SAYINGS OF THE NOBLE MESSENGER (S.A.W.A.S.) ABOUT SAYYIDA FATIMA ZAHRA (S.A.)

The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said:

O Ali! Allah has commanded me to marry you to Fatima.

Verily, Allah married Ali to Fatima.

Of all the women in the universe, four would suffice: Mary, Asiya, Khadija, and Fatima.

All the children of a woman are attributed to their father but not the sons of Fatima.

The head of the women of Paradise is Fatima.

Fatima is head of the women of my nation.

The first people to enter the Paradise will be Ali and Fatima.

The Ayah of “Purification “was revealed concerning five people; myself, Ali, Fatima, Hasan, and Husayn.

The Mahdi is from my family, from the sons of Fatima.

Verily, Allah has weaned my daughter Fatima and her children and those who love them from Hell fire.

Fatima is part of me, whoever makes her angry makes me angry.

Fatima is part of me. whatever upsets her upsets me, and whatever harms her harms me.

Fatima is part of me, whoever pleases her pleases me.

Fatima is part of me and she is the heart and soul which is between my two sides.

Fatima is a maiden of Paradise created in human form.

Fatima is joy of my heart, and her sons are the fruits of my soul.

Fatima is not like the women of the children of Adam (Batul).

O Fatima! Allah is angry when you are angry.

When I long for the fragrance of Paradise I smell the neck of Fatima.

Fatima, you will be the first among my Ahlul Bayt to follow after me.

On the Day of Judgment, a caller will call out, “Lower your gaze until Fatima has passed”

References: Sawaiq al-Muhriqa, Tadhkirat al-Khawas, al-Nudhra, Nur al-Absar, al-Sahihain, Seir Alam al-Nabala, al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya, ibn al-Maghazali, Kenz al-Omal, Kitab al-Fadhail, Tirmizi, Yanabi al-Mawadda, al-Raghibeen, Sahih Muslim,Mustadrak al-Hakim, Majma al-Zawa’id, Hilyat al-Awliya

WHO IS THE GUARDIAN?

In the Arabic language, the word “Wali” has many meanings, one of them is “guardian”

Surah al-Ma’idah Ayah 55 says, “Innama Waliukum Allahu wa Rasuluhu wallazina amanullazina yaqumoonassalata wa yutunaz zakata wa hum ra’keun.” Translated as, “Verily, verily your guardian (wali) is Allah (s.w.t.) and His Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), and those who believe, those who establish prayer and pay the poor-rate while bowing down (in prayer).” Ten of the companions of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), including Ibn Abbas, Jabir ibn Abdullah, Ammar Yasir, Abu Dharr Ghiffari, Anas ibn Malik, and Bilal (the Muezzin), had narrated that once a beggar entered the Mosque of the Prophet and asked people for charity. Nobody gave him anything. The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) pointed his finger to him while he (a.s.) was bowing in the prayer. The beggar took the ring from his finger. The above Ayah was revealed to honor this unique and unusual act of charity by Imam Ali (a.s.). The Sunni and the Shia scholars have confirmed the reason of the revelation. (Durre Mansure, Baidhavi, and Tafsir-e-Husainy). The names of 16 Sunni books are mentioned in “Tafsir-e-Namoona (Urdu) volume 4 page 318”. The word “Innama” renders the meaning-the decision of Allah as final and fixed. Moreover, the use of plural “amanu” for a singular person Imam Ali (a.s.), is to show importance as in case of Ayah Muba’helah wherein the word “Nisa’ana” was used but only Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) was taken by the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) for Mubahelah.

The word “guardian” used in this Ayah is very significant! In Arabic language, the plural is used for three or more persons. Surprisingly, the word “Wali” is used for Allah, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), and the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.). Naturally, it signifies that the Wilayat or guardianship of all the three is one in nature as well as in effect. Allah could have used the plural of Wali as “Auliya”. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) had used the terms “Wali” and “Maula” on another occasion -Ghadeer-e-Khumm- at that occasion also he (s.a.w.a.s.) referred to Imam Ali (a.s.). Moreover, in the Glorious Qur’an the plural pronouns have been used for All-Mighty Allah (s.w.t)

It is the Divine practice that in the Glorious Qur’an, Allah praises special servants with their qualities and deeds and not by name. Like in this Ayah, Allah did not name the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) but praised his piety and deeds. Similarly, when the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) migrated from Makkah to Madina, the sacrifice of Imam Ali (a.s.) when he slept on the Prophet’s bed when the death was imminent as the infidels of Makkah were guarding Prophets house with drawn swords at night to kill him in the morning. Imam Ali (a.s.) slept peacefully without any fear for his life. Ayah 207 of Surah al-Baqarah was revealed saying, “Wa Minan nase main yashrinafsahubtegha marzaatillah wallahu raufun bil Iba’d”. it is translated as, “And among men there is one who sells his self (soul) seeking the pleasure of Allah; and verily, Allah is affectionate unto His (faithful) servants.

The famous companion and poet of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), Hassan bin Tha’bit, compiled a couplet honoring the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) as follows:

“You (Imam Ali) are the one who gave poor-rate (Zaka’t) while bowing (Ruku). My life be ransom for you, O! the best of those who performed the bowing (Ruku) in the prayer”

Sources: The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu translation) by Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi

               The Glorious Qur’an (English translation) by Ayatollah Agha H.M.M Pooya Yazdi

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

Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) was the beloved daughter of the Chief of all the Prophets, Muhammad Mustafa (s.a.w.a.s.) and the wife of the Lion of Allah, the Conqueror of the formidable fort of Khyber and the mother of the “Chiefs of the Youths of Paradise” Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.).

The “Thinker of Pakistan” Allama Doctor Iqbal, a Sunni Muslim, in his Persian Book Asrar-o-Ramuz, praising Sayyida Fatima Zahra says: “Maryam az nisbat-e-I’sa aziz* Az se nisbat hazrat-e-Zahra aziz” “Maryam is honorable only because of Prophet I’sa” “Hazrat Zahra’s honor comes from three relations” “Nur-e-chishme Rahmatul lil A’lameen*A’n Imam-e-Awwaleen-o-A’khareen” “She is the daughter of the “Rahmatul lil A’lameen*Who is the leader of all leaders in the past and future.” “Bano-e-a’n Tajdar-e-Hal Ata*Murtaza Mushkilkusha Sher-e-Kuhda” “She is the wife of the one who was crowned with Hal Ata (Surah of Qur’an)*The Chosen one, problem solver, the Lion of Allah” “Tanashenad A’tishe paikar-o-keen*Pushte pa zad bar sare ta’aj-o-nageen” “Just to avoid the fire of killing and hatred*He (Imam Hasan) kicked the throne and the crown aside.” “Wan digar amula-e-abrar-e-jahan*Quwwat-e-bazu-e-ahrar-e-jahan” “And the other son (Imam Husayn) is the leader of the pious*He gave strength to all the revolutionaries of the world”

Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) status as shown in the Glorious Qur’an: Surtah al-Ahza’b Ayah 33, “O People of the House, Allah intends to keep away all kinds of uncleanness from you and to purify you thoroughly” In the phrase People of the House-Ahlul Bayt- includes Imam Ali (a.s.), Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.), Imam Hasan (a.s.), and Imam Husayn (a.s.). Surah Ale Imran Ayah 61, “If anyone disputes (your Prophesy) after knowledge has come to you, say, Let us summon our sons and (you summon) your sons, let us summon our women and (you summon) your women, and let us summon our ‘selves’ and (you summon) your ‘selves’, and let us invoke and lay Allah’s curse on the liars.” The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) picked up young Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.), who were his grandchildren in the place of “sons” in the Ayah, and he picked up Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) in the place of “women”, a plural used in Arabic for three or more persons, and he picked up Imam Ali (a.s.) as his “self”, being his complete replica. Similarly, in Surah al-Dahar Ayahs 7 to 10, “The servants of Allah fulfill their vows and are afraid of the Day in which there will be great widespread horror. They feed the destitute, orphans, and captives, for the Love of Allah, saying, “We only feed you for the sake of Allah and we do not want any reward or thanks from you. We are afraid of our Lord and the intensely distressful Day.” Surah al-Kauthar says, “(Muhammad), We have granted you abundant virtue. So, worship your Lord and make sacrificial offerings. Whoever has hatred toward you will himself remain childless.”

Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) in the eyes of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.): The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) used to stand up at his place whenever Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) would come in his presence. He used to see her last when going out of the city and meet her first on his return. He used to say, “Fatima is a part of me, whoever hurts her hurts me, and whoever hurts me hurts Allah, exalted be His Majesty whoever angers her angers me. Allah becomes wrathful for Fatima’s anger and is pleased at her pleasure.” She is Huri in human form. Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) took care of her father like a mother would do; hence her father used to call her “Umme Abiha” meaning “Mother of her father”

Names of Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.): There are more than 50 names mentioned in the books. Some of them are: Batul (Ascetic virgin), Tahira (Pure), Zahra (Brilliant, Shiny), Sajidah (Prostrates to Allah), Radiyya (Well pleased with Allah as Lord), Hakimah (Wise), Aliyyah (Most High), Karimah (Generous), Alimah (Most Learned), Jahidah (Exerts in the way of Allah), Nasiyyah (Corner stone of Muslim nation), Nur (Light), Sahibah (Companion of the Messenger).