The birth of al-Zahra’, Fatima (a.s.)
وُلِدَتْ فَاطِمَةُ عَلَيْهَا وَعَلَى بَعْلِهَا السَّلامُ بَعْدَ مَبْعَثِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) بِخَمْسِ سِنِينَ وَتُوُفِّيَتْ (عليها السلام) وَلَهَا ثَمَانَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً وَخَمْسَةٌ وَسَبْعُونَ يَوْماً وَبَقِيَتْ بَعْدَ أَبِيهَا (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) خَمْسَةً وَسَبْعِينَ يَوْماً.
Fatima was born five years after the Messenger of Allah declared his message. She died when she was eighteen years and seventy five days old. She lived for seventy five days after the death of her father ﷺ.”
1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ ابْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ
إِنَّ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) مَكَثَتْ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) خَمْسَةً وَسَبْعِينَ يَوْماً وَكَانَ دَخَلَهَا حُزْنٌ شَدِيدٌ عَلَى أَبِيهَا وَكَانَ يَأْتِيهَا جَبْرَئِيلُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَيُحْسِنُ عَزَاءَهَا عَلَى أَبِيهَا وَيُطَيِّبُ نَفْسَهَا وَيُخْبِرُهَا عَنْ أَبِيهَا وَمَكَانِهِ وَيُخْبِرُهَا بِمَا يَكُونُ بَعْدَهَا فِي ذُرِّيَّتِهَا وَكَانَ علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَكْتُبُ ذَلِكَ.
1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from ibn al-Ri’ab from abu ‘Ubayda from abu ‘Abdallah who has said the following:
“Fatima remained (alive) after (the death of) the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for seventy-five days. She experienced profound sorrow for her father. Jibril would visit her, console her over her father's loss, comfort her heart, inform her about her father and his whereabouts, and inform her of what would happen to her offspring after her. Ali
used to document this.”
- لم يخرجهSahih al-KafiShaykh Baqir al-Behbudi
- صحيحMirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (5/314)Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi
2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنِ الْعَمْرَكِيِّ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَخِيهِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ
إِنَّ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) صِدِّيقَةٌ شَهِيدَةٌ وَإِنَّ بَنَاتِ الانْبِيَاءِ لا يَطْمَثْنَ.
2. Muhammad in Yahya has narrated from al-‘Amraki ibn Ali from Ali ibn Ja‘far from his brother from Abu al-Hassan who has said the following:
“Fatima is truthful and a martyr. The daughters of prophets do not experience menses.”
- لم يخرجهSahih al-KafiShaykh Baqir al-Behbudi
- صحيحMirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (5/315)Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi
3ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ رَحِمَهُ الله رَفَعَهُ وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الرَّازِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْهُرْمُزَانِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله الْحُسَيْنِ بن علي (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) قَالَ
لَمَّا قُبِضَتْ فَاطِمَةُ (عليها السلام) دَفَنَهَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سِرّاً وَعَفَا عَلَى مَوْضِعِ قَبْرِهَا ثُمَّ قَامَ فَحَوَّلَ وَجْهَهُ إِلَى قَبْرِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَقَالَ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ الله عَنِّي وَالسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ عَنِ ابْنَتِكَ وَزَائِرَتِكَ وَالْبَائِتَةِ فِي الثَّرَى بِبُقْعَتِكَ وَالْمُخْتَارِ الله لَهَا سُرْعَةَ اللِّحَاقِ بِكَ قَلَّ يَا رَسُولَ الله عَنْ صَفِيَّتِكَ صَبْرِي وَعَفَا عَنْ سَيِّدَةِ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ تَجَلُّدِي إِلا أَنَّ لِي فِي التَّأَسِّي بِسُنَّتِكَ فِي فُرْقَتِكَ مَوْضِعَ تَعَزٍّ فَلَقَدْ وَسَّدْتُكَ فِي مَلْحُودَةِ قَبْرِكَ وَفَاضَتْ نَفْسُكَ بَيْنَ نَحْرِي وَصَدْرِي بَلَى وَفِي كِتَابِ الله لِي أَنْعَمُ الْقَبُولِ إِنَّا لله وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ قَدِ اسْتُرْجِعَتِ الْوَدِيعَةُ وَأُخِذَتِ الرَّهِينَةُ وَأُخْلِسَتِ الزَّهْرَاءُ فَمَا أَقْبَحَ الْخَضْرَاءَ وَالْغَبْرَاءَ يَا رَسُولَ الله أَمَّا حُزْنِي فَسَرْمَدٌ وَأَمَّا لَيْلِي فَمُسَهَّدٌ وَهَمٌّ لا يَبْرَحُ مِنْ قَلْبِي أَوْ يَخْتَارَ الله لِي دَارَكَ الَّتِي أَنْتَ فِيهَا مُقِيمٌ كَمَدٌ مُقَيِّحٌ وَهَمٌّ مُهَيِّجٌ سَرْعَانَ مَا فَرَّقَ بَيْنَنَا وَإِلَى الله أَشْكُو وَسَتُنْبِئُكَ ابْنَتُكَ بِتَظَافُرِ أُمَّتِكَ عَلَى هَضْمِهَا فَأَحْفِهَا السُّؤَالَ وَاسْتَخْبِرْهَا الْحَالَ فَكَمْ مِنْ غَلِيلٍ مُعْتَلِجٍ بِصَدْرِهَا لَمْ تَجِدْ إِلَى بَثِّهِ سَبِيلاً وَسَتَقُولُ وَيَحْكُمُ الله وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الْحَاكِمِينَ سَلامَ مُوَدِّعٍ لا قَالٍ وَلا سَئِمٍ فَإِنْ أَنْصَرِفْ فَلا عَنْ مَلالَةٍ وَإِنْ أُقِمْ فَلا عَنْ سُوءِ ظَنٍّ بِمَا وَعَدَ الله الصَّابِرِينَ وَاهَ وَاهاً وَالصَّبْرُ أَيْمَنُ وَأَجْمَلُ وَلَوْ لا غَلَبَةُ الْمُسْتَوْلِينَ لَجَعَلْتُ الْمُقَامَ وَاللَّبْثَ لِزَاماً مَعْكُوفاً وَلاعْوَلْتُ إِعْوَالَ الثَّكْلَى عَلَى جَلِيلِ الرَّزِيَّةِ فَبِعَيْنِ الله تُدْفَنُ ابْنَتُكَ سِرّاً وَتُهْضَمُ حَقَّهَا وَتُمْنَعُ إِرْثَهَا وَلَمْ يَتَبَاعَدِ الْعَهْدُ وَلَمْ يَخْلَقْ مِنْكَ الذِّكْرُ وَإِلَى الله يَا رَسُولَ الله الْمُشْتَكَى وَفِيكَ يَا رَسُولَ الله أَحْسَنُ الْعَزَاءِ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَيْهَا السَّلامُ وَالرِّضْوَانُ.
Ahmad Ibn Mihran - may Allah have mercy on him - narrated to me in a marfu' manner, alongside Ahmad Ibn Idris from Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Jabbar al-Shaybani from al-Qasim Ibn Muhammad al-Razi from Ali Ibn Muhammad al-Hurmuzani that Abi 'Abdillah al-Husayn Ibn Ali said:
“When Fatima passed away, Amir al-Mu’minin Ali
buried her secretly and camouflaged the location of her grave. Then he stood up and turned his face towards the grave of Rasulullah
and said, ‘Peace be upon you, Oh Rasullulah from me and from your daughter - your visitor, and the one who rests in the earth near you; chosen by Allah to join you swiftly. Say, Oh Rasulullah, regarding your beloved, my patience and pardon for Sayyidat al-Nisa al-’Alameen’s distress, except that for me in emulating your sunnah in your separation, there is a place of comfort. Indeed, I have made sure you are not lonely in your grave while your soul left your body, between my own throat and chest. Indeed, in the Book of Allah, I find the most gracious of acceptance «Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return» (2:156). The trust has been betrayed, the pledge seized, al-Zahraa has been taken away from us. How ugly the lush fields and barren lands (now) seem, Oh Rasulullah! As for my grief, it is endless and as for my nights, they are sleepless. Anxiety will never leave my heart until Allah (swt) places me in the same abode as you. How swift our separation was! To Allah, I complain, and your daughter will inform you of the distress of your community over her oppression. So, ask her and inquire about her condition, for many are the aggrieved whose chests find no relief, nor do they find a way to express their sorrow. And she will say, 'Woe unto them, and Allah will judge, and He is the best of judges.' I offer my prayer to Allah to grant you blessings as a note of farewell, but not because of disappointment and despair. If I return (to your grave), it is not that I have become tired and if I stand (to leave) it will not be because of my pessimism in the promise of Allah to those who exercise patience. Indeed, to exercise patience is more safe and beautiful. Had it not been for the dominance of the mischievous ones, I would have made my stay bound and fixed and not resort to that of a weak against the strong to preserve my honor. By the grace of Allah, your daughter is buried in secrecy, her rights are taken away unjustly, her inheritance withheld. The covenant has not been broken, nor has the memory faded from you. To Allah, Oh Rasulullah, I complain, and from you seek condolences. May Allah's blessings and peace and pleasure be upon you and upon her."
- لم يخرجهSahih al-KafiShaykh Baqir al-Behbudi
- مجهولMirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (5/321)Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi
4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ
قُلْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَنْ غَسَلَ فَاطِمَةَ قَالَ ذَاكَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَكَأَنِّي اسْتَعْظَمْتُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ فَقَالَ كَأَنَّكَ ضِقْتَ بِمَا أَخْبَرْتُكَ بِهِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ قَدْ كَانَ ذَاكَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ فَقَالَ لا تَضِيقَنَّ فَإِنَّهَا صِدِّيقَةٌ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يَغْسِلُهَا إِلا صِدِّيقٌ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ مَرْيَمَ لَمْ يَغْسِلْهَا إِلا عِيسَى.
4. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Nasr from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Salim from al-Mufadhal who has said the following:
“I asked Abu ‘Abdallah , 'Who washed Fatima (for burial)?' He replied, 'Amir al-Mu’minin
did.' My reaction to his words seemed to be an extraordinary one. He said, 'You seem troubled by what I said.' The narrator has said that I replied, 'Yes, may I be your ransom, it is so.' The narrator has said that the Imam
then said, “Do not be troubled. She was a righteous one (Siddiqa) and no one has the authority to wash her but another righteous one. Did you not know that no one washed Mary but Jesus?'”
- ضعيف على المشهورMirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (5/342)Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi
- لم يخرجهSahih al-KafiShaykh Baqir al-Behbudi
5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْجُعْفِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالا
إِنَّ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) لَمَّا أَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ مَا كَانَ أَخَذَتْ بِتَلابِيبِ عُمَرَ فَجَذَبَتْهُ إِلَيْهَا ثُمَّ قَالَتْ أَمَا وَالله يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ لَوْ لا أَنِّي أَكْرَهُ أَنْ يُصِيبَ الْبَلاءُ مَنْ لا ذَنْبَ لَهُ لَعَلِمْتَ أَنِّي سَأُقْسِمُ عَلَى الله ثُمَّ أَجِدُهُ سَرِيعَ الاجَابَةِ.
5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il from Salih ibn ‘Aqaba from ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Ju‘fi from abu Ja‘far and abu ‘Abdallah
who has said the following.
“During the time of their doing (setting the door on fire) what they did Fatima held ‘Umar by his collar and pulled (down) saying, “By Allah, O son of al-Khattab, had I not disliked to inflicting calamity up on the innocent people, you would have learned how quickly my swearing up on Allah would have brought the swift response (with the wrath of Allah up on you).”
- لم يخرجهSahih al-KafiShaykh Baqir al-Behbudi
- ضعيفMirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (5/342)Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi