The birth of al-Zahra’, Fatima (a.s.)

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from ibn al-Ri’ab from abu ‘Ubayda from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Fatima remained (alive) after (the death of) the Messenger of Allah (sw) for seventy-five days. She experienced profound sorrow for her father. Jibril (a.s.) would visit her, console her over her father's loss, comfort her heart, inform her about her father and his whereabouts, and inform her of what would happen to her offspring after her. Ali (a.s.) used to document this.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. Muhammad in Yahya has narrated from al-‘Amraki ibn Ali from Ali ibn Ja‘far from his brother from Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) who has said the following: “Fatima is truthful and a martyr. The daughters of prophets do not experience menses.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

4. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Nasr from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Salim from al-Mufadhal who has said the following: “I asked Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), 'Who washed Fatima (for burial)?' He replied, 'Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) did.' My reaction to his words seemed to be an extraordinary one. He said, 'You seem troubled by what I said.' The narrator has said that I replied, 'Yes, may I be your ransom, it is so.' The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) then said, “Do not be troubled. She was a righteous one (Siddiqa) and no one has the authority to wash her but another righteous one. Did you not know that no one washed Mary but Jesus?'”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il from Salih ibn ‘Aqaba from ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Ju‘fi from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) and abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “During the time of their doing (setting the door on fire) what they did Fatima held ‘Umar by his collar and pulled (down) saying, “By Allah, O son of al-Khattab, had I not disliked to inflicting calamity up on the innocent people, you would have learned how quickly my swearing up on Allah would have brought the swift response (with the wrath of Allah up on you).”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

6. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Salih ibn ‘Aqaba from Yazid ibn ‘Abd al-Malik from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “When Fatima (a.s.) was born Allah sent an angel to make the tongue of Muhammad (sw) call her ‘Fatima’. Then he said, “I set you free (from ignorance) with knowledge and set you free from menses.” Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) then said, “By Allah, He had set her free with knowledge (from ignorance) and from menses at the time universal covenant (al-Mithaq).”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

7. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Salih ibn ‘Aqaba from ‘Amr ibn Shimr from Jabir from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Once the Holy Prophet (s.a) said to Fatima, “Rise and bring that tray.” She went and took out the tray with fresh bread and steaming meat on it. The Holy Prophet (s.a), Ali, Fatima, al-Hassan and al-Husayn (a.s.) continued to have their meals from it for thirteen days. Then ’Umm Ayman saw al-Husayn with certain things with him. She asked, “Where from did you get it?” He replied, “We are having this for our meal for the past thirteen days.” ’Umm Ayman came to Fatima and said, “O Fatima, “If ’Umm Ayman would have anything it is all for Fatima and her sons but if Fatima would have anything then there is nothing in it for ’Umm Ayman. She (Fatima) then took out from the tray food for her and ’Umm Ayman ate but the food from the tray banished. The Holy Prophet (s.a) said, “Had you not fed her (a non-infallible) from it you and your descendants would have had food from it up to the Day of Judgment.” Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) then said, “The tray is with us and our Al-Qa’im (the one who will rise with Divine Authority) will take it out at his time.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

8. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ali from Ali ibn Ja‘far who has said the following. “I heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.) say, ‘Once when the Messenger of Allah was sitting an angel who had twenty four faces came to him. The Messenger of Allah said to him, “My friend Jibril, I had not seen you in this form before.” The angel said, “ Iam not Jibril, O Muhammad. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, has sent me to join in marriage the light with the light.” He then asked, “Who with who?” The angel said, “Fatima and Ali (a.s.).” The Imam (a.s.) said, “When the angel turned back on his shoulder it said, “Muhammad the Messenger of Allah, and Ali (a.s.) the executor of his will.” The Messenger of Allah asked, “Since when this has been written on your shoulder?” The angel replied, “It was there twenty two thousand year before Allah created Adam.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

9. Ali ibn Muhammad and others have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Nasr who has said the following: “I asked al-Rida (a.s.) about the grave of Fatima (a.s.). He said, “She was buried in her own house. When the Umayyads enlarged the Mosque it became part of the Mosque.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

10. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from al-Khaybari from Yunus ibn Zabyan who has said the following. “I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘Had Allah not created Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) for Fatima, there would been no match on earth for her from Adam to the end.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

“When Fatima (sa) passed away, Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (as) buried her secretly and camouflaged the location of her grave. Then he stood up and turned his face towards the grave of Rasulullah (sa) and said, ‘Peace be upon you, Oh Rasullulah from me and from your daughter - your visitor, and the one who rests in the earth near you; chosen by Allah to join you swiftly. Say, Oh Rasulullah, regarding your beloved, my patience and pardon for Sayyidat al-Nisa al-’Alameen’s distress, except that for me in emulating your sunnah in your separation, there is a place of comfort. Indeed, I have made sure you are not lonely in your grave while your soul left your body, between my own throat and chest. Indeed, in the Book of Allah, I find the most gracious of acceptance «Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return» (2:156). The trust has been betrayed, the pledge seized, al-Zahraa has been taken away from us. How ugly the lush fields and barren lands (now) seem, Oh Rasulullah! As for my grief, it is endless and as for my nights, they are sleepless. Anxiety will never leave my heart until Allah (swt) places me in the same abode as you. How swift our separation was! To Allah, I complain, and your daughter will inform you of the distress of your community over her oppression. So, ask her and inquire about her condition, for many are the aggrieved whose chests find no relief, nor do they find a way to express their sorrow. And she will say, 'Woe unto them, and Allah will judge, and He is the best of judges.' I offer my prayer to Allah to grant you blessings as a note of farewell, but not because of disappointment and despair. If I return (to your grave), it is not that I have become tired and if I stand (to leave) it will not be because of my pessimism in the promise of Allah to those who exercise patience. Indeed, to exercise patience is more safe and beautiful. Had it not been for the dominance of the mischievous ones, I would have made my stay bound and fixed and not resort to that of a weak against the strong to preserve my honor. By the grace of Allah, your daughter is buried in secrecy, her rights are taken away unjustly, her inheritance withheld. The covenant has not been broken, nor has the memory faded from you. To Allah, Oh Rasulullah, I complain, and from you seek condolences. May Allah's blessings and peace and pleasure be upon you and upon her."

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.