Allah whether He had created anyone, dearer than him (Adam).
Allah replied: Yes. If they were not there, I would not have created you.
Then Hazrat Adam (a.s.) expressed his desire to see them. At the time, Allah ordered the Angels to set aside the curtain. Then Hazrat Adam (a.s.) saw five shadows in front of Allah’s Throne. He asked: O Allah! Who are they?
Allah informed: This is Muhammad (s.a.w.a.), this is his cousin and brother and successor, Ameerul Momeneen Ali (a.s.), and this is Faatemah (s.a.) the beloved daughter of My Messenger, and these are the sons of Ali and the Prophet, Hasan and Husain. Listen O Adam, they are among your sons.
Khwarazmi has quoted in his Manaaqib, that Abu Hurairah, has invited attention to this sentence – If they would not have been there you would not have been created. After this, Allah informed Adam that if they had not have been there, even Arsh and Kursi, skies and earth, angels, jinn and humans would not have been created. And for this reason Hazrat Faatemah Zahra (s.a.) is the cause of creation.
2) Love of Faatemah is condition of prophethood
Allah, the Almighty, presented the Wilaayat (mastership) of Ali (a.s.), Faatemah (a.s.) and their infallible progeny (a.s.) to the creation. Those who took precedence in accepting them were appointed prophets, after them came the Shias. Allah will gather all of them in Paradise. Many traditions on these lines are available in books like Basaaer al-Darajaat.
3) Leader of the women of this world and the hereafter
Ibne Maghaazali Shaafe’ee, in his book Manaaqib, pg 399, has documented a tradition from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.): By the Almighty, who made me a Prophet, that you O’ (Faatemah (a.s.)) are the leader of all women in both worlds i.e. in this world, and the hereafter.
Many more traditions of this nature have been mentioned by Sunni scholars like Allamah Shahaabuddin Aalusi in Tafseer al-Maani, book 3, pg 155, Shaafe’ee in Seerah al-Halabi book 2, pg 6, as also by Suyuti, Muqrezi, Mannaawi, Ibn Abil Hadeed Motazali, Ahmed Zaini Vehlaan, Shaafe’ee Mufti Misri.
4) Affection and regard for Faatemah (s.a.) will serve at 100 stations
Shaikh al-Islam al-Hamuee in his invaluable book Faraaed al-Simtain, book 2, pg 67 has documented a tradition from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) that he (s.a.w.a.) informed Salmaan:
He who befriends Faatemah (a.s.) will be with me in Paradise and he who bears enmity with Faatemah will be in Hell. O Salmaan! Affection for Faatemah will rescue a person in 100 stations of which the least terrifying are death, grave, scale of deeds, resurrection, Seraat and accounting of deeds. He with whom my daughter is pleased, will benefit from my pleasure, and he with whom, I am pleased will benefit from Allah’s Pleasure. And he with whom Faatemah is angry, will incur my wrath and he with whom I am angry will be a target of Allah’s Wrath. Most deplorable is the one who tyrannizes Faatemah (s.a.) or her husband Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) or her sons or their Shias.
When the rulers demanded that Fatima Zahra (s.a.) produce witnesses in support of her claim on Fadak, she advanced Umm Ayman as a witness, among others.
