Hazrat Fatima Bint
Hazam (s.a.) belonged to the clan of Bani
Kilab, which was one of the noblest families of Hashemites and was famous for bravery.
Because she was the mother of four sons and in the Arabian culture such women
were called “Ummul Baneen” meaning mother of sons. She was born in the year 5
A.H. and died on 13 Jamad-as-Saani 64 A.H. and was buried in Jannat-al-Baq’ee
near the Lady of Paradise.
After few years of Lady of Paradise, Hazrat Fatima Zahra
(s.a.)’s demise, Imam Ali (a.s.) asked his brother Aqeel, who was an expert in
genealogy, to look for a girl of a brave tribe for marriage. He proposed the
name of Hazrat Fatima daughter of Hazam ibn Khalid. Imam Ali was given
prophecy by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) of a brave son who would be martyred
alongside of his brother Imam Hussayn (a.s.) on the day of Ashoora. Ever since, Imam Ali (a.s.) was waiting for the birth of
that son who came in the person of Hazrat
Abbas (a.s.)
Hazrat Ummul Baneen, before the marriage, saw a dream in
which she saw that a moon and three stars fell into her lap. Imam Ali (a.s.) interpreted later that the moon was Hazrat
Abbas (a.s.) and the three stars were his three brothers.
Hazrat Aqeel went to the tribe of Banu Hazam and proposed
Imam Ali for Hazrat Ummul Baneen. The tribe and her father Hazam were honored
and delighted for the proposal. Hazrat Ummul Baneen was also very happy for
this proposal of the “Lion of God”
and the Victor of Khyber. The nikah
was recited by Hazrat Aqeel and afterwards, Hazrat Ummul Baneen (s.a.) arrived
at the house of Imam Ali under the shining swords of Banu Hashim youths. As
soon as she stepped in the house, she kissed the door respectfully and told the
children that she did not come as a mother but as a slave to serve the Ahlul
Bayt. The children also loved and respected her. She also requested Imam Ali
(a.s.) not to call her Fatima as the children will remember their mother and
get hurt but to call her Ummul Baneen.
She knew that she was going in the house where the “Lady of Paradise” was living, where
the angels used to come, many Ayahs of
the Noble Qur’an were revealed elevating the status of the daughter of the Chief of the Prophets, and that she was
the nucleus of the “Hadees-e-Kissa”
and one of the members of “Ayat-e-Tatheer”
and the representative of “Women” in
the Ayah of “Mubahelah” and the Surah
Hal-Ata’a was revealed for the Panjetan.
She loved and looked after the young Imam Hasan and Imam
Hussayn knowing respectfully well that they were the “Youths of Paradise”.
Similarly, she took good care of Hazrat Zaynab (s.a.) and Hazrat Umme Kulsoom
(s.a.)
After about one year, Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) was born. The
family was delighted by his birth, especially Imam Ali (a.s.) It is reported that
Young Abbas (a.s.) did not open his eyes until Imam Hussayn (a.s.) took him in
his lap. Then Imam Hussayn (a.s.) gave his tongue into young Abbas’s mouth. The
process was repeated as first time when Imam
Ali was born in the House of God,
he also did not open his eyes till the
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) took him in his lap. Similarly, He had put his
tongue into young Imam Ali’s mouth.
Hazrat Ummul Baneen (s.a.) had four children; Hazrat Abbas
Alamdar (a.s.), Hazrat Abdullah, Hazrat Jafer, Hazrat Usman. When Imam Hussayn
(a.s.) was departing from Madinah, she asked them to sacrifice their lives for
the Imam. She loved Imam Hussayn (a.s.) more than her children. When Basheer
was telling about the martyrdom of her children, she impatiently inquired about
Imam Hussayn (a.s.). After hearing the news of barbaric martyrdom of Imam
Hussayn (a.s.), she cried and said: “All the arteries of my heart are torn. May
all of my children and whatever exists under this heaven be sacrificed for Imam
Hussayn (a.s.)” Then she arranged first majlis in Madinah in which women of
Banu Hashim gathered and cried for his martyrdom.
As for Hazrat Abbas (a.s.), she knew the reason of her
marriage and that Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) knew about the role Hazrat Abbas was
destined to play in the protection of Imam Hussayn (a.s.) and the Ahle Haram in
Karbala. She closely watched how Hazrat Abbas was being groomed. Once, he was
sitting in Imam Ali (a.s.)'s lap, when the Imam (a.s.) was coaching basic math’s
and asked him to count one, two, three etc. He said one and did not say two
pleading that when he testified oneness of Allah, he cannot say two! Once, when
Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) was very young, Hazrat Ummul Baneen (s.a.) said: “Abbas,
why you call yourself a slave of Imam Hussayn (a.s.)? You both are the sons of
Imam Ali (a.s.)? Young Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) said: “There is no comparison
between him and I, his grandfather was the Prophet, his clothes came from
Paradise, many Ayahs of the Noble Qur’an were revealed in his praise. There is
no comparison between atoms to the sky”
Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) being the son of the bravest man in
human history and whose mother belonged to one of the bravest clan of Hashemites tribe, hence bravery was in his veins. In the Battle of Siffin, when the army of the tyrannical Muawia captured
the banks of the river and did not allow access to Imam Ali (a.s.)’s men,
Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) and Imam Hussayn (a.s.) were among the liberating force
capturing the river banks and allowing the access to the defeated Muawia forces.
Later on, a veiled prince went in
for a dual. Muawia asked one Ibn Shasah to face the prince. He said my son can
take care of the “prince”. The prince killed the enemy, he sent his other son
who also met the same fate. Likewise all his seven sons were killed by the
prince. Ibn Shasah became furious and came to face the prince who cut him into
two exact pieces! Imam Ali (a.s.) called
and unveiled the prince. It was no one but Hazrat Abbas (a.s.).
Hazrat Ummul Baneen (s.a.) is also known as “Baabul
Hawa’ij”. She was known for her piety, knowledge and excellence. After the
tragedy of Karbala, she recited “Marsia” for her exceptionally brave son;
Hazrat Abbas (a.s.), the “Moon of Banu Hashim”. Some of the couplets are
translated below:
“Is it
true that my dearest son’s head and hands were cut?”
“Alas! My
lion’s head was lowered by the strike of a clava (gurz)”
“O’ My brave son, I know that no one
dare to come near you had you a sword in your hand”
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