HAZRAT FIZZA

Hazrat Fizza was the maid-servant of The Chief of The Women of the Universe, Bibi Fatima Zahra (s.a.). She was the Queen of Ethiopia, was enslaved, purchased then freed by the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.). She was given the title of “Amma” due to her dedication and loyalty to the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). She lived in the house of Bibi Fatima Zahra (s.a.).

The Prophet (s.a.w.s.)’s daughter set an example of humanity and equality by the working arrangement that she will work one day, while Hazrat Fizza will rest and the next day she will work and the Lady of Paradise will rest.

Can it be imagined, that the house where Holy Qur’an was revealed and the company of the Lady of Paradise influenced Hazrat Fizza to such an extent that for twenty years she would quote an Ayah of the Holy Qur’an in response to any question.

Abul Qasim Al-Qashiri narrates a story from Abdullah Bin Mubarak and his encounter with Hazrat Fizza. He noticed Hazrat Fizza at some distance behind a caravan in the desert. He wanted to help her by taking her to the caravan. So he approached her and asked her: “Who are you?” She replied, “And when those who believe in Our revelation come unto thee, say: “Peace be unto thee!” (6:54) She wanted to correct Abdullah Bin Mubarak reminding him of the proper ethics before opening conversation. He then offered his salutations and asked: “What are you doing here?” She replied: “And one who Allah guides none can mislead” (39:37) Abdullah understood from this Ayah that she was not lost in the desert. He then inquired: “Are you a human being or jinn?” She replied: “O Children of Adam! Adorn your self at every place of worship” (7:31) He then asked: “Where are you coming from?” She replied: “They are being from a place far distant!” (41:44) He continued to inquire: “Where do you want to go?” She informed him: “And Pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto Allah for mankind.” (3:97) She was informing him that she was going to perform Hajj. He then asked: “When did you leave for Makkah?” She replied: “And verily We created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them in six days.” (50:38) He asked: “Are you hungry?” She replied in affirmative: “And We did not make for them a body that can live without eating.” (21:8)

He waited at a distance on his horse while she ate the food he offered to her. When she finished her meal, he called out to her: “Come running, hurry up!” She told him: “Allah burdens not a soul beyond its scope.” (2:286) He said: “Sit behind my horse” Once again she had to remind him of Islamic etiquette. She refused and recited: “If there were therein gods beside Allah there would have been disorder.” (21:22) It can be seen how she glorifies oneness of Allah while reminding to guard his faith (Taqwa). He took heed to the Ayah and dismounted from the horse. After she was comfortably seated on the horse, she recited the words of praise: “Glory is to Allah who has subdued these (animals) unto us.” (43:13) When they caught up with the caravan she was traveling with, He asked: “Do you have anyone in this caravan? “O David, We have made you a khalifa in the earth.” (38:26) “Muhammad was but a Messenger” (3:144) “O John, holdfast to the Scripture” “O Musa, I am Allah, Lord of the worlds” (28:30) By reciting these Ayahs, she named four people in the caravan. When David, Muhammad, Yahya, and Musa saw her they ran towards her. He asked: “Who are they?” She answered: “Wealth and children are the ornaments of this life.” (18:46) These were the sons of Hazrat Fizza. Seeing that Abdullah had assisted their mother with kindness, they treated him with due respect. She ordered her children: “Hire him. The best person you should hire is the one who is strong and trust worthy.” (28:26)

Hazrat Fizza served the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) for 58 years. She was the symbol of deed and commitment and by confronting the problems and difficulties along with Sharikatul Hussain, Sayyada Zaynab (s.a.) with courage, bravery and firmness; she for ever became the symbol courage and sincerity for women.

Hazrat Fizza was part of the incident when Imam Hasan and Imam Hussain fell sick and the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) suggested to Imam Ali (a.s.) to make a “Nazr” - vow to keep three fasts when the Hasnain (a.s.) recover from sickness. When they recovered from sickness, every one kept the fast for three days, including Hazrat Fizza. Each day, at the time of “Iftaar” someone knocked at the door to solicit food and they all gave their share food to him and kept the second day fast without eating any thing. After third day, the following Ayah of the Holy Qur’an was revealed: “They who fulfill their vows, and fear the day, the woe of which stretches far and wide. And they give away food, out of love for Him, to the poor and the orphan, and the captive, (saying) we feed you only for the sake of Allah, we do not want anything from you, not even thanks. Verily we fear from our Lord a stern day of distress.” So Allah will guard them from the evil of that day and give them freshness and pleasures.” (76:7-11)

It is reported that once she invited the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) for meals in the house of Imam Ali (a.s.) and Bibi Fatima. Because she had trust in Allah in spite the fact that there was nothing in the house. When the Prophet arrived, she went and offered two rakat prayers and solicit help from Almighty. Allah accepted her prayers and sent food from Paradise for Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)

She knew the art of making gold from other metals. Once, she converted copper into gold and presented it to Imam Ali (a.s.). Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “If you would have melted pewter and make gold, the color of the gold would have been sharper and more valuable.”

She inquired if the Imam was familiar with the process to which Imam replied that even his son, (Imam) Hussain, knows it. Then, the Imam told her to look towards a direction and she saw that a golden piece of about the size of a camel’s neck was there. She was surprised at the Imam’s contentment. The Imam mentioned the short life of this world and the Hereafter. Afterwards, she adopted patience, contentment, and piety. The Imam prayed: “O Allah! Make Fizza a source of blessings for us”

During a period when Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) were passing through a tough time and were starving for three days, then Fizza took permission from the Lady of Paradise, Bibi Fatima Zahra (s.a.) and went out to collect some wood, grass and a special leafs called “Gule Khairi). She put her bangle (from Paradise) in a pot and put it on fire. After some time she hammered it up and put the special grass in it, sealed it and put on fire for few hours. When it cooled off, it became silver. When she brought the price of selling it, Bibi Fatima asked her to distribute it to poor. She was surprised about it. Next day, Bibi Fatima asked Fizza to bring some special grass and heated the pot for sometime. Then she took the metallic portion of a spear and put it in the pot. After few hours, it turned into gold. Like yesterday, she asked Fizza to sell the gold and distributed the money to the needy and poor. Fizza asked as to why she did not retain a portion of money for the house. Bibi replied: “If I do this then I would be deprived of the bounties from Allah”

When the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) was on the death bed, he asked Fizza if she had any wish. Fizza replied: “Please pray to Allah to grant me long life so that I may live till the tragedy of Karbala and share the pains and afflictions with Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)” The Prophet confirmed the acceptance of her wish. Hence, Fizza remained loyal to Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and she served Bibi Fatima, remained with Bibi Zaynab (s.a.) in Karbala, Kufa and Syria. In the court of Yazid (l.a.), she stood like rock in front of Bibi Zaynab and refused to move away. Yazid (l.a) ordered to whip her. She asked for help from the black body guards of Yazid, seeing the signs of revolt, he abandoned the whipping.  As reported in some narrations that she was with Bibi Zaynab (s.a.) till her martyrdom and was buried in her tomb.

References: Bibi Fizza by Maqbool Ahmed