MAULATENA FATEMA-TUS-ZAHRA (AS)

Maulatena Fatema-Tuz Zahra (S.A.) - the beloved daughter of Rasulullah (SAW) and the consort of Maulana Ali (S.A.) exalted in eminent qualities of honour, nobility, leadership, piety and God-fearingness. She was an institution of an ideal womanhood.
Ma Fatema, as the faithfuls fondly call her, was destined to be a mother to 'Aimmat Tahereen' and 'Doat Mutlaqeen'. The 'Dawat' today is known by her 'mubarak' name - "Fatemi Dawat".
Her birth was to change the dignity of all women, who prior to Islam were considered inferior to man. Infact the earlier Arabs were so ashamed of daughters that they used to bury them alive. With the advent of Islam and birth of Ma Fatema, women were given exalted position in an Islamic society.
Rasulullah (SAW) had described women as 'wazirs' in the home and without them the home was incomplete. Our beloved Nabi has taught us that the 'zeenat' of a home was a woman who plays a pivotal role in the education and the upbringing of children. Infact Rasulullah likened a woman to a flower in a beautiful garden.
After Rasulullah attained the 'nubuwat' and visited 'Jannat', 'Jibraeel' (AS) gave him a "Jannat nu tufah" (An Apple) which he consumed after which Maulatena Fatema was conceived. Ma Fatema had the grace, beauty and fragrance of the "Hur-ul-Een" of 'Jannat'.
When Maulatena Fatema was born, the heavens glowed gloriously and the whole of Mecca glowed and Rasulullah said that she is the 'sayyeda' (leader) of the women of the world. Rasulullah had held Maulatena Fatema in such high esteem, that upon her arrival Rasulullah would stand up as a mark of love and respect. Even the 'Farishtas' take pride in her because of her exalted qualities.
Providence had destined Maulatena Fatema to wed Maulana Ali. 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 'talwar' (sword) and a 'bakhtar' (armour) to offer for 'mehar'. Rasulullah accepted only the 'bakhtar' as he knew Maulana Ali would need the sword for the various battles to protect and expand Islam.
The 'bakhtar' was sold for 480 dirhams and the money was used to buy 'attar', clothes and some essential household goods. On the wedding night, Maulatena Fatema was taken in a procession to Maulana Ali's abode, on Rasulullah's 'utni' (she-camel) which was covered with a 'chatai'. Rasulullah together with Hamzah, Aqil and the Banu Hashims followed along side with swords. Also in the procession were daughters of Abdul Mutalib and the women of Muhajirin and Ansars. On arrival at Maulana Ali's residence, Rasulullah sprinkled 'shifa nu pani' on the bride and groom and then offered doa 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 of the world. She considered her children as Allah's 'azeem amanat' and spent night and day nurturing Maulana Hassan, Maulana Hussain, Maulatena Zainab and Maulatena Umme Kulsum.
In her 10 years of marriage she never complained of destitution or poverty. Nor did she ever command or order. But to the contrary she was always humble and obedient. Maulatena Fatema was also noted for her 'purdah'. She observed it so strictly that she would not remain without 'purdah' 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 Hassan and Maulana Hussain.
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 home he met an 'ashab' named 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 'maghrib namaaz', Rasulullah 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 '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 sufferings and prayed for 'moomineens of all times to be forgiven.
Maulatena Fatema who is also the 'mamsool' of the night of 23rd of Shere Ramzan passed away exactly 70 days after Rasulullah at the tender age of 23 years. Maulana Ali was greatly saddened by the sudden loss of his faithful and 'azeem' partner whom he described as the pupil of his eye.
May Allah shower Maulatena Fatema-Tuz Zahra with 'salawat' and 'salam' and grant us the 'taufiq' to follow the foot-steps of this 'khatun- e-janaat' who now rests peacefully in Jannatul Baqi in Medina.
Courtesy of Al-Burhan magazine, Vol. 9