Lady Fatimah al-Zahra' (a): Difference between revisions

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 {{Family tree Ahl al-Bayt (a)}}
-==Early Life==
+==Biography==
+Lady Fatima (a) was the fourth or according to some reports the fifth child of the Holy Prophet (a). Her mother was the first wife of the Holy Prophet (a), Lady Khadijah (a). Historians are in agreement that she was born in Makkah, in the house of Lady Khadijah (a) which was located on the alleys of al-A’tareen and Hijr, which was located in close proximity to the “Mus’a” . According to Shia sources, her date of birth is recorded to be the 20th of Jami al-Thani.
-Fatima lived in [[Mecca]] from her birth to [[Hijra]] (immigration of the Muslims to Medina 13 year after [[Bi'tha]]).
+===Birth and Early Childhood===
+Based on the popular opinion amongst the Shia, she was born in the 5th year after the beginning of the prophetic mission, which was also more commonly known as the “Year of Ihqaqqah” i.e. the year in which the chapter of Ihqaaq was revealed. However, Shaykh Mufid and Kaf’ami believe her birth to have taken place in the 2nd year after the prophetic mission. The popular held opinion amongst the Sunni scholars is that she was born five years before the beginning of the prophetic mission.
-===Birth===
+The lack of extensive historical reports about her childhood and youth makes it difficult to gain an understanding of her early life. According to historical accounts, after the Holy Prophet (a) began to openly propagate, Lady Fatima (a) was a witness to some of the harsh treatments that the polytheists subjected him to. In addition to this, for three years of her childhood she was exposed to the harsh financial and social sanctions that were imposed on the Bani Hashim and the followers of the Holy Prophet (a) by the polytheists whilst in the Valley of Abu Talib.
-It has been narrated in [[Shi'a]] and [[Sunni]] sources that before her mother was pregnant with her, [[God]] ordered the Prophet (s) to avoid [[Lady Khadija (a)]] for 40 days. After 40 days of [[praying]], [[fasting]], and worship, he was taken to [[Mi'raj]], where he ate heavenly foods, then he went back to Khadija and she got pregnant with Fatima (a).<ref>See: Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 16, p. 78.</ref>
-Fatima (a) was born in [[Mecca]] in the Prophet's (s) house. There are different reports about her birthday in Shi'a and Sunni sources. Sunnis believe that she was born five years before [[Bi'tha]]/605, in the year that [[Ka'ba]] was rebuilt.<ref>Ayati, ''Chikida-yi tarikh-i payambar-i Islam'', p.35</ref> Al-Ya'qubi writes that she was 23 at her demise.<ref>Al-Ya'qubi, ''Tarikh al-Ya'qubi'', trans. Ayati, vol.1, p.512</ref> According to this report she must have been born on the year of Bi'tha/610. This also matches [[al-Shaykh al-Tusi]]'s opinion that Fatima (a) was 13 when she married [['Ali (a)]] five months after Hijra.<ref>Ayati, ''Chikida-yi tarikh-i payambar-i Islam'', pp.35-36; (cited from ''Misbah al-mutahajjid'', p.561)</ref> [[Al-Kulayni]], however, says in ''[[al-Kafi]]'' that she was born five years after Bi'tha/615.<ref>Al-Kulayni, ''al-Kafi'', vol.1, p.530</ref>
+While still in her childhood, Fatima (a) experienced the loss of her beloved mother, Lady Khadijah (a) and of her father’s uncle and important supporter, Abu Talib (a). Some other important events that occurred during her childhood include the decision of the Quraish to assassinate the Holy Prophet (a), his night migration from Makkah to Madinah and finally the migration of Lady Fatima (a) accompanied by Imam Ali (a) and other ladies from Makkah to Madinah.
-===Childhood===
+===Proposal and Marriage===
-Fatima (a) spent her early youth under the care of her parents and especially [[Prophet (s)|her father]].<ref>Shahidi, ''Zindigani-yi Fatima-yi Zahra'', p.35</ref> Contrary to the local customs in which the newborn were sent to "wet nurses" in surrounding villages. Her childhood was synchronized with the time of formation of [[Islam]], when Muslims were suffering the tribulations caused by [[polytheist]]s in [[Mecca]].<ref>Shahidi, ''Zindigani-yi Fatima-yi Zahra'', pp.36-39</ref> The Muslims were tested during this period by tough sanctions and tortures and were put in the economic blockade in a valley called [[Shi'b Abi Talib]]. They barely have enough food to eat and enough water to drink. [[Khadija]] and [[Abu Talib]], the main supporters of the Prophet (s) both passed away during this period [in the year 10 after Bi'tha/619 which is also called [['Am al-Huzn]] (the year of sorrow)].<ref>Shahidi, ''Zindigani-yi Fatima-yi Zahra'', pp.39-45</ref> It was then that the Prophet (s) gave Fatima (a) the title of "[[Umm Abiha]]" (the mother of her father) due to the supports and cares she provided for her father.<ref>Shahidi, ''Zindigani-yi Fatima-yi Zahra'', pp.36-45</ref>
+Lady Fatima (a) had many marriage proposals, but she eventually married Imam Ali (a). According to some researchers, after the Holy Prophet (a) migrated to Madinah and became the leader of the Islamic community, Fatima (a), because of her being the daughter of the Holy Prophet (a) was held in very high regard by the Muslims. In addition to this, because of her superior qualities over the other women of her era and the clear love that the Holy Prophet (a) showed to her caused some Muslims to pursue her hand in marriage.
+Even some of the Quraishi dignitaries, because of their precedence in accepting Islam or stronger financial situation also asked for Fatima’s (a) hand in marriage. Abu Bakr, Umar, Abdul Rahman ibn Awf and Imam Ali (a) are said to be among this group. All proposals except the one brought by Imam Ali (a) were rejected by the Holy Prophet (a). The Holy Prophet (a) is reported to have said in response to these proposals: “The marriage of Fatima is a heavenly ordainment and requires a divine verdict.” In some instances, the discontent of Fatima (a) towards the proposer has been reported.
+Due to his family attachment with the Holy Prophet (a) and the ethical and religious traits of Fatima (a), Imam Ali (a) truly desired her hand in marriage; however, historians have narrated that he did not allow himself to propose to the Holy Prophet (a) for his daughter. S’ad ibn Maaz informed the Holy Prophet (a) about this, which lead to the Holy Prophet (a) accepting the proposal of the Imam (a). He then took the proposal to Fatima (a) and told her of his praiseworthy traits and characteristics, to which she gave her approval.
+Imam Ali (a), like the other migrants (muhajirin), during the early period after the migration did not have a stable financial position and found difficulty in paying the prescribed dowry. In resolving this issue, he followed the advice of the Holy Prophet (a) and gave the money earned from selling or loaning his armor as the dowry to Fatima (a). The marriage ceremony of Imam Ali (a) and Lady Fatima (a), which was attended by the Muslims, took place in the masjid.
+There is a difference of opinion concerning the date of the marriage ceremony. Most sources record it to have taken place in the second year after Hijrah i.e. the ceremony took place after the Battle of Badr, in the month of Shawwal or Dhi al-Hijjah in the second year after Hijrah.
+===Her Life with Imam Ali (a)===
+It is reported in historical records and traditions that Fatima (a) in varying ways showed her affection towards Ali (a) and even in the presence of her father, the Holy Prophet (a) would call him the best of husbands. Her respect towards her husband has been counted as one of the great qualities of Fatima (a). It has been reported that Fatima (a) would address Imam Ali (a) with affectionate words whilst in the home and would address him with the respectful title of Abu al-Hasan whilst in public. It has also appeared in reports that Fatima (a) would use perfumes and jewelry while at home and it can even be seen that on occasions she would give her necklaces and bracelets as charity.
+In the beginning periods of their married life, Imam Ali (a) and Fatima (a) lived in very difficult financial conditions to such an extent that at times they were not able to find food to satiate Imams Hasan (a) and Husayn (a). However, even with the existence of these harsh conditions, Fatima (a) never complained and even at times tried to assist her husband in acquiring livelihood by spinning wool.
+Fatima (a) took it upon herself to do the household work and left the outside work to Imam Ali (a); even when the Holy Prophet (a) sent a helper by the name of Fidha to her home, she did not pass over all the chores to her, rather she was responsible for doing half the work and Fidha was responsible for doing the other half. According to some reports it is said that Fatima (a) would allocate Fidha to do the chores one day and then she would then do them herself the next day.
+====Children====
+Shia and Sunni sources are coherent that Hasan, Husayn, Zaynab and Umme Kulthum are the four children of Ali and Fatima. In Shia sources and in some Sunni sources a name of another son is mentioned who was miscarried as a result of the injuries that Fatima (a) sustained during the events that occurred after the demise of her father, the Holy Prophet (a). His name is recorded to have been either Mohsin or Mohassin.
+===Events towards the End of her Life===
+During the last few months of her life some very unpleasant and painful incidents occurred. It has been mentioned that during this period no one saw al-Zahra (a) smiling. The passing of her father, the events of Saqifah, the usurpation of the caliphate, the confiscation of Fadak by the government and the delivery of the Fadakiyah sermon in the presence of many important companions of her father are some of the most important events that took place during this period.
+Being at the side of Imam Ali (a), she was one of the main opponents of the Saqifah council and the choosing of Abu Bakr as caliph. It was because of this stance that they became targets of the government’s threats, of which one example is when the government threatened to set the house of Fatima (a) on fire. When Imam Ali (a) and the other opponents of the caliph refused to pay the oath of allegiance, they sought refuge in the house of Fatima (a), this led to the supporters of the caliph attacking her house and as a result of this attack, Fatima (a) got severely injured when trying to prevent them from taking Imam Ali (a) to Abu Bakr in order to forcibly take his oath of allegiance; this was also the cause of her child being miscarried. After this incident, she fell very ill and after a short space of time achieved martyrdom.
+On her death bed, Fatima (a) made a request to her husband that all those who opposed her and oppressed her should not participate in her funeral prayers and burial and asked him to bury her at night. According to the commonly accepted view, Fatima (a) passed away on the 3rd of Jamadi al-Thani in the year 11th year after Hijrah, in the city of Madinah.
 ==Immigration to Medina==