Lady Fatima, the only daughter of the Holy Prophet of Islam, was born in Mecca on the 20th of Jumadi al- Thani. The Apostle of Allah and the virtuous and noble lady Khadijah bestowed all their love, care and devotion on their lovable and only child; Fatima, 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 “Al-Zahra” (the Lady of Light). She was called al-Zahra” because her light used to shine among those in Heaven. After arriving in Medina, she got married to Ali in the first year of Hijrah, and she gave birth to two sons and two daughters.
Her children, Hasan, Husain, Zainab 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, “Fatima is a piece of my heart”. Every morning on his way to the Mosque, he would pass by Fatima’s house and say: “peace be on you O the Household of Prophethood and the source of Messengership”.
Fatima is famous and acknowledged as the “Leader of all the women of the world” 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, Fatima 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 the same time. Fatima was very generous, and none who come to her door went away empty-handed. She never asked Ali for anything in her whole life.
As a mother, she cared for and brought up wonderful children; who 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. Lady Fatima was martyred in the prime of her life at the age of eighteen.
The Holy Prophet said:
“Whoever injures (bodily or sentimentally) Fatima, injures me; and whoever injures me injures Allah; and whoever injures Allah practices unbelief. O Fatima! If your wrath is incurred, it incurs the wrath of Allah; and if you are happy, it makes Allah happy too.”
Her Last day
The account of the last day of Lady Fatima’s life clearly shows what kind of a lady this daughter of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.wa) was. It was 3rd day of Jumadia al-Thani, year eleven after Hijrah. Fatimah Zahra (a.s) told the household that she was feeling better, the pain in her ribs and in her hand was not so severe and that her fever had come down.
Then she started bathing the children, and immediately Imam Ali (as) and Bibi Fizza (r.a) came to her assistance. She got those children bathed, dressed and fed, then sent them away to her cousin.
Imam Ali (a.s) was surprised to find that his dear wife, Fatima Zahra (a.s) had left her bed and had started doing the housework; he asked her about it and she replied:
“This is the last day of my life. I wanted to wash my children’s hair and clothes, because they will soon be orphans, without a mother!”
Imam Ali (a.s) then asked her about the source of knowledge of this news (the day of her departure). Fatima Zahra (a.s) told him that she had seen the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (s.a.w.a) in her dream and he had told her that she was going to join him that night.
She then asked Imam Ali (a.s) to execute her will. Imam Ali (a.s) said: “Instruct me to do anything you wish, daughter of Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a).”
Imam Ali (a.s) then asked everyone to leave the house and he sat next to her. Fatima Zahra (a.s) started:
“Cousin, my dear husband, you know very well why I did all that. Please excuse my fussiness; they have suffered so much with me and during my illness that I want to see them happy on the last day of my life. I am happy and also I am sad. Happy I am that my troubles will shortly be over and I shall meet my father and sorry I have to part with you.”
Fatima Zahra (a.s) continued:
“Cousin, my dear husband, you are not accustomed to me being a liar, not devoted, or have I disobeyed you since I have become your companion?”
Imam Ali (a.s) said:
“Allah (SWT) forbids! You are more conscious of Allah (SWT), more devoted, more pious, more honourable and more fearing of Allah (SWT) than (to give me a reason) to reprimand you for disobeying me. Surely, it is very painful for me to be separated from you and to lose you; but it is an inevitable destination. By Allah (SWT), you have renewed the sorrow I have just encountered with the death of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (s.a.w.a); surely, your death and departure will be a great calamity, but to Allah, we belong, and to Him is our return.” (1)
What a painful, bitter and sad calamity. Surely this is a calamity for which there is no console and a disaster for which there is no compensation.
Then they both cried and Imam Ali (a.s) embraced her head and said: “Instruct me to do anything you wish; you certainly will find me devoted and I will execute everything that you command me to do. I shall also put your matters over mine.”
Her Last Will
Fatima Zahra (a.s) said:
“May Allah (SWT) reward you with the best of goodness. Cousin, firstly I ask you to marry anybody you like after my death, but you must marry my niece Umamah; surely, she will be to my children as I was. Besides, men cannot do without women. She loves my children and Husain is very much attached to her. Let Fizza remain with you even after her marriage if she so desires, she was more than a mere servant to me. I loved her like my daughter.”
She (a.s) then added:
“I ask you not to let anyone who did injustice to me to witness my funeral, for they certainly are enemies of mine, and the enemy of Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (s.a.w.a). Also don’t give them the chance to pray over me, nor to any of their followers. I want you to wash me at night, put the shroud on me, perform the prayer upon my body, and bury me at night when eyes are rested and sight is put to sleep. And after my burial, sit beside my grave and recite Noble Qur’an for me. Let not my death dishearten you, you have to serve Islam and humanity for a long time to come. Let not my sufferings embitter your life, promise me cousin, my dear husband.”
Imam Ali (a.s) said:
“Yes, Fatima, I promise” “Cousin, my dear husband”, she continued, “I know how you love my children but be careful of Husain. He loves me dearly and will miss me sadly, be a mother unto him. Till my recent illness, he used to sleep on my chest, he is already missing it.”
Imam Ali (a.s) was caressing the broken hand, his hot and big tears dropped on her hand. She looked up and said, “Do not weep cousin, my dear husband; I know with a rough outward appearance what a tender heart you possess. You already have borne too much and will have to bear more.
Her Martyrdom
Fatimah Zahra (a.s) was ready to meet her Lord. She bathed and then lay down in her garment. She then instructed Asma bint Umays to wait awhile and then to call her name; if there was no answer, this would mean that Fatimah Zahra (a.s) had departed towards her Lord.
Asma bint Umays waited awhile, then called Fatima’s name, but there was no answer; Asma bint Umays repeated the call: “O daughter of the chosen Muhammad! O daughter of the most honourable of them whom women bore! O daughter of the best of those who have walked on gravel! O daughter of him who ‘was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer.”(2)
There is no answer, silence overwhelms the house, Asma bint Umays then proceeds towards Fatima Zahra (a.s) and finds her dead, the soul had departed to join her Father, Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a) in the realm of Grace, Mercy and Might.
At that point, Imam Hasan (a.s) and Imam Husain (a.s) entered and asked Asma bint Umays:
“Where is our mother?” “Our Mother did not use to sleep at this time of the day!” Asma bint Umays replied: “O sons of the Messenger of Allah! Your mother is not sleeping, she has passed away!”
While Imam Hasan (a.s) heard such words, he fell on the body of his mother and kissed her face and addressed her: “Dear mother! Please talk to me before I pass away.”
Imam Husain (a.s) came near and kissed her mother’s feet and said: “Dear mother! I am your son Husain, talk to me before I pass away.”
Then, Imam Hussein (a.s) turned towards Imam Hassan (a.s) and said: “May Allah console you for our Mother!”
The Hashemite women were then gathered to receive the news of the great calamity. Yes, the calamity befell them once more, while the blood was still flowing from the wound of losing Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a).
When the people of Medina got the news of Fatimah Zahra’s (a.s) martyrdom, they gathered in front of her house and waited for the burying ceremony.
But it was announced that the ceremony was delayed. At night, when all people were asleep, Imam Ali (a.s) started to wash Fatima’s (a.s) body and shrouded her in the absence of the people, who had oppressed her greatly, according to her will.
When the washing was finished, Imam Ali (a.s) instructed Imam Hasan (a.s) and Imam Husain (a.s) – who were only two little children at that time – to call some of the true companions of Prophet Muhammad (saw), those whom Fatima Zahra (a.s) was satisfied with, to participate in the burying ceremony.
They were not more than seven as it has been narrated. After they arrived; he said prayers and then buried her while his children were sad and were secretly crying about losing their mother.
There is one narration with 2 interpretations that the demise of Fatima Zahra (a.s) occurred either 75 days or 95 days after the demise of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a).
As we know, 28th Safar is the day of the demise of Prophet Muhammad (saw). So, if it was 75 days assuming that Safar, Rabi al-Awwal, Rabi al-Thani, and Jumada Al-Ula could be 30 days so 75 days would 13th, 14th or 15th of Jumada Al-Ula.
And as for 95 days count, her martyrdom falls on the 3rd Jumada al-Thani. Because we do not know the exact date we call this period between the 13th, 14th, and 15th Jumada Al- Ula to the 3rd Jumada al-Thani as Ayyame Fatimiyya (i.e., The period of Fatima).
NOTE:
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- The Noble Qur’an, 2:156.
- The Noble Qur’an, 53:9.
