Hazrat Khadijah (s.a.) was the richest woman of Arabia.
The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) worked for her as the administrator of her
enormous trading empire carrying goods to parts of the Middle East where there
was demand for it. During these trade journeys, her special servant, Maysarah, witnessed
many miracles from the young Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.) and reported back to her. She
was very impressed with his honesty, sincerity and exemplary morals. She
herself initiated to marry the young Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.).
There is a proverbial saying: “Islam did not spread in the world except through (Imam) Ali’s Zulfiqar
and the enormous wealth of Hazrat Khadijah (s.a.)”. She had earned the
titles of “Ameerat-ul-Quraish” – Princess
of Quraish and al-Tahira, the Pure One, due to her impeccable personality
and virtuous character, not to mention the honorable descent. She was from the
tribe of Banu Asad, a clan of Banu Hashim. Before the dawn of Islam,
she was already practicing “Silae Rahm”. She used to feed and provide
clothes to the poor and needy, assist financially her relatives and bear the
expenses of marriage of her deserving kin. She never believed or worship idols.
She was the first woman to embraced Islam along with Imam Ali (a.s.), a young boy at that time.
The marriage between Hazrat Khadijah (s.a.) and Muhammad
(s.a.w.a.s.), the Noble Prophet, was solemnized. According to the narratives of
both Sunni and Shi’a scholars, on the night of Ascension (Me’raj), the Archangel Jibra’il presented some fruits of Tooba to the Noble Prophet
(s.a.w.a.s.) and he ate them. On
return to earth, the seed of Sayyidah Fatima was coagulated from that heavenly fruits and thus Hazrat Khadija (s.a.)
conceived her. It is reported that the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) used to
kiss Sayyidah Fatima frequently. One day, Hazrat A’isha inquired as to why he
(s.a.w.a.s.) kissed Sayyidah Fatima so much. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.)
replied: “Whenever I kiss Fatima I smell the scent of Highest Heaven in her.” Thus Sayyidah Fatima Zahra (s.a.) was born
on the 20th day of Jamadi al-Thani, and with her birth, the taunts
and reproaches of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.)’s opponents were silenced. Allah (s.w.t.) had granted “al-Kausar” to
his Messenger as mentioned in Surah
al-Kausar. She was destined to be the “Ummul
A’immah” or the Mother of the Golden Chain
of Infallible Imams. She was to have the “Princes of Youths of Paradise” who shall represent “The Sons” in the forthcoming event of Mubahelah”. On the eve of “The Certification of The Most Truthful” as required by
the Ayah 61 of Surah Al-e- Imran which says: “If anyone disputes after knowledge has
come to you, say, “Let us summon our sons and (you summon) your sons, and (we
summon) our women and (you) your women, and (we summon) our selves and (you)
your selves and then let us invoke and lay the curse of Allah on the liars.” The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) took with him Imam Hasan (a.s.), Imam Husayn (a.s.), Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.), and the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.).
As the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) had said: “Fatima is a Huri in human form”. Hence, her Purity was subsequently
confirmed by Allah (s.w.t.) in Surah al-Ahzab, Ayah 33 which says: “Verily,
verily Allah intends but to repel from you (every kind of) uncleanness O’ People
of The House, and Purify you (with) a through Purification.” As narrated in “Hadees-e-Kisa”,
when Arch Angel Jibra’il inquired as to who were under the cloak (Kisa), Allah
(s.w.t.) introduced Sayyidah Fatima Zahra (s.a.) and relates “The Pnajetan” as “She
is Fatima, her father, her husband and her children”
Growing in the house of revelation, gave Sayyidah Fatima
Zahra (s.a.) a chance to achieve the highest degree of perfection and
excellence. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) taught her the Divine knowledge and
endowed her with special intelligence, so that she realized the true meaning of
faith, piety, and the reality of Islam.
Surah al-Nur Ayah
35 which says: “Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth. A metaphor for
His light is a niche in which there is a lamp placed in a glass….” Ibn al
Maghazli al-Shafi’I has related that the niche means Hazrat Fatimah (s.a.); the
lamp means Hasan (a.s.) and Hussayn (a.s.).
Surah al-Isra’
Ayah 26 which says: “Give the kinsmen his dues….” Commentators have related
that when this Ayah was revealed, the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) asked Arch Angel
Jibra’il: Who are the kinsmen and what is their due? Jibra’il replied: Give
Fadak to Fatima for it is her due, and whatever is due to Allah and the Prophet
out of Fadak, that also belongs to her. There upon the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.)
called Fatima and wrote the deed of gift, giving Fadak to her. (Tafsir
Durre Mansoor, volume 4 page 177)
Extra ordinary
love of the Prophet for Fatimah: It is said that “Love of the beloved of God is love of God.” According to
narratives from Sunni and Shi’a sources, the following incidents are worth mentioning:
“There is no man
more loved by the Prophet than Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) and no
woman more loved than Sayyida Fatimah (s.a.)”
When this Ayah was revealed saying: “Make not the calling of the Messenger among you as your calling of one
another”, the Muslims did not address the Prophet as “O Muhammad” any more,
instead they said: “O Messenger of God”. Sayyidah Fatimah Zahra (s.a.) said: “After
this Ayah was revealed, I did not dare calling my father as “father dear”. After that when I
addressed him as “O’ Messenger of Allah”, he did not like it and turned his
face away. He said: “O’ Fatimah, this
Ayah was not revealed for you, not for your family and your descendants. You
are of me and I am of you. Say, father dear; for this word is more life giving
for the heart and more pleasing to God.” (Manaqib Ibne-Shaher Ashub)
The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “Whoever harms Fatimah
has harmed me and whoever angers her has made me angry; and whoever has made
her glad has made me glad, and whoever saddens her has made me sad.”
The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) also said: “Fatimah is part of me, whoever annoys her
annoys me.”
This Tradition carries an utmost importance. It is a fact
that all the physical and spiritual qualities which are in the main body are
completely found in the part. Hence, if the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) was the
Messenger of Allah and responsible for preaching Islam, it is a natural
corollary that Sayyidah Fatima also preached Islam to the women folks. That
must be the reason when Sayyidah Fatima Zahra (s.a.) came in the presence of
the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.); he would stand up and gave respect to her not as
a daughter but as the partner in preaching Islam!
Sources used:
The Golrious Qur’an
Fatima Zahra: The World’s Most Outstanding Lady by Ayatullah Makarem
Shirazi
Fatimah, The Gracious by
Abu Muhammad Ordani
Hazrat Fatimah Az-Zahra al-Islam.org
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