Maulatena Fatema Zahra’s life speaks of many events from which many morals and admonitions can be learned, and through which one can familiarize himself with the true believer’s lifestyles.Allah Subhanahu bestowed Ma Fatema with a vast share of greatness and a high levelof majesty, which no other woman can ever claim to have reached. Her proximity to Allah can be judged from the greatness that was acknowledged by Heaven before the creation of mankind; and in whose regard verses from the Quran were revealed that are and will be read day and night until the day of Judgement. Ma Fatema is a lady, who as mankind advances in the understanding and realization of facts and secrets, the greatness of her personality will become more apparent, and the deep meanings of her actions will be more appreciated.

She is Fatema Zahra (A.S.) whom Allah praises, and is “satisfied with her satisfaction, and is angered when she is angered ”. Imam Jafar us-Sadiq (A.S.) said : “Ma Fatema (A.S.) has nine names near Allah Ta’ala, they are: Fatema (she who safeguards believers from evil), Siddiqa (the honest), Mubaareka (the blessed one), Taher (pure, virtuous), Zakiyya (the chaste), Raaziya Marziyya (she who is gratified), Muhaddesa (a person, other than a prophet, that the angles speak to) and Zahra (the splendid).”

Maulatena Fatema Zahra (A.S.) - the beloved daughter of Rasulullah (S.A.W.) and the consort of Maulana Ali (A.S.) exalted in eminent qualities of honour, nobility, leadership, piety and Allah’s fearfulness. She radiated beauty and eminated knowledge through her faith, divine grace and her progeny. She was an institution of an ideal womanhood.

Ma Fatema, as the mumineen fondly call her, was destined to be mother to ‘Aimmat Tahereen’ and ‘Duat Mutlaqeen’. The ‘Dawat’ today is known by her “mubarak” name - “Fatemi-Dawat”.

Her birth was to change the status of the woman,whose prior to Islam was considered inferior to man.Infact the earlier Arabs were so ashamed of daughters that they used to bury them alive or drown them in the milk.With the advent of Islam and birth of Ma Fatema , women were given exalted and respected position in an Islamic society. Rasulullah (S.A.W.) had described women as ‘wazirs’ in the home and without them the home could not be called a complete home. Our beloved Nabi has taught us that the ‘zeenat’ of a home was woman who plays a pivotal role in the education and the upbringing of children. Islam has given her such a high position with all safeguards for her rights and respect for her virtues.

After Rasulullah attained ‘Nabuwat’ and visited the heavens ‘Jibraeel’ (A.S.) gave him a “Jannat nu Tuffah” (an apple) which he ate and there after Maulatena Fatema was conceived in the rehm mubarak (womb) of Maulatena Khadija. Ma Fatema had the grace, beauty and fragrance of the “Hur-ul-Een” of “Jannat” . When Maulatena Fatema was born, the heavens shined gloriously and the whole Mecca glittered with heavenly blessings and Rasulullah (S.A.W.) said that she is the ‘saiyyeda’ (leader) of the women of the world. Rasulullah (S.A.W.) had held Maulatena Fatema in such high esteem , that upon her arrival Rasulullah (S.A.W.) would stand up as a mark of love and respect. Even the ‘Farishtas’ take pride in her because of her graceful qualities.

The mubarak aqd (marriage) of Maulatana Fatema with Maulana Ali was destined to happen and infact Allah had blessed their wedding in heaven.

The wedding of these two eminent personalities was an example to behold as it set the guidelines to all wedding ceremonies in Islam. Islam had made it easy for one to get married so that it is not a burden on it’s followers.

Maulana Ali only had a sword (zulfiqar) and armour (bakhtar) to offer for ‘mehar’ to Ma Fatema. Rasulullah (S.A.W.) accepted only the armour as he knew that Maulana Ali would need Zulfiqar for ‘jehad’, protection of mumineen and expansion of Islam. The armour was sold for 480 dirhams and the money was used to buy atar, clothes and some essential household goods. On the wedding night, Maulatena Fatema was taken in a procession to Maulana Ali’s house, on Rasulullah’s ‘utnee’ (she-camel) which was covered with a ‘chatai’. Rasulullah (S.A.W.) together with Hamzah, Aqil and the Banu Hashims followed along side with swords. Also in the procession were daughter of Abdul Muttalib and the women of Muhajirin and Ansars. On arrival at Maulana Ali’s residence, Rasulullah (S.A.W.) sprinkled ‘shifa nu pani’ on the bride and groom and then offered dua for both of them.

Maulatena Fatema fulfilled her obligations as a wife and mother with such ‘shaan’ that it was a great example for all women. She considered her children as Allah’s “azeem amanat and nemat” and spent night and day nurturing Maulana Hasan, Maulana Husain, Maulatena Zainab and Maulatena Umme Kulsum. In her 8 years of marriage she never complained of destitution or poverty. But to the contrary she was always humble and obedient. Maulatena Fatema was also noted for her ‘pardah’. She observed it so strictly that she would not remain without ‘pardah’ even in the presence of a blind man. She would do the household chores all by herself. But her ‘shaan’ was so great that Jibraeel would come and help her, and the Farishtas would sweep her home, grind the wheat and assist in swinging the cradle of Maulana Hasan and Maulana Husain.

Maulatena Fatema performed ‘Ibaadat’ with great ‘Ikhlas’ both in ‘zahir’ and ‘batin’. Her prayers were always answered. There is a ‘riwayat’ that once her household went without food for three days. On the third day Maulana Ali obtained some money but on his way to home he met Miqdad who was hungry for four days. Maulana Ali gave him the money because he felt that Miqdad was in greater need of it. Such was Maulana Ali’s ‘sakhawat’ (generosity). The same day after ‘magrib namaaz’, Rasulullah (S.A.W.) decided to do the ‘iftari’ in Maulatena Fatema’s house. With this sudden decision both Maulatena Fatema and Maulana Ali were distressed as there was no food in their house. Nevertheless Ma Fatema prayed to Allah to safeguard her household’s honour and her prayers were answered with a ‘thal’ full of ‘maaedat’ (jaman) from heaven. Such was Ma Fatema’s “shaan”.

Sadly, very sadly, after Rasulullah’s (S.A.W.) “wafat” his beloved daughter and her family were subjected to much “zulm-o-sitam”. Once Maulatena Fatema described the ‘zulm’ such that if a similar ‘musibat’ were to befall upon the day it would become a dark night. She grieved and wept day and night upon the ‘wafat’ of her father. Despite this tragedy she was patient in her suffering and prayed for ‘mumineens’ of all times to be forgiven.

Maulatena Fatema who is also the ‘mamsoolah’ of the night of 23rd Shehre Ramzan passed away exactly 70 days after the demise of Rasulullah (S.A.W.) at the tender age of18 years. Maulana Ali was greatly stunned by the sudden loss of his faithful partner whom he described as the pupil of his eye.
May Allah shower Maulatena Fatema Zahra with “salawat” and “salam” and grant us the “taufiq” to follow the foot-steps of this ‘khatun-e-Jannat’ who now rests peacefully in “Jannat-ul-Baqi” Madina.