I also testify that my Father, Muhammad(s.a.w.s.), is His servant and messenger whom He chose and prior to sending him when the [souls of all] beings were still concealed in that which was transcendental, protected from anything appalling, associated with termination and nonexistence. Allah the Exalted One knew that which was to follow comprehended that which would come to pass and realized the place of every event. Allah sent him (Muhammad s.a.w.s.) to perfect His commands, a resolution to accomplish His decree, and an implementation of the dictates of His Mercy. So he (Muhammad s.a.w.s.) found nations differing in their creeds, obsessed by their fires [Zoroastrians], worshiping their idols [Pagans], and denying Allah [atheists] despite their knowledge of Him. Therefore, Allah illuminated their darkness with my Father, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), uncovered obscurity from their hearts, and cleared the clouds from their insights. He revealed guidance to the people. He delivered them from being led astray, taking them away from misguidance, showing them the right religion and inviting them to the Straight Path (as-Sirat al-Mustaqeem).
Allah then chose to recall him mercifully, with love and preference. So, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) is now in comfort, released from the burden of this world, surrounded by angels of devotion, satisfied with the Merciful Lord and with being near the powerful King. So, peace of Allah be with my Father, His Prophet, the trusted one, the one whom He chose from among His servants, His sincere friend, and peace and blessings of Allah with him.
Fatima (A) then turned to the crowd and said:
Surely you (people) are Allah's servants at His command
and prohibition, bearers of His creed and revelation. You are the ones whom
Allah entrusted to fare with your own selves, His messengers to the nations.
Among you does He have the right authority, a covenant which He brought forth
to you and a legacy which He left to guard you: The eloquent Book of Allah, the
Qur’an of the truth, the brilliant light, the shining beam. Its insights are
indisputable, its secrets are revealed, its indications are manifest and those
who follow it are surely blessed. (The Qur’an) leads its adherents to
righteousness. Listening (and acting upon) it leads to salvation. Through it
are the enlightening divine arguments achieved, His manifest determination
acquired, His prohibited decrees avoided, His manifest evidence recognized, His
convincing proofs made apparent, His permissions granted and His laws written.
So Allah made belief (in Islam) purification for you from polytheism. He made
prayers exaltation for you from conceit, Zakat purification for the soul and a
(cause of) growth in subsistence, fast an implantation of devotion, pilgrimage
a construction of the creed and justice (Adl) the harmony of the hearts. And He
made obedience to us (Ahl ul Bayt) the management of the affairs of the nation
and our leadership (Ahl ul Bayt) a safeguard from disunity. He made jihad
(struggle) a way for strengthening Islam and patience a helping course for
deserving (divine) rewards. He made commending what is right (Amr Bil Ma’ruf) a
cause for public welfare, kindness to parents a safeguard from (His) wrath, the
maintaining of close ties with one's kin a cause for a longer life and for
multiplying the number of offspring, in-kind reprisal (Qisas) to save
lives, fulfillment of vows the earning of mercy, the completion of weights and
measures a cause for avoiding neglecting the rights of others, forbidding
drinking wines an exaltation from atrocity, avoiding slander a veil from curse,
abandoning theft-a reason for deserving chastity. Allah has also prohibited
polytheism so that one can devote himself to His Lordship.
Therefore; Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not
except in a state of Islam; Obey Allah in that which He has commanded you to do
and that which He has forbidden, for surely those truly fear among His
servants, who have knowledge.' 'O People! Be informed that I am Fatima, and my
father is Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) I say that repeatedly and initiate it
continually; I say not what I say mistakenly, nor do I do what I do aimlessly.
Now hath come unto you an Apostle from among yourselves; It grieves him that you should perish; ardently anxious is he over
you; to the believers he is most kind and merciful. Thus, if you identify and
recognize him, you shall realize that he is my father and not the father of any
of your women; the brother of my cousin (Ali a.s.) rather than any of your men.
What an excellent identity he was, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him and his descendants? Thus, he propagated the Message, by coming out openly
with the warning, and while inclined away from the path of the polytheists,
(whom he) struck their strength and seized their throats, while he invited
(all) to the way of his Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching. He destroyed
idols, and defeated heroes, until their group fled and turned their backs. So
night revealed its dawn; righteousness uncovered its genuineness; the voice of
the religious authority spoke out loud; the evil discords were silenced; the
crown of hypocrisy was diminished; the tightening of infidelity and desertion
were untied, So you spoke the statement of devotion among a band of starved
ones; and you were on the edge of a hole of fire;(you were) the drink of the
thirsty one; the opportunity of the desiring one; the fire brand of him who
passes in haste; the step for feet; you used to drink from the water gathered
on roads; eat jerked meat. (Lady Fatima (A) was stating their lowly situation
before Islam) You were despised outcasts always in fear of abduction from those
around you. Yet, Allah rescued you through my father, Muhammad after much ado,
and after he was confronted by mighty men, the Arab beasts, and the demons of
the people of the Book who, whenever they ignited the fire of war, Allah
extinguished it; and whenever the thorn of the devil appeared, or a mouth of
the polytheists opened wide in defiance, he would strike its discords with his
brother Ali (a.s.), who comes not back until he treads its wing with the sole
of his feet, and extinguishes its flames with his sword. Ali is diligent in
Allah's affair, near to the Messenger of Allah, a master among Allah's
worshipers, setting to work briskly, sincere in his advice, earnest and
exerting himself (in service to Islam); While you were calm, happy, and feeling
safe in your comfortable lives, waiting for us to meet disasters, awaiting the
spread of news, you fell back during every battle, and took to your heels at
times of fighting. Yet, When Allah chose His Prophet from the dwell of His
prophets, and the abode of His sincere (servants); the thorns of hypocrisy
appeared on you, the garment of faith became worn out, the misguided
ignorant(s) spoke out, the sluggish ignorant came to the front and brayed. The
he camel of the vain wiggled his tail in your courtyards and the Devil stuck
his head from its place of hiding and called upon you, he found you responsive
to his invitation, and observing his deceits. He then aroused you and found you
quick (to answer him), and invited you to wrath, therefore; you branded other
than your camels and proceeded to other than your drinking places. Then while
the era of the Prophet was still near, the gash was still wide, the scar had
not yet healed, and the Messenger was not yet buried. A (quick) undertaking as
you claimed, aimed at preventing discord (trial), surely, they have fallen into
trial already! And indeed Hell surrounds the unbelievers. How preposterous!
What an idea! What a falsehood! For Allah's Book is still among you, its
affairs are apparent; its rules are manifest; its signs are dazzling; its
restrictions are visible, and its commands are evident. Yet, indeed you have
cast it behind your backs! What! Do you detest it? Or according to something
else you wish to rule? Evil would be the exchange for the wrongdoers! And if
anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah), it will never
be accepted from him; And in the hereafter, he will be in the ranks of those
who have lost. Surely you have not waited until its stampede seized, and it
became obedient. You then started arousing its flames, instigating its coal,
complying with the call of the misled devil, quenching the light of the
manifest religion, and extinguished the light of the sincere Prophet. You
concealed sips on froth and proceeded towards his (the Prophet) kin and
children in swamps and forests (meaning you plot against them in deceitful
ways), but we are patient with you as if we are being notched with knives and
stung by spearheads in our abdomens, Yet-now you claim that there is not
inheritance for us! What! "Do they then seek after a judgment of (the Days
of) ignorance? But how, for a people whose faith is assured, can give better
judgment than Allah? Don't you know? Yes, indeed it is obvious to you that I am
his daughter. O Muslims! Will my inheritance be usurped? O son of Abu Qahafa!
Where is it in the Book of Allah that you inherit your father and I do not
inherit mine? Surely you have come up with an unprecedented thing. Do you
intentionally abandon the Book of Allah and cast it behind your back? Do you
not read where it says: “And Suleiman inherited Dawood”? And when it narrates
the story of Zakariya and says: “So give me an heir as from thyself (One that)
will inherit me, and inherit the posterity of Yaqoob” And: `But kindred by hood
have prior rights against each other in the Book of Allah' And: Allah (thus)
directs you as regards your children's (inheritance) to the male, a portion
equal to that of two females' And, If he leaves any goods, that he make a
bequest to parents and next of kin, according to reasonable usage; this is due
from the pious ones.' You claim that I have no share! And that I do not inherit
my father! What! Did Allah reveal a (Qur'anic) verse regarding you, from which
He excluded my father? Or do you say: `these (Fatima and her father) are the
people of two faiths, they do not inherit each other?!' Are we not, me and my
father, a people adhering to one faith? Or is it that you have more knowledge
about the specifications and generalizations of the Qur'an than my father and my
cousin (Imam Ali)? So, here you are! Take it! (Ready with) its nose rope and
saddled! But it shall encounter you on the Day of Gathering; (thus) what a
wonderful judge is Allah, a claimant is Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), and a day is the
Day of Rising. At the time of the Hour shall the wrongdoers lose; and it shall
not benefit you to regret (your actions) then! For every Message, there is a
time limit; and soon shall ye know who will be inflicted with torture that will
humiliate him, and who will be confronted by an everlasting punishment. Fatima
then turned towards the Ansars and said: O you people of intellect! The strong
supporters of the nation! And those who embraced Islam; what is this
shortcoming in defending my right? And what is this slumber (while you see)
injustice being done toward me? Did not the Messenger of Allah, my father, used
to say: A man is upheld (remembered) by his children'? O how quick have you
violated his orders?! How soon have you plotted against us? But you still are
capable (of helping me in) my attempt, and powerful (to help me) in that which
I request and (in) my pursuit (of it). Or do you say: "Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)
has perished;" Surely this is a great calamity; its damage is excessive
its injury is great, its wound (is much too deep) to heal. The Earth became
darkened with his departure; the stars eclipsed for his calamity; hopes were
seized; mountains submitted; sanctity was violated, and holiness was encroached
upon after his death. Therefore, this, by Allah, is the great affliction, and
the grand calamity; there is not an affliction-which is the like of it; nor
will there be a sudden misfortune (as surprising as this). The Book of
Allah-excellent in praising him-announced in the courtyards (of your houses) in
the place where you spend your evenings and mornings; A call, A cry, A
recitation, and (verses) in order. It had previously come upon His (Allah's)
Prophets and Messengers; (for it is) a decree final and predestination
fulfilled: "Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) is not but an Apostle: Many were the
apostles that passed away before him. If he died or was slain, will ye then
turn back on your heels? If any did turn back on his heels, not the least harm
will he do to Allah; but Allah (on the other hand) will swiftly reward those
who (serve Him) with gratitude." O you people of reflection; will I be
usurped the inheritance of my father while you hear and see me?! (And while) you
are sitting and gathered around me? You hear my call, and are included in the
(news of the) affair? (But) you are numerous and well equipped! You have the
means and the power, and the weapons and the shields. Yet, the call reaches you
but you do not answer; the cry comes to you but you do not come to help? You
are characterized by struggle, known for goodness and welfare, the selected
group (which was chosen), and the best ones chosen by the Messenger for us, Ahl
ul Bayt. You fought the Arabs, bore with pain and exhaustion, struggled against
the nations, and resisted their heroes. We were still, so were you in ordering
you and you in obeying us. So that Islam became triumphant, the accomplishment
of the days came near, the fort of polytheism was subjected, the outburst of
was subjected, the outburst of infidelity calmed down, and the system of
religion was well-ordered. Thus, (why have you) become confused after
clearness? Conceal matters after announcing them? Turned on your heels after
daring? Associated (others with Allah) after believing? Will you not fight
people who violated their oaths? Plotted to expel the Apostle and became
aggressive by being the first (to assault) you? Do you fear them? Nay, it is
Allah Whom you should more justly fear, if you believe! Nevertheless, I see
that you are inclined to easy living; dismissed he who is more worthy of
guardianship (Ali a.s.); you secluded yourselves with meekness and dismissed
that which you accepted. Yet, if you show ingratitude, you and all on earth
together, yet, Allah free of all wants, worthy of all praise. Surely I have
said all that I have said with full knowledge that you intent to forsake me,
and knowing the betrayal that your hearts sensed. But it is the state of soul,
the effusion of fury, the dissemination of (what is) the chest and the
presentation of the proof. Hence, here it is! Bag it (leadership and) put it on
the back of an ill she camel, which has a thin hump with everlasting grace,
marked with the wrath of Allah, and the blame of ever (which leads to) the Fire
of (the wrath of Allah kindled (to a blaze), that which does mount (right) to
the hearts; For, Allah witnesses what you do, and soon will the unjust
assailants know what vicissitudes their affairs will take! And I am the
daughter of a Warner (the Prophet) to you against a severe punishment. So, act
and so will we and wait, and we shall wait.'
It appears from recorded historical events, that Lady Fatima (A) was
successful at the beginning in persuading the caliph to hand back Fadak to her; listen to part of a
speech he (according to some historians) delivered after hearing Fatima's
speech. He said: “O daughter of the Messenger of Allah... Surely the Prophet is
your father, not anyone else's, the brother of your husband, not any other
man's; he surely preferred him over all his friends and (Ali a.s.) supported
him in every important matter, no one loves you save the lucky and no one hates
you save the wretched. You are the blessed progeny of Allah's Messenger, the
chosen ones, our guides to goodness our path to Fatima then refuted his claim that the Prophet had stated that prophets cannot be inherited, and said: "Glory be to Allah!! Surely Allah's Messenger did not abandon Allah's Book nor did he violate His commands. Rather, he followed its decrees and adhered to its chapters. So do you unite with treachery justifying your acts with fabrications? Indeed this-after his departure-is similar to the disasters which were plotted against him during his lifetime. But behold! This is Allah's Book, a just judge and a decisive speaker, saying: `One that will (truly) inherit me, and inherit the posterity of Yaqub,' (19:6) and 'And Suleiman inherited Dawood.' (27: 16) Thus, He (Glory be to Him) made clear that which He made share of all heirs, decreed from the amounts of inheritance, allowed for males and females, and eradicated all doubts and ambiguities (pertaining to this issue which existed with the) bygones. Nay! But your minds have made up a tale (that may pass) with you, but (for me) patience is most fitting against that which you assert; it is Allah (alone) whose help can be sought." It is apparent that the caliph chanced the mode with which he addressed Lady Fatima (A) after delivering her speech. Listen to his following speech; which is his reply to
He said: "Surely Allah and His Apostle are truthful,
and so has his (the Prophet's) daughter told the truth. Surely you are the
source of wisdom, the element of faith, and the sole authority. May Allah not
refute your righteous argument, nor invalidate your decisive speech. But these
are the Muslims between us-who have entrusted me with leadership, and it was
according to their satisfaction that I received what I have. I am not being
arrogant, autocratic, or selfish, and they are my witnesses." Upon hearing
his speech of the people's support for him, Lady Fatima Zahra (A) turned
towards them and said:
"O people, who rush towards uttering falsehood and
are indifferent to disgraceful and losing actions! Do you not earnestly seek to
reflect upon the Qur'an, or are your hearts isolated with locks? But on your
hearts is the stain of the evil, which you committed; it has seized your
hearing and your sight, evil is that which you justified, cursed is that which
you reckoned, and wicked is what you have taken for an exchange! You shall, by
Allah, find bearing it (to be a great) burden, and its consequences disastrous.
(That is) on the day when the cover is removed and appears to you what is
behind it of wrath. When you will be confronted by Allah with that which you
could never have expected, there will perish, there and then, those who stood
on falsehoods." Although parts of his speeches cannot be verified with
authentic evidence, and despite the fact that we have already mentioned part of
the actual speech, which he delivered after Lady Fatima's arguments, it appears
certain that he was finally persuaded to submit Fadak to her. Nevertheless,
when Fatima was leaving, Umar ibn Khattab suddenly appeared and exclaimed:
"What is it that you hold in your hand?" Abu Bakr replied: 'A decree
I have written for Fatima in which I assigned Fadak and her father's
inheritance to her." Umar then said: "With what will you spend on the
Muslims if the Arabs decide to fight you?!" Umar then seized the decree
and tore it up!!!
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