*A Brief Biography of Sayyidah Fatima Radi-Allahu Anha*
Sayyidatuna Fatima Radi-Allahu Anha was the youngest and the most beloved daughter of Rasul-Allah ﷺ. Fatima means the one who is distanced, kept away. She and her children are distanced from the punishment of Hellfire, hence the name.
She was born approximately 5 years before Prophethood, when Rasul-Allah ﷺ was 35 and Ka'bah Shareef was being reconstructed by the Quraysh. She grew up to see her father as a Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Once when the Prophet ﷺ ascended Mount Safa and warned his people, he delivered both a generic and a targeted warning. He said _O tribe of Quraysh! Save yourselves from the fire. O sons of Abd Munaaf! Save yourselves from the fire. O sons of Hashim! Save yourselves from the fire. O Abbas uncle of Rasul-Allah! Save yourself from the fire. O Fatima daughter of Muhammad! Save yourself from the fire. I have no control over anything in the court of Allah, except that I have a relation with you which I will try to join to the best of my ability."_ (Muslim). He specifically mentioned Hazrat Fatima Radi-Allahu Anha.
Once he was performing Salah on his own in front of the Ka'bah Shareef. One disbeliever brought the filthy insides of slaughtered camels and waited until he went in prostration. At that point, he thrust it all on his back. The disbelieving leaders nearby started laughing loudly, falling over one another. He couldn't move due to the sheer weight of the filth. Someone rushed to his house and told them. Fatima, the young girl, came running and removed all the filth from the back of her father and then she bravely started shouting at the laughing disbelievers.
She stayed patiently with her father through the tough times in Makkah Mukarramah, especially during the 3-year boycott by the disbelievers.
Once she began to cry upon the pitiful state of her father. He consoled her that this was all in the path of Allah and that good times will come.
When her mother Khadija Radi-Allahu Anha died in the year 10 after Prophethood, she was grieved but remained extremely patient. She was only 15 at the time.
She migrated to Madina Shareef with her sisters and was wedded to Sayyiduna Ali Radi-Allahu Anhu after the battle of Badr in the year 2AH. It was one of the simplest but most beautiful weddings. Rasul-Allah ﷺ said to Sayyiduna Ali _"Allah commanded me to marry Fatima with you_." He gave them both Dua _"O Allah! Bless them both, as well as their progeny.”_
When Rasul-Allah ﷺ was injured in the battle of Uhud (3AH), it was Fatima and Ali Radi-Allahu Anhuma who both nursed him. She kept washing the blood from his cheeks, but it wouldn’t cease. So she burnt some wooden mat, and filled the wounds with the ashes which immediately stopped the bleeding. Her quick thinking saved the day.
Sayyiduna Ali Radi-Allahu Anhu was not very wealthy, so Sayyidah Fatima had to do all the housework by herself. She was a perfectionist and she would do everything to the best of her ability. She would grind the flour, knead the dough, light the stove, cook the bread, and cook the meat. She would go to the well, draw water, wash the clothes and do all the housework. She gave birth to five children: Hasan; Hussain; Zainab; Umm Kulthum; and Muhsin, who died in his infancy.
Once she came to ask for a servant. Rasul-Allah ﷺ was not at home. When he returned, Aisha Radi-Allahu Anha informed him. He went straight to Fatima's house. They had laid down to rest and tried to get up out of respect, but he told them to remain where they were. He came and sat between Hazrat Fatima and Hazrat Ali. Then he said _"You came to request for a servant. Shall I give you something better than that? Before you retire to bed, Read Subhan-Allah 33 times Alhamdulillah 33 times and Allahu Akbar 34 times. That is better for you than a servant.”_ This is why these tasbeehaat are called tasbeehat-e Fatima, because she was taught them first.
After a few days, some prisoners of war were brought to Madina Shareef and they were given out to various households. So he did give her one servant.
Once Rasul-Allah ﷺ asked a congregation of Sahaba _"What is the best thing for women?_" They didn't know what to say. Sayyiduna Ali came home and asked Fatima Radi-Allahu Anha, who replied: _"That they don't look at men and men don't look at them_." Sayyiduna Ali returned to the gathering and informed them. Rasul-Allah ﷺ patted his chest and proudly said: انها ابنتي _"Indeed she is my daughter."_
Rasul-Allah ﷺ said "_Everyone's lineage continues through their male descendants, except mine, which will be carried on through the children of Fatima._"
Fatima used to resemble her father in piety, asceticism, devotion, generosity, humbleness, and all good traits. Even her manner of walk was very similar to the walk of her father. He loved her so much that he desired for her to live close to him so he could visit her on a regular basis, which she did. When he would visit her, she would get up, kiss him and make him sit in her place, and when she would visit him he would do the same. [Abu Dawud]
When he would go on a long journey, she would be the last person he would meet and when he would return she would be the first person whom he would greet from among his household.
Once Rasul-Allah ﷺ said _”Fatima is part of me. Whatever angers her angers me and whatever disturbs her disturbs me_” [Bukhari]
Rasul-Allah ﷺ gave her the glad tiding of being the Sayyidah (leader) of the ladies in Jannah. [Bukhari]
One Hadith states that she will be the first to enter the Jannah along with her father. [Mustadrak Hakim]
Another Hadith mentions that an announcement will be made on the day of resurrection, _”O people lower your gaze! Let Fatima, the daughter of Rasul-Allah, pass through.”_ [Mustadrak Hakim]
She was his only child alive when he departed from this world. He had informed her that _’You will be the first person to join me from among my household.’_ She died only 6 months after him.
When she saw Rasul-Allah ﷺ in a critical state, she couldn't take it and said “وا كرب أباه "Aah! The pain and anxiety my father is going through!”” He opened his eyes and said ”لا كرب علي ابيك بعد اليوم" "There will be no anxiety upon your father after today." [Sunan Ibn Majah]
After his death she composed some beautiful poetry in which she said:
ماذا علي من شم تربة احمدا
ان لا يشم مدي الزمان غواليا
صبت علي مصايب لو انها
صبت علي الأيام صرن لياليا
_"When one smells the fragrance of the grave of Ahmed ﷺ, what harm is there if he doesn't smell any other expensive fragrance. I have been afflicted by such tragedies that if they were to be placed on the bright days, they would turn into dark nights."_
She had a feeling that she should inherit her father. However, Hazrat Abu Bakr Radi-Allahu Anhu informed her of the Hadith _”We, the prophets, cannot be inherited. Whatever we leave behind will be charity.”_ He promised to do what the Prophet ﷺ used to do. With the produce from the land of Fadak, he provided for all the family of the Prophet, including Sayyidah Fatima, her children, and also the wives of the Prophet.
Fatima was an extremely wise lady. She was never greedy nor stubborn. She was happy and during her final illness, she was looked after, among others, by Asmaa Bint Umays, the wife of Abu Bakr Siddiq Radi-Allahu Anhu.
Before her death, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq Radi-Allahu Anhu came to her residence with Sayyiduna Ali Radi-Allahu Anhu and sat by her side from behind a curtain. He apologized for any ill feelings she might have had. He said to her:
"والله لقرابة رسول الله صلي الله عليه و سلم أحب الي ان أصل من قرابتي"
_”By Allah! Maintaining the bonds of relationship of Rasul-Allah ﷺ is more beloved to me than maintaining the bonds of my own"_ She knew he was speaking from his heart and she was pleased with him.
She died on the 2nd of Ramadan 11AH, 6 months after Rasul-Allah ﷺ. Before her death, Umme Raafe' helped her to bathe. She put new clothes on, lay down facing the qibla and breathed her last. Sayyiduna Ali led her Janaza Salah and she was buried in Baqee ul-Gharqad. She instructed that when her body is lowered in the grave, a sheet should be spread around, so her body can be curtained from the eyes of the congregation. This is where the covering of a female started when lowering her body in the grave.
May Allah shower immense peace, mercy, and blessings upon Sayyidah Fatima Radi-Allahu Anha. May Allah give us the ability to learn from her seerah. May Allah give our ladies the Tawfeeq to follow her simple lifestyle. May Allah join our ladies with Hazrat Fatima Radi-Allahu Anha in Jannah. Ameen
_By_
*Shaykh al-Hadith Hadhrat*
*Maulana Abdul Raheem*
*hafizahullah*
