The entire universe belongs to Allah the Almighty. He does what He wishes. None can curtail His Power and Authority. Importantly, Allah has appointed the infallible Imams (peace be upon them) as the medium of all His Beneficence and Blessings. On this premise, the infallible Imams (peace be upon them) can possess anything in the universe. Our responsibility is that we acquire recognition of these honorable ones, who have been granted power and authority over the heavens and the earth by Allah.
Besides, if we wish to live a blissful life and stay on the straight path, it is essential to differentiate between truth and falsehood. These honorable ones mirror Allah’s pleasure and displeasure. In their happiness lies Allah’s happiness, in their anger is Allah’s anger. Allah is obeyed through their obedience and disobeyed if they are defied. Therefore, it is obligatory for us to gain their recognition which in the end will become the reason for our prosperity and success.
The Status of Hazrat Zahra (peace be upon her) is beyond being virtuous
The position of Hazrat Zahra (peace be upon her) is way higher than just being virtuous.
Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) informs: Surely, Allah is happy when Fatemah is happy and angry when Fatemah is angry.
(Behaar al-Anwaar v 30, p. 353; Al-Mustadrak Alaa Al-Sahihain v 3, p. 154; Al-Mojam al-Kabeer v 22, p. 401; Saheeh al-Bukhaari v 5, p. 83)
This tradition makes it clear that the status of Janabe Zahra (peace be upon her) is far superior to just being virtuous because chastity means that every action of a person” his contentment or discontentment, happiness, and anger is as per Allah wish. He is content in Allah’s pleasure and angry in Allah’s anger. His actions are a reflection of Allah’s wish. But, this isn’t the case with Janabe Zahra (peace be upon her) because here Allah is pleased with what Janabe Fatemah Zahra (peace be upon her) is pleased with and angered with what she is angered.
It is impossible to recognise Hazrat Zahra (peace be upon her)
Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) says:
Fatemah was named Fatemah because the entire creation was helpless in recognizing her.
(Behaar al-Anwaar vol 43 p. 65)
The words of the tradition are worth pondering. Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) has emphasized on entire creation which barring Allah, includes not only mortals but even the honorable carrier of divine revelation, trustworthy of Allah, Janabe Jibraeel, Izraael, other proximate angels, the Greater Prophets, the Noble Messengers, and the vicegerents.
How great must be that pious being who even the trustworthy Jibraeel cannot fully understand? Even the Prophets (a.s.) cannot gain her true recognition. This great being can be comprehended in its entirety only by Allah.
In this regard, let us look at the Holy Prophets’ (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) narration:
When the representatives of Allah will settle in rows (during the Day of Judgement) at that moment Adam (peace be upon him) and other prophets (peace be upon them) will come for your visitation.
(Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 43 p. 22)
Indeed, what an eminent position it is for all the Prophets (peace be upon them) to stand in rows and call on Hazrat Fatemah Zahra (peace be upon her). The human mind fails to grasp the prominence Allah has conferred upon this great lady.
Surely, none can perceive the greatness of the lady who will have Prophets (peace be upon them) lining up to call on her in paradise. As it is the minds fail to fathom the status of Prophets (peace be upon them), so how is it possible to realize the position of one who will be visited by rows of Prophets (peace be upon them)?
Creation of Hazrat Zahra (peace be upon her)
The following narration has been reported by both the Shias and Bakris. It is so authentic from the reliability point of view that a fatwa can be delivered on its basis.
Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) informs: The noble Messenger (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) would kiss Hazrat Zahra (peace be upon her) a lot. When Ayesha objected saying: O Messenger of Allah, what is the reason behind you kissing Fatemah so much?
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) replied:
When I ascended to the heavens (Meraaj), I visited paradise. From the tress of paradise, I saw a tree that was better than all the other trees. There was no tree whiter or more fragrant than this one. I took one fruit from this tree. This fruit took the shape of a fluid in my loin and when I returned to earth I transferred what was given to me in trust into Khadija’s womb from which Fatemah was formed. Therefore, whenever I am desirous of smelling paradise, I smell Fatemah.
(Behaar al-Anwaar, vol 18 p. 315; Al-Durr al-Mansoor vol 4 p. 153; Al Mojam al Kabeer vol 22 p. 401; Tafseer Noor al-Saqalain, vol 3, p. 98)
It is worth noting that Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) is the most excellent and the most honorable among all the prophets, messengers, and obviously, the entire creation. The purest of places is paradise and from this paradise the most special tree and from this exclusive tree the best fruit. From here begins the pure existence of Hazrat Fatemah Zahra (peace be upon her) and this creation is physical creation. Meaning, the thing from which Hazrat Zahra’s (peace be upon her) body was formed was from the most beautiful of fruits.
Relation of the body with the soul
From the Quranic point of view, the body and soul have one relation. On the creation of Hazrat Adam (peace be upon him), the Holy Quran says:
So when I have made him complete and breathed into him of My Spirit…
(Surah Hijr (15): Verse 29)
In another place it is mentioned:
Certainly, We created man in the best form.
(Surah Teen (95): Verse 4)
No creation is better than humans. Man’s remarkable features and the form of his body are suitable and worthy for a soul to be breathed into it. Thus, the soul is only infused when the body is deserving of it. This means that all bodies of the world are not worthy enough for life to be breathed into it. When all bodies cannot possess a regular soul; a body other than the regular one is required for someone with the special beneficence of Allah
The body made of worldly material is deserving of a soul to be infused into it and that too a soul which is connected to Allah. For which, Allah says, It’s His Spirit. So, for that sacred body, which was formed after eating a fruit from heaven, what kind of soul would be required for it? When this sacred body is different from all bodies of the world, the soul in it, too, will be different from others.
Perhaps, on this basis, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) informs: The Almighty Allah created her from His resplendent light. When this light dazzled the entire universe was lit up. The eyes of the angels were bedazzled; they fell down in prostration to Allah. They said, “O Lord! What is this light? Allah sent a revelation: This light is from My Light. I have given it space in My Heavens. I have created this from My Grandeur. Through My Prophets, I will make it appear in the loin of a Prophet, who will be superior to all the other Prophets. Then, from this light, I will create My Imams, who will arise on My command and will guide people towards My rights. After the culmination of revelations, I will appoint them as My vicegerents of earth.
(Behaar al-Anwaar vol 43 p. 12)
This is how the pure body of Hazrat Fatemah Zahra (peace be upon her) was created with the best fruit from Paradise and Allah created her soul from His resplendent light. If there was so much grandeur accompanying this light to come into this materialistic world then what rank it will have in the hereafter?
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) quotes Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny): Before the creation of the sky and earth, Allah created the light of Hazrat Fatemah Zahra (peace be upon her).
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) was asked, O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) – is she not a human? He (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) replied Fatemah is a human fairy.
He (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) was asked, How is she a human fairy?
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) replied Allah created her from His light before He created Hazrat Adam (peace be upon him). At the time there were only souls. When Hazrat Adam (peace be upon him) was created, this light was placed in front of him.
He (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) was asked, Where was Fatemah then?
He (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) replied, In a treasure under the Arsh.
He (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) was asked, What was her provision?
He (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) informed, Praising and glorifying Allah was her nourishment.
(Behaar al-Anwaar vol 43, p. 4)
Hazrat Fatemah Zahra’s (peace be upon her) Worship
At the end of this narration, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) informs that in the world of souls, under the Arsh (Throne), Hazrat Fatemah Zahra’s (peace be upon her) nourishment was praising and glorifying Allah, which is commonly referred to as the Tasbeeh of Fatemah Zahra (peace be upon her) and hence, the terminology heavenly tasbeeh.
The light of Hazrat Zahra (peace be upon her) was preserved in the treasures of Arsh; her food was praising and glorifying Allah. Likewise in this world, she would be so engrossed in worship in the prayer-niche that her feet would become swollen.
There was none in this nation who would worship more than Fatemah (peace be upon her). She would stand and worship so much that her feet would swell.
(Al-Manaaqeb of Ibne Shahr Aashoob vol 3 p. 389)
Her worship in this world points towards the fact that she continued to praise and glorify Allah in the same vein as she did in the world of souls.
Imam Sadiq (as_ informs, The one who is fortunate to gain the real recognition of Hazrat Fatemah Zahra (peace be upon her) then he has discovered (the real) Night of Destiny (Shab-e-Qadr).
(Behaar al-Anwaar vol 43 p. 66; Tafseer al-Furaat p. 581)
Hazrat Fatemah Zahra (peace be upon her) is a part of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny)
One day the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) stepped out of his house holding Hazrat Fatemah Zahra’s (peace be upon her) hand and he asserted, Those who know her recognize her. Those who don’t recognize her ” she is Fatemah b. Muhammad. She is part of me. She is my heart. She is the soul between my sides. Who displeases her has displeased me and whoever displeases me displeases Allah.
(Behaar al-Anwaar vol 43 p. 54)
In light of this tradition, Hazrat Fatemah Zahra (peace be upon her) is a part of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny). Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) did not say that she is a part of my body. Instead, he (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) said she is a part of my entity. She is a part of Prophethood and Messengership. Her soul is associated with the Holy Prophet’s (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) heart.
The heart of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) is not an ordinary heart. Rather, it is the center of all sciences, from the first to the last. It encompasses complete knowledge of all Prophets (peace be upon them) and vicegerents (peace be upon them). Hazrat Fatemah Zahra (peace be upon her) is a reflection of all these sciences and realities.
The Companion’s Behavior with Hazrat Fatemah (peace be upon her)
In view of Hazrat Fatemah Zahra (peace be upon her) greatness and keeping in mind the extraordinary traditions of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) in this regard, one question haunts the Muslim community – how did the companions of Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) behave with her after his (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) demise?
The answer to this question is presented by history. The following incident is noteworthy:
When the usurpers of the caliphate (which was the right of Ameerul Momineen Ali b. Abi Talib (peace be upon him)) arrived at his house and demanded that he step out, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) initially wanted to address them. But Hazrat Fatemah Zahra (peace be upon her) stopped him and she herself attended the door. This was when Umar had come to forcefully take allegiance to Abu Bakr. When Ali (a.s.) did not step out as expected, Umar exclaimed, I swear by the One who has my life in His hand, if you do not submit him (Imam Ali (peace be upon him)) to us, I will burn down the house along with its inmates.
At this threat, his own companions alerted him, O Abu Hafs (i.e. Umar) Fatemah is inside the house.
Umar said indifferently, So what!
(Al-Imamah wa Al-Siyasah vol 1 p. 19)
Reacting to this, Hazrat Fatemah (peace be upon her) said, I haven’t seen more shameless and ill-mannered people than you. You have abandoned the sacred body of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) and gathered over here to usurp our rights!
(Al-Imamah wa Al-Siyasah vol 1 p. 19)
These are those who grew under the tutelage of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) and their status was rooted in the companionship of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny). They were recognized in society as Holy Prophets (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) companions. Despite this, they abandoned his (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) revered corpse and rushed to decide the matter of caliphate lest it eludes them. Not content with bagging the caliphate, they set fire to the house of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) beloved daughter, the Chief of all women of Paradise, whose excellence was repeatedly highlighted by the Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny).
It is amazing how the companions had changed so dramatically in two to three days. These were the same companions who congregated behind the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) in his mosque for prayers and heard his sermons with rapt attention. After the Prophets (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) demise, it was as if they were never his companions, with the cold-heartedness they displayed towards the Prophets (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) brother and daughter.
The Calamities befalling Hazrat Fatemah Zahra (peace be upon her)
Saeed b. Jubair narrates from Ibne Abbas: One day the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) was sitting when Imam Hasan (peace be upon him) entered. He (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) welcomed him and delightfully seated him on his right lap. Then Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) entered. He (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) welcomed him and seated him on his left lap. Then Hazrat Fatemah Zahra (peace be upon her) came and sat alongside Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny). After that Ameerul Momineen (peace be upon him) came and sat on the right of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny).
Then the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) began weeping incessantly.
Someone asked: O Messenger of Allah! What has caused you grief?
Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) then revealed their virtues and the sufferings they would face in his absence. When the discussion reached Hazrat Zahra (peace be upon her), after elucidating her virtues, he (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) said: When I see her, I remember the afflictions that will befall her after me.
(Al-Amali of Shaikh Sadooq (r.a.) Majlis 24 p. 99; Behaar al-Anwaar vol. 28 p. 37)
The Sunni scholars have also reported this tradition in Faraaed al-Simtain vol. 2 p. 25
Have the Muslims forgotten to pay attention to the tradition despite reporting it? If in Janabe Fatemahs (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) happiness lies Allah’s happiness and in her anger lies Allah’s anger, then what is the status of those who oppressed her?
When Abu Bakr and Umar visited Hazrat Zahra (peace be upon her) in the aftermath of the incident which left her grievously injured, she warned them, I take Allah and the angels as witnesses and declare that you two have angered me and displeased me.
(Al-Imamah wa Al-Siyasah vol 1 p. 20)
Is not Hazrat Zahra’s (peace be upon her) anger the cause of Allah’s anger and His messengers (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) anger? Moreover, hasn’t the one who angered Hazrat Zahra (peace be upon her) deviated from the right path? Some Muslims are of the view that we shouldn’t narrate such incidents as whatever has transpired has transpired and there is no benefit in recounting these issues now. By the same logic, half the Quran should be abandoned because it is a mere narration of incidents that have transpired with no benefit for Muslims at present.
It is necessary not only to narrate incidents revolving around the Prophet’s (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) rightful successor but also to investigate those who prevented the truth from prevailing and misled the masses. This is necessary so that we pursue goodness and refrain from evil. This is also one of the reasons for repeated narrations in the Holy Quran of the past prophets and their nations.
Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) foresaw this incident when he informed, As if I am present at that time and witnessing how lowly and despicable characters are entering this house (of Hazrat Zahra (peace be upon her)).
What can be more offensive than the fact that ill-mannered people are at the door wanting to set the house on fire? Can there be anything more offensive and infuriating for Ameerul Momineen (peace be upon him) than to watch his wife being felled by the door and being fatally wounded so much so that her ribs were left fractured, eventually departing from this world due to the injury?
The following incident is notable:
Ibn Abi al-Hadid al-Motazali” a famous Sunni scholar writes, One day I recounted the incident of the conquest of Makkah and Habbar ibn Aswad in front of my teacher Abu Jafar Naqeet. Following the conquest of Makkah, the Messenger (peace be upon him and his holy progeny), despite being a mercy for the worlds, had declared the killing of certain people as permissible. One among them was Habbar b. Aswad. The cause for this was traced to the migration of Muslims to Madinah. When the ladies from Prophets (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) family were migrating to Madinah from Makkah, among them was the Prophets (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) foster daughter Zainab. Habbar had cast a spear toward her which killed her child. In Holy Prophets (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) view the crime was so gruesome that he had made the blood of Habbar b. Aswad permissible.
Ibn Abi al-Hadid recounts: My teacher Abu Jafar Naqeet said, If the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) were alive then wouldn’t he have declared as permissible the blood of those who had terrorized and threatened Hazrat Fatemah Zahra (peace be upon her) which eventually claimed the life of her unborn child Mohsin?
(Sharh-o-Nahj al-Balaaghah of Ibn Abi  al-Hadid, vol. 3 p. 35)
Now, take a look at the statement of Shams al-Deen al-Zahabi (exp. 748 A.H.), a reliable Sunni scholar, recorded in his book Mizaan al-Etedaal Umar pushed Fatemah with so much force that it resulted in Mohsins death.
(Mizaan al-Etedaal vol. 1 p. 139)
Abu Baseer (r.a.) relates ” I asked Imam Jafar Sadiq (peace be upon him): Why did Hazrat Fatemah Zahra (peace be upon her) depart from this world at such a young age?
He (peace be upon him) replied: She was martyred young because Umars slave, Qunfooz, acting on Umar’s orders, attacked Hazrat Zahra (peace be upon her) so harshly with the sheath of his sword that Mohsin was killed. This injury left Janabe Zahra (peace be upon her) very weak (from which she never recovered).
(Dalaael al-Imamah p. 134)