The Only Daughter of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.)
The Only Daughter of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.): Fatimah (a.s.) was born on 20th Jamadi-ul-Thaani 615 AD in Makkah. She was the one and only daughter of the Holy Prophet (saww) and Khadeejah (a.s.). Her birth took place in the 5th year of Be’thah (proclamation of prophet hood) and 8 years before Hijrah (migration). Allah (SWT) says, “Verily We have given you (O Muhammad) Kawthar (abundance)”.
S V Mir Ahmad Ali writes in his Tafseer:
When the Holy Prophet (saww)’s son, Tahir, born to Khadeejah (a.s.) died, ‘Amr bin ‘Aas and Hakam bin ‘Aas taunted the Holy Prophet (saww) by calling him Abtar which means ‘tail-less’, whose progeny has been cut off. This Surah was revealed to give glad tidings to the Holy Prophet (saww) that abundance of unbounded grace, wisdom and knowledge, mercy and goodness, spiritual power and insight, in highest degrees, and of progeny has been given to him.
One of the meanings of Kawthar is a stream of water. The Holy Prophet (saww) said, “Kawthar is a stream of super excellence, exclusively belonging to me. Only the righteous believers will be allowed to drink from it. Ali shall distribute the water from it to them”. (Sahih al-Bukhari)
S V Mir Ahmad Ali further states:
Kawthar also means abundance of descendants. The countless descendants of the Imams of the Ahlul-Bayt, in the progeny of ‘Ali and Fatimah are known as “Sayyids”. They are the descendants of the Holy Prophet (saww) (through his daughter Fatimah). Aqa Mahdi Puya says: This chapter guarantees abundance in every type of growth and profit to the Holy Prophet (saww).
FATIMAH (A.S.)-THE ONLY DAUGHTER:
Some historians write that the Holy Prophet (saww) and his wife Khadeejah (a.s.) were blessed with two sons and four daughters: Qasim, Tahir, Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthoom and Fatimah. However, the reality is that they were blessed with two sons and one daughter. The two sons were indeed Qasim and Tahir, both of whom died during their infancy and the only daughter who survived was Fatimah (a.s.).
Seyyid Ali Asghar Razawi writes:
It is not known with certainty who these three girls were (Zaynab, Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthoom). Most Sunni historians claim they were the daughters of Muhammad (saww) and Khadeejah (a.s.). Some historians claim they were daughters of Khadeejah (a.s.) from her first marriage. However, Shia’hs assert that they were neither the daughters of Muhammad (saww) and Khadeejah (a.s.), and nor the daughters of Khadeejah (a.s.) from her first marriage. Rather, they were the daughters of Khadeejah (a.s.)’s widowed sister and were raised by Khadeejah (a.s.) after her sister’s death. (Restatement of the History of Islam and Muslims)
HER TITLES:
Umm Abeeha: ‘The mother of her father’. This title was given to her by the Holy Prophet (saww) because after the death of Khadeejah (a.s.), it was Fatimah (a.s.) despite her young age, took care of the Holy Prophet (saww). She is the one who showered her love to him and comforted him in distress.
Al-Radhiyyah & Al-Mardhiyyah: ‘Ever Pleased & Satisfied’ with whatever has been decreed by Allah (SWT). In the Ziyarah ‘salutation’ of this great lady, we recite: “Peace be upon you O’ who was ever pleased and satisfied”.
Her other most popular titles are:
Al-Siddiqah: ‘The Truthful’
Al-Zahra: ‘The Splendid’
Al-Tahira: ‘The Virtuous’
Al-Zakiyyah: ‘The Chaste’
