In continuation of the discussions of the biography of Lady Fatima, the daughter of the Holy Prophet, we shall focus on other aspects of her life in this article.
Death
Holy Lady Fatimah did not survive more than seventy-five days after the demise of her father. She breathed her last on the 14th Jumada – Ula 11 AH. Before her demise she bequeathed the following as her will to Imam ‘Ali:
1. O ` Ali, you will personally perform my funeral rites.
2. Those who have displeased me should not be allowed to attend my funeral.
3 . My corpse should be carried to the graveyard at right.
Thus Imam’s compliance with her will performed all the funeral rites and accompanied exclusively by her relatives and sons carried her at night to Jannatu l-Baqi, where she was laid to rest and her wishes fulfilled. The Holy Prophet said: “Whoever injures (bodily or sentimentally) Fatimah, injures me; and whoever injures me injures Allah; and whoever injures Allah practices unbelief. O, Fatimah! If your wrath is incurred, it incurs the wrath of Allah; and if you are happy, it makes Allah happy too.”
M.H. Shakir writes
Fatimah, the only daughter of the Holy prophet of Islam, was born in Mecca on 20 Th. Jumada ‘ th – thaniyah 18 BH. The good and noble lady Khadijah and the apostle of Allah bestowed all their natural love, care and devotion on their lovable and only child Fatimah, who in her turn was extremely fond of her parents. The princess of the House of the Prophet was very intelligent, accomplished, and cheerful. Her sermons, poems, and sayings serve, as an index to her strength of character and nobility of mind.
Her virtues gained her the title “Our Lady of light. she was tall, slender and endowed with great beauty, which caused her to be called “az – Zahra” ( the Lady of Light). She was called az – Zahra’ because her light used to shine among those in Heaven. After arriving in Medina, she was married to Ali, in the first year Hijrah, and she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Her children, Hasan, Husayn, Zaynab and umm kulthum. Are well-known for their piety, goodness and generosity Their strength of character and actions changed the course of history. The Holy Prophet said, “Fatimah is a piece of my heart”. He would go out to receive his doughtier whenever she comes from her husband’s house.
Every morning on his way to the Mosque, he would pass by Fatimah’s house and say: “as-Salamu` Alaykum ya Ahlul-Bayti`n-nubuwwah wa ma Dani’s – risala” (peace be on you O the Household of Prophethood and the source of Messengership) Fatimah is famous and acknowledged as the “Sayyidatu ‘n-Nisa’i ‘ l-Alamin” (Leader of all the women of the world for all times) because the Prophethood of Muhammad would not have been everlasting without her. The Prophet is the perfect example for men, but could not be so for women. For all the verses revealed in the Holy Qur’an for women, Fatimah is the perfect model, who translated every year into action. In her lifetime, she was a complete woman, being a daughter, wife and Mother at some time.
Muhammad during his lifetime gave Fatimah a gift of very extensive farmlands, famous as Fadak, which were documented in her name, as her absolute personal property. An heiress to the remainder of her mother`s wealth, a princess who was the only daughter of the holy prophet who was also a ruler, a lady whose husband was the conqueror of Arab tribes and second only to her father in and position, Fatimah could have led a luxurious life. But in spite of her wealth and possessions, she worked, dressed, ate and lived very simply. She was very generous; and none who come to her door, when away empty-handed. Many times, she gave away her all and she went without food. As a daughter, she loved her parents so much, that she won their love and regard to such an extent that the Holy prophet used to rise, whenever she come near him As a wife, she was very devoted.
She never asked ` Ali for anything in her whole life. As a mother, she cared for and brought up wonderful children; they have lifted their marks on the face of the world, which time will not be able to erase. The death of the Apostle affected her very much and she was very sad and grief-stricken and wept her heart out crying all the time. Unfortunately, after the death of the prophet, the government confiscated her famous land of Fadak and gave it to the state. Fatimah was pushed behind her door (when they attacked the house of ` Ali and took him to force him to accept the caliphate of Abu Baker), so that the child, she was carrying was hurt and the baby boy Muhsin was stillborn.
Her house was set on fire by the Government. The tragedy of her father’s death and the unkindness of her father’s followers were too much for the good, gentle and sensitive lady and she breathed her last on 14 Th. Jumada ` l – ula 11 AH, exactly seventy – five days after the death of her father, the Holy prophet of Islam. Fatimah died in the prime of her life at the age of eighteen and was buried in Jannat ‘l-Baqi ` Medina.
