Tuesday, May 13, 2014

HAZRAT FATIMA BINT ASAD (S.A.), THE MOTHER OF IMAM ALI (A.S.)

Hazrat Fatima Bint Asad was the daughter of Hazrat Asad ibn Hashim (a.s.). She believed in the Unity of Allah, all previous Sacred Books like Zuboor, Taurait, and Injeel; she followed the religion of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.). On the dawn of Islam, she was the first woman, after Hazrat Khadijah (s.a.), to formally and openly declare Islamic faith. She was married to Hazrat AbuTalib (a.s.), who was also following the religion of Prophet Ibrahim. From the time of Hazrat Adam to the last Prophet (s.a.w.s.), every prophet preached and practiced Islam. According to the need of the time and the level of human intellect, Allah sent various scriptures and books. At the end, the Glorious Qur’an was revealed to the last Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) which is the final Divine revelation till the Day of Judgment.
She had the privilege of raising the Five Sacred Souls; the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.), Imam Ali (a.s.), Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.), Imam Hasan (a.s.), and Imam Hussain (a.s.). As the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) lost her mother at an early age, hence she provided and replaced the motherly love to him. She took a special care of him and preferred him to her own children. She and her husband Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) would shift young Muhammad from his bed to other places for his safety and let their other sons sleep at his place. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) had lauded her motherly care, which stretched to 20 years. The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) continued that sacrificial intention of his parents and slept in the Prophet’s bed on the night of Hijrah.
Imam Ali (a.s.)’s birth:  On Friday, the 13th day of the Sacred month of Rajab, 12 years before the ordainment of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), as Allah’s Messenger, she went to Holy Ka’abah and while she was circumambulating, she felt the pains of delivery. She prayed to Allah: “O Allah! I believe in You, and in the Messengers and Scripts You have sent. I believe in what my grandfather, Ibrahim who built the Ancient House (Ka’abah). So, for the sake of the Builder of this House, and for the sake of the child in my womb, who talks to me and who is my helper and friend, I implore You to make my labor easy. The child I am carrying is a sign of Your Greatness and Power.” (Al-Arbili, Kashf Al-Ghummah, volume 1 chapter on Imam Ali)
Hazrat Fatima bint Asad (s.a.) leaned against the wall of Ka’abah to rest. Miraculously, the wall opened. Hazrat Fatima bint Asad (s.a.) entered and the wall closed behind her. Abbas ibn Abdul Mutallib, the Prophet’s uncle witnessed this miracle. He and his companions rushed to the gate of the Sacred House, which was locked, and tried in vain to open it. Understanding that the Divine was at work there, he and his companions ceased to interfere. The news of this miracle spread throughout Makkah.
Imam Ali (a.s.) was born within the Ka’abah with his eyes closed and his body in humble prostration before the Almighty Allah. Hazrat Fatima bint Asad (s.a.) stayed in Ka’abah for three days and as the fourth day approached, she stepped out carrying her baby in her arms. She found the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) waiting to receive the new-born child in his anxious arms. So the first face that little Ali (a.s.) saw in this world was the smiling face of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.).
No one has ever born or will ever be born inside the Sacred House of Allah. This unique distinction was reserved for Imam Ali (a.s.). Hazrat Fatima bint Asad (s.a.) had said about this special privilege Allah had granted to her and said: “Allah preferred me to all women before me. Assiyah (wife of the Pharaoh) performed the acts of worship in seclusion where Allah did not like to be worshiped except in case of necessity. Mary (s.a.), the daughter of Imran, shook the trunk of the Pam- tree and ripe dates fell upon her. I entered the House of Allah and ate fruits of Paradise, when I was about to leave the place, I heard the Divine call: O Fatima! Name your son Ali because he is high and his Lord Most High. I gave him a name derived from My Own Name. I cultured him the way I willed. I made known to him the intricacies of My Own Omniscience. He is the one to crush the idols in My House. He is the one to call the people to prayer from the roof of My House. He worships Me. Blessed are those who love him, and woe to those who are his enemies.”
We know that Mary (s.a.) lived in the Masjid-al-Aqsa (within the House of Allah), but was not allowed to deliver her child inside the House of Allah.
Hazrat Fatima bint Asad (s.a.)’s death:
The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) was much grieved on hearing the sad demise of Hazrat Fatima bint Asad (s.a.) on 23rd Safar. He immediately proceeded to the house of Hazrat AbuTalib and sat besides the dead body, prayed for her. According to the Commander of the Faithful: “When my mother died, the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) wrapped her body in a shirt of his own and said prayer upon her and said: “Allah is the Greatest “-seventy times. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) then went into the grave, touched the walls as if he wanted to widen the grave. When he came out of the grave, the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) wept bitterly and addressed the grave to be kind to her body.”
The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: “May Allah bless your noble soul. You were to me like my own mother. You fed me while you yourself went hungry. Your aim in doing so was to please Allah by your deeds. O Allah! Life and death is in your hands. You alone will never die. Bless my mother Fatima bint Asad, and give her a mansion in Heaven. You are the most Merciful. My dear mother, may Allah keep you under His Protection.
She was buried in the Jannat-al-Baqi, Madinah.

Sources used:
Al-Muntazar.com
WIKIPEDIA
Duas.org

ImamReza.net 

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