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{{Islam}}
{{Islam}}
:''This is a sandbox for the article at [[Fatimah]].
{{otherpeople2|Fatima (name)}}
{{otherpeople2|Fatima (name)}}
{{underconstruction}}


'''Fatimah bint Muhammad''' (20th of [[Jumada al-thani]] (606[[Christian Era|CE]]) - 3rd of Jumada al-thani 11[[Islamic calendar|AH]] (632CE)), popularly known as '''Fatimah Zahra''' ({{ArB|فاطمة الزهراء}}), was a daughter of [[Muhammad]]. Most [[Sunni]] sources report that she was one of four daughters.<ref name=sources>* See for example: {{cite quran|33|59}} <br />[[Ibn Hisham]]'s [[Sira]], Vol. 1, p. 122 [http://www.yasoob.com/books/htm1/m025/28/no2855.html] <br />[[Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari|Tabari]]'s ''History of Prophets and Kings'', Vol. 2, p. 35 [http://www.yasoob.com/books/htm1/m024/28/no2810.html] <br /> [[Ibn Kathir]]'s ''Al-Bidayah Wa An-Nihaya'', Vo. 2, p. 359 [http://www.yasoob.com/books/htm1/m024/28/no2827.html]<br />* For Shi'a sources that mention other daughters of Muhammad, see:<br />[[Tusi]]'s ''Tahthibul Ahkam'', Vol. 8, p. 258 [http://www.yasoob.com/books/htm1/m012/10/no1022.html]<br /> [[Shaikh Saduq]]'s ''Khisal'', p. 404 [http://www.yasoob.com/books/htm1/m012/09/no0999.html]<br /> [[Kulayni]]'s ''[[Usul al-Kafi|Al-Kafi]]'', Vol. 5, p. 555 [http://www.yasoob.com/books/htm1/m012/09/no0983.html] <br /> [[Shaykh Mufid]]'s ''Al-Muqanna'ah'', p. 332 [http://www.yasoob.com/books/htm1/m001/00/no0005.html] <br /> Himyari's ''Qurb Al-Isnad'', p. 9 [http://www.yasoob.com/books/htm1/m012/09/no0975.html] <br /> Papyrus scroll of Ibn Lahi'ah, referenced by G. Levi Della Vida-[R.G. Khoury]. "ʿUT̲H̲MĀN b.ʿAffān ." Encyclopaedia of Islam. Edited by: P. Bearman , Th. Bianquis , C.E. Bosworth , E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2007. Brill Online. 03 April 2007 [http://www.brillonline.nl/subscriber/entry?entry=islam_COM-1315] <br />* For views from Western scholarship see: <br /> Veccia Vaglieri, L. "Fāṭima." Encyclopaedia of Islam. Edited by: P. Bearman , Th. Bianquis , C.E. Bosworth , E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2007. Brill Online. 03 April 2007 [http://www.brillonline.nl/subscriber/entry?entry=islam_COM-0217] <br /> Watt, W. Montgomery. "K̲H̲adīd̲j̲a." Encyclopaedia of Islam. Edited by: P. Bearman , Th. Bianquis , C.E. Bosworth , E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2007. Brill Online. 03 April 2007 [http://www.brillonline.nl/subscriber/entry?entry=islam_SIM-4116]
'''Fatimah''' (c. 605 – 632) was the youngest daughter of the [[Islamic prophet]] [[Muhammad]] and his first wife [[Khadija]].<ref name=USC-MSA-BIO/><ref name=EoI/> She was Muhammad's favourite daughter and is regarded by [[Muslim]]s as an exemplar for women. She remained at her father's side through the difficulties sufferred by him at the hands of the [[Quraysh]] of [[Mecca]]. In later life, she married [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]], Muhammad's cousin, and was mother to his four children. She died from illness a few months after her father, and was buried in [[Jannat al-Baqi]] in the city of [[Medina]].
</ref> [[Shi'as]], however, maintain that she was Muhammad's only daughter (see [[Genealogy of Khadijah's Daughters]]). Modern descendants of Muhammad trace their lineage exclusively through Fatimah, because she was the only child of Muhammad who had children that survived. Muhammad had no sons who reached adulthood.<ref name ="Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet">{{cite book|last = Armstrong|first = Karen|title = Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet|publisher = HarperSanFrancisco; Reprint edition|date=September 10, 1993|id = 0062508865}}</ref>


== Birth ==
==Biography==
[[Image:Bibi Fatima (AS).jpg|thumb|left||100px|]]
Fatimah bint Muhammad (c. 605 – 632 [[Christian Era|CE]]), the daughter of the [[Islamic prophet]] [[Muhammad]], was born in [[Makkah]] to [[Khadija]], the first wife of Muhammad. There are differences of opinion on the exact date of her birth, but the widely accepted view is that she was born five years before the first [[Wahy|Qur'anic revelations]], during the time of the rebuilding of the [[Kaaba]] in 605,<ref name=USC-MSA-BIO>[http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/history/biographies/sahaabah/bio.FATIMAH_BINT_MUHAMMAD.html Fatimah bint Muhammad]. USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts.</ref><ref name=EoI>"Fatima", Encyclopedia of Islam. Brill Online.</ref><ref name=parsa>Parsa, Forough (فروغ پارسا). "Fatima Zahra Salaamullah Alayha in the works of Orientalists" (فاطمهٔ زهرا سلامالله علیها در آثار خاورشناسان), pp.8&ndash;14, ''Nashr-e Dānesh'', Vol. 22, No. 1, Spring 2006. ISSN 0259-9090. In Persian.</ref><ref>[http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9364250/Fatimah Encyclopaedia Britannica]</ref><ref>[http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefArticle.aspx?refid=761553645 MSN Encarta]</ref> although this does imply she was over 18 at the time of her marriage which was unusual in Arabia.<ref name=EoI/> [[Shia]] sources, however, state that she was born either two or five years after the first Qur'anic revelations,<ref name=FatimaTheGracious/> but this timeline would imply her mother was over fifty at the time of her birth.<ref name=EoI/>
The dates mentioned for the birth, marriage and death of Fatima vary in different sources. Several Sunni sources mention her birth happening in the same year of the reconstruction of the [[Kaaba]] (five years ''before'' Muhammad received the revelation), while most Shi'a sources mention five years ''after'' the declaration of prophethood.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} Some sources have also mentioned she was born in the year Muhammad received the first revelation.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} This places Fatima's birth sometime between 606 to 615[[Christian Era|CE]].<ref name="parsa">Parsa, Forough (فروغ پارسا). "Fatima Zahra Salaamullah Alayha in the works of Orientalists" (فاطمهٔ زهرا سلامالله علیها در آثار خاورشناسان), pp.8&ndash;14, ''Nashr-e Dānesh'', Vol. 22, No. 1, Spring 2006. ISSN 0259-9090. In Persian.</ref>


In the second year after the [[hijra]], she received many proposals for marriage through her father. With respect to the identity of her intended marriage partner, her father is reporeted to have said, "I am waiting for the revelation in this connection."{{Fact|date=July 2007}}
Fatimah is generally placed as the fourth of Muhammad's daughters after [[Zainab bint Muhammad|Zaynab]], [[Ruqayya]], and [[Umm Kulthum bint Muhammad|Umm Kulthum]].<ref name=sourcesonbirthdate>* See: <br>
[[Ibn Hisham]]'s [[Sira]], [http://www.yasoob.com/books/htm1/m025/28/no2855.html Vol. 1, p. 122]<br>
[[Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari|Tabari]]'s ''History of Prophets and Kings'', [http://www.yasoob.com/books/htm1/m024/28/no2810.html Vol. 2, p. 35]<br>
[[Ibn Kathir]]'s ''Al-Bidayah Wa An-Nihaya'', [http://www.yasoob.com/books/htm1/m024/28/no2827.html Vo. 2, p. 359]<br>
* For Shi'a sources that mention other daughters of Muhammad, see:<br>
[[Tusi]]'s ''Tahthibul Ahkam'', [http://www.yasoob.com/books/htm1/m012/10/no1022.html Vol. 8, p. 258]<br>
[[Shaikh Saduq]]'s ''Khisal'', [http://www.yasoob.com/books/htm1/m012/09/no0999.html p. 404]<br>
[[Kulayni]]'s ''[[Usul al-Kafi|Al-Kafi]]'', [http://www.yasoob.com/books/htm1/m012/09/no0983.html Vol. 5, p. 555]<br>
[[Shaykh Mufid]]'s ''Al-Muqanna'ah'', [http://www.yasoob.com/books/htm1/m001/00/no0005.html p. 332]<br>
Himyari's ''Qurb Al-Isnad'', [http://www.yasoob.com/books/htm1/m012/09/no0975.html p. 9]<br>
Papyrus scroll of Ibn Lahi'ah, referenced by G. Levi Della Vida.<br>
* For views from Western scholarship see: <br>
R.G. Khoury. [http://www.brillonline.nl/subscriber/entry?entry=islam_COM-1315 ʿUT̲H̲MĀN b.ʿAffān]. Encyclopaedia of Islam. Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2007. Brill Online. 03 April 2007<br>
Veccia Vaglieri, L. [http://www.brillonline.nl/subscriber/entry?entry=islam_COM-0217 Fāṭima]. Encyclopaedia of Islam. Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2007. Brill Online. 03 April 2007<br>
Watt, W. Montgomery. [http://www.brillonline.nl/subscriber/entry?entry=islam_SIM-4116 K̲H̲adīd̲j̲a]. Encyclopaedia of Islam. Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2007. Brill Online. 03 April 2007</ref> Shias claim she was his only daughter, believing Khadija's three other daughters to have been from her previous marriage.<ref name=FatimaTheGracious>{{cite book |author=Abu Muhammad Ordoni |title=[[Fatima the Gracious]] |publisher=Ansariyan Publications |date=1990}}</ref>


The claimed revelation was later recited by her father as, "Oh my prophet get the light (Noor) married to the light i.e., get Fatima married with Ali."{{Fact|date=July 2007}} When [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]] approached her dad to inform him of his marriage desire, the former is reported to have described her as his lucrative possessed jewel stone.{{Fact|date=July 2007}}
== Virtues ==
[[Image:Binte Muhammad.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Arabic calligraphy reading ''Fatimah az-Zahra''.]]
After Khadijah, Muslims regard Fatimah as the most significant historical figure, considered to be the leader of all women in [[Jannah|Paradise]], and a behavioural examplar. She was the first wife of the first [[Shia Imam]], the mother of the second and third, and the ancestor of all the succeeding Imams; indeed, the [[Fatimid]] dynasty is named after her.<ref>Esposito, John; ed. ''Oxford History of Islam'' Oxford; 1999 ISBN 0-19-510799-3</ref>


Her father is reported to have asked her about Ali, "Oh daughter you know that Ali is the one who was the first ever faithful out of the lot. I had prayed to God, to give the best husband for you. Therefore, God has selected Ali as your husband, so what is your opinion?"{{Fact|date=July 2007}} Fatima remained silent which her father took as a sign of approval and arranged the marriage.
Fatimah was given the title "''al-Zahra''" (meaning "the shining one") and is commonly referred to as Fatimah Zahra.<ref name=USC-MSA-BIO/><ref name=FatimaTheGracious/> She was also known by many other titles including "''al-Batul''" (the chaste and pure one) and spent much of her time in [[Salah|prayer]], reciting the [[Qur'an]] and in other acts of [[ibadah|worship]].<ref name=USC-MSA-BIO/><ref name=FatimaTheGracious/>


After the aggregation of the tribe of Bani Hashim and friends and relations, Muhammad delivered a Khutba (religious speech), and got her married to Ali for the sale of [[mahr]] equivalent to four hundred Masqal Silver (one Masqal comes to nearly 3.45 grams).
[[Muslim]]s regard Fatimah as a loving and devoted daughter, mother, and wife, a sincere Muslim, and an exemplar for Muslim women. It is believed that she was very close to her father and her distinction from other women is mentioned in many [[hadith]]s: "Fatima is a part of me, and whoever makes her angry, makes me angry."<ref>[[Sahih Bukhari]] [http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/sunnah/bukhari/057.sbt.html#005.057.111|English Translation, Vol. 5, Book 57, Number 111]</ref>


A companion (Sahabi) is reported to have stated regarding this, "The Islamic Prophet Muhammad got a sheep slaughtered and invited a few persons and made them witnesses upon the marriage."{{Fact|date=July 2007}}
== Early life ==
Following the birth of Fatimah, she was personally nursed by her mother contrary to local customs where babies were sent to other women in surrounding villages to be nursed.<ref name=Ghadanfar>{{cite book |author=Mahmood Ahmad Ghadanfar |title=Great Women of Islam |publisher=Darussalam |isbn=9960-717-17-8}}</ref> She spent the early years of her life under the care of her parents in Makkah in the shadow of the tribulations suffered by her father at the hands of the polytheists.


After one month of the [[Nikah]], in the 2nd [[Hijra]] on the marriage night, Muhammad held Fatima by her hand and handing her hand over to Ali and said, "Oh Ali, Fatima is the best wife for you." Thereafter, he addressed Fatima and said "Oh Fatima, Ali is a good husband for you." Then he said. "Now, both of you move towards your real home."{{Fact|date=July 2007}}
According to tradition, on one occasion while Muhammad was performing the ''[[salah]]'' (prayer) in the Kaaba, [[Abu Jahl]] and his men poured Camel placenta over him. Fatimah upon hearing the news rushed to the Kaaba and wiped away the filth off her father while scolding the men.<ref name=FatimaTheGracious/><ref name=EoI/><ref name=Ghadanfar/> On another occasion, she passed by Abu Jahl on the street who slapped her across the face. She went to [[Abu Sufyan]], the leader of the [[Quraish]] and complained about Abu Jahl's behaviour. Abu Sufyan brought her to Abu Jahl and instructed her to slap him back which she did. When she narrated this incident to Muhammad, he had expressed satisfaction at Abu Sufyan's sense of justice.<ref name=Ghadanfar/>


The women of Bani Hashim, [[Ansar]], and [[Muhajireen]], after taking their dinner, rode Fatima on the [[camel]] of her father and took her along to Ali's house with great fervor. Ali and Fatima lived near Quba mosque at a distance of eight kilometers from [[Medina]] where her dad had stayed on migration from [[Mecca]] and had waited a week for Ali to join him. After some time Ali came to the city and selected a house adjacent to the house of Muhammad.
Following the death of her mother, Fatimah was overcome by sorrow and found it very difficult to come to terms with her death. She was consoled by her father who informed her that he had received word from angel [[Gabriel]] that God had built for her a palace in paradise.<ref name=EoI/>


== Marriage ==
==Death==
[[Image:Binte Muhammad.jpg|right|100px]]
Many of Muhammad's companions asked for Fatimah's hand in marriage including [[Abu Bakr]] and [[Umar]]. Muhammad turned them all down saying that he was awaiting a sign of her destiny.<ref name=EoI/><ref name=FatimaTheGracious/> [[Ali ibn Abu Talib]], Muhammad's cousin, also had a desire to marry Fatimah but did not have the courage to approach Muhammad due to his poverty. Even when he mustered up the courage and went to see Muhammad, he could not vocalise his intention but remained silent. Muhammad understood the reason for his being there and prompted Ali to confirm that he had come to seek Fatimah in marriage. He suggested that Ali had a shield, which if sold, would provide sufficient money to pay the bridal gift (''[[mahr]]'').<ref name=EoI/><ref name=USC-MSA-BIO/> Muhammad put forward the proposal from Ali to Fatimah who remained silent and did not protest which Muhammad took to be a sign of affirmation and consent.<ref name=EoI/><ref name=FatimaTheGracious/>
: ''See [[Umar at Fatimah's house]]''
[[Umar]] led a party of armed men against Ali's house in Medina and called for Ali and his men to come out and swear allegiance to [[Abu Bakr]], who they had decided would take power in the meeting at [[Saqifah]]. Umar and [[Khalid ibn Walid]] threatened to burn the house down if they did not submit. They broke in, resulting in Fatimah's ribs being broken between the broken door and the wall, and she miscarrying an unborn son named [[Muhsin ibn Ali|Muhsin]]<ref>'''Sharh Nahju'l-Balagha''' Volume III, page 351 [http://www.duas.org/essay_ghadeer.htmVolume 11]</ref><ref>'''Sharh Kushaiji''' Mubais Imamate, page 407 [http://forum.mpacuk.org/archive/index.php?t-941.html 12]</ref><ref>'''Sharhe Nahju'l-Balagha''' Volume III, page 351 [http://www.duas.org/essay_ghadeer.htm 13]</ref><ref>'''al-Islam.org'''[http://www.al-islam.org/gracious/48.htm]</ref><ref>'''answering-ansar.org''' [http://www.answering-ansar.org/answers/burning_the_house/burning_the_house.pdf 14]</ref><ref>'''al-Islam.org''' [http://www.al-islam.org/peshawar/7.5.html 15]</ref>. According to other sources, Umar ordered the beating of Fatimah <ref>[[Ibn Hanbal]], [[Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal]] vol. 3, p. 259</ref><ref>Balazheri, Ensab ul-shareef vol. 1, p. 586</ref><ref>Al-Aqd ul-fareed, vol. 13, p. 5</ref><ref>Shahrestani, Melal wa Nah vol. 1, p. 57</ref><ref>Mas'udi, Ethbat ul-wathiyat p. 123</ref><ref>Al-Wafi bil Wafiyat vol. 5, p. 347</ref><ref>Ibn Qutaybah, Al-Imamah wal Siyasah vol. 1, p. 19/20</ref>, some saying Umar personally kicked Fatimah in the stomach, causing her miscarriage <ref>Lisan al-Mizan vol. 1, p. 268</ref>.


She died of her wounds on the 3rd of Jumada al-thani, 11th of Hijra, and was buried in secret at her request, to prevent Abu Bakr and Umar whom she considered to be her father's true enemies from attending the funeral<ref>'''Al-Jaafaria''' [http://www.aljaafaria.com/aljaafaria-old/FATIMA.html]</ref>.
The actual date of the marriage is unclear, but it most likely took place in 623, the second year of the hijra, although some sources say it was in 622.<ref name=EoI/> Fatimah is reported to have been between the ages of 15 and 21 at the time of her marriage while Ali was between 21 and 25.<ref name=EoI/><ref name=USC-MSA-BIO/> Ali sold his shield to raise the money needed for the wedding, as suggested by Muhammad.<ref name=EoI/> However, Uthman, to whom the shield was sold, returned it back to Ali saying it was his wedding gift to Ali and Fatimah.<ref name=USC-MSA-BIO/>


[[Sunni]] Muslims reject this account.
Muhammad himself performed the wedding ceremony and two of his wives, [[Aisha]] and [[Umm Salama]], prepared the wedding feast with dates, figs, sheep and other food donated by various members of the Medinan community.<ref name=EoI/>


== Children ==
==Legacy==
{{quote box|quote=Welcome, welcome,
Fatimah was survived by two sons, [[Hasan ibn Ali|Hasan]] and [[Husayn ibn Ali|Husayn]], and two daughters, [[Zainab bint Ali|Zaynab]] and [[Umm Kulthum bint Ali|Umm Kulthum]].<ref name=EoI/> Controversy surrounds the fate of her third son, [[Muhsin ibn Ali|Muhsin]]. Shias say that she miscarried after being crushed behind a door by men who had come to threaten her husband.<ref name=FatimaTheGracious/> Sunnis disagree and insist that Muhsin died in his infancy of natural causes.<ref name=Ghadanfar/>
Mother of all mothers of the world.


The city of [[Medina]] is full of [[child|flowers]] from the flower of [[Mohammad|Ahmad]] (Fatimah)(Alayhi Salaam),
Modern descendants of Muhammad trace their lineage exclusively through Fatimah, as she was the only child of Muhammad who had children that survived. Muhammad had no sons who reached adulthood.<ref name=Armstrong>{{cite book |last=Armstrong |first=Karen |title=Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet |publisher=HarperSanFrancisco |edition=Reprint |date=1993 |id=0062508865}}</ref>


== Life before the death of Muhammad ==
Bring flowers because the flower of Ahmad has come,
After her marriage to Ali, the wedded couple led a life of abject poverty in contrast to her sisters who were all married to wealthy individuals.<ref name=USC-MSA-BIO/> Ali had built a house not too far from Muhammad's residence where he lived with Fatimah. However, due to Fatimah's desire to be closer to her father, a Medinan (Haritha bin al-Numan) donated his own house to them.<ref name=EoI/> Fatimah had no maid servants and performed all the household duties herself. Additionally, she worked as a corn-grinder as a result of which her hands were covered in blisters.<ref name=EoI/> Ali worked to irrigate other peoples lands by drawing water from the wells which caused him to complain of chest pains.<ref name=USC-MSA-BIO/>


The house of [[Mohammad|Mostafa]] is illuminated. Heaven and earth and
Following the [[Battle of Uhud]], Fatimah tended to the wounds of her father and husband, and took it upon herself to regularly visit the graves of all those who died in the battle and pray for them.<ref name=EoI/> Fatimah, along with her husband, was also called upon by Abu Sufyan to intercede on his behalf with Muhammad while attempting to make amends following the violation of the [[Treaty of Hudaybiyya]]. Abu Sufyan also asked for Fatimah's protection when she went to Mecca while it was under occupation which she refused under instruction from her father.<ref name=EoI/>
the sky are full of light,


The whole universe, heaven and the skies were dark,
== Life after the death of Muhammad ==
{{Shia Islam}}
For the few months that she survived following the death of her father, Fatimah found herself indirectly at the center of political disunity. Differing accounts of the events surrounding the commencement of the [[caliphate]] exist which were the cause of the [[Shia]] and [[Sunni]] split. The majority of Muslims at the time of Muhammed's death favoured Abu Bakr as the [[Caliph]] while a portion of the population supported Fatimah's husband, Ali.<ref name=EoI/>


They became brilliant from the face of the mother of the seyyids.|source=Song to Fatimah, cited in Kalinock 2003|width=300}}
Following his election to the caliphate after a meeting in [[Saqifah]], Abu Bakr and Umar with a few other companions headed to Fatimah's house to obtain homage from Ali and his supporters who had gathered there. Upon seeing them, Ali came out with his sword drawn but was disarmed by Umar and their companions. Fatimah, in support of her husband, started a commotion and threatened to "uncover her hair", at which Abu Bakr relented and withdrew.<ref name=EoI/>


She was survived by two sons and two daughters:
A minority Shia view (which is disputed amongst Shia scholars) hold that Umar called for Ali and his men to come out and swear allegiance to Abu Bakr. When they did not, Umar broke in, resulting in Fatimah's ribs being broken by being pressed between the door and the wall causing her to miscarry Muhsin which led to her eventual death.<ref name=FatimaTheGracious/>
*[[Hasan ibn Ali]], the second Shi`a Imam
*[[Husayn ibn Ali]], the third Shi`a Imam
*[[Zaynab bint Ali]]
*[[Umm Kulthum bint Ali]]. Sunni view that [[Umar's marriage to Umm Kulthum]] denotes this person, but Shi'ah strongly disagree.


===Muslim views===
Another version of the events says that Umar sent a force led by his slave-boy Qunfud to Fatimah's house instructing them to bring Ali to the [[mosque]]. Arriving at the house, Qunfud requested permission to enter, which was refused by Ali causing Qunfud to return to Abu Bakr and Umar and relate the events, who instructed them to go back and enter the house by force if necessary. Qunfud and his men returned but were this time refused permission by Fatimah which caused Qunfud to send his men back to Abu Bakr and Umar for further instructions who told them to burn the house down if necessary in order to bring Ali to them.<ref name=FatimaTheGracious/>
After [[Khadijah]], [[Muhammad]]'s first wife, Muslims regard Fatima Zahra as a most significant historical figure, alleged to be the leader of all women in Paradise, and a behavioural examplar. She was the first wife of the first [[Shi'a]] [[Imam]], the mother of the second and third, and the ancestor of all the succeeding Imams; indeed, the [[Fatimid]] dynasty is named after her<ref>Esposito, John; ed. ''Oxford History of Islam'' Oxford; 1999 ISBN 0-19-510799-3</ref>


They also call her Al-Zahra, the Lady of Light. The [[khamsa]], an amulet popularly believed to ward off evil and widely used in the [[Maghreb]], represents the hand of Fatima.
Although historians cannot give a precise description of the actual events, and even though the various views have been mixed with legendary accounts, it was undoubtedly a key motivation for the hatred born by the Shias towards Umar and his supporters, and was the only political involvement of Fatimah who remained in a sombre mood for the rest of her life.<ref name=EoI/>


Many muslims regard her as a loving and devoted daughter, mother, and wife, a sincere Muslim, and an exemplar for Muslim women. It is believed that she was very close to her father and her distinction from other women is mentioned in many of his Hadiths: ''"Fatima is a part of my flesh: whoever causes her to be upset, upsets me."''<ref>[[Sahih Bukhari]] [http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/sunnah/bukhari/057.sbt.html#005.057.111|English Translation, Vol. 5, Book 57, Number 111]</ref> Her children, his grandsons the second Shi'a Imam [[Hassan ibn Ali]] and [[Husayn ibn Ali]] were very dear to him. Shi'a and [[Sunni]] Muslims generally agree on these basic facts, but give very different detailed accounts of her life.
== Death ==
It was reported that Fatimah reconciled her differences with Abu Bakr prior to her death although the majority belief affirms her anger with him until her death.<ref name=EoI/> There are two distinct views on the manner of her death between the Shias and Sunnis.


Both Shi'a and non-shi'a muslims honor her as a part of the [[Ahl al-Bayt]], and agree on the [[Hadith of Fatimah's status]].
Shias hold that Muhammad appeared in a dream and informed Fatimah that she would be passing away the next day. Fatimah informed her husband Ali and asked him not to allow those who had done injustice to her, to be involved in her ''[[janazah]]'' (prayer performed in congregation after the death of a muslim) or take part in the burial.<ref name=FatimaTheGracious/>


[[Image:Amulet Spain Louvre OA3013.jpg|thumb|right|Amulet with two hands of Fatimah, bearing the inscriptions "Allah
The next day when she died, her two sons were the first family members to learn of her death and immediately proceeded to the mosque to inform their father who, upon hearing the news, fell unconscious. When he regained consciousness, Ali, according to Fatimah's wishes, performed the ''janazah'' and buried her during the night on 3rd Jumada al-thani 11[[AH]] (632) making out three other false graves to ensure her real grave could not be identified. With him were his family and a few of his close companions.<ref name=FatimaTheGracious/>
is the guardian", "Allah brings consolation in all trials". Hammered silver with filigree and cloisonné enamel decoration. 14th-15th century, Andalousia, Spain.]]


===Sunni views===
The next day people gathered round her house expecting to participate in the burial but were informed that it had taken place during the night.
According to Sunni historians, Fatima Zahra was the youngest of four daughters whom Khadijah bore to Muhammad. She died of natural causes, at the age of 23 or 24, surviving her father by only a few months.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} Sunni historians do not accept the accounts of her injuries and miscarriage at the hands of Umar and his men. In Sunni view, Fatimah shares the position of primary example to all women with her step-mother A'isha and her mother [[Khadijah bint Khuwaylid]]. She was relegated as a lesser figure in terms of history and the ''hadith'', as her position aligned her with Ali and she was considered too sectarian.<ref>Kassam-Hann, Zaya. "Transcendence and the Body: Fatimah as a Paradigmatic Model." ''Feminist Theology: The Journal of the Britain & Ireland School of Feminist Theology'' May 2002 Issue 30, p77, 17p</ref>


===Shi'a view===
The Sunnis, however, state that following the [[The Farewell Pilgrimage|farewell pilgrimage]], Muhammad summoned Fatimah and informed her that he would be passing away soon but also informed her that she would be the first of his household to join him.<ref name=USC-MSA-BIO/><ref name=EoI/> Some days after this discussion, Muhammad passed away, following which Fatimah was grief stricken and remained so for the remainder of her life until she died less than five months later, in the month of [[Ramadhan]].
{{main|Shi'a view of Fatimah}}
According to Shi'a scholars, Fatima Zahra was [[Muhammad]]'s only daughter.<ref>See [[Genealogy of Khadijah's Daughters]] for further discussions. and also see [http://www.balagh.net/english/ahl_bayt/fatima_the_gracious/05.htm here]</ref>. She is held in highest of esteem, as being the single most ideal example for all women; in terms of her purity and the eventual death of her son, she is considered to be the Shi'as counterpart to the Christian [[Mary, mother of Jesus]], in addition to Shi'a reverence of Virgin Mary.


===Sufic view===
On the morning of her death, she took a bath, put on new clothes and lay down in bed. She asked for Ali and informed him that her time to die was very close. Upon hearing this news, Ali began to cry but was consoled by Fatimah who asked him to look after her two sons and for him to bury her without ceremony. After her death, Ali followed her wishes and buried her without informing the Medinan people.<ref name=USC-MSA-BIO/>
According to the Sufi elect it is Fatimah Zahra, as the cosmic [[Virgin Mary]], also known as Maryam al-Kubra, who manifested herself at [[Our Lady of Fatima|Fatima in Portugal]] in 1917 as "Al Zahra" or the "Lady of Light".{{Fact|date=July 2007}} As Mary had once said: "My soul doth magnify the Lord". At Fatimah the Cosmic Mary thus "magnified" the Lord by bringing forth the "Sun of Fatimah", the "Light of Al Zahra": the Lamp of Allah. It is claimed that another of Muhammed's prophecies came true here, that he said: "No Mahdi but Jesus; the Son of Mary". It is believed that was the "Mary of Fatimah" who brought forth the "Star of the Crescent Moon"; the Son of Maryam al-Kubra. This figure is seen as the Lamb of the Virgin; the Mahdi who bears the Name of "the Slain Lamb" Christ Jesus. Thus the "Mahdi" and the "Messiah" are viewed as one and the same.<ref>The Holy Grail: It's Origins, Secrets & Meaning Revealed, Malcolm Godwin, Penguin Books; 1994, ISBN 0-670-85128-0</ref>The facts about [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]] and her slain son Jesus are also seen as surrounding [[Fatimah]] and her son Hussein's unjust death at the beginning of the foundation of the Islamic "world" Theocratic State. The similarities are therefore highly suggestive of "Mary/Fatimah" as the "Virgin daughter" and "the lamb slain from the foundation of the world" as "Jesus/Ali"; these being the prototypical "mythical" sacrifices for both religions: Christianity and Shi'a. Both Jesus and Ali are believed to have died deaths of expediency for those who had decided to "take the Vineyard" for themselves.


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Ahl al-Bayt]]
* [[Abbas ibn Ali]]
* [[Ali al-Hadi]]
* [[Ali al-Rida]]
* [[Ali ibn Hussayn]]
* [[Book of Fatimah]]
* [[Disputes over Islamic historical dates]]
* [[Hasan al-Askari]]
* [[Historiography of early Islam]]
* [[Ja'far al-Sadiq]]
* [[List of Shi'a titles for Fatima Zahra]]
* [[Musa al-Kazim]]
* [[Muhammad al-Baqir]]
* [[Muhammad al-Taqi]]
* [[Succession to Muhammad]]


==Notes==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==References==
==External links==
Shi'a links:
*{{cite encyclopedia | author = Vacca, V. | editor = P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, [[Clifford Edmund Bosworth|C.E. Bosworth]], E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs | encyclopedia =[[Encyclopaedia of Islam]] Online| title = Fāṭima| publisher = Brill Academic Publishers | id = ISSN 1573-3912}}
* [http://www.karbala-najaf.org/zahra/gallery.html Biography and picture gallery] &mdash; karbala-najaf.org
* [http://www.ezsoftech.com/islamic/infallible3.asp Picture gallery and quotes] &mdash; ezsoftech.com
* [http://www.shia.org/fatima.html Shia.org]


Sunni links:
*[http://www.alinaam.org.za/library/dbeliefs/slegend_umar.htm Sunni refutation of the Shi'a view] &mdash; alinaam.org.za


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For other people named Fatima (name), see Fatima (name) (disambiguation).

Fatimah bint Muhammad (20th of Jumada al-thani (606CE) - 3rd of Jumada al-thani 11AH (632CE)), popularly known as Fatimah Zahra (Template:ArB), was a daughter of Muhammad. Most Sunni sources report that she was one of four daughters.[1] Shi'as, however, maintain that she was Muhammad's only daughter (see Genealogy of Khadijah's Daughters). Modern descendants of Muhammad trace their lineage exclusively through Fatimah, because she was the only child of Muhammad who had children that survived. Muhammad had no sons who reached adulthood.[2]

Biography

File:Bibi Fatima (AS).jpg

The dates mentioned for the birth, marriage and death of Fatima vary in different sources. Several Sunni sources mention her birth happening in the same year of the reconstruction of the Kaaba (five years before Muhammad received the revelation), while most Shi'a sources mention five years after the declaration of prophethood.[citation needed] Some sources have also mentioned she was born in the year Muhammad received the first revelation.[citation needed] This places Fatima's birth sometime between 606 to 615CE.[3]

In the second year after the hijra, she received many proposals for marriage through her father. With respect to the identity of her intended marriage partner, her father is reporeted to have said, "I am waiting for the revelation in this connection."[citation needed]

The claimed revelation was later recited by her father as, "Oh my prophet get the light (Noor) married to the light i.e., get Fatima married with Ali."[citation needed] When Ali ibn Abi Talib approached her dad to inform him of his marriage desire, the former is reported to have described her as his lucrative possessed jewel stone.[citation needed]

Her father is reported to have asked her about Ali, "Oh daughter you know that Ali is the one who was the first ever faithful out of the lot. I had prayed to God, to give the best husband for you. Therefore, God has selected Ali as your husband, so what is your opinion?"[citation needed] Fatima remained silent which her father took as a sign of approval and arranged the marriage.

After the aggregation of the tribe of Bani Hashim and friends and relations, Muhammad delivered a Khutba (religious speech), and got her married to Ali for the sale of mahr equivalent to four hundred Masqal Silver (one Masqal comes to nearly 3.45 grams).

A companion (Sahabi) is reported to have stated regarding this, "The Islamic Prophet Muhammad got a sheep slaughtered and invited a few persons and made them witnesses upon the marriage."[citation needed]

After one month of the Nikah, in the 2nd Hijra on the marriage night, Muhammad held Fatima by her hand and handing her hand over to Ali and said, "Oh Ali, Fatima is the best wife for you." Thereafter, he addressed Fatima and said "Oh Fatima, Ali is a good husband for you." Then he said. "Now, both of you move towards your real home."[citation needed]

The women of Bani Hashim, Ansar, and Muhajireen, after taking their dinner, rode Fatima on the camel of her father and took her along to Ali's house with great fervor. Ali and Fatima lived near Quba mosque at a distance of eight kilometers from Medina where her dad had stayed on migration from Mecca and had waited a week for Ali to join him. After some time Ali came to the city and selected a house adjacent to the house of Muhammad.

Death

See Umar at Fatimah's house

Umar led a party of armed men against Ali's house in Medina and called for Ali and his men to come out and swear allegiance to Abu Bakr, who they had decided would take power in the meeting at Saqifah. Umar and Khalid ibn Walid threatened to burn the house down if they did not submit. They broke in, resulting in Fatimah's ribs being broken between the broken door and the wall, and she miscarrying an unborn son named Muhsin[4][5][6][7][8][9]. According to other sources, Umar ordered the beating of Fatimah [10][11][12][13][14][15][16], some saying Umar personally kicked Fatimah in the stomach, causing her miscarriage [17].

She died of her wounds on the 3rd of Jumada al-thani, 11th of Hijra, and was buried in secret at her request, to prevent Abu Bakr and Umar whom she considered to be her father's true enemies from attending the funeral[18].

Sunni Muslims reject this account.

Legacy

Welcome, welcome, Mother of all mothers of the world.

The city of Medina is full of flowers from the flower of Ahmad (Fatimah)(Alayhi Salaam),

Bring flowers because the flower of Ahmad has come,

The house of Mostafa is illuminated. Heaven and earth and the sky are full of light,

The whole universe, heaven and the skies were dark,

They became brilliant from the face of the mother of the seyyids.

Song to Fatimah, cited in Kalinock 2003

She was survived by two sons and two daughters:

Muslim views

After Khadijah, Muhammad's first wife, Muslims regard Fatima Zahra as a most significant historical figure, alleged to be the leader of all women in Paradise, and a behavioural examplar. She was the first wife of the first Shi'a Imam, the mother of the second and third, and the ancestor of all the succeeding Imams; indeed, the Fatimid dynasty is named after her[19]

They also call her Al-Zahra, the Lady of Light. The khamsa, an amulet popularly believed to ward off evil and widely used in the Maghreb, represents the hand of Fatima.

Many muslims regard her as a loving and devoted daughter, mother, and wife, a sincere Muslim, and an exemplar for Muslim women. It is believed that she was very close to her father and her distinction from other women is mentioned in many of his Hadiths: "Fatima is a part of my flesh: whoever causes her to be upset, upsets me."[20] Her children, his grandsons the second Shi'a Imam Hassan ibn Ali and Husayn ibn Ali were very dear to him. Shi'a and Sunni Muslims generally agree on these basic facts, but give very different detailed accounts of her life.

Both Shi'a and non-shi'a muslims honor her as a part of the Ahl al-Bayt, and agree on the Hadith of Fatimah's status.

Amulet with two hands of Fatimah, bearing the inscriptions "Allah is the guardian", "Allah brings consolation in all trials". Hammered silver with filigree and cloisonné enamel decoration. 14th-15th century, Andalousia, Spain.

Sunni views

According to Sunni historians, Fatima Zahra was the youngest of four daughters whom Khadijah bore to Muhammad. She died of natural causes, at the age of 23 or 24, surviving her father by only a few months.[citation needed] Sunni historians do not accept the accounts of her injuries and miscarriage at the hands of Umar and his men. In Sunni view, Fatimah shares the position of primary example to all women with her step-mother A'isha and her mother Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. She was relegated as a lesser figure in terms of history and the hadith, as her position aligned her with Ali and she was considered too sectarian.[21]

Shi'a view

Main article: Shi'a view of Fatimah

According to Shi'a scholars, Fatima Zahra was Muhammad's only daughter.[22]. She is held in highest of esteem, as being the single most ideal example for all women; in terms of her purity and the eventual death of her son, she is considered to be the Shi'as counterpart to the Christian Mary, mother of Jesus, in addition to Shi'a reverence of Virgin Mary.

Sufic view

According to the Sufi elect it is Fatimah Zahra, as the cosmic Virgin Mary, also known as Maryam al-Kubra, who manifested herself at Fatima in Portugal in 1917 as "Al Zahra" or the "Lady of Light".[citation needed] As Mary had once said: "My soul doth magnify the Lord". At Fatimah the Cosmic Mary thus "magnified" the Lord by bringing forth the "Sun of Fatimah", the "Light of Al Zahra": the Lamp of Allah. It is claimed that another of Muhammed's prophecies came true here, that he said: "No Mahdi but Jesus; the Son of Mary". It is believed that was the "Mary of Fatimah" who brought forth the "Star of the Crescent Moon"; the Son of Maryam al-Kubra. This figure is seen as the Lamb of the Virgin; the Mahdi who bears the Name of "the Slain Lamb" Christ Jesus. Thus the "Mahdi" and the "Messiah" are viewed as one and the same.[23]The facts about Mary and her slain son Jesus are also seen as surrounding Fatimah and her son Hussein's unjust death at the beginning of the foundation of the Islamic "world" Theocratic State. The similarities are therefore highly suggestive of "Mary/Fatimah" as the "Virgin daughter" and "the lamb slain from the foundation of the world" as "Jesus/Ali"; these being the prototypical "mythical" sacrifices for both religions: Christianity and Shi'a. Both Jesus and Ali are believed to have died deaths of expediency for those who had decided to "take the Vineyard" for themselves.

See also

References

  1. ^ * See for example: [Quran 33:59]
    Ibn Hisham's Sira, Vol. 1, p. 122 [1]
    Tabari's History of Prophets and Kings, Vol. 2, p. 35 [2]
    Ibn Kathir's Al-Bidayah Wa An-Nihaya, Vo. 2, p. 359 [3]
    * For Shi'a sources that mention other daughters of Muhammad, see:
    Tusi's Tahthibul Ahkam, Vol. 8, p. 258 [4]
    Shaikh Saduq's Khisal, p. 404 [5]
    Kulayni's Al-Kafi, Vol. 5, p. 555 [6]
    Shaykh Mufid's Al-Muqanna'ah, p. 332 [7]
    Himyari's Qurb Al-Isnad, p. 9 [8]
    Papyrus scroll of Ibn Lahi'ah, referenced by G. Levi Della Vida-[R.G. Khoury]. "ʿUT̲H̲MĀN b.ʿAffān ." Encyclopaedia of Islam. Edited by: P. Bearman , Th. Bianquis , C.E. Bosworth , E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2007. Brill Online. 03 April 2007 [9]
    * For views from Western scholarship see:
    Veccia Vaglieri, L. "Fāṭima." Encyclopaedia of Islam. Edited by: P. Bearman , Th. Bianquis , C.E. Bosworth , E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2007. Brill Online. 03 April 2007 [10]
    Watt, W. Montgomery. "K̲H̲adīd̲j̲a." Encyclopaedia of Islam. Edited by: P. Bearman , Th. Bianquis , C.E. Bosworth , E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2007. Brill Online. 03 April 2007 [11]
  2. ^ Armstrong, Karen (September 10, 1993). Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet. HarperSanFrancisco; Reprint edition. 0062508865.
  3. ^ Parsa, Forough (فروغ پارسا). "Fatima Zahra Salaamullah Alayha in the works of Orientalists" (فاطمهٔ زهرا سلامالله علیها در آثار خاورشناسان), pp.8–14, Nashr-e Dānesh, Vol. 22, No. 1, Spring 2006. ISSN 0259-9090. In Persian.
  4. ^ Sharh Nahju'l-Balagha Volume III, page 351 11
  5. ^ Sharh Kushaiji Mubais Imamate, page 407 12
  6. ^ Sharhe Nahju'l-Balagha Volume III, page 351 13
  7. ^ al-Islam.org[12]
  8. ^ answering-ansar.org 14
  9. ^ al-Islam.org 15
  10. ^ Ibn Hanbal, Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal vol. 3, p. 259
  11. ^ Balazheri, Ensab ul-shareef vol. 1, p. 586
  12. ^ Al-Aqd ul-fareed, vol. 13, p. 5
  13. ^ Shahrestani, Melal wa Nah vol. 1, p. 57
  14. ^ Mas'udi, Ethbat ul-wathiyat p. 123
  15. ^ Al-Wafi bil Wafiyat vol. 5, p. 347
  16. ^ Ibn Qutaybah, Al-Imamah wal Siyasah vol. 1, p. 19/20
  17. ^ Lisan al-Mizan vol. 1, p. 268
  18. ^ Al-Jaafaria [13]
  19. ^ Esposito, John; ed. Oxford History of Islam Oxford; 1999 ISBN 0-19-510799-3
  20. ^ Sahih Bukhari Translation, Vol. 5, Book 57, Number 111
  21. ^ Kassam-Hann, Zaya. "Transcendence and the Body: Fatimah as a Paradigmatic Model." Feminist Theology: The Journal of the Britain & Ireland School of Feminist Theology May 2002 Issue 30, p77, 17p
  22. ^ See Genealogy of Khadijah's Daughters for further discussions. and also see here
  23. ^ The Holy Grail: It's Origins, Secrets & Meaning Revealed, Malcolm Godwin, Penguin Books; 1994, ISBN 0-670-85128-0

Shi'a links:

Sunni links:

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