Lady Fatimah Zahra (SA), Only Reminiscent of Prophet (S)
Lady Fatimah Zahra (SA) was the Only Reminiscent of Prophet(S). Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra embodied all female virtues: Piety, modesty, generosity, devotion, patience, self-sacrifice, and complete submission to the will of God. Most dearly loved by the Holy Prophet (S), says Umm-ul-Mo’menin Hazrat Umme Salma, Fatemeh resembled her father in appearance and character. She inherited piety and generosity from her mother, Umm-ul-Mo’menin Hazrat Khadijeh, the qualities for which the first lady to embrace Islam became known throughout the Arab world in her time.
Born on Friday, 20, Jamadi-ul Sani, 5 years after the public announcement of the prophetic mission of Mohammad (S), Hazrat Fatemeh is known with the kunya’ (patronymic title) of Bint-e Mohammad, the filionymic title of Umm-ul-Hassan and Umm-ul-Hussein and the honorific titles (alqab) of Batoul (the clean), Sayyidatunnisa (leader of all ladies), Afzalunnisa (the most superior of the ladies), Al-Siddiqah (the truthful), Al-Zahra (the brilliant), Al-Tahira (the pure) Al-Zakiyya (the virtuous) and Al-Raziyah and Al-Marziyya (resigned to the will of God).
Amir-ul-Mo’menin Hazrat Ali reported that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said that he named his daughter Fatemeh because God protected her and her descendants from the fire of Hell.
The Best of All Women
The holy Prophet (PBUH) said that four ladies were given the title of Afzalun Nisa (or the most superior of the ladies).
They are Aasiya, daughter of Muzahim, Maryam, daughter of Imran, Khadijat-ul-Kobra, daughter of Khuwaylid (wife of the Holy Prophet), and Fatemeh, daughter of Mohammad (PBUH).
It has been reported by Umm-ul-Mo’menin Hazrat Ayesha that one day the Holy Prophet said to Hazrat Fatemeh: Are you not pleased and content to know that you are the leader of all the ladies of the world, leader of all the lady believers, leader of all the ladies of paradise and the leader of all the ladies of the (Muslim) community? God, Himself was exceptionally kind to Hazrat Fatemeh, bestowing upon her marks of superiority which were enjoyed by no other woman in the whole history of mankind.
An indirect reference to these excellencies is found in the report of Hazrat Abul Hamra from the Holy Prophet, where the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said about Amir-ul-Mo’menin Hazrat Ali: O Ali, God the Almighty has bestowed upon you three excellencies which he has not bestowed upon any other man, including even me. Firstly, He has given you a father-in-law like myself, a pride which is shared by no one else. Secondly, He has bestowed upon you a Siddiqa wife, the like of whom has never been the wife of anyone else.
Thirdly, He has given you sons, Hassan and Hussein the likes of whom have never been given to anyone else. Anyhow, you belong to me, and I belong to you.
Similarly, Allameh Iqbal enumerated the exceptional virtues possessed by Hazrat Fatemeh and declared her the perfect ideal for all women: Mary is revered for a single relationship (i.e. of Jesus Christ) while Fatemeh is revered for three relationships.
She is, firstly the apple of the eye (i.e. the daughter of the Holy Prophet, who is a blessing for the universe.
Who infused a new spirit into the body of the world, and created a new age with a new way of life.
She is, secondly the wife of Ali, helper of the needy, and Lion of Allah.
Ali, who was the ruler, but whose dwelling was a humble cottage, and whose total assets were a sword and a coat of mail.
She is, thirdly the mother of Hassan of that apex of the compass love of and the chief of the caravan of love.
Who was a candle in the night chamber of Haram (Ka’ba) and who was a defender of the unity of the Muslim ummah best of communities.
In order to put an end to the conflict (between Muslim groups).
He kicked away the crown and signet.
She is also the mother of another son (Hussein) the master of the pious of the world who was the source of strength of all freedom-loving people of the world.
In fact, it was Hussein who imparted pathos to the tune of life.
It was Hussein who taught the lesson of freedom to the followers of truth.
Hazrat Fatemeh personified devotion and the virtues of absolute submission to the will of God, generosity, patience, and contentment.
Referring to these superior qualities in the character of Hazrat Fatemeh, Allameh Iqbal further says Harvest of the field of submission to the will of God. Fatemeh is a perfect example of human virtues for all women.
She was so moved at the pathetic sight of a beggar that she sold her mantle to a Jew.
Both (angels and jinns), products of light and fire, were obedient to her.
Her will was lost in the will of her husband. Instructed in patience and submission to the will of God, she would recite the holy Qoran while busy with the hand mill.
She did not weep (of hunger) while lying in bed (with an empty stomach) But she wept for the fear of Allah while offering prayer.
I am fettered in the chains, of the Divine Law, And have regard for the order of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) (forbidding worship of anybody except Allah), I would have, otherwise, encompassed Hazrat Fatemeh’s grave and would have lain prostrated on its (holy) ground.
Married to Hazrat Ali in a solemn and simple ceremony, she passed the life of an ideal wife with that ideal husband in simplicity and perfect contentment, till at last she was deprived of the kind shelter of her loving father. This great loss was unbearable for her, so that hardly three months after that tragedy, which she passed in weeping and lamentation, she followed her dear father to heaven on Jamadi-ul Sani 3 in the same year that her father had died (i.e. 11 A.H.). According to her last will, her funeral took place in the darkness of night, and it has been told that she was buried in the graveyard known as Jannat-ul Baqee’but the exact place of his grave remained unknown for all Muslims.
Verily we belong to Allah, and verily we shall return to Him.
