Excellence Of Chief Of Ladies, Fatima Zahra
It is enough to say about Fatima (s.a.) that she is the beloved daughter of the Messenger of Allah (S). Her status is beyond imagination. She is included in verse of Purification1 and the verse of Malediction2.
She is the wife of His Eminence, Ali (a.s.) and the grandmother of nine Imams (a.s.). She is among the fourteen Infallibles (Masoomeen) and is also included among the Holy Five (Panjetan Paak). Numerous traditions regarding her merits have been recorded. A few of them are quoted below:
According to ‘A’ysha, she had not seen anyone more like the Holy Prophet (S) than Fatima Zahra (s.a.) in behavior, conversation and charity, and neither in the manner of standing and sitting. Whenever Lady Sayyida (s.a.) entered the residence of her father, the Holy Prophet (S) stood up from his place of honor and made her sit in his own place and kissed her. In the same way, when the Holy Prophet (S) went to his daughter’s house, she stood as a mark of respect and made her father sit in her own place and kissed him.3
Another tradition from ‘A’ysha says that once all the wives were present before the Messenger of Allah (S), when Lady Fatima (s.a.) arrived.
Her style of walking resembled that of the Messenger of Allah (S). Seeing her, the Prophet said, “Welcome, my daughter,” and made her sit to his right.4 We understand from this tradition how the Prophet loved his daughter, Lady Fatima (s.a.).
We learn from Sahih Tirmidhi, Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim that the Messenger of Allah (S) said that Fatima (s.a.) was the chief of all the ladies of the world. Then how the statement of Pir Dastagir that the most prominent of women is ‘A’ysha and also Lady Fatima (s.a.) could be correct? Because according to his tradition, Lady Fatima (s.a.) is most prominent of all the women of the world, including ‘A’ysha and Lady Khadijatul Kubra (s.a.).
This unrelated statement only shows that Pir Dastagir has praised Sunnism by it and nothing else. But regret for those who consider these writings to be authentic and make them a part of their faith. According to Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Lady Fatima (s.a.) is the leader of the ladies of Paradise and in this way also she precedes ‘A’ysha and this also disproves Pir Dastagir’s statement.
On page 556 of Seeratul Muhammadiya, through the tradition of Hafiz Ibn Abde Barr through the chain of Abu Thalabi, it becomes clear that whenever the Messenger of Allah (S) returned from war or travel, he first entered the mosque and performed two unit Prayer; after that he visited Lady Fatima (s.a.) and then he went to his wives.
This shows how much the Prophet loved his daughter, Lady Sayyida (s.a.). Musavvir bin Hadhrama has stated that the Prophet said:
“Fatima is the piece of my flesh. Those who have angered Fatima, have angered me.”5
Perhaps the two Caliphs had no information about this tradition, otherwise, (in the words of Abul Fida) Abu Bakr would not have sent Umar to burn down the house of Fatima (s.a.) and on reaching her house, Umar would not have been so severe with her, and neither they would have harassed and harmed her so much, that when she passed away from the world, she was very angry at them.
What can be a greater proof of her anger that she willed to His Eminence, Ali (a.s.) that Umar and Abu Bakr should not attend her funeral and should not recite the burial prayer? Due to this, His Eminence, Ali (a.s.) buried her at night, without making a general announcement of her death.
Let Maulavi Nazir Ahmad Sahab write whatever he likes about Lady Fatima (s.a.), but the anger of Lady Fatima (s.a.) is not in any way beneficial to Abu Bakr and Umar in both the worlds.
We learn from another tradition of ‘A’ysha that the Holy Prophet (S) said: “Fatima is the leader of the believing women and she is the chief among all Muslim ladies.”6
This tradition also negates Pir Dastagir’s above-mentioned statement.
Obviously, when according to the saying of the Messenger of Allah (S), Lady Fatima (s.a.) is the leader of Muslim women, how can ‘A’ysha be considered superior to her?
From the traditions of Seerate Muhammadiya7 and Sharh Fiqhe Akbar8, we know the reason of naming Lady Sayyida as Fatima (s.a.) was that she would save her progeny and the believers from chastisement on Judgment Day and her marriage was performed according to Allah’s command.
What doubt is there that she would not allow her progeny and followers to enter hell and what doubt is there that she was married to Imam Ali Murtadha’ (a.s.) by Allah’s command?
It is known that Umar wanted to marry her, but the Holy Prophet (S) knew that Allah’s will was that she marries His Eminence, Ali (a.s.).
In this condition, it was necessary for the Holy Prophet (S) to refuse Umar’s proposal. We all know that this refusal caused a severe enmity of Umar towards Lady Fatima (s.a.) and her husband His Eminence, Ali (a.s.) till the end.