Fatima - a Lady like no other
My deepest condolences on the martyrdom of Lady Fatima (as), may Allah increase all your deeds in these holy sacred nights.
Today's blog post will be about a long narration of the grief Lady Fatima faced after the Holy Prophet (sa) passed away.
Reading this hadith and putting it together was very hard on my heart. I'm a sinful servant, and I couldn't bare reading the narration easily without aching and shedding tears. I cannot imagine the state of our Master Imam Saheb al-Zaman in these holy nights. May Allah ease your heart O'Master of Time and may Allah hasten your reappearance.
In the name of the Lord of Fatima
بسم رب فاطمة
Ma'ani al-Akhbar:
My father has narrated from Sa'd from ibn 'Isa from Muhammad ibn Yunus from Hammad a similar Hadith.
Warqah ibn 'Abd Allah al-Yazdi has said, “I travelled for al-Hajj of Bayt Allah al-Haram seeking rewards from Allah Lord of the worlds. During Tawaf I saw a young woman of brownish complexion, of a charming face, sweet talking, who pleaded in her eloquent words,
"O Lord, of al-Ka'bah al-Haram and honorable protectors, Lord of Zamzam and the station and the great reminders (of Allah), Lord of Muhammad the best of all people, I plead before you to raise me with my masters, the purified ones and their sons, the blessed ones who possess marks of nobility. O group of pilgrims for al-Hajj and al-'Umrah take notice that my masters are the best of the chosen ones, the purest of virtuous ones. They are the ones whose values are above all values, who are spoken of in other cities as dressed in the gown of pride."
Waraqah ibn 'Abd Allah has said that he asked her,
"O young lady, I think you must be of the friend of AhlulBayt (family of the Holy Prophet). Am I correct?"
She replied, “Yes, that is correct."
I (the narrator) then asked, “Who are you. Are you one of their Mawali?"
She replied, “I am Fiddah, the housemaid of Fatima (as), daughter of Muhammad al-Mustafa' (the purified one), O Allah grant compensation to her, her father, Muhammad and her husband and sons."
I then said, “You are most whole-heartedly welcome. I had a great yearning to hear your speech and the manners you speak, so I request you to give me an hour time to answer my question that I will ask you. So when you finish Tawaf please wait for me in the food market until I come and Allah will grant you reward for it."
We then parted each other.
When I completed my Tawaf and I wanted to return to my lodging I then made my path through the food market and I found her sitting a little away from the people. I then went to her and I then sat a little away from the people and I presented to her a gift. I did not think it was Sadaqah (charity).
I then said, "O Fiddah, please tell me about your Mawlat (owner, guardian) Fatima(as)."
Waraqah has said that when she heard my words her eyes became flooded with tears then she sobbed and wailed and said,
"O Waraqah ibn 'Abd Allah, you just have disconcerted my calmed down sorrow and grief and the pain that existed in my heart. Now listen to what I had observed from Fatimah, Alayha al-Salam.
Take notice that when the Messenger of Allah (sawws) passed away, the small as well as the grownup people suffered shock, weeping for him became a great deal, but very little solace; the loss was greater for the near ones, companions, well-wishers and friends, the relatives and non-relatives, everyone you would meet was weeping, or wailing.
There was no one of the people of the earth, the companions, relatives, and friends suffering more intense grief, weeping and sobbing than my Mawlat, Fatima (as).
Her sadness and grief would renew, and increase her weeping. For seven days her wailing did not calm down and her compassionate feelings did not become quiet. With every new day her weeping would become more intense than the day before.
On the eighth day she expressed her grief when her patience snapped. She came out and cried as if from the mouth of the Messenger of Allah (sawws) she was speaking. Women hurried toward her, children came out and people grumbled weeping and sobbing. People came from all directions, the lamps were extinguished so that no one can see the faces of the women. Women thought as if the Messenger of Allah (sawws), has risen from the grave. People were freighted and confused because of the difficult condition with which they were faced. She would call and wail for her father,
O father, O the chosen one, O Muhammad! O abu al-Qasim, O the spring for the widows and orphans.
Who is there after you for al-Qiblah (al-Ka'bah) and the place of Salat (formal prayer) and who is for your grief
stricken wailing daughter!
"She then moved forward but stumbled over the back piece of her garments while unable to see anything because of the tears continuously following until she was close to the grave of her father, Muhammad (sawws).
When she looked at the room she also saw the minaret. She then made her steps shorter and continued sobbing and weeping until she fell unconscious. The women then rushed towards her sprinkled water on her chest and forehead until she regained consciousness then she stood up saying,
"My power has diminished, my self-control, has betrayed me, the enemy rejoice seeing my condition and aggravation kills me. O father, I am left in grief all alone disoriented and lonely. My voice has subsided; backing for me is cut off. My life has become unpleasant my environment has become depressing.
After you, O dear father I do not find any comforter for my fearfulness, or a helper in my weakness. After you there is no more clear divine revelation as well as the descent of Jibril, and the coming of Michael. After you, O dear father the means have turned backward and the doors are shut before me. After you I dislike the world and for you I breathe with tears, my yearning for you does not diminish as well as my grief and sadness.'
She then called, 'O father, O my intelligence! She then said:
My sorrow for you is new, my heart, by Allah, pour down persistently,
Every day my anxiety increases and my pains do not diminish,
My bitterness has become great and solace has become contrary, so my weeping every time is new,
The heart that joins patience for you or solace indeed is icy cold and daring.
"She then called, 'O dear father, the world has cut off its light with (your passing away) and its shine has diminished; its beauty, and grace was because of you. Its days have become black so its wet and dry copy its darkest night.
O dear father, I continue living sorrowful for you until I meet you, O dear father my endurance has vanished after my separation from you. O dear father, there is no one for the widows and the destitute and there is no one for the nation (followers) up to the Day of Judgment.
After you O dear father every day we live as the suppressed ones, O dear father, people turn away from us, with you we were great among the people. Now we are the suppressed ones. What kind of tears are they that because of separation from you give a chance and what kind of grief is it that after you does not remain continuous, what kind of eyelash is it that after you rest for sleep.
You were the spring of religion, the light of the Prophets. Why the mountains do not pass flying and the oceans do not dry up and the earth does not quake.
Your passing away has caused great bitterness and the sorrow has not been of a small degree. Your passing away has brought great tribulations and gross neglect.
The angels have wept for you, O dear father and the orbits are as if stopped. Your pulpit after you is dreadful, and the place of your Salat (formal prayer) is devoid of your whispering to Allah, your grave is happy to hide you, the garden (paradise) is yearning to have you and for your prayers and Salat (formal prayer).
O dear father, how great has become the darkness of the place where you would sit. Alas, we are sorrowful until very soon I will meet you.
Abu al-Hassan is bereaved, the trusted one and the father of your grandsons, al-Hassan and al-Husayn (as), your brother, your friend, the beloved one to you whom you brought up since his childhood, and chose as your brother when he grew up, the most sweet one among your beloved ones and among your companions of earlier Muhajir (immigrants) and al-Ansar (people of al-Madinah).
Bereavement has encompassed us all and weeping has become murderous for us and sorrowfulness has gripped us.'
"She then kept breathing hard and groaned with which her spirit almost left her body.
She then said,
'My patience is reduced to very little and solace is moved away from me after my eyes have missed the seal of the Prophets. O eyes you must shed tears a great deal, fie up on you if you did not allow blood to flow instead of tears.
O Messenger of Allah, O the choice of Allah, O refuge for the orphans and the weak, mountains have wept for you as well as the wild animals, the birds, the earth as well as the sky.
Al-Hajun, the corner, al-Mash'ar and al-Batha' (names of certain holy locations) have all wept for you as well as the place for Salat (formal prayer), the classrooms of al-Quran for the public in the morning and in the evening. Al-Islam has wept for you because of its becoming stranger to the people like the other strangers.
'If you see the pulpit on which you would climb, on it darkness has climbed after the light. O Lord, please make my death to come quicker because life has turned a blind eye, O my master.
She (the narrator) has said that she then returned to her home but continued weeping and wailing day and night and she could not reduce her stressful breathing.
“The elders of the city of al-Madinah came to Imam Ali (as) saying, 'O abu al-Hassan, Fatima (as), weeps day and night because of which no one of us is able to sleep in our beds at night or during the day we live restless on our works for our living. We like to ask you to ask her to weep either in the night or during the day only.'
"Imam Ali (as) said, 'I will do so with love and honor.' Ali (as) then came to Fatima (as), who was not able to recover from weeping and solace could not help. When she saw him she felt a little comfort.
Imam Ali (as) then said, 'O daughter the Messenger of Allah, (sawws) the elders of the city of al-Madinah requested me to ask you to weep only in the night or during the day only.'
"She said, 'O abu al-Hassan, the time for in their neighborhood is very short and very soon I will disappear from among them. By Allah I cannot remain calm in the nights or during the day until I join my father, the Messenger of Allah (sawws).'
Imam Ali (as) then said, 'You can do, O daughter of the Messenger of Allah, as you like.'
“Then he, Ali, prepared a room for her in al-Baqi' cemetery away from the city, called 'the house of grief.'
In the morning she with al-Hassan and al-Husayn, 'Alayhima al-Salam,' in front of her would leave for al-Baqi' weeping and remained amongst the graves weeping. In the evening 'Amir al-Mu'minin, Ali (as) would go to al-Baqi' and lead them back to her home.
"She continued such condition for twenty-seven days, then she became ill with the illness from which she died. She then lived up to the fortieth day (based on some narrations).
'Amir al-Mu'minin, Ali (as), had just performed al-Dhuhr Salat (formal prayer) then moved to the house when he came face to face with the girls weeping in intense grief.
He (the Imam) asked them, "What is the matter? Why do I see this change in your faces and conditions?'
They said, 'O'Amir al-Mu'minin, please help the daughter of your uncle al-Zahra' and we do not think you will find her alive.'
“Amir al-Mu'minin, then moved quickly and found her lying on the floor covering which was a Qibty gown and saw her get hold of the right or stretch to the left.
He then threw aside his gown which was on his shoulders, and his turban from his head, opened his buttons came forward until he held her head in his lap and called, 'O al-Zahra"' but she did not respond. He then called, 'O daughter of Muhammad al-Mustafa' (the purified one).' She did not respond. He then called, “O daughter of the one who would carry Zakat in his gown for the needy.' She did not respond. He then called, 'O daughter of the one who lead Salat (formal prayer) for the angels in the sky twice and twice.' She did not respond. He then said, 'O Fatimah, speak to me I am your cousin, Ali ibn abu Talib.
"He (the narrator) has said that she then opened her eyes, at his face, looked at him and wept and he also wept. He asked, 'How do you feel. I am your cousin Ali ibn abu Talib.'
She said, 'O son of my uncle, I feel and find myself dying from which there is no escape. I know that after me you will not be able to wait without marriage. If you will marry then please stay one day with her and one day with my children, O abu al-Hassan. Please do not be loud with them to make them feel as two orphans, strange, and broke. Yesterday they lost their grandfather and today they lose their mother. Woe is on the nation (followers) who will murder them and hate them.'
She then read the following lines:
It makes me weep if you weep, O the best guide,
Allow the tears to flow because it is the day of separation,
O partner of al-Batul, follow my will about the children;
They are left with their wish, which has not yet come true,
Which makes me weep and you also weep for the orphans but you must not forget the one who is murdered in al-Taf (tragedy of Karbala) in al-Iraq,
They are separated (from their mother, they are orphans, and disoriented, by Allah such is the day of separation.
She (the narrator) has said that Ali (as), then asked, "How do you know this, O daughter of the Messenger of Allah, when coming of divine revelation has discontinued from us?”
She replied, "O abu al-Hassan, in this hour I was overcome by sleep and I saw my beloved one, the Messenger of Allah (sawws), in a palace of white pearls.
When he saw me he said, "Come to me, O dearest daughter; I am yearning for you so much."
I then said, "My yearning to be with you is more intense.”
He then said, "This night you will be with me," he is truthful and he keeps his promise when he makes a promise. When you recite Yasin then I will be dead. Wash me but do not uncover me because I am clean and purified. Only people of my family closer andcloser relatives should perform Salat (formal prayer) for my funeral and those who receive payment from me. Bury me during the night because this is how my beloved one, the Messenger of Allah, has informed me."
Imam Ali (as), has said that he undertook the task of her funeral matters and washed her in her shirt without having uncovered her. By Allah she was a blessing, clean and purified. He then applied camphor left from that, which was applied to the Messenger of Allah during his funeral tasks. He then shrouded her and when he wanted to tie down the overall sheet he called,
“O' Umm Kulthum, O Sakinah, O Fiddah, O al-Hassan, al-Husayn, come and see your mother for the last time; it is the departing time and the meeting will be in the garden (paradise)."
Al-Hassan and al-Husayn, 'Alayhima al-Salam, then came forward saying, "How great is the grief and sorrow which do not go away because of the death of our grandfather, Muhammad al-Mustafa' (the purified one) and our mother Fatimah, al-Zahra' (as). O mother of al-Hassan and al-Husayn, when you meet our grandfather Muhammad, al-Mustafa' (the purified one), convey our Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) to him and say to him that we have remained as orphans in the world after him."
'Amir al-Mu'minin has said, "I assign Allah as a witness that she expressed compassion and groaned then extended her hands then held both of them against her chest gently and at such time a caller from the sky called, 'O abu al-Hassan, raise them up from her, they, by Allah have made the angels of the sky weep. The loving is yearning for the beloved one.'
He, Ali has said, I then picked them up from her chest and began to tie down the overall sheet reciting these lines:
Separation from you, O Fatima, is a great tragedy and bereaving,
I will weep in sorrow, lament in pain, for the
beloved one who has passed away, to the exalted path.
O eyes generously shed tears and help me; my grief is perpetual to weep for my beloved one.
He (the Imam) then raised her in his hands and brought her to the grave of her father calling,
"Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) is with you O Messenger of Allah, O beloved one to Allah, O selected one by Allah, from me, and also Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) with you and blessings to remain continuous to you and before you and from your daughter who has just disembarked in your location. The trust is returned and the security is taken back. O how severe is the sorrow for the Messenger of Allah and then for al-Batul. The land has turned black before my eyes and far away has gone the greenery from me. How great is the sorrow and grief?"
He then turned to al-Rawdah, performed Salat (formal prayer) for the funeral amongst his family, friends, servants, and a group of Muhajir (immigrants) and al-Ansar (people of al-Madinah).
When he buried her in her grave he recited these lines:
I see the illness of the world a great many on me and the one suffering these illnesses is ill until death.
Between every two friends there is separation and my living with you is for a very little time.
My losing Fatima, after the loss of Ahmad is proof that the loved ones cannot live together forever."
- Bihar al-Anwar Volume 43 H 191, Ch. 7, h 15
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