MARTYRDOM OF THE LADY OF PARADISE, SAYYIDA FATIMA ZAHRA (S.A.)

Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.), the only beloved daughter of the Chief of Prophets, Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s) and Sayyida Khadija (s.a.), the richest woman of the Arabian Peninsula, who sacrificed her entire wealth for the propagation of Islam.

The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “The best of the women of the world are: Mariyam bint Imran, Asia bint Muzahim, Khadija bint Khowailid, and Fatima bint Muhammad.” He further said: “The best women of the Paradise are: Khadija bint Khowailid, Fatima bint Muhammad, Asia bint Muzahim (Pharaoh’s wife), and Mariyam bint Imran”

He loved his daughter the most; whenever he would go out of city, he would see Sayyida Fatima (s.a.) at the last and when he would return home, she would be the first person he would see. His respect for Sayyida Fatima was unparallel in the history; he would stand whenever she comes to see him and made her sit on his place. He used to say; “Fatima is a part of me, whoever angers Fatima has angered me, I love those whoever loves Fatima, whoever fights Fatima fights Fatima fights me.” He used to call her “Umme Abiha” which means she was the mother of her father, as she also loved and took care of him like a mother.

Ayah of Purity (Tatheer)-Surah al-Ahzab Ayah 33 which reads as: “O’ People of the House! Allah wants to keep off all kinds of uncleanness from you and purify you thoroughly.”It has been narrated in Hadees-e-Kisa. When Archangel Jiba’il inquired form Allah (s.w.t.) as to who are under cloak (Kisa), Allah said: “She is Fatima, her father, her husband and her sons” Allah introduced the Prophet and the Imams through Sayyida Fatima (s.a.)! One can imagine the stature of the Lady of Paradise!

Her truthfulness was certified by the Divine Revelation via Sura Ale-Imran Ayah 61 which reads as: “And whoever argue with in this matter after what has come to your knowledge, then say “come let us call our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, ourselves and your selves, then let us humbly pray (to our Lord) and invoke the curse of Allah on the liars.” This Ayah was revealed when the Christians of Najran unsuccessfully argued with the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) and he came out with Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.) to represent the “Sons” in the Ayah, and brought Sayyida Fatima (s.a.) to represent more than two women in the Ayah and brought the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) to represent more than two men. From that time onwards, all Infallible ten Imams were always addressed as “Sons of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) and Imam Ali (a.s.) as the Self (Nafs) of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.). The integrity of Islam was at stake as the curse of Allah would fall on the Liars hence the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) took the four Infallible Personalities who had never lied in their life-time! But Alas! When Sayyida Fatima re-claimed her property of the gardens of Fidak, the caliph of the time refused to admit their testimony about Fidak which was “gifted” by the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) to her beloved daughter whose mother, Lady Khadija (s.a.) gifted her entire wealth to her husband, the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) for spread of Islam.

During the life-time of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.), Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) was respected by the Muslims, but as soon as the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) died, the Muslims inflicted so much physical and emotional injuries on his daughter Fatima that she expressed it in a couplet as: “O Father! After your demise enormous calamities have befallen on me that if such calamities were to fall on the bright days they would have turned into black nights!”

Surah al-Shura Ayah 23: “(Muhammad), say, “I do not ask you for any payment for my preaching to you except (your) love of (my near) relatives.”History is clear evidence of how the Muslims responded to this Divine Command.

It is reported that she attained martyrdom after about 75 days or 95 days of the death of her father (s.a.w.a.s.). She was so unhappy with the people that she wanted to be buried at night without informing anyone except the trusted shias and a few members of the Hashemite clan.