A Brief Biography of Sayyidah Fatima Radi-Allahu Anha
By
Shaykh al-Hadith Hadhrat
Maulana Abdul Raheem
hafizahullah
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.”
By
Shaykh al-Hadith Hadhrat
Maulana Abdul Raheem
hafizahullah
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.”
