Fatimah al-Zahra’s (Peace Be Upon Her) Stance Toward Those Who Usurped Fadak
Fatimah al-Zahra’s (Peace Be Upon Her) Turning Away from Abu Bakr
In the previous sections, we introduced the reader to two important subjects: the details surrounding the incident of Fadak and the fabricated hadiths related to this issue, along with an analysis of those narrations. Throughout our discussion, we have sought to maintain fairness and impartiality by citing reliable sources from Sunni scholarship.
We now turn to another section of the letter, which addresses the anger of Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her) following the seizure of Fadak.
Indeed, Abu Bakr, relying on a fabricated hadith, took Fadak away from Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her), the purified daughter and beloved part of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).
That noble lady continued to demand her rightful claim until the final moments of her life. Eventually, as we previously explained by citing Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, she passed away while being displeased with Abu Bakr and having turned away from him.
She also instructed that she be buried at night and that none of those individuals be allowed to perform the funeral prayer over her.
This account is also recorded in numerous historical and hadith sources. Among the scholars and historians who have transmitted it are:
- Al-Bukhari, in Kitab Fard al-Khumus [1].
- Muslim, in Kitab al-Jihad wa al-Siyar [2].
- Ibn Sa’d, in Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra [3].
- Abu Ja’far al-Tahawi [4].
- Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari [5].
- Al-Hakim al-Nishapuri [6].
- Abu Bakr al-Bayhaqi [7].
- Abu Nu’aym al-Isfahani [8].
- Ibn Abd al-Barr al-Qurtubi [9].
- Muhyi al-Din al-Nawawi [10].
- Abu Bakr al-Haythami [11].
- Ibn al-Athir al-Jazari [12].
- Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani [13].
References
[1] Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 4, pp. 177–178, Hadith 2.
[2] Sahih Muslim, vol. 5, pp. 153–154.
[3] Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 10, p. 28.
[4] Sharh Ma’ani al-Athar, vol. 2, p. 4; vol. 3, p. 308.
[5] Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 2, p. 236.
[6] Al-Mustadrak, vol. 3, p. 178, Hadith 4764.
[7] Al-Sunan al-Kubra, vol. 6, pp. 300 and 396.
[8] Hilyat al-Awliya’, vol. 2, p. 43.
[9] Al-Isti’ab, vol. 4, p. 1897.
[10] Tahdhib al-Asma’ wa al-Lughat, vol. 2, p. 353.
[11] Majma’ al-Zawa’id, vol. 9, p. 311.
[12] Usud al-Ghabah, vol. 6, p. 226.
[13] Al-Isabah, vol. 8, p. 60.
Another Fabricated Hadith
The seizure of Fadak undoubtedly had significant consequences. It was difficult for those individuals to accept that the beloved daughter of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) would pass away under such circumstances. They also found it troubling that the noble lady would be buried without Abu Bakr—whom they regarded as her father’s successor—and his companions being able to attend her funeral or perform the funeral prayer over her.
For this reason, some of them fabricated a hadith and attributed it to the descendants of Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her), attempting to establish that Abu Bakr had attended her funeral, performed the funeral prayer over her, and even pronounced the four takbirs during the prayer.
However, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explicitly criticized this narration and identified it as false. While discussing the biography of Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Rabi’ah ibn Qudamah al-Qudami al-Misisi, he writes:
He is among the weak narrators. He transmitted false narrations from Malik, and among them is this particular narration, which he relates from Ja’far ibn Muhammad, from his father, from his grandfather:
“Fatimah passed away during the night. Abu Bakr, Umar, and a large group of people then arrived. Abu Bakr said to Ali: ‘Step forward and lead the funeral prayer.’
Ali replied: ‘By Allah, I will not do so, nor can I place myself ahead of you, for you are the successor of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).’
Thereupon, Abu Bakr led the funeral prayer and pronounced four takbirs.”
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani discusses this narration in Lisan al-Mizan, volume 3, page 334 [14].
[14] Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Lisan al-Mizan, vol. 3, p. 334.
The Anger of Fatimah al-Zahra (Peace Be Upon Her) Is the Anger of Allah
In light of what has been discussed, Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her), the beloved daughter of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), continued to demand her rightful claim until the final moments of her life. She passed away while being displeased with Abu Bakr and having turned away from him.
The author of the letter argues that Fatimah was simply a woman like other women. Therefore, what difference would it make if she became angry with Abu Bakr because Fadak had not been returned to her?
To clarify this matter, it is important to consider an authentic hadith narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).
The Prophet said:
“Ya Fatimah! Inna Allaha ta’ala yaghdabu li-ghadabiki wa yardha li-ridhaki.”
“O Fatimah! Indeed, Allah becomes angry when you are angry and is pleased when you are pleased.”
This narration has been transmitted by numerous Muslim scholars, including prominent Sunni hadith scholars.
The hadith demonstrates the exceptional position of Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her) in the sight of Allah and His Messenger. Consequently, her anger and satisfaction cannot be regarded as ordinary personal emotions without considering their religious significance.
Among the prominent Sunni scholars who transmitted this hadith are:
- Hafiz Abu Musa ibn al-Muthanna al-Basri (d. 252 AH) [15].
- Hafiz Abu Bakr ibn Abi Asim (d. 287 AH) [16].
- Hafiz Abu Ya’la al-Mawsili (d. 307 AH) [17].
- Hafiz Abu al-Qasim al-Tabarani (d. 360 AH) [18].
- Hafiz al-Hakim al-Nishapuri (d. 405 AH) [19].
- Hafiz Abu Sa’d al-Kharkushi (d. 406 AH) [20].
- Hafiz Abu Nu’aym al-Isfahani (d. 430 AH) [21].
- Hafiz Abu al-Hasan Ibn al-Athir (d. 630 AH) [22].
- Hafiz Muhibb al-Din Ibn al-Najjar al-Baghdadi (d. 643 AH) [23].
- Hafiz Abu al-Muzaffar Sibt Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 654 AH) [24].
- Hafiz Muhibb al-Din al-Tabari (d. 694 AH) [25].
- Hafiz Abu al-Hajjaj al-Mizzi (d. 742 AH) [26].
- Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (d. 852 AH) [27].
- Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Haytami (d. 974 AH) [28].
- Hafiz Ali al-Muttaqi al-Hindi (d. 975 AH) [29].
- Hafiz Abu Abdullah al-Zurqani al-Maliki (d. 1122 AH) [30].
References
[15] Dhakha’ir al-Uqba, pp. 82–83.
[16] Al-Isabah, vol. 8, p. 57; Sharh al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyyah, vol. 4, p. 330.
[17] Kanz al-Ummal, vol. 12, Hadith 34238.
[18] Al-Tabarani, Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir, vol. 1, Hadith 182; vol. 22, Hadith 1001.
[19] Al-Hakim, Al-Mustadrak, vol. 3, Hadith 4730, p. 167.
[20] Dhakha’ir al-Uqba, pp. 82–83.
[21] Abu Nu’aym, Fada’il al-Khulafa’, pp. 124–125, Hadith 140; Kanz al-Ummal, vol. 12, Hadith 34238.
[22] Ibn al-Athir, Usud al-Ghabah, vol. 6, p. 224.
[23] Kanz al-Ummal, vol. 13, Hadith 37725.
[24] Sibt Ibn al-Jawzi, Tadhkirat Khawas al-Ummah, p. 279.
[25] Muhibb al-Din al-Tabari, Dhakha’ir al-Uqba, pp. 82–83.
[26] Al-Mizzi, Tahdhib al-Kamal, vol. 22, p. 379.
[27] Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Al-Isabah, vol. 8, p. 56; Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 442.
[28] Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, Al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, p. 105.
[29] Ali al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Kanz al-Ummal, vol. 12, Hadith 34238; vol. 13, Hadith 37725.
[30] Al-Zurqani, Sharh al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyyah, vol. 4, p. 3030.
