Nothing is harder for human being than to describe the character of Hazrat Fatima (S.A), This is because she was a special creation of Allah and was perfect in every way. The Prophet used to say that Fatima is Houri of Paradise but in human form. She has been praised by Allah in the Holy Quran in the following verse:
“And Allah wished to keep you away from uncleanliness, you members of the family and to make you pure and spotless.”(33:33)
How can any one then describe the character of such a great person? One of the ways of doing this is to turn to another pure person in her family and use his words to explain about her So we turn to Imam Jaffer Sadiq (A.S) who has described Hazrat Fatima’s character in terms of nine names by which she is known in presence of Allah.
These names and what they tell us about her charater are described in the following paragraphs.
SIDDIQA (The truthful one)
This title was given to her by the Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad (S A.W.W) It is reported that the Prophet (S.A.W.W) said to Imam All (A.S), “Oh All, you have three things which none has, not even me You have me as your father- in law, and my father - in law was not like me.
“You have, as your wife, SIDDIQA my daughter, none of my wives is like her “You have as your sons Hasan and Husain; I have no sons who are like them.
“Bu you are from me and I am from you.”
Once Mufazzal B. Omar asked the sixth Imam, Hazrat Jaffer Sadiq (A.S) as to who gave “Ghusl Mayyif (the bath given to the dead) to Hazrat Fatima (S.A). The Imam replied,”Amir Al Momineen (AH A.S) the Imam added, “… for Fatima (S.A) was a SIDDIQA and no one could give her this bath except a ‘SIDDIQ, like Mariam (another SIDDIQA) was given her ’Ghusl Mayyit’ by Issa (another SIDDIQ).”
Hazrat Fatima was so truthful that whatever she said became the TRUTH! Once, on a day before IDD, her sons Hasan (A.S) and Husain (A.S) asked her if they could have new clothes for IDD. She told them that their dress was with the dressmaker. Allah sent the Archangel Gibrael to Hazrat Fatima’s house with two pairs of gowns from Paradise with the instructions that Gibrael introduce himself as a dressmaker.
MUBAREKAH (The Blessed One)
Indeed, she was the greatest blessing of Allah to the Prophet (S.A.W.W) and to Islam itself. Allah himself confirms this in “Sura-Kauthar” (chapter 108) . Indeed the progeny of the Prophet (S.A.W.W) was brought through her.
According to the famous Sunni scholar Taban, the Prophet himself used to say, “Allah made the offspring of every Prophet (S.A.W.W) through that Prophet’s loins, and he made my offspring in the loins of Ali.” All sons are linked to their fathers except the sons of Fatima, for I am their father and their closets relative.”
TAHIRA (The Virtuous) AND ZAKEEAH (Pure)
These qualities have been given to her specially by Allah who confirms it in the following verse of the Quran: “And Allah only wishes to keep away uncleanliness from you, O member of the Family and make you pure and spotless.” (33:33).
Commenting on this verse, the famous Sunni scholar, Ibne Athir says, “The verse ‘and Allah only wishes…1 was revealed when the Prophet (S.A.W.W) had with him under his cloak Fatima (S.A), Hasan (A.S) and Husain (A.S) and Ali (A.S) was behind him. The Prophet (S.A.W.W) then said, ’This is my family, therefore removed all uncleanliness from them and make them pure and spotless’”.
Another Sunni scholar Sibt Bin Jawzi quotes an eyewitness saying “….I saw the Prophet (S.A.W.W) coming with Ali (A.S), Hasan (A.S) and Husain (S.A) and they went in a room. He ordered Hasan to sit on his right lap and Husain on his left lap and Fatima (S.A) and Ali (A.S) to sit near him.
He then covered himself and them all with a cloak and read, ‘And Allah only wishes…’ Then he prayed to Allah, ‘O Allah, truly these are (members of my family)’”.
Source:
A Brief Biography of Hazrat Fatima (A.S.), [Pg. 24-25].
By: M.M. Dungersi Ph.D.
