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Chapter 10Freedom, Tragedy, Spiritual
Strength
Khadijeh
Dies
The dark years of confinement
end. Khadijeh lives to see the salvation of the Moslems, her beloved husband
and her noble and loyal daughters. The Prophet experiences his first great
victory over the Qoraish. But the destiny which had been sent to change our
history allows for no peace or pleasure to reflect from his face, for two great
tragedies fall upon him simultaneously.
Abu Talib and Khadijeh both die
within a few days of each other and within a few days of their freedom. Abu
Talib had raised the orphan Mohammad and had made up for the kindness of his
missing father and mother and his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib. He looked after
the young man, Mohammad, and cared for him. He found work for him in the
service of Khadijeh. Finally, it was he who acted as the father at the marriage
of Khadijeh and Mohammad. He had supported the prophecy of Mohammad. With all
of his influence, character, personality and social credit, he had protected
him. He even bore the three years in confinement, the difficulties and hunger
and remained with him. It was because of him that Mohammad was saved from
death and the horrible torture which his companions suffered. Now, he has lost
Abu Talib, his only protector against the anger, danger and hatred of the city.
And Khadijeh was the woman who
gave up the privacy of their life to his destiny. Mohammad (twenty‑five
years old), orphan and shepherd, having suffered the difficulties and poverty,
now beside the wealthy Khadijeh (forty or forty‑five years old), comes to
know her through love, with the faith of a fellow sufferer and thinker. He
seeks refuge in her from the difficulties of poverty and life. He receives the
kindness of a friend beside her, and the love of a mother which he had not had.
He benefits from her advice and the great protection which she gave him.
Later, when he is appointed as
God's Prophet, she is with him, step by step. She is beside him, beside his
heart, beside his spirit. During the whole time of the thunderstorm of
difficulties, fears, dangers, loneliness, years of hatred and enmity, battles,
fights and treacheries; she is with him from the first moment of the revelation
until the moments of her death. She is with him during all of the moments of
his life. She gives all of her life, love, faith, sacrifice and wealth at the
moment when he needs it the most.
Now Mohammad has lost his
protector, his compassionate, fellow sufferer, the first person who believed
him, the greatest giver of sympathy and finally, the mother of his Fatima and
Fatima has lost her mother.
Difficulties and tortures
increase. Abu Talib has gone. The Prophet is left defenseless in respect to the
hatred. The hatred and enmity become violent when they witness the patience,
perserverance and faith of Mohammad and his Companions. Their roots become
firmer and more merciless. The Prophet is very much alone. Abu Talib is no
longer in the. city and Khadijeh is no longer at home.
Fatima now more than ever senses
the heavy burden of the unfortunate hatreds and grudges, because she is called
'the mother of her father'. At the time that her sisters go to their husband's
homes, she is still tied to her mother's skirts.
'Mother, I never want to replace this home with
another one. Mother, I will never leave you.'
Khadijeh smiling, answers, 'They
all say that and we say, 'My daughter, the time will come'.'
Fatima, imploringly continues,
'No. I will never leave my father. No one will separate me from him.'
Her mother remains silent.
Fatima senses‑she has such
a mandate. Her message is not a child's desires. Her faith in her mandate gains
strength when she hears her father begin his invitation in the following way.
'Oh, Qoraish, take yourselves
back. In relationship to your God, I cannot implore anything for you: Oh children
of Abd Manaf, in relationship to your god, I cannot implore anything for you.
Abbas, ibn Abdul Muttalib, in relationship to your god, I...oh, Safiyeh,
daughter of Abdul Muttalib...Oh, Fatima, take whatever you want of my wealth
but in relationship to thy God, I cannot implore anything for you.'
Fatima, full of understanding,
spiritual desire and perseverance, answers, 'Yes. Yes, dearest of fathers, the
most respected of Prophets.'
How surprising that the Prophet
calls upon her in the presence of the leaders of the Qoraish, as well as with
the leaders of the Hashimi tribe and the Abd Manafs. Her? A young girl? She
alone and only she from among her family?
The child‑like feelings and
loving kindness of the young girl, who hundreds of times re‑iterated that
she would never marry and that she would never leave her father, is growing
into a serious covenant and takes on the color of a responsibility and a
commandment.
The first years of her life coincide
with the first years of the mission and the difficulties and tortures of the
beginning of the mandate. Fatima, from among all of the children of Mohammad,
is the worthiest to have been able to bear the suffering of the difficulties,
to bear the heavy weight of the responsibilities of the mandate which is upon
her father's shoulders. She is aware of her fate and so are her mother and
father.
On one of the last days of her
life, Khadijeh, worried, turns to her and says, After me what things will you see,
my daughter. My life will end today or tomorrow. Zainab and Roqiyyeh, your two
sisters, are at peace beside their kind husbands. My mind is not worried about
Umm Khu1thum because her age and experience are enough to keep her. But, you,
Fatima, are drowned in difficulties. You have to suffer multiple sorrows and
tribulations which increase daily.'
Fatima, who shared in bearing the
burdens which had been placed upon her father's shoulders, answers, Rest
assured, mother. Don't worry about me. The idol‑worshipping Qoraish will
have a rebellion among themselves. They will torture and punish Moslems and
they will show no mercy. They will pre‑judge. The souls and hearts of Moslems
should rejoice in accepting this despotic torture.'
Fatima is the most worthy for
having suffered this torture. She is special because the blessing of being the
daughter of the Prophet is offered to her and because of the kindness and
respect which has been devoted to her.
