Fatimah

• Umm Abihā (Mother of Her Father)[7][20][21] or Am-o-Abihā[22]
• Umm al-Ḥasanayn[7]
• Umm al-Ḥasan[7]
• Umm al-Ḥusayn[7]
• Umm al-Āʾimah (Mother of Imams).[19]

Moreover, there are many Shia narrations which have been stated from their Imams about the names and titles of Fatima. For instance, Imam al-Sadiq says: Fatima has nine names from God: 1-Fāṭima (a woman who throws herself and her followers out of the hell), 2-al-Ṣiddīqah (a woman who has never lied), 3-al-Mubārakah (a woman who is full of blessings), 4-al-Ṭāhirah (a woman who is pure, sinless and infallible), 5-al-Zakiyyah (a woman who is away from any contamination), 6-al-Raḍiyyah (a woman who suffers hardship and difficulty and is happy with the will of God), 7-al-Marḍiyyah (a woman with whom God is satisfied), 8-al-Muḥaddithah (a woman who transmits some aḥādīth [Prophetic traditions]), 9-al-Zahrah (bright and shining).[23][24]

After her marriage to Ali, the couple led a humble life in contrast to her sisters who were all married to wealthy individuals.[12] Ali had built a house not too far from Muhammad's residence where he lived with Fatimah. However, due to Fatimah's desire to be closer to her father, a Medinan (Haritha bin al-Numan) donated his own house to them.[10]

For several years after her marriage, she did all of the work by herself. The shoulder on which she carried pitchers of water from the well was swollen and the hand with which she worked the handmill to grind corn were often covered with blisters.[35] Fatimah vouched to take care of the household work, make dough, bake bread, and clean the house; in return, Ali vouched to take care of the outside work such as gathering firewood and bringing food.[36] Ali worked to irrigate other people's lands by drawing water from the wells.[12] Their circumstances were akin to many of the Muslims at the time and only improved following the Battle of Khaybar when the produce of Khaybar was distributed among the poor. When the economic situations of the Muslims become better, Fatimah gained some maids but treated them like her family and performed the house duties with them.[10]

Another reference to their simple life comes from the Tasbih of Fatimah, a divine formula that was first given to Fatimah when she asked her father for a kaneez (slave girl) in order to help her with household chores. Her father asked her if she would like a gift instead that was better than a servant and worth more than everything in the world. Upon her ready agreement, he told her to recite at the end of every prayer the Great Exaltation, Allahu Akbar 33 times, the Statement of Absolute Gratitude, Alhamdulillah 33 times and the Invocation of Divine Glory, Subhan'Allah 33 times, and lā ʾilāha ʾillā llāh once, totalling 100. This collective prayer is called the Tasbih of Fatima.[37][38]

The location of Fatimah's house in Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, present-day Saudi Arabia

Fatimah is believed to have had a happy marital life. However, there are claims that Ali angered her when he allegedly asked for Abu Jahl's daughter's hand in marriage.[4] Muhammad is said to have refused to allow the marriage unless Ali divorced his daughter, saying "Fatima is a part of my body, and I hate what she hates to see, and what hurts her, hurts me."[34][lower-alpha 1] A letter Ali wrote later to his opponent Muawiya ibn Abu Sufyan during the First Fitnah may have made reference to this proposal:[40]

Human beings have received and will receive perfection through us. The perpetual supremacy and inherent superiority do no prevent us from making contact with human beings or with your clan, and we have married amongst you and have established family connections with your clan, though you do not belong to our class. How can you be our equal when the Holy Prophet belongs to us and Abu Jahl, the worst enemy of Islam, was from amongst you ...

— Written reply of Ali to Muawiya

However, Shia sources tend to dispute this event, citing speeches from Ali that deny any problem with his spouse. One such has Ali swearing to God, "I never did any act that made Fatimah angry and she never made me angry either."[41] These sources also acknowledge the above saying of Muhammad, but disagree with its context. The statement is instead attributed to Fatimah herself, who is believed to have used it when voicing her anger at Abu Bakr and Umar.[42] Abu Muhammad Ordoni quotes in his book: "Among the many fabricated stories told against Ali was that he had asked for Abu Jahl's (the chief of infidels) daughter's hand in marriage. When this news reached Fatimah, she rushed to her father who found out the falsity of the story."[43] Regardless, had this proposal occurred, nothing appears to have come of it as there is no record of Ali marrying another woman during Fatimah's lifetime.[33]

Following the Battle of Uhud, Fatimah tended to the wounds of her father and husband and regularly visited the graves of all those who died in the battle and pray for them. Fatimah, along with her husband, was also called upon by Abu Sufyan to intercede on his behalf with Muhammad while attempting to make amends following the violation of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. Abu Sufyan also asked for Fatimah's protection when she went to Mecca while it was under occupation which she refused under instruction from her father.[10]

Fadak was a garden oasis in Khaybar, a tract of land in northern Arabia; it is now part of Saudi Arabia. Situated approximately 140 km (87 mi)) from Medina, Fadak was known for its water wells, dates, and handicrafts. The Muhammad had found out that the people of Fadak had collected in order to fight the Muslims alongside the Khaybar Jews. Therefore, he sent Ali to them.[51] The people of Fadak surrendered without a fight, and pleaded for a peace treaty in exchange for giving away half their land and wealth to Muhammad.[52]

Unlike the ascetic who has renounced the affairs of the world, both the historical and hagiographical sources about Fatima al-Zahra document her active participation in domestic and public life. One particular event is recounted in all of the histories both Shiʿi and Sunni: the dispute over the land Fatima received from her father at Fadak...her knowledge of her legal rights and desire for justice indicate that she was a woman involved in the affairs of society".[53]

After the death of her father, Fatimah approached Abu Bakr and asked him to relinquish her share of the inheritance from Muhammad's estate. Fatimah expected the land of Fadak (situated 30 mi (48 km) from Medina[54]) and a share of Khaybar would be passed onto her as part of her inheritance. However, Abu Bakr rejected her request citing a narration where Muhammad stated that prophets do not leave behind inheritance and that all their possessions become sadaqah to be used for charity. Fatimah was upset at this flat refusal by Abu Bakr and did not speak to him until her death (however some Sunni sources claim she had reconciled her differences with Abu Bakr before she died).[10] Shias contend that Fadak had been given to Fatimah by Muhammad and Abu Bakr was wrong in not allowing her to take possession of it.[55]

Fadak became Muhammad's private property, as there was no Muslim fighters involved in Fadak to share the booty with. Muhammad gave the wealth away to orphans and also used it to finance the marriage of needy young men.[56][57][58] After Muhammad's death, Abu Bakr confiscated Fatima's share in Fadak that this confiscation continued in Umar up era, the reason for this work, was that Fadak had been assigned to needs and emergencies of Muhammad and now it was just accessible for the ruler of Muslims. According to Madelung, Umar's saying about the communal property of Muslims in Fadak may be challenging since Abu Bakr made a gift from his share to his daughter Aiesha.[59][60][61]

After the gathering at Saqifa where Abu Bakr was elected Caliph, Umar (who had been among Abu Bakr's advocates) and his supporters were allegedly sent to Fatimah's house where Fatimah, Ali and some of their allies were gathered.[62] Several scholars, such as Al-Tabari and Ibn Qutaybah, narrate that Umar threatened to burn the building down if Ali refused to acknowledge Abu Bakr's authority, with Al-Tabari adding that Umar's men beat Ali's friend Zubayr ibn al-Awam.[63][64][65][66] According to the Al-Imama wa al-Siyasa (mistakenly attributed to Ibn Qutaybah),[67] when Umar was informed that Fatimah was inside the house, he responded that her presence made no difference to him.[68][69]

While the historian Al-Baladhuri states that the altercation never became violent and ended with Ali's compliance,[70] and Tabari makes no mention of Fatimah's involvement,[63] some traditions add that Umar and his supporters forcibly entered the house, resulting in Fatimah's miscarriage of her unborn son Muhsin.[71] Twelver Shia sources state that this occurred when Umar forced the front door open, crushing Fatimah behind it and breaking her ribs.[72] However, the Mu'tazilite theologian Ibrahim al-Nazzam narrates that, "Umar hit Fatimah (sa) on the stomach such that the child in her womb died."[73] Alternatively, Ibn Rustam Al-Tabari states that it was a client of Umar's named Qunfudh who caused the miscarriage, having struck her with the sheath of his sword.[74] Other traditions add that Qunfudh had her whipped[75] or had struck her face.[76] The Kitab Sulaym ibn Qays (attributed to Sulaym ibn Qays, but possibly a much later creation)[77] concludes the incident with Ali being dragged out of the house with a rope tied around his neck.[78]

The events that took place in the house have been the subject of dispute between various accounts, with the versions including violence primarily having Shia origins.[72] Several early historical sources narrate that Fatimah's child Muhsin had died in early childhood rather than being miscarried. Al-Baladhuri, along with Al-Ya'qubi and Al-Masudi all list Muhsin among the children of Fatimah, but without any mention of a miscarriage. Similarly, the Shia theologian Al-Shaykh Al-Mufid, when writing his Kitab al-Irshad, makes no mention of violence in relation to Muhsin's death. The earliest known reference of the miscarriage during the altercation only appears in the 10th century, in Ibn Qulawayh Al-Qummi's Kamil al-Ziyarat.[79]

Other sources also add that Fatimah and Abu Bakr ultimately reconciled.[80] Ali is also believed to have later willingly offered his oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr and gave a praise-filled oration during the latter's funeral.[81] Professor Coeli Fitzpatrick surmises that the story of the altercation reflects the political agendas of the period and should therefore be treated with caution.[71]

After the Farewell Pilgrimage, Muhammad summoned Fatimah and informed her that he would die soon, and also told her that she would be the next of his household to die.[10][12] After Muhammad's subsequent passing, Fatimah was grief-stricken.[82]

According to the Shia, her death was the result of injuries sustained after the raid of her house by Umar ibn al-Khattab.[83] Muhammad appeared to her in a dream and informed Fatimah that she would be passing away the next day. Fatimah informed Ali of her impending death and asked him not to allow her oppressors to be involved in her ceremonial prayers (janazah prayer performed in congregation after the death of a Muslim) or take part in the burial.[84]

Ali followed Fatima's wishes and performed the janazah. He buried her during the night on 13 Jumada al-awwal or 3rd Jamadi-u-Thani 11 AH (632 AD), also making three false graves to ensure her real grave could not be identified. With him were his family and a few of his close companions.[85]

Lesley Hazleton also describes Fatimah's death as follows:[86]

But perhaps most painful of all in those months after the loss of her third son was the ostracism she suffered ordered by Abu Bakr to force Ali into line. [...] When she knew death was close she asked Ali for a clandestine burial [...] Abu Bakr was not to be informed of her death she said. He was to be given no chance to officiate at her funeral.

Twelver Shi'a, especially Iranians, hold ceremonies every year for 20 days in Jumada al-awwal to commemorate the anniversary of the martyrdom of Fatimah. Mourners march in procession through the streets to reaffirm their allegiance to the ideals of Fatima.[87]

Sunni accounts state that Fatimah died as a result of illness or grief following Muhammad's death.[88][89] Sufi scholar Muzaffer Ozak writes:[90]

After our Master had honoured the world of the Hereafter, Fatima would neither eat nor drink and she forgot all laughter and joy. She had an apartment built for her in which she stayed by night and day, weeping her heart out for her beloved father.

Some sources also add that Fatimah and Abu Bakr had ultimately reconciled and that he attended and prayed at her funeral.[80][91]

She died in the year 11 AH, though the month of her death is uncertain.[88]

Fatimah's burial place is a disputed issue among Muslims from different sects. It is famous that Ali ibn Abi Talib buried his wife in an unknown location, because it was Fatimah's decision.[92] According to Madelung in The Succession to Muhammad, the secret burial was done with the aim of avoiding the presence of caliph (Abu Bakr).[92] Different locations have been mentioned as the possible burial places of Fatimah some of which are said to be nearer to fact. Al-Baqi', her house and between the Prophet's tomb and his minbar are the possible places of her grave.[93] One of the important reasons that Fatima's grave was concealed is because of her protest against what happened regarding to the caliphate of Muhammad.[94] Hence, as long as the Muslims don't believe in what Fatima believes relating to Muhammad's succession, the reason for the concealment of her grave will remain. Jafar Shahidi says: "… In any case, concealment of the prophet’s daughter indicates that she was dejected about some people and it’s clear that she wanted to declare her dissatisfaction and unhappiness".[95]

Fatimah, regarded as "the Mother of the Imams", plays a special role in the Shia sect. She is believed to have been immaculate, sinless, and a model for Muslim women. Although leading a life of poverty, the Shia tradition emphasises her compassion and sharing of whatever she had with others.[108]

According to Mahmoud Ayoub, the two main images of Fatimah within the Shia tradition are those of the "Eternal Weeper" and "the Judge in the hereafter".[109] The former is through her suffering and death, which is viewed as the first tragedy of Islam. She had spent her last days mourning the death of her father and she eternally weeps at the death of her two sons, who were murdered by the Umayyads. Shias believe they share in Fatimah's suffering by weeping for her sorrows and that the tears of the faithful console her.[110] They also hold that Fatimah will play a redemptive role as the mistress of the day of judgement in the hereafter, as a solace for her pain.[111]

Iranians celebrate Fatima Zahra's birth anniversary (20 Jumada al-Thani) as Mother's Day.[113] On this day, banners reading "Ya Fatemeah (O! Fatemeh)" are displayed on "government buildings, private buildings, public streets and car windows."[114] The Gregorian date for this changes every year:

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