Little Angel Who Shielded Prophet Father -

Hazrat Fatima al-Zahra (RA), Guardian AhleBait
(أُمُّ أَبِيهَا وَ سَيِّدَةُ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ)🌹

By: Ghulam Hussain Ghazi

It was the fourth year of Prophethoodﷺ. An ordinary day in Makkah Mukarramah, under the scorching sun, in the courtyard of the Ka’bah. The Prophet Muhammadﷺ, as was his habit, came near Hajar-e-Isma’il for worship. A group of Makkah polytheists was already present there. This was their central place where they sat for consultations, spent time or performed tawaf. Among them were Amro ibne Hisham (Abu Jahl), Utbah ibn Rabi’ah, Shaybah ibne Rabi’ah, Umayyah ibne Khalf, Uqbah ibne Abi Mu’ayt and other leaders of Quraysh tribe.

This was the period when the Ka’bah was limited to the area around Hajar-e-Isma’il, with houses, shops and markets spread all around it, as can be seen in pictures of the Ka’bah from the early period.

The Prophetﷺ knew well that the hatred and oppression of the polytheists were intense, yet in obedience to Allah’s command, he continued the Abrahamic(AS) rites in front of the oppressors and practically demonstrated Tawhid in the House of Allah. In this early period, the Messenger of Allahﷺ would pray facing the Ka’bah or stand for worship in such a way that both the Ka’bah and Bayt al-Maqdis(Yeroshlam) were in his direction.

As soon as the Prophetﷺ stood for worship, he became the topic of discussion among the polytheists. This time, Abu Jahl challenged his companions: “Is there any brave young lion who can bring the guts (salī jazūr) of a slaughtered camel from nearby such-and-such neighborhood and throw it on the back of this madman while he is in prostration(Sajdah)?”

The wretched Uqbah ibn Abi Mu’ayt immediately took up the challenge. This was the same person who had earlier tried to strangle the Prophetﷺ by wrapping his cloak around his blessed neck. Hazrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (RA) had reached the spot in time and saved the Prophetﷺ.

Uqbah picked up the filthy, foul-smelling camel guts soaked in blood and impurity and stood waiting for the right moment. When the Prophetﷺ entered Sajdah and became absorbed in complete humility and supplication to Allah, Uqbah stepped forward and threw the heavy mass onto the Prophet’s blessed back. The weight was so much that the Messenger of Allahﷺ could not raise his head from Sajdah.

The polytheists burst into loud laughter, rolling over with amusement, clapping their hands and began mocking him in the most insulting manner.

Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA) was standing at a distance watching this scene. He was a new Muslim; his heart was pained but due to the terror of the polytheists, he could not do anything.

At that moment, the news reached the little angel playing in the lanes, Hazrat Fatima al-Zahra (RA), who was about eight-nine years old. She came running like a lioness. Seeing the filth on her father’s back, she immediately removed it with her tiny hands and began scolding the polytheists.

The Prophetﷺ raised his head, completed his prayer and supplicated three times:
“O Allah! Seize this group of Quraysh!”. He then took their names one by one and invoked curse upon them: Abu Jahl, Utbah, Shaybah, Uqbah, Umayyah and Walid ibn Utbah.

The faces of the polytheists turned pale. They knew that supplications made in the Haram(Ka’bah) are very much accepted. Their laughter stopped and fear overwhelmed them. Meanwhile, Fatima al-Zahra (RA) helped her father stand up with her small hands. Father and daughter became each other’s support and returned home together. This incident realised the prophet that how much caring was her daughter Fatima (RA) for him. It was for this reason that she earned the title “Ummu Abiha”, the Mother of her Father.

This shameful act of Quraysh is a living proof of the Prophet’s patience, Hazrat Fatima’s love for her father, the brutality of the polytheists and Allah’s help.

The narrators say that the Prophet’s supplication, the curse of a Prophet, struck these wretched people hard. In the Battle of Badr, all these leaders were killed and thrown into a pit. Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA) witnessed everything with his own eyes again and realized how the supplication of the Messenger of Allahﷺ was fulfilled word for word. Uqbah’s end was particularly gruesome. He was not killed in battle but taken prisoner. On the way, the Prophet’s command came to execute him and another enemy of Islam. Hazrat Ali (RA) and Asim ibn Thabit (RA) carried out the order and Uqbah died screaming loudly and cursing his own crimes and the oppression he had committed against the Muslims.

This little princess, born in the house of Hazrat Khadijah (RA), the embodiment of patience and modesty, Sayyidah Nisa Ahl al-Jannah Hazrat Fatima al-Zahra (RA), was born five years before the Prophethood of her father in Makkah Mukarramah. Being the youngest daughter of the richest yet most distinguished lady of Makkah, Hazrat Khadijah (RA), she was raised with special love and care by her parents. Although there was no shortage of anything in the house, from childhood she was a model of patience, asceticism and piety.

After the unpleasant incident at the Ka’bah mentioned above, little Fatima (RA) faced the most severe trials alongside her Prophet fatherﷺ for the remaining nine years of Prophethood in Makkah. Especially during the seventh to tenth years of Prophethood, when Quraysh imposed a three-year economic and social boycott on Banu Hashim and the Muslims. They were forced to take refuge in the narrow, barren valley of Shi’b Abi Talib.

It was here that young Fatima (RA) first witnessed the severity of hunger. Children would tie stones to their stomachs to sleep, eating dry leaves and whatever little food was secretly delivered. She would become restless seeing her father’s suffering and cry, but she never let go of the rope of patience. She would advise other children to be patient and took care of her father even more than her mother Hazrat Khadijah (RA).

After the boycott ended, the “Aam al-Huzn” (Year of Sorrow) arrived when both Khadijah (RA) and Abu Talib (RA) passed away. At that time, Fatima (RA) became her father’s only support.

Then began the Madani period in the life of Fatima al-Zahra (RA). After the Hijrah, her house in Madinah was a symbol of simplicity: a roof of palm leaves, earthen floor, simple mat, hand mill, clay stove and a few wooden utensils. Fatima (RA) would personally grind wheat and bake bread. Sometimes there would be no flour at all, yet father and daughter would remain hungry and thank Allah.

When the marriage proposal from Hazrat Ali (RA) came, the Prophetﷺ asked Fatima’s opinion. A blush of modesty spread across her face, her silence was her consent. Tears of joy welled up in the Prophet’s eyes.

Hazrat Ali (RA) sold his only valuable possession, his armor, to pay the Mahr. The items thus purchased were simple: a bed, a sheet, a hand mill and some perfume. However in that small mud house there was peace, love, sacrifice and the pleasure of Allah.

After marriage, Fatima’s hands would develop blisters from grinding wheat. One day she went to her father and asked for a servant. Although good days had begun for Islam, the Prophetﷺ instead taught her Tasbih Fatimi:
33 times Subhanallah, 33 times Alhamdulillah, and 34 times Allahu Akbar. She happily accepted it.

Hazrat Fatima al-Zahra (RA) preferred spiritual wealth over worldly comfort. It was in this same house that the leaders of Paradise, Imam Hasan (RA) and Imam Hussain (RA), and their sisters Hazrat Zainab Alkubra (RA), Hazrat Umme Kalsum (RA), and Hazrat Mohsin (RA) whom the Prophetﷺ called Rahan means fragrant folwers, were born. Though Mohsin (RA) died in childhood.

During the Battle of Uhud, when the Muslims returned wounded and exhausted, Fatima (RA) along with other Sahabiyat rushed to serve them carrying water skins. An arrow had struck the blessed face of the Prophetﷺ. Fatima (RA) washed the wound with water. When the bleeding did not stop, she burned her own shawl and applied the ashes. She was a daughter, a wife and a believer who turned the battlefield into a hospital.

Then came the day whose very thought is painful. The Messenger of Allahﷺ fell severely ill. Fatima (RA) sat by his head, weeping. On this occasion, the Prophetﷺ whispered something in her ear, causing her to burst into tears. Then he whispered something else and a smile appeared on her face.

Later, she told those who asked:
“My father first told me that he would not recover from this illness and would return to his Lord. Then he told me that among the Ahl al-Bayt, I would be the first to meet him”.

The mention of Fadak often comes up regarding Hazrat Fatima al-Zahra (RA). The historical reality is that it was “Mal-e-Fay’”, wealth obtained without war, which, according to the Quranic command, was under the discretion of the Prophetﷺ. After the Prophet’s passing, Hazrat Fatima (RA) asked the first Caliph, Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), for her share of Fadak, but the Caliph differed. This was a secondary (juristic) difference regarding inheritance versus charity. Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) presented the Prophet’s saying that “the property of prophets is not inherited” and said he would continue the same practice as during the Prophet’s lifetime. Therefore, it was an ijtihadi difference, not a matter of faith. Hazrat Fatima al-Zahra (RA) was displeased with the Caliph, but respect remained on both sides.

Only a few months after the departure of the Last Messenger of Allahﷺ, Hazrat Fatima al-Zahra (RA) also returned to her Lord on 3rd Ramazan 11 Hijra (Nov 24, 632 CE) at the age of 24 years, in the prime of her youth. Her life was short, but her character will remain alive until the Day of Judgment. She is therefore a perfect role model for women today as well.

She taught the Ummah that:
• Love means loyalty
• A daughter is the big support of her parents
• Simplicity is a sign of greatness, prefer piousness than worldly luxuries.
• The best inheritance for children is proper upbringing

Fatima al-Zahra (RA) was the beloved piece of the Prophet’s heartﷺ, the comforting life partner of Hazrat Ali (RA), the mother of the leaders of Paradise Imam Hasan (RA) and Imam Hussain (RA) and the Leader of the Women of Paradise.

In her short but extremely busy life, the Prophetﷺ honored Hazrat Fatima (RA) with three great titles that represent the pinnacle of her greatness. Each title became famous on a special occasion:

* Al-Zahra (RA) (The Radiant One): She would stay awake at night from childhood for worship and her room would fill with light. On one occasion the Prophetﷺ said, “O Fatima! Stand up and pray to your Lord, for you are Al-Zahra.” This title became popular from childhood. Her mother Hazrat Khadijah (RA) loved it so much that she often called her “Al-Zahra.”

* Ummu Abiha (Mother of her Father): During the difficult period in Makkah, when the disbelievers threw filth on the Prophetﷺ, little Fatima ran there, cleaned the filth, scolded the disbelievers and comforted her father. Because of this affection, service, and sympathy, the Prophetﷺ said, “Fatima is Ummu Abiha”, she is like a merciful mother to her father.

* Sayyidatu Nisa’il ‘Alamin (Leader of the Women of the Worlds): The Prophetﷺ called her by this name during his final illness, a short time before his passing. According to Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 6285) and Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2450), seeing Fatima (RA) gloomy by his head, the Prophetﷺ said: “O Fatima! Are you not pleased that you are the leader of the women of Paradise?” On another occasion he called her “Sayyidatu Nisa’il ‘Alamin”. She received this exalted status because of her patience, modesty, selflessness and closeness to Allah.

In short, she was called Al-Zahra in childhood, then Ummu Abiha in Makkah and finally, before her death, through the glad tidings of the Prophetﷺ, she became Sayyidatu Nisa’il ‘Alamin wal Jannah in Madina.

Come, let us call from the core of heart for this great personality of the Ahl al-Bayt:

رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا وَأَرْضَاهَا 🌹

Dear readers! My next article in the Ghazi Stories Ashura Muharram Series will be on Hazrat Imam Hasan (RA).