INTRODUCTION

 

Bismillāhir Rahmānir Rahīm, As-salāmu ʿAlaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh. Peace be upon you brothers and sisters.

 

Welcome back to the Muslim Converts Channel! Our current series is an introduction the 14 Infalliables of the Ahl al-Bayt (as). This lesson will be a brief introduction to Fatima al-Zahra (as), the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (s), wife of Imam Ali (as) and the person whom all the other eleven Imams are descendant from.

 

In this lesson, we will talk about her background, her life struggles, and her important role in Islam. We will also list a few spiritual sayings from her.

 

BODY OF TEXT

 

Allah intends only to remove from you the impurity [of sin], O people of the [Prophet's] household, and to purify you with [extensive] purification. (Chapter 33, verse 33 of the Holy Qur’an)

 

The Prophet (s) once said:

 

"The four greatest women in the Universe are Mary, Asiya, Khadija, and Fatima."

 

Fatima bint Muhammad (bint means daughter of), or better known as Fatima al-Zahra (as), was born around 615 A.D. and died around the year 632 A.D. She was the only living biological child of the Prophet (s) who survived until adulthood. She was born from the Prophet’s (s) first wife Khadija.

 

Fatima was also the wife of the first Imam, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as). Fatima is important in Islam for many reasons, however, the most outstanding of these reasons is being the mother of all of the 11 Imams. In other words, all eleven Imams, starting from her own direct sons Imam Hasan (as) and Imam Husayn (as), are descendants of her. Without Fatima, Imamah would not have continued in this world and would have ended with Imam Ali (as).

 

Fatima (as) is also the means through which some of the most important practices of Islam were conveyed to Muslims. For example, the Tasbīh of Fatima al-Zahra (Fatima al-Zahra’s Glorification of God) is a contemplative and meditative practice of recalling God through prayer beads. In almost all of the ritual practices that Muslims have been recommended to do, the Tasbīh of Fatima is one of the most meritorious and the most widely practiced among Muslims today.

 

So what is the tasbih of Fatima? Well, it’s very simple. After prayer, it is recommended to say “Allahu Akbar” 34 times, “Al-Hamdulilah” 33 times, “SubhānAllah” 33 times. The counting, depending on how fast one says the words, usually takes about a minute or two.

 

The tasbīh’s merits are many. According to our 5th Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (as), it is said that:

 

“One who recites the Tasbih as performed by Fatima al-Zahra (as) and after that asks for forgiveness from Allah (swt), he/she will be forgiven (by Allah). This Tasbih on the tongue (dhikr) is 100 times, but its weight on the scale of deeds is counted as one thousand (good deeds), it will distance Shaytan from one’s self, and will make the Beneficent (Allah) pleased.”

 

One of Fatima al-Zahra’s main goals in life was to feed the poor. She would always forgo herself and would remain hungry for long periods of time because she would give away everything she had to the poor. She would spend her whole day working to take care of her family until her hands would wear out.

 

Despite the good she did for others, she was not treated well by Muslims. Her sole property called Fadak, which her father had given her, was stolen from her by the ruling powers after the death of her father.

 

Fatima’s defense of her husband’s right cost her her life. When the Prophet (s) died, Imam Ali (as) refused to swear the oath of allegiance to those who usurped his right to the Caliphate. The same group of people, as a response to this non-allegiance, invaded his home. Fatima defended her husband’s right from behind the door, but her husband’s enemies would have none of it and flung the door at Fatima, broke her rib and caused her to miscarry her unborn son Muhsin (as).

 

Due to the injuries she sustained, Fatima (as) passed away at the young age of 18. Yet despite her death, her memory and teachings continue to inspire countless Muslims today.

 

Here are some examples of her teachings:

 

Allah made prayer obligatory [to people] in order to eliminate pride [from their hearts].

 

What is the fasting person doing with his fast if he is not guarding his tongue, hearing, sight and limbs from sin?

 

Allah has made injustice incumbent as a source of tranquility for the hearts.

 

Allah made the commanding of the good and the forbidding of evil for the amendment and correction of society and the common folks.

 

Imam Hassan (as) said, "on Friday night I saw my, mother (Fatima (sa)) standing in her arch of prayer. She was continuously kneeling & performing prostration till the dawn broke. I would hear her pray for the faithful men & Women, but she did not at all pray for herself. 1 said, “Oh mother why did you not pray for yourself like you prayed for others?' so she replied, 'Oh my son, first thy neighbor & there after your own house."

 

The book of Allah is the guide of its followers towards the pleasure of Allah. Listening to it carefully leads to the salvation. The enlightened, conspicuous evidences and proofs of Allah can be obtained through it...

 

Until Next Time, Thank you for watching. As-salāmu ʿAlaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh