The Leader of the Women of the Worlds

Hadrat Fatima Zahra (S.A) the Leader of the Women of the Worlds, the only Daughter of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) and the Mother of the Leaders of Youth of Paradise: Imam Hasan (A.S.) and Imam Husain (A.S.)

Hadrat Fatima Zahra (A.S.) completely resembled the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) and the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S) considered her the part and parcel of his life, and used to say repeatedly, "Fatima (A.S.) is a piece of me, whosoever troubles her has troubled me, and whoever pleases her has pleased me."

Hadrat Fatima Zahra (S.A) was martyred at the age of 18 years on 13th Jamadi al-Awwal or 3rd Jamadi al-Thani in the 11th year of Hijrah only 75 or 95 days after the heavenly departure of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S).

On this deeply grieved and sorrowful mourning occasion, we extend our heartfelt deepest grief and condolences to all the followers and lovers of the Holy Ahlul Bayt (A.S.) in the world.

Holy Prophet's Beloved and the Infallible Lady of Islam

LIFE AT A GLANCE

Name: Fatemah (s.a.)
Agnomen: Ummo Abeeha (The mother of her father),
Umm al-Aimmah (The mother of Imams (a.s.)),
Umm al-Uloom (The mother of sciences),
Umm al-Fazaael (The mother of virtues),
Umm al-Hasan (a.s.), Umm al- Husain (a.s.), Umm al-Sibtain (a.s.).
Titles: Zahra, Taaherah, Sayyedah, Batul, Azra, Taqiyyah,
Zakiyyah, Raaziyah, Marziyyah, Mubaarekah.
Father: Hazrat Muhammad al-Mustafa (s.a.w.s)
Mother: Umm al-Momineen Hazrat Khadijah al-Kubra (s.a.)
Husband: Ameerul Momineen Ali Ibn Abi Taalib (a.s.)
Children: Three sons-Imam Hasan, Imam Husain and Hazrat Mohsin and two daughters- Zainab and Umm al-Kulsoom.
Date of Birth: 20th Jamaadi al-Thaani, 5th Year of Bethat (8 years before Hijrah)
Date of Marriage: Rajab or Zilhajj, 2nd year of Hijrah.
Age at Matrimony: 9 years.
Date of Martyrdom: 14th Jamaadi al-Awwal 11 Hijri or 3rd Jamaadi al-Thaani, 11 Hijri.
Age at Martyrdom: 18 years
Place of Burial: Her Room in Masjid al-Nabi, Madina (according to a famous tradition).

PROGENY

According to the consensus available in history, Allah the Almighty had bestowed Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) with five children. Imam Hasan (a.s.) who was born on the 15th Ramazan, 3 A.H. and was martyred on 28th Safar, 50 A.H. Imam Husain (a.s.) who was born on the 3rd Sha'baan, 4 A.H. and was martyred on 10th Muharram, 61 A.H. Janab Zainab who was born in the 5th or 6th year after hijri and expired on 14th Rajab, 73 A.H. Janab Umm al-Kulsoom who was born in the 8th year after hijri and according to a narration, she expired after four months and ten days on her return from Karbala- (Bahr al-Masaaeb).

Muhsin who was martyred due to the oppression of the merciless tyrants while he was still in the womb of his holy mother. He was named by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s). (Wafaah al-Siddiqah, p. 62; Talkhees al-Shaafi, p. 415).

SERVICES TO RELIGION

Included in the services rendered to Allah's religion by Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) are all those relations due to which Islam was initiated or even survived. If one analyses Islamic history, he will realise that the respected father of Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) was the cause of Islam's advent in this world. It spread on account of the struggles of her husband Ali (a.s.) and survived only and only because of the sacrifices of her two sons, Hasan and Husain (a.s.). This is amply evidence that whenever she served her father, husband or sons in any manner, she was actually serving her relations, rather she was serving the religion of Allah the Almighty.

The most evident proof of this lies in the title conferred on her by Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.), that is, 'Mother of her father' (Umm Abeeha). 'When a son, after bearing a world of difficulties, returns to his benevolent mother, he gains a great degree of relief. The presence of Fatema (s.a.) provides me with similar comfort and relaxation.

When I return home after facing the scorching heat of calamities and passing through the travails of Jihaad, the very presence of Fatema (a.s.) provides me considerable satisfaction and becomes the cause of fresh courage and determination. The same applied for Ali (a.s.). When she cleaned his sword, it was not a service rendered to a husband, rather it was a duty to Islam.

The proof of this statement is in the fact that no woman, as a wife, would like her husband to go to a battle unequipped and apparently, the only fate that lied ahead was death, nothing else. But not once did Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) utter that let the other Muslims also go to fight or at least think about the future of the Prophet's daughter without you. This also displayed her enthusiasm for sacrifice and the zeal for the propagation of religion.

Certainly, none can imagine a higher service rendered to religion than that by Hazrat Zahra (s.a.).

More than anything else was the fact that right on day one of the birth of her younger son, Imam Husain (a.s.), she was informed about his martyrdom on the day of Aashoora at Karbala. Yet, she left no stone unturned in his training nor did she request her father to pray to the Almighty to dispel this calamity and that her son be saved.

From spending the entire wealth of her mother, Janab Khadija (a.s.), till the sacrifice of her sons, Hasan and Husain (a.s.), and from Karbala till Syria, the family of Hazrat Zahra (a.s.) is the symbol of the reality that none in the universe, male or female, has rendered more service to Islam than her.

Alas! The achievements of those who spread a few gold and silver coins in the way of Islam being drummed in the whole world. But the traditionalist becomes dumb and the pen of the historian dries up when the discussion is about the lady who sacrificed her entire household in the way of Allah. One can also find instances of her direct participation in wars.

For example, she treated the Holy Prophet (s.a.) in the battle of Uhud when he was injured. (Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, p. 330, 334; Seerah of Ibn Hisham, vol. 3, p. 206). She also served the corpse of Hazrat Hamzah (a.s.) in the same battle. (Maghaazi of Ibn Ishaaq, vol. 1, p. 290).

Mention has also been made of her providing food to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in the battle of Khandaq. (Tabaqaat of Ibn Sa'd, vol. 1, p. 114; Zakhaaer al-Uqba, p. 46; Sharho Nahjil Balagha of Ibn Hadid Mu'tazeli, vol. 11, p. 129). Maghaazi has also mentioned her presence during the Meccan conquest (vol. 1, p. 850, 1830) and also during the Hajjah al-Widaa' (vol. 3, p. 1087 and 1090).

In his last moments, the head of Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.a.) was in the lap of his daughter and he also breathed his last in front of his benevolent daughter. This also shows the strong bondage existent between father and daughter. Just as Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) had opened her eyes in this material world in the arms of her father, he too departed in her lap.

MARTYRDOM

Under the pressure of the aforementioned calamities, Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) became unwell quite often. According to Allama Majlisi (a.r.), she became constantly sick sixty days after the martyrdom of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). After fifteen days of unabated illness, she expired on the 13rd Jamaadi al-Awwal 11 A.H.

Her last will was that all her seven gardens in Madina belonged to Ali (a.s.) and after him, to her children. A coffin like the one made by the angels should be prepared for me.
(Al-Tabaqaat of Ibn Sa'd, vol. 8, p. 18; Sunan of Baihaqi, vol. 4, p. 34; Zakhaaer al-Uqba, p. 53).

The oppressors should not be permitted to participate in the funeral procession and that she should be buried at night. Ameerul Momineen Ali (a.s.) should marry Amaamah Binte Zainab so that she may take proper care of the children. After burying her, Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) should sit near the grave and recite Quran because that is the time when the dead need the acquaintance of the living ones.
(Al-Wafaah al-Siddiqah, p. 105, narrating from Kashf al-Allah).

Only Umm Salmah, Umm Aiman, Abdullah Ibn Abbas, Salman, Miqdaad, Abuzar, Ammaar and Huzaifah should be informed about her death. Hence, Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) bathed her during the night and wrapped her in seven shrouds. Hasan, Husain, Salman, Miqdaad, Abuzar, Ammaar, Huzaifah, Abdullah Ibn Mas'ood, Abdullah Ibn Abbas and Aqeel participated in the funeral rites. Abu Bakr, Umar and other tyrants were neither invited nor did they participate.
(Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 43, p. 193).

Thereafter, Ali (a.s.) destroyed the sign of her grave and made numerous other signs of false graves so that the oppressors may remain in dark about her actual place of burial.
(Dalaael al-Imaamah, p. 46; Rauzah al-Waaezeen, p. 131). Allamah Majlisi in Miraah al-Uqool (vol. 1, p. 383) has stated that the martyrdom of Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) is an irrefutable and accepted fact of Islam. (May Allah curse all those who oppressed the Prophet's beloved and the infallible lady of Islam).