OBJECTIONS AGAINST HAZRAT FATEMAH ZAHRA (SA) AND THEIR REPLIES - OBJECTION NO 10 Part 1

Objection 10: If rivalry existed, why Ali (a) named his sons Umar, Abu Bakr and Uthman?

Pattern of Objection

Shia claim that the first and second Caliphs attacked the house of Fatima (r) whereas we know that Ali (a) named some of his issues after the Caliphs. This shows that the Caliphs are exonerated from these allegations. Does anyone name his children on his enemies?

Logical reply

A. Absence of restricting the name to a particular person

Names are never related to any particular person. In the same way, names like Umar, Abu Bakr and Uthman were not limited to these persons and numerous other people were also named as such.

That is why names like Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman were common names and numerous persons during the time of the Prophet were known by these names.

Thus, overlooking the replies that follow, it cannot be said that selection of these names was due to attachment and friendly relations between His Eminence and the Caliphs, because it is possible that His Eminence had attachment with other people having the same names.

B. Naming as Abu Bakr

Especially with regard to naming one of the sons of Amirul Momineen (a) on the name of Abu Bakr; if it was as some have claimed, Abu Bakr was an agnomen (Kunniyat) and not a name, His Eminence should have named his son after one of the real names of Abu Bakr: That is Abdul Kaaba, Ateeq, Abdullah or his other names (with attention to differences, which exist with regard to his names) and he would not chosen his Kunniyat.

Another point is that: What attention to the fact that Abu Bakr is a Kunniyat and not a name, and Kunniyat is chosen by a person himself according to the circumstances of his life and it is not selected by the father of that person. From this aspect, if we say that Amirul Momineen (a) named one of his sons as Abu Bakr it would be a false and baseless statement.

Finally: According to a report the real name of this son, whose Kunniyat was Abu Bakr, was Abdullah and he was martyred at Kerbala aged twenty-five years. Since his real name was Abdullah and from the aspect that he had a son named Bakr they referred to him as Abu Bakr.

Abul Faraj Isfahani writes:

Abdullah bin Ali was twenty-five years of age when he was martyred in Kerbala.[1]

On the basis of this, the birth of Abdullah occurred during the early period of the Caliphate of His Eminence, Ali (a) and the Imam during that period severely condemned the Caliphs preceding him. This is another proof of the absence of relation between these names with that, which is publicized by the objection makers.

OBJECTIONS AGAINST HAZRAT FATEMAH ZAHRA (SA) AND THEIR REPLIES - OBJECTION NO 9

Objection 9 : How did the modesty of Ali (a) allow that Fatima  should go behind the door?

Explanation

Among the objections that Wahabis have expressed is:

How can it be believed that in spite of the fact that Ali (a) was present in the house, his wife Fatima should go to the door and such an accident should take place? Why Ali (a) himself or another person from those present in the house did not step forward to open the door? Can it be justified logically that Ali (a) should send Fatima to the door when strangers were present behind it?

Logical reply

A. The door was open and Fatima went to the open door in order to close it upon the persons who were besieging the house

As opposed to today’s custom, when in towns usually the doors are kept closed all the time and only opened when someone knocks from outside, during those days, like it is customary in many villages even today that the doors usually remain open all day and only those who have sought permission can enter.

On the same basis, it is concluded from some traditional reports that at the time of the occurrence of his incident the door was open and Lady Fatima Zahra (s) was near it; and on seeing the attackers heading for her house she went behind the door and closed it upon them.

The Late Ayyashi, Shaykh Mufeed and others have written:

The narrator states that Umar said: Get up, let us go to Ali. Abu Bakr, Uthman, Khalid bin Walid, Mughira bin Shoba, Abu Ubaidah Jarrah, Saalim the freed slave of Abu Huzaifah, Qunfadh and I stood up with them. When we came near the house, Fatima saw us and that is why she closed the door on our faces. Fatima was certain that Umar will not enter without permission. Umar kicked and broke the door, which was made of date trunks. He and his companions entered the house and shouted ‘God is the greatest’ upon their success. They brought Ali (a) out of the house.[1]

In the report of Sulaym, it is also mentioned:

Umar came to the door of Ali and Fatima. Fatima was seated behind the door. Her head was tied and her body had turned frail and weak due to the loss of her father. Umar knocked at the door and said: Son of Abu Talib, open the door. Fatima said: Umar, what do you want from us? Leave us alone in the calamity that has befallen us. Umar said: Open the door, otherwise I would burn down the house. Fatima asked: Do you not fear the Almighty Allah that we are present in the house? Umar did not retreat and he called for fire and set the door afire.[2]

The Crying For Imam Hussain (as) Reaches Lady Fatima (s.a.) and Supports Her in Her Lamentation

It is narrated in the book "Kamil uz Ziyarat " Chapter 26 Tradition no 6 : 'The Entire Creation of Allah criedon Imam Husain (a.s.)'

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: O Zurarah! The sky rained blood for forty days and the earth became dark for forty days and the sun was eclipsed and turned red for forty days; the mountains were torn into pieces and dispersed and the seas gushed out and the angels wept for forty days over His Eminence (a.s.). And none of our ladies of Ahle Bayt (a.s.) dyed their hair, applied oil or Surma and combed their hair until the head of Ubaidullah bin Ziyad was sent to us; and even after that we continued to weep over him.

Whenever my grandfather remembered Imam Husain (a.s.), he would weep so much that his tears moistened his beard and everyone around him also began weeping. Angels near the grave of Imam Husain (a.s.) cry over him so much that every angel in the sky and in heavens cries in sympathy.

When the soul of Imam Husain (a.s.) left his body, Hell protested in such a way that the earth almost split apart.

When the filthy souls of Ubaidullah bin Ziyad and Yazid bin Muawiyah left their bodies, Hell roared so intensely that but for Allah containing it, using its dedicated keepers, it would have burnt everyone on earth with its outburst. And if hellfire were permitted, it would not have left anything without swallowing it. But it is restrained by shackles and controlled by orders. Hell became violent and uncontrollable more than once, until Jibraeel went to it and pacified it with his wings.

The Hell cries and laments over Husain (a.s.) and its fire blazes on his killers. If it was not for the presence of Divine Proofs of Allah on the earth, it would have destroyed the earth and overturned everything on it. But earthquakes will increase only when Qiyamat is near.

There are no eyes and tears loved more by Allah than the eyes of those who cry and shed tears over Imam Husain (a.s.). And there is none who cries but that his crying reaches Lady Fatima (s.a.) and he supports her in her lamentation, and his crying also reaches the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and in this way he fulfills our rights.

HAZRAT FATEMAH ZAHRA (SA) AND IMAM HUSSAIN (AS)

It is written in the book Kamiluz Ziyarat ( chp 26 tdn no 7) :

Abu Basir says: I was speaking with Imam Sadiq (a.s.) when one of his sons entered. Imam (a.s.) said: ‘May Allah bless you’; and then embraced and kissed him.

Then he (as) said: ‘May Allah degrade those who dishonored you. May Allah avenge those who oppressed you. May Allah disappoint those who deserted you. May Allah curse those who slain you. May Allah be your guardian, protector and helper. Prophets, truthful ones, martyrs, angels of the heavens and our ladies have been weeping on you’.

Then Imam (a.s.) began to weep and said: ‘Abu Basir, when I look at the children of Imam Husain (a.s.), grief overcomes me when I remember what was meted out to them and to their father.’

‘Abu Basir, Fatima (s.a.) weeps and laments over Husain (a.s.) as a result of which Hell sighs so intensely, that if the keepers of Hell who also hear her voice did not prepare themselves to restrain it, it would burn all the inhabitants of the earth with its blazing fires and sparking fumes. So the keepers restrain it and hold its doors tightly closed as long as Fatima (s.a.) laments. Because they fear for the inhabitants of the earth. But Hell is not pacified until Fatima’s lamentation ends.’

‘Abu Basir, the seas almost split apart and collide with each other. There is a dedicated angel for every drop of water and they prevent every drop from boiling with their wings; keeping it together because of their fear for this world and everything in it. The angels remain in fear and cry for her crying. And they pray to Allah and beseech Him, after which the inhabitants of the Arsh and those around it beg Allah.’

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‘Then their voices are raised in glorification of Allah, all because of their fear for the people of the earth. Even if one of their voices reached the earth, all the inhabitants would swoon, mountains would crumble and the earth would shake with its inhabitants.’

Abu Basir said, “May I be sacrificed on you! It is really a serious matter.”

Imam (a.s.) said, “That which you have not heard is greater. Abu Basir! Don’t you want to be of those who support Lady Fatima (s.a.)?”

When I heard this, I cried so much that I could not speak nor could the Imam (a.s.) do, because he was crying so intensely. Then he went to his prayer room and began to recite a supplication.

So I left the Imam in that state. I could not eat or sleep that night. The following morning, I was fasting and was in extreme fear when I went to Imam (a.s.). I heaved as sigh of relief when I saw that he had calmed down; and I praised and glorified Allah, because no chastisement or calamity had befallen me.

SHORT MOVIE ABOUT OPPRESSIONS ON HAZRAT FATEMAH ZAHRA (SA)

Here is a nice and short movie about the oppressions committed against Hazrat Fatemah Zahra (sa) begining from saqifah till the snatching of Fadak and her silent burial.

يارب محمد عجل فرج آل محمد

 يارب محمد أحفظ غيبة أبنه محمد

 يارب محمـــد أنتقم لأبنه محمـــد

"O Lord of Muhammad! Hasten the reappearance of the progeny of Muhammad. 

O Lord of Muhammad! Protect the occultation of Muhammad. 

O Lord of Muhammad! Hasten the revenge of daughter of Muhammad.”

OBJECTIONS AGAINST HAZRAT FATEMAH ZAHRA (SA) AND THEIR REPLIES - OBJECTION NO 8

Objection 8: Is it allowed for an infallible like Hazrat Fatima  Zahra (sa) to pray for death?

Explanation

By reading the report, which was mentioned in the previous objection number 7 , it is possible that a doubt may appear in the mind of readers, that the report in which Lady Zahra (s) has addressed Amirul Momineen (a):

Alas, if before this seclusion I was already dead![1]

Does a wish for death by an infallible like Lady Fatima Zahra (s) not create a doubt?

Logical reply

In reply we say: Allah, the Mighty and Sublime says regarding Lady Maryam (a) in the Holy Quran:

فَأَجَاءَهَا الْمَخَاضُ إِلَىٰ جِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ قَالَتْ يَا لَيْتَنِي مِتُّ قَبْلَ هَٰذَا وَكُنْتُ نَسْيًا مَنْسِيًّا ﴿٢٣﴾

“And the throes (of childbirth) compelled her to betake herself to the trunk of a palm tree. She said: Oh, would that I had died before this, and had been a thing quite forgotten!” (Surah Maryam 19:23)

Without any doubt, if desire of death in the conditions that Lady Maryam (a) was placed and she saw her honor and position in danger, it is doubtful whether Allah, the Mighty and Sublime refuted her and did not support her through silence.

Lady Zahra (s) was also in similar circumstances; because she had not expected the people, whom her father had saved from polytheism and idolatry and imparted honor and success to, that just within a few days of his passing away, they should forget everything and usurp the property of his daughter.

In these circumstances also, Lady Zahra (s) has expressed the same desire that was mentioned by Lady Maryam (a), so that perhaps she might my have the capacity to witness these severe tragedies; calamities, which according to her own statement, if they had fallen on days, they would have been transformed into dark nights.[2]

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[1] The complete text of this report was mentioned in the above objection.

[2] Ibne Asakir in Tohfa on the authority of Tahir bin Yahya Husaini through his chains from Amirul Momineen, Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a) that he said:

When the Messenger of Allah (s) was buried, Fatima came to his holy grave and taking a handful of dust from the grave put it to her eyes and wept and recited the following couplets:

It is not surprising that one who smells the dust of the grave of the Prophet and does not perceive another fragrance. Such calamities have befallen me that if they had fallen on days they would have transformed into nights.

Sobolul Huda war Rishad fee Seerat Khairul Ibad, Vol. 12, Pg. 338, Muhammad bin Yusuf Salihi Shami (d. 932 A.H.), Darul Kutub Ilmiya, Beirut, 1414 A.H. First edition, Edited: Adil Ahmad Abdul Maujud & Ali Muhammad Maudh.

OBJECTIONS AGAINST HAZRAT FATEMAH ZAHRA (SA) AND THEIR REPLIES - OBJECTION NO 7

Objection 7: Lady Zahra (s) also objected to Ali (a) 

Explanation

Wahabis have said in one of their objections:

According to reports of Shia, Lady Zahra (r), after returning from the Masjid and after delivering the sermon, became infuriated at Ali (r) that you are sitting like this and they have usurped your and my right.

But do you Shia not believe that Fatima is infallible? Can one infallible pass a remark on another infallible?

Rational reply

The actual report against which the Wahabis have objected is as follows:

When Lady Zahra (s) returned to her house after protesting before the people of Medina, she addressed Amirul Momineen (a): O son of Abu Talib, peace be on you. People are sitting in the corner like a child in the womb with the limbs withdrawn and like accused persons. This son of Abu Qahafa [Abu Bakr] has snatched away the gift of my father and the means of simple livelihood of my children. He [Abu Bakr] tried to be inimical to me and I found him the most severe enemy; till the Ansar failed to render their support to me…Alas if I had died before this seclusion and [apparent] insult. The Almighty Allah would excuse you on my behalf as you kept injustices away from me in a number of instances and supported me…[1]

In reply to this report, we say: Apart from the fact that this report is having incomplete chain of narrators, Allamah Majlisi (a.r.) and other Shia scholars have given replies to this objection, some which we shall mention below:

A. Reply of Allamah Majlisi (discussion of the evil deeds of Abu Bakr)

Allamah Majlisi (r) [died 1111 A.H.], in his book, Biharul Anwar, has replied to this doubt as follows:

In fact, the caustic remark of Lady Zahra (s) aimed to highlight the evil acts of the regime and explain to others what oppression the usurpers have wrought.

In many instances, when man wants to explain something to someone, he makes him a target of anger and addresses him in fury, whereas his aim is not to be angry upon him. This behavior was customary in speech. Like a ruler, who sees some people engrossed in some act against him, in order to express his displeasure at them, he displays anger at some of his officials, while he knows that they had not been deficient in this regard. However, he wanted to, through this expression of anger to highlight to everyone the vileness of those people. Another example is that when Prophet Musa (a) returned from Mt. Tur and found the Jews engrossed in worship of the calf, while he knew that Harun (a) was not having any shortcoming in this regard, but in spite of that he seized his beard and said to him in anger: 

“O Harun! what prevented you, when you saw them going astray, so that you did not follow me?”

Harun said: O son of my mother! seize me not by my beard nor by my head; surely I was afraid lest you should say: You have caused a division among the children of Israel and not waited for my word.”[2]

Lady Zahra (s) also wanted through this to highlight the enormity of the oppression that had befallen her husband…so that the people of that time and those who were to come later should understand what oppression has befallen Ahle Bayt (a).[3]

Thus, on the basis of the justification that the Late Allamah Majlisi has presented regarding this report: it was not accusation anger and fury in this case, on the contrary, it was the uppermost limit of anguish of the respected daughter of the Messenger of Allah (s) over the oppression wrought on her honorable husband, so that history may record this matter.