House of Lady Fatima (a): Difference between revisions

In a hadith found in both [[Shia]] and [[Sunni]] sources, the Prophet (s) described the house of Fatima and Ali (a) as among the best examples of the houses mentioned in [[Qur'an 24:36]]: "In houses [such as these], Allah has allowed [His Name] to be exalted and remembered therein. His glorification is performed therein, morning and evening."

The house of Fatima (a) was the birthplace of her children and, according to one hadith, also the birthplace of [[Imam al-Sajjad (a)]]. In a hadith cited in [[Al-Kafi|''al-Kafi'']], [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] regarded praying in the house of Fatima as superior to praying in the [[Rawdat al-Nabi]] (the Prophet's (s) Chamber). It is also reported that [[Imam al-Jawad (a)]] would pray in the house of Fatima (a) every day.

Ibn Sa'd, the third/ninth century Islamic historian, narrates from [[Imam al-Baqir (a)]] that after Imam Ali (a) [[Marriage of Imam Ali (a) and Lady Fatima (a)|married Fatima (a)]], he prepared a house that was somewhat distant from the Prophet's (s) home. The Prophet (s) expressed his desire for his daughter to live closer to him. Fatima (a) asked the Prophet to speak with [[Haritha b. Nu'man]] about residing in his house. Haritha had previously given some of his homes to the Prophet (s) for him and [[Wives of the Prophet (s)|his wives]] to live in. The Prophet (s), however, said he felt shy to make such a request. When Haritha learned of this, he gifted his house to the Prophet (s), saying that the Prophet accepting his gift was more beloved to him than his declining it. Thus, Ali and Fatima (a) moved into Haritha's house.

The house of Lady Fatima (a) was located to the east of the [[Prophet's (s) Mosque]], positioned centrally among the other chambers of the Prophet (s). This house had two doors: one opening into the mosque and the other opening outward. During the event of Sadd al-Abwab (the Closing of the Doors), the Prophet (s), by God's command, ordered all doors leading to the mosque to be closed except for the door of this house. Sadd al-Abwab is considered an [[Virtues of Imam Ali (a)|exclusive honor for Ali (a)]].

{{Main|The incident of the attack on the house of Lady Fatima (a)}}

According to both Shia and Sunni sources, after the [[Prophet's (s) demise]] and the [[event of Saqifa]], a group of the Prophet's (s) companions attacked Lady Fatima's house to compel Imam Ali (a) and others who had refused to pledge [[allegiance]] to [[Abu Bakr]] and had sought refuge there. Shia sources report that during this incident, the door of the house was set on fire, resulting in injuries that caused Fatima (a) to miscarry her unborn child, [[Al-Muhsin b. al-Imam Ali (a)|Muhsin (a)]]. Fatima herself succumbed to her injuries and was [[Martyrdom|martyred]] shortly thereafter.