THE NOBLE DAUGHTERS
The number of the exalted daughters of the prince of existences-b., etc.- amounted, according to the consent of the whole Sunni sect, to four, Zaynab, Raqyah, Omm Kalthum, and the princes of women, Fatimah Zohra-salutation to them. The author, however, of the Aa'llamu-l-ward, and some other Shia'h U'lama, allege that the lordship the best of men had no daughters except Zohra, and that Zaynab, Ruqyah and Omm Kalthum had only be adopted by his lorship from Khudyjah the greater. This is being substantiated by Aai Mubahila", Then whoever disputes within this matter what has come to you of knowledge then say : come let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our near people and your near people. Then let us be earnest in prayer and pray for the curse of Allah on the liars (Alquran 3-6o- Aley Imran)" The holy prophet called Hasan (A.S.) Hussain (A.S) Fatima Zohra (S.A.) among women and Ali Haider (A.S.) had there been any other daughter she should have been called for Mubahila.
The princes of women, Fatimah Zohra -A.r.h- was according to statements of all chief U'lema and scholars, the most beloved of the children of the prophet of latter times, and was by her superior nobility of mind and excellent qualities distinguished her. On the authority of Abu Ja'fer Muhammad Bin. Ali Albaqer-b. etc, that the birth of Fatimah -A.r.h.- took place five years after the announcement of prophecy and the descent of revelation and that she departed from the world at the age of eighteen years and seventy five days; but according to another tradition she terminated her noble life at the age of eighteen years and one month, and fifteen days. She lived with her father in Mekkah for 8 years and she fled with her father to Madinah with the opostle of God-b'etc, and dwelt with him there 10 years, and she was then eighteen years old. She lived with the Commander of the faithfull Ali.b.etc.- seventy five days after the death of her father, but according to another tradition forty days. In the Tanfyh of Ebne Jauzy it is stated that birth of Fattima - o. w. peace- took place five years before the mission, and in the Rauzat-ul-ahbab two traditions are recorded on this subject, entered, he took the darling child into his arms, called her Fattima, and surnamed her Omm Muhammad, but her sobriquets are numerous, such as, the pure, the innocent, the pleasing, the pleased, the orthodox, the Vestal, and Zohra." Ibid. pp 777-78.
It is related in the Ssohah-akhbar that when A'ayshah -A.r.h .- was asked what person the prophet of genii and men loved most, she replied : "Fattimah". They said; 'of men? She replied; 'her husband. Likewise it is related from A’ayshah-A.r.h. 'I never saw any person resembling the Apostle of God more than Fattimah in her countenance, in elegance of speech, in dignity, and in all her motions. It is also an authentic fact that the prophet-b.,etc- said : ’Fattimah is a part of me; whoever injures her injures me, and whoever angers her angers me’. According to some traditions, he also said : Allah gets angry when Fattima gets angry. p. 785
It is related of Thauga'n, the freed man of the prophet of the last time, that he said: 'When the best of men started on a journey, the last person of whom he took leave was Fattimah Zohra, and when he returned the first person whom he met was Bet'ul. Ibid. p. 785
In the Kashaful Ghummah, there is tradition from Abu Ayab that the prophet -u.w.b.- said' On the day of the ressurection a herald will exclaim from within the throne (of God) : "O ye assembled people, bend down your heads and shut your eyes that Fattimah may pass to the bridge of Sserat and with her seventy thousand Huris having large eyes will walk as attendants". Ibid. p. 786.
"It is related of Ssiddyqah that she said : 'In manners, behavior, and excellent qualities I have never seen a person resembling the opostle of God -u.w.b.- more than Fattimah -u.w.b.- and whenever she paid him a visit he rose to honour her, went to meet her, and caused her to take her seat in his own place. When the opostle of God visited Fattimah -u.w.b. she also acted in the same manner towards him’”. Ibid. p.785
It has been narrated, the lord of dominion (i.e.Ali) married in the second year of the exile (A.D. 628) (Two months after the battle of Badr) the princess of women, who was on that occassion, according to the tradition of Imams of the family (of Mohammad) nine, but according to another statement fourteen years old. Some even assert she was twenty years of age'. Ibid. p.785.
When Fatima grew up, two old companions-first one and then the other-asked her father for her hand in marriage. But he turned away from them in disgust, and said : “This matter of the marriage of Fatma, my daughter, is in the hands of Allah Himself, and He alone will select a spouse for her”
Allah duly made His selection. He selected His slave, Ali ibn Abi Talib, to be the spouse of the daughter of His most favorite slave, Muhammad Mustafa. He wished to see Fatma bint Mohammad and Ali ibn Abi Talib Married.
Two months after the battle of Badr (in the monthof Zilqada - 2 A.H.), Ali (A.S.) called on Mohammad Mustafa (SAW), and said : “O messenger of God, you have brought me up as your own child. You have overwhelmed me with your gifts, your generosity and your kindness. I owe you every thing in my life. Now I seek one more kindness from you”.
The Apostle understood what Ali (A.S.) was trying to say. His face lighted up in a broad smile, and he bade Ali (A.S.) to wait for a few months until he obtained his daughter’s answer. He entered the house, told Fatma that Ali (A.S.) was asking for her hand in marriage, and asked her what was her response. She kept quiet. He interpreted her silence as her assent, returned to Ali (A.S.), informed him that the proposal was accepted, and told him to make preparations for the wedding.
On the last day of Zulqa’da (the 11th month), Mohammad Mustafa (SAW), the Apostle of God, invited Muhajreen and the Ansar, to attend a banquet, on the occasion of the marriage of his daughter. He was going to be their host. When all the guests arrived, and were seated, he obtained, once again, the formal consent for her marriage with Ali (A.S.) ibn Abi Talib. He then read the sermon of marriage, declared Ali and Fatma husband and wife, and invoked the blessings of Allah upon both of them. All the guests congratulated the Apostle on the most auspicious occasion. After this ceremony, the guests feasted upon lamb meat, bread, date fruit and milk.
When Fatma left her house, a few days later in the month of Zilhijja and reached her house the Apostle of Allah, at the house of Ali (A.S.) standing at the threshold of the house, said the following prayer:
“O Allah! I commend Fatima and Ali, Thy humble salves, to thy protection. Be Thou their Protector. Bless them. Be pleased with them, bestow thy boundless grace, mercy, and Thy best rewards on them. Make their marriage fruitful, and make both of them steadfast in Thy love, and they service” : Sayed Asghar Ali Razwy; pp. 112-113.
It is related of Abu Sa'd Khidry -A.r.h.- that he said 'The prophet-b. etc.- declared that Fattimah will be the best women in paradise, except Mariam, the daughter of E'mran'. In the book on the pupil of the eye ( i,e on Fattimah) it is narrated in detail that when the blessed verse 'And to relatives their dues was revealed, the lord of beings-b. etc.- presented to Fattima Zohra the landed property of Fadak , which afterwards Ssiddyq Akbar added to all the other possessions left (by the Prophet after his death) but would not surrender to her. Ibid.786
It is related in many historical works that when Fattimah-b. etc was struck by the calamity of losing her father the best of men, she wept and lamented so much from morning till evening that she distressed the inhabitants of Madinah. Ibid. p. 787
It is related that Zohra -s.t.h- called her last malady for Solmy the freed women of the Lord Mustafa, and said; 'Bring me some water for ablution'. Solmy narrates 'After she had washed herself so, as I had never before seen any one doing it so well, she asked for clean garments and donned them. Then she ordered me to spread out her couch, children, namely, the Emams Hasan and Hussain, Zaynab and Omm Kalthum. Ibid pp. 790-91.