Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) lead an exemplary life as a
daughter, as a wife and as a mother. We are trying to throw some light on her
life as a role model as a wife. She was married to the Lion of Allah, the
conqueror of Khaiber, the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.).
Her piety may be seen at the doorstep of her married life.
The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) had purchased a new wedding dress for her. A
poor woman came to her house and asked for a used cloth. Fatima Zahra gave her
wedding dress to the needy and wore her old patchy dress to her wedding. When the
Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) asked Fatima Zahra why she did not give the old
dress, she recited the Ayah 92 of Surah al-Imran, “By no means shall you
attain to righteousness until you spent (benevolently) out of what you love.
“When the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) came to visit the newly wedded
Sayyida Zahra (s.a.) and Imam Ali (a.s.), he asked Imam Ali,” How did you find
my daughter Zahra?” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, “Fatima was the best companion in
the service of the Creator (s.w.t.).” There was total identity of
interest between them as both were brought up and educated by the Noble
Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and Sayyida Khadijatul Kubra. Both put service to God ahead
of everything. Their thoughts, words, and deeds were all conditioned by the
Glorious Qur’an. Sayyida Fatima’s greatest pleasure was trust upon God. Most
of her time was spent in prayer. Her second greatest pleasure was to carry
out her duties towards her family. She grounded grain in the stone mill which
was given to her by her father as part of her dowry and baked bread for them.
Grinding grain caused blisters on her hands but she never complained to her
husband or to her father and did all her housework cheerfully. The household
duties could become quite exacting for Fatima Zahra, but she found happiness
and strength in the remembrance of God
. The
Glorious Qur’an was a constant companion for her. She forgot the drudgery of
work as she read passages from that Book. And when she put the children to
sleep in the crib, she again read selections from the same Book as “lullabies”
to them. They grew up hearing the Glorious Qur’an from their infancy. She
etched the Word of God upon their young hearts. Through such “osmosis” Qur’an
and the children of Fatima Zahra became inseparable for all time.
She aided her husband in his worldly and religious affairs and
cooperated with him in achieving his goals. This harmony in their life was
preferred by the ideological tranquility they both enjoyed, and the respect and
glorification they held for each other. Imam Ali said, “By Allah, I never
angered Fatima, or forced her to do something (she did not like), up to the day
she died; nor did she ever anger or disobey me.”
She excelled in every arena of life. Aisha said, “I have
not seen anyone more truthful than Fatima, after her father.” Her worship
was unrivalled. Her feet became swollen due to standing in prayer. Imam
Hasan (a.s.) said, “I saw my mother standing in her mihrab praying every Friday
night till dawn and heard praying for the believers by name.” She helped
and cared for the people although she herself was in need! She was the most knowledgeable
and the writer of hadith even during the lifetime of her father. She was the
most faithful wife. She was a supportive spouse sharing responsibilities with
Imam Ali. She was a struggler for truth, helper in battlefield, fought for the
Wilayah of her husband, she was an orator (sermon of Fadak). When a maid-Fizzah-
was provided by her father, she used to share equally with her; she will take
care of domestic duties one day and Fizza worked the next day. Her observance
of the Islamic hijab was exemplary. Her father asked what best hijab for a
woman is, she replied, “An unacquainted person (namahram) should not see her,
and she also should not look at an unacquainted person (namahram).
Sources:
A Restatement of the History of Islam by Sayyid Ali Asghar Razwy
Fatima,
The Gracious by Abu Muhammad Ordoni
Fatima
al-Masumah: A Role Model for Men and Women by Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Fadlallah
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