- Shi'a view of Fatimah
:"This is a sub-article of
Fatima Zahra andShi'a Islam .According to Shi'a and non-Muslim scholars, Fatima Zahra was
Muhammad 's only daughter. [SeeGenealogy of Khadijah's Daughters for further discussions. and also see [http://www.balagh.net/english/ahl_bayt/fatima_the_gracious/05.htm here] ] . The Sunni belief that he had other daughters by Khadijah deniesAli ibn Abu Talib the distinction of being Muhammad's only son-in-law. She is held in highest of esteem, as being the single most ideal example for all women; in terms of her purity and the eventual martyrdom of her son, she is considered to be the Muslim counterpart to the Christian Mary, mother of Jesus; indeed, one of her names is "Maryam al-Kubrá", or "the greater Mary". [Kassam-Hann 2002, p 84.]hi'a biography
Muhammad's era
A'isha
Shi'a state that Muhammad's young wife,
Aisha , disliked both Fatima and her husband Ali [ Umar abu Nasr, cited in Jafri 1970 p95] ; that Aisha envied the relationship between Fatima and Ali, and also Muhammad's high regard for Fatima as deceasedKhadijah bint Khuwaylid 's only daughter. Shi'as state that Aisha was also jealous that Muhammad gave Ali more attention than Abu Bakr, Aisha's father. cite book
last = Thomson
first = Ahmad
title = Fatima Az-Zahra
publisher = Ta-Ha Publishers
date = 1993
id = ISBN 1-897940-06-8 ]Muhammad's last days
She had some very emotinal talk with her father during his last days.
Abu Bakr's era
Coup d'état — 632
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 commands 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.The meeting at Saqifah
During the time that Fatimah and her husband were washing and burying her father, Umar and Abu Bakr left them and went to the meeting at Saqifah, without informing her, her husband or any of her relatives. At that meeting, Abu Bakr was chosen to become her father's successor.
Umar at Fatimah's house
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 andKhalid ibn Walid threatened to burn the house down if they did not submit. The Shi'a view culminated in them breaking in, resulting in Fatimah's ribs being broken between the broken door and the wall, and she miscarriaging an unborn son namedMuhsin .Bay'ah to Abu Bakr
Many of those who were presented also are among the
List of Sahaba not giving bay'ah to Abu Bakr .Fadak and inheritance
Abu Bakr successfully seized power. They proceeded by stripping Fatima of all financial means: The land of
Fadak , which Shi'a believe was a gift from Muhammad to her before theConquest of Mecca , [Jafri 1979 p 62; citing Yaqubi II p 127, Tabarsi "Ihtijaj" I pp 131-149 and others.] 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 leave an inheritance" [Jafri 1979 p 62; citing Bukhari and Yaqubi.] .Fatima 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 Fatima and Ali successfully contested Abu Bakr's claim, Abu Bakr refused to return her property as this would jeopardize their newly gained power. Fatima made one last attempt: She interrupted 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 stopped by Umar, who grabbed Abu Bakr's beard and demanded an explanation, forcing him to stop jeopardizing the mission. Abu Bakr yet again changed his mind. cite book
last = Thomson
first = Ahmad
title = Fatima Az-Zahra
publisher = Ta-Ha Publishers
date = 1993
id = ISBN 1-897940-06-8 ]Breach in relations
This caused a major breach in their relations, she refused to talk to Abu Bakr until her death, something noted in Sunni hadith collections [
Sahih Bukhari ,Sahih Muslim ] . The question of this inheritance is one of the most debated points in the Sunni/Shi'a conflict. In effect, Abu Bakr's hands were tied: if he acknowledged her claim to Fadak, it would lend credence to her lineage's claim to the succession of Muhhammad. [Jafri 1979 p 63]Shia continue that some time later, it became evident that Fatima would not be recovering from her wounds. She still had the people's heart as she was Muhammad's favorite and only biological daughter and was also the mother of Muhammad's only grandchildren. Abu Bakr and Umar went to her house to seek her pardon, and asked permission to enter. Fatimah refused to answer them, but eventually the was door opened by Ali [
Tarikh al-Khulafa , vol 1 p 20 cited inMuhammad al-Tijani "Then I was Guided", [http://www.al-islam.org/guided/19.html chapter "The Opinion of the Companions about each other"] .] . Fatimah, still angered that Abu Bakr was refusing her inheritance, angrily rebuked them::"God be my witness that you two have offended me. In every prayer I curse you and will continue cursing you until I see my father and complain against you."Peshawar Nights [http://www.al-islam.org/peshawar/7.5.html] on Al-Islam.org] .Last period
When Fatima was ill with the final sickness which caused her death, the wives of the Emigrants and Companions of the Muhammad went out visit her to ask how she was feeling. In reply to them, after asking for the blessings of God for her father, Muhammad, she said:
Death
Fatima did not survive long after the demise of her father. Sources differ from one month to six months [Jafri, S.H.M. "The Origins and Early Development of Shi'a Islam". Longman, New York; 1979 ISBN 0-582-78080-2 p59.] . According to numerous Shi'a sources, because of the rift between her and the Abu Bakr faction, 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." [at-Tabari I p1825; Bukhari Sahih V p288 and others, cited in Jafri 1979 p63]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'a believe that Fatima died at the age of eighteen in Medina. This caused great grief to her husband. Eventually, in accordance with another part of her will, Ali married the woman of Fatima's choice, so that Fatima's 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 [
Sahih Muslim ] .Shi'a gave Fatima Zahra many titles of praise. See
List of Shi'a titles for Fatima Zahra Legacy
In
Iran , her birthday was chosen as the date for National Women's Day, and annual "mowludi" or birthday celebrations are held in her honor by Iranian women; the themes routinely reflected in sermons at these functions are those of Fatimah's example as a pious daughter and wife and caring mother, and her simple lifestyle. [ Kalinock, Sabine. "Between party and devotion: Mowludi of Tehran women." "Critique: Critical Middle Eastern Studies." Fall 2003, Vol. 12 Issue 2, p173-187.]Among the Shi'a writings about Fatimah, the following is included:
*Fatemeh is Fatemeh
*Fatima the Gracious ee also
*
Sura Al-Kawthar
*Hand of Fatima
*Book of Fatimah
*Disputes over Islamic historical dates References
External links
Shi'a links:
* [http://www.baabeilm.org/presentations/fatema1.swf Baabeilm.org]
* [http://www.karbala-najaf.org/zahra/gallery.html Biography and picture gallery] — karbala-najaf.org
* [http://www.ezsoftech.com/islamic/infallible3.asp Picture gallery and quotes] — ezsoftech.com
* [http://www.shia.org/fatima.html Shia.org]
* [http://www.shianews.com/hi/articles/education/0000325.php "Sunni Traditions in praise of Syeda Fatima Zahra (AS)"] — article at shianews.com
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