Zindagani Fatima Zahra (a) (book)

Priority: b, Quality: b
From wikishia
Zindagani Fatima Zahra (a) (book)
AuthorSayyid Ja'far Shahidi
Original titleزندگانی فاطمه زهرا سلام الله علیها
LanguagePersian
Series1 vol.
SubjectBiography of Lady Fatima al-Zahra (a)
Published1360 sh/1981-2


Zindagānī Fāṭima Zahrā (literally: the life of Fatima al-Zahra) is a book in Persian written by Sayyid Ja'far Shahidi (d. 2008) concerning Fatima (a). The book is an account of the life of the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (s), in which events and analyses are also provided. Shahidi begins with the lifetime of the Prophet (s) and finishes with the martyrdom of Fatima al-Zahra (a) and its subsequent events. The book and its summary have been repeatedly published by Daftar-i Nashr-i Farhang-i Islami Publications.

The Author

Sayyid Ja'far Shahidi (1297 sh/1918-9 -1386 sh/2008) was a historiographer, translator, researcher of Persian language and literature, and a professor of the Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences of the University of Tehran. He was a prominent student of 'Ali Akbar Dihkhuda and Badi' al-Zaman Furuzanfar in the University of Tehran. Before that, he had studied in the Seminary of Qom and Seminary of Najaf, where he attended the lectures of Ayatollah Burujirdi and Ayatollah al-Khu'i. He had allegedly obtained the degree of ijtihad.[1]

The Author's Remark

Shahidi opens his short introduction with the Quranic verse, "We relate to you their account in truth."[2] He characterizes the book as an account of the life story of the greatest lady in Islam, Fatima al-Zahra (a). The author believes that the book does not only contain a personal life story, but also instructive points.[3]

He considers his own work as an analysis of a number of surprising events that took place centuries earlier. However, if the protagonists of the events are put aside, we will see that the same events have taken place throughout the history and even in our own time around the corners of the world. Although times and places in which these events took place are far from us, their effects have not only aged, but still remain fresh.[4] In the end, Shahidi emphasizes that after reading the book, readers will find that his remarks are in no way exaggerated.[5]

Contents

In this book, Sayyid Ja'far Shahidi cites over seventy Shiite and Sunni sources.[6] The book is not structured into chapters, but its content proceeds from the lifetime of the Prophet of Islam (s) to the martyrdom of Fatima al-Zahra (a). He concerns himself with other issues as well. Here are some sections of the book:

  • What are those events?
  • The Arabian Desert
  • The name and titles of the daughter of the Prophet (s)
  • From the marriage proposal to Fatima al-Zahra's move in her husband's house
  • al-Zahra's life in her husband's house
  • Fatima al-Zahra (a), the master of all ladies in all the worlds
  • Has there even been a feud between Fatima and her husband?
  • The worship of the Prophet's daughter
  • Fadak at the Prophet's disposal being handed over to al-Zahra
  • The Prophet's demise
  • Attack on the Prophet's house
  • The refuge of justice seekers
  • Abu Bakr's response to the Prophet's daughter
  • Was Fatima (a) ill before the Prophet's demise?
  • Fatima's instructive words in her deathbed
  • The burial of Fatima al-Zahra (a)
  • The grave of the Prophet's daughter
  • A lesson for history
  • Selections of poems by Arab Shiite poets
  • The Prophet's daughter in Persian poetry
  • Children of Fatima (a)
  • The last station of the caravan[7]

Summary and Publications

The full version of the book has been published by Daftar-i Nashr-i Farhang-i Islami Publications in 1360 sh/1981-2. Zindagani Fatima Zahra has been repeatedly reprinted throughout the years. In 1394 sh/2015-6, it was reprinted for the 60th time. A summary of the book has also been published and repeatedly reprinted.

Notes

  1. Website of Majalla-yi Farhangī Hunarī-yi Bukhārā.
  2. Qur'an 18:13.
  3. Shahīdī, Zindigānī-yi Fāṭima Zahrā (a), p. 7.
  4. Shahīdī, Zindigānī-yi Fāṭima Zahrā (a), p. 7.
  5. Shahīdī, Zindigānī-yi Fāṭima Zahrā (a), p. 7.
  6. Shahīdī, Zindigānī-yi Fāṭima Zahrā (a), p. 272-274.
  7. Shahīdī, Zindigānī-yi Fāṭima Zahrā (a), p. 268-271.

References