Fatimah

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"Fatima" redirects here.

Fatimah binte Muhammad or popularly Fatimah Zahra (Fatima the Gracious) (Arabic: فاطمة الزهراء) (Born Friday 20th of Jumada al-akhir in Mecca – 14th Jumada al-awwal or 3th Jamadi-ul-Assani at Medina) was the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his first wife Khadijah.

Biography

She was born in Mecca around 614 (Shi'a tradition) or 606 C.E. (Sunni tradition). In 624, she was married to her father's cousin, Ali ibn Abi Talib, who after her death whould to come into power after the Sunni Caliph Uthman. She was buried privately in Jannat al-Baqi in a secret grave. She was survived by two sons, the second Shi’a Imam Hassan ibn Ali and third Shi’a Imam Hussain ibn Ali and two daughters, Umm Khultum binte Ali and Zaynab binte Ali.

Muslim views

Muslims regard her as a loving and devoted daughter, mother, and wife, a sincere Muslim, and an exemplar for Muslim women. It is believed that she was very close to Muhammad and her distinction from other women is mentioned in many of his Hadiths: "Fatima is a part of my flesh: whoever causes her to be upset, upsets me." Her children, his grandsons the second Shi’a Imam Hassan ibn Ali and third Shi’a Imam Husayn ibn Ali were very dear to him. Shi'a and Sunni Muslims generally agree on these basic facts, but give very different detailed accounts of her life.

The Sunni view of Fatima

According to Sunni historians, Fatima Zahra binte Mohammed was the youngest of four daughters whom Khadijah bore to Islamic Prophet Muhammad. She died of natural causes, at the age of twenty-three or twenty-four, surviving her father by only a few months. Sunni historians do not accept the accounts of her injuries and miscarriage at the hands of Umar and his men.

The Shi'a view of Fatima

File:YaFatimah.jpg

Calligraphy that reads "Ya Fatimah Zahra". It is common among Muslims to use calligraphy and natural motifs instead of pictures of her.

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According to some Shi'a scholars, Fatima Zahra binte Mohammed was the Islamic prophet Muhammad's only daughter; this position is not universal. . The Sunni belief that he had other daughters by Khadijah denies Ali ibn Abu Talib the distinction of being Islamic Prophet Muhammad's only son-in-law.

A'ishah

Shi'a state that Muhammad's young wife, Aisha, disliked both Fatimah and her husband Ali; that Aisha envied the relationship between Fatimah and Ali, and also Muhammad's high regard for Fatimah as deceased Khadijah binte Khuwaylid's only daughter. Shi'a state tha Aisha was also jealous that Muhamamd gave Ali more attention than Abu Bakr, Aisha father.

Coup d'état — 632

File:Fatimah Zahra AS 3.jpg

Artist depiction of Fatimah being crushed by the door as Umar's forces assualt and burn her house

When Muhammad died, Aisha and her father, Abu Bakr, intrigued to grab the leadership of the Muslim community in a Coup d'état. The Shi'a believe that Muhammad had wanted Ali to succeed him but his wishes were ignored. After Abu Bakr assumed leadership, he asked Muslims to swear allegiance to him, as was the Arab custom of the time. Ali and his followers refused and were harassed and threatened by Abu Bakr's supporters.

According to the Shi'a view, Umar ibn al-Khattab was not only one of Abu Bakr's most zealous supporters, but also his co-conspirator and in some cases his superior. Umar led a party of armed men against Ali's house in Medina and called for Ali and his men to come out and swear allegiance to Abu Bakr, who they had decided would take power in the the meeting at Saqifah. Umar and Khalid ibn Walid threatened to burn the house down if they did not submit. Umar al-Khattab and his men broke down the door behind which Fatima Zahra binte Mohammed was standing, and she was crushed between the wall and door. This caused her severe injury; she was pregnant at the time and miscarried a son whom the Shi'a call Al Muhsin. Zubayr ibn al-Awwam went out, but was dissarmed, and Ali was arrested.

Fadak and inheritance

According to the Shi'a view, the conspirators succesfully seized power. They proceeded by stripping Fatimah of all financial means: The land of Fadak, a gift from Muhammad to her before the Conquest of Mecca was confiscated and any inheritance due to her was denied since Abu Bakr had conveniently been the only one to hear Muhammad state that "prophets do not inherit".

Fatimah opposed this confiscation, and contested Abu Bakr's statements: She still had the merit of being Muhammads daughter and people where still watching, although they where in shock over how the events had turned out. However, even though Fatimah and Ali succesfully contested Abu Bakr's claim, Abu Bakr refused to return her property as this would jeopardize their newly gained power. Fatimah made one last attempt: She interruped Abu Bakr's speech in the mosque of Medinah, with a long speech of her own. After this speech, Abu Bakr repented and went to return the deed to the land. However, he was stoped by Umar, who grabbed Abu Bakr's beard and demanded a explanation, forcing him to stop jeopardizing the mission. Abu Bakr yet again changed his mind.

Breach in relations

This caused a major breach in their relations, she refused to talk to Abu Bakr after that, something Sunnis agree on .

Shia continue taht some time later, it became evident that Fatimah whould not be recovering from her wounds. She still had the people heart as she was Muhammads favorit and only biological daugher and also the mother of Muhammads only grandchildren. Abu Bakr and Umar went to her house, and asked permision to enter. Fatimah refused to answer them, but eventualy was the door opened by Ali. Abu Bakr wanted to improve the relations, but Fatimah was angered that Abu Bakr was not going to return to her her property. Angrily, she said that she "would curse him in her every prayer".

Death

Fatima did not survive long after the demise of her father. Sources differ from six month to one month. According to the Shi'as, before her death she made these requests of her husband:

• O Ali, you will personally perform my funeral rites.
• Those who have displeased me should not be allowed to attend my funeral.
• My corpse should be carried to the graveyard at night.

Ali did as she wished: she was buried at night, and accompanied to the grave by her relatives and sons. The burial was done secretly, so that Abu Bakr and Umar could not attend.

The Shi'as believe that Fatima died at the age of eighteen in Medina. This cause great grief to her husband. Eventualy, as another part of her will, Ali got married with the woman of Fatimah choise, so that Fatimahs children would be well take care of. After Fatima's death, Ali renewed the claim to the properties, but was again denied by Abu Bakr .

Works

• Book of Fatimah

Legacy

Amulet with two hands of Fatimah, bearing the inscriptions "Allah is the guardian", "Allah brings consolation in all trials". Hammered silver with filigree and cloisonné enamel decoration. 14th-15th century, Andalousia, Spain.

Shi'as regard Fatima Zahra binte Mohammed as the greatest woman who has ever lived, the leader of all women in Paradise, and the pattern of female virtue. She was the wife of the first Shi'a Imam, the mother of the second and third, and the ancestress of all the succeeding Imams.

They also call her Al-Zahra, the Lady of Light. The khamsa, an amulet popularly believed to ward off evil and widely used in the Maghreb, represents the hand of Fatima. However, charms are forbidden in some branches of Islam.

Shi'as gave Fatima Zahra binte Mohammed many titles of praise; the list is long. See List of Shi'a titles for Fatima Zahra

See also

• Sura Al-Kawthar
• Fatima The Gracious (book)
• Ahl al Bayt
• Hand of Fatima
• Succession to Muhammad
• Historiography of early Islam
• Al Muhsin

External links

Sunni links:

• A biography of Fatimah. — USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts

Shi'a links:

• Sunni Traditions in praise of Syeda Fatima Zahra (AS) — shianews.com
• Picture gallery and quotes — ezsoftech.com
• Biographt and picture gallery — karbala-najaf.org

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