Fatima

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

Fatimah (c. 605 – 632 CE) was the youngest daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his first wife Khadija. She was Muhammad's favourite daughter and is regarded by Muslims 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.

Birth

Fatimah bint Muhammad (c. 605 – 632 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 Qur'anic revelations, during the time of the rebuilding of the Kaaba in 605, although this does imply she was over 18 at the time of her marriage which was unusual in Arabia. Shia sources, however, state that she was born either two or five years after the first Qur'anic revelations, but this timeline would imply her mother was over fifty at the time of her birth.

Fatimah is generally placed as the fourth of Muhammad's daughters after Zaynab, Ruqayya, and Umm Kulthum. Shias claim she was his only daughter, believing Khadija's three other daughters to have been from her previous marriage.

Virtues

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 Paradise. She was the first wife of the first Shia Imam (and fourth Sunni caliph), the mother of the second and third, and the ancestor of all the succeeding Imams; indeed, the Fatimid dynasty is named after her.

Fatimah was given the title "al-Zahra" (meaning "the shining one") and is commonly referred to as Fatimah Zahra. She was also known by many other titles including "al-Batul" (the chaste and pure one) and spent much of her time in prayer, reciting the Qur'an and in other acts of worship.

Muslims 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 hadiths: "Fatima is a part of me, and whoever makes her angry, makes me angry."

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. 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.

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. 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.

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.

Marriage

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. 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). 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.

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. 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. Ali sold his shield to raise the money needed for the wedding, as suggested by Muhammad. However, Uthman, to whom the shield was sold, returned it back to Ali saying it was his wedding gift to Ali and Fatimah.

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.

Children

Fatimah was survived by two sons, Hasan and Husayn, and two daughters, Zaynab and Umm Kulthum. Controversy surrounds the fate of her third son, Muhsin. Shias say that she miscarried after being crushed behind a door by men who had come to threaten her husband. Sunnis disagree and insist that Muhsin died in his infancy of natural causes.

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.

Life before the death of Muhammad

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. 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. 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. Ali worked to irrigate other peoples lands by drawing water from the wells which caused him to complain of chest pains.

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. 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.

Life after the death of Muhammad and death

See Umar at Fatimah's house

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.

Following his election to the caliphate after a secret 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.

Umar had 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. According to other sources, Umar ordered the beating of Fatimah , some saying Umar personally kicked Fatimah in the stomach, causing her miscarriage . See Umar at Fatimah's house

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.

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. There are two distinct views on the manner of her death between the Shias and Sunnis.

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.

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.

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.

The Sunnis, however, state that following the 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. 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.

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.

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.

See also

• Ahl al-Bayt
• Genealogy of Khadijas daughters

References

• Vacca, V. "Fāṭima". In P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs (ed.). Encyclopaedia of Islam Online. Brill Academic Publishers. ISSN 1573-3912.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)