Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

The Exigency of Discussion about Fatima (peace be upon her):

The fact that Fatima (peace be upon her) is discussed is owing to some reasons, mentioned in brief:

Firstly, today is Fatima’s birthday anniversary, and naturally, in such an auspicious time that occurs once a year, we would take steps to discuss her character in order to know her and make her known as well.

Secondly, the discussion is about a woman, who has played many crucial roles in her life. Although she has got a short life, the book of her life is in a way that every page of it, is a lesson of life for us and the next generations; a lesson, having a new point to teach every time we study. Studying her life is instructive and a factor for reforming and improving the society. Because, we believe that if the women are amended in a society, the people will be amended and the society will be developed.

Thirdly, the discussion of Fatima (peace be upon her) is in fact the discussion of a mother, the source of amendment. It is she, who brings up healthy and duteous children, and delivers them to the society. It is she, who takes the responsibility of the generation leadership, etc.

Who is the sample of our mothers to bring up healthy children? Isn’t it better that Fatima (peace be upon her) be the teacher of motherhood classes?

Fatima (peace be upon her) is a mother, a fidle, steadfast, leading, mother, that despite poverty, educated her children well because of love. She was her children’s life shelter, inspired the (spirit of) love and fidelity in them, and taught them the way of life as well as self-sacrifice. If we teach Fatima’s point of views to others, we have established a way for the society prosperity.

Fourthly, discussing Fatima (peace be upon her) as well as introducing her character is a resolver for all, because in our era that is the era of philosophy and ideology miscellany, some have been puzzled how to approach the clear purpose of life. They don’t know what to do and where to go! The samples are presented in magazines and newspapers, that is not clear where their materials cOmme from. Due to this fact, the world, especially the wOmmen’s world, is losing its last shelter of life. In this situation, it is better to present Fatima’s way, having been confirmed by foe and friend and having had all aspects of being an all-out sample.

We believe that if our women knew Fatima (peace be upon her), and applied her manner in their lives, they would manage to inspire a new life in the body of the society and present new dimensions of life. The way of Fatima (peace be upon her) is a great and straight way, and can release us from straits of this machinery and uproaring life and direct us to the destination.

Fatima (peace be upon her) has got a grand grandeur, not well known in her own era and even in our own time. Our hobby and concerns do not allow us discover and apply the aspects of her noble character.

Fatima (peace be upon her) as a Sample:

Fatima (peace be upon her) is a sample for those seeking for a real, complete, and multi-dimensional heroin. She is human in face but in manner, pious and clean, confidant and intimate with angles but even superior, because she is Ali and Mohammed’s (a.s) confident. She is a model and the best sample for an ideological life that has managed to provide the ground for presenting a complete sample of herself by means of self-construction. Therefore, why don’t we choose Fatima (peace be upon her) as sample?

The Memory and Remembrance of Fatima (peace be upon her):

The name of Fatima (peace be upon her) restores some scenes in our minds.…

Fatim’s name revives the memory of jihad and her confidence to Ali (peace be upon him) in minds as well as the story of Fadak and the stroke of the door on her side. Fatima (peace be upon her)’s memory exists in Medina, Kufeh mosque, Karbala and everywhere.

And at the time when there is a discussion of martyrdom, democracy, administering justice, and love, all of a sudden, Fatima (peace be upon her) is remembered (peace be upon her), because we see all these attributes in her character and life. When Hossein and his martyrdom are put into discussion, the continuation of Ashora mission is talked over, and speaking of Hossein’s revolution as well as Hasan’s peace with his tender-heart is set forth. One involuntarily is set thinking who is the source of such education that has brought up such individuals?

In general, the more time passes, the livelier Fatima (peace be upon her) will be. Her remembrance reminds us of jihad and makes us smell the scent of Karbala Torbat (soil). Besides, the lesson of life and grandeur must be learnt from Fatima (peace be upon her). And she must be taken as a sample due to the fact that all her attributes are instructive: her childhood beside mother, her maidenhood in father’s house, her marriage, her motherhood in relation with her sons and daughters, her housekeeping, her life beside her husband, her love, her worship, her demise, etc.

The Dimensions of Discussion about Fatima (peace be upon her):

Analyzing and evaluating Fatima’s aspects of life are beyond our power, because it needs awareness and full knowledge of Fatima’s character. She is also a symbol, the symbol of a distinguished wife, a distinguished daughter, a distinguished mother, a distinguished heroin, a distinguished companion, a distinguished fellow and confidant, the symbol of worship, the symbol of love towards Allah, the symbol of pains and efforts, the symbol of campaigner, the symbol of patience, the symbol of administering justice, the symbol of serving people, the symbol of speech, the symbol of forbearance and self-possession, the symbol of politeness and humanity, the symbol of chastity and piety, the symbol of bravery….

How can we swim in the deep sea of her life, hoping that we arrive to the beach. Yes, everyone endeavors to trace some aspects of her life according to his apprehension and perception.

The School of Fatima (peace be upon her):

Under the protection of Islamic ideology and her outlook, Fatima (peace be upon her) built the thought foundation of a Divine and human school, including principles, rules and beliefs; a hopeful and life-giving school teaching us how to live and how to die. Fatima’s school, the pearly-gates to the other world to us, inverts the last generation’s way of life, and builds up a new world on the ruins. She rouses a new way of thinking, teaching us how to look at the world and life.

Fatima’s school endeavors to make the human beings hopeful, teach them the way of chastity and covering themselves, support the oppressed, consider the most sensitive matters of man’s life, settle justice in the society and not allow every one does what he wishes.

In this world that the people are victimized for feathering their nests, and the people are ready to yield themselves in a mean form for instantaneous pleasures, in this world that people, like imprisoned birds which strike themselves against the cage and try to take pleasure, Fatima’s school can be teachable and resolving.

The Constructiveness of Her School:

Through studying the world of Fatima (peace be upon her) , we can build up our character, and as a result, attain independence, grant values, and high esteem. Fatima’s life and school are full of exaltation and direction.

Fatima’s outlook, her divine and human character, perception and knowledge, mission and responsibility are life-giving and wholly constructive and instructive on the condition that her character and picture be drawn well, and no mistakes occurs.

The power of this construction is so that it can set us free from uselessness and hollowness, make up for our evident and concealed fiasco, illustrate the way of victory and elevation, and grant us happiness, moderation, tranquility, and peace of mind.

Introducing Fatima (peace be upon her):

Introducing Fatima (peace be upon her) as it really is, seems difficult. We can just state what is related to her external aspects and then commence introducing her from this viewpoint:

1. Her Descent:

Her name is Fatima (peace be upon her), her father, Mohammed (peace be upon him and his descendants), the last Prophet, her mother: Khadijeh, entitled as the mother of orphans. Fatima (peace be upon her) was the fourth and the last daughter. Her titles are Zahra, Omme Abeeha that means the mother of her father, Zohreh, the mistress of the women of the worlds, and at last, a goddess in man’s form.

Her father was the messenger of Allah, a distinguished man and a unique character. Her mother Khadijeh was known as the mother of orphans, and had some other titles. But among them, she was fond of this title and all-out sample in achieving that title. Her mother is a woman that Allah has not dedicated a better one to the messenger, as Ayesheh quoted from the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants).

While the people blasphemised Mohammed (peace be upon him and his descendants) and made every endeavor to make him yield by means of economic sanctions, it was Khadijeh, who believed in and helped him with her own wealth. And at last, while everybody in that era had cut relation to Mohammed (peace be upon him and his descendants), it was Khadijeh, who kept contact with him and was even proud of that relation.

Fatima (peace be upon her) was begotten after forty days, passed in prayer and worship due to the fact that they wanted Fatima (peace be upon her) to be clean and continued her father’s mission. She consoled her Father’s sorrow and tried to remove the pain lines of his face.

She later must be the manifestation of all senses (of emotion), policies, and vehemence of the women’s rights, and a sample for them. She must reveal some unknown facts, their new duties as well as the eternal way of life for them.

2. Her Education:

She opened her eyes to this world in the fifth year of Prophetic mission, when Islam emerged in the house of revelation. The hand of a great coach like the Messenger was over her head, and the affection of a gracious mother was giving heat to her life. Owing to this fact, she was never polluted to sin.

She was just seven that her mother passed away, and left Fatima (peace be upon her)lonely. Her father, achieving the two main parts of parentship well made up the lack of motherhood affection.

She passed half of her life in Mecca beside the Messenger and the next half in Ali’s house in Medina. She was trained in revelation environment i.e. the Prophet’s house, and passed a part of her life in the house of the husband, who continued carrying the heavy load of the prophetic mission, that is Imamate. And that was Fatima’s happiness and prosperity to elevate her character in these two houses.

3. Her marriage:

Ali (peace be upon him) grew up in Fatima’s house [the house of Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants)], and they were trained under the supervision of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants). When her marriage was posed, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) said that the situation of her marriage won’t be clear unless he receives revelation in this regard, and after that, Ali (peace be upon him) acted as a suitor, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) broke the silence and said: ”O, Ali, don’t be embarrassed, express your request.” Ali(a.s) said modestly and prudently, “I want to make your affection complete with marriage to Fatima.”

In this regard, it can be stated that if there existed no Ali (peace be upon him), there would exist no husband for Fatima (peace be upon her) , and vice versa. The Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) put Fatima’s hand into Ali’s, and the fruit of this marriage was some children, as Hasan, Hossein, Zeineb and Kolthum (a.s).

Fatima’s Position:

The religious learned have called four women excellent in the history of man’s life, including: Asieh, Holy Mary, Khadijeh and Fatima. Among them, Fatima (peace be upon her) has got a gracious position so that no one could know her except Mohammed and Ali (peace be upon him), and there is no possibility of knowing her except by resorting to what they have said about her. We will try to analyze her position through two views:

1. According to the Holy Quran:

She symbolizes Kauthar, and the following the Quran verse was revealed about her:

أنّا أعطيناك الكوثر

[We have bestowed upon you Kauthar].

She stands for the word نسائنا[our women] in Mobaheleh verse. On the other hand, Zahra is a woman, but includes all the gracious attributes of the grand women in the world, and the roles, of which women must take the responsibility, and try to achieve them.

She is the tenor of the verse:

قل لا اسئلكم عليه اجراً الا المودة في القربي

The one whom Tathir verse (being away from filth) was revealed about her.

She is the symbol of

وجمع الشمس و القمر

She also symbolizes

والقمر اذا تلئها

in Shams Sura.

2. According to the Traditions:

She is the Mistress of women, the inhabitant of heaven.

The heiress of the previous prophets’ glory and that of the famous women of the world.

She is infallible and pure from sin.

She is a part of the Prophet’s body and soul. She is the incarnation of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants).

Allah’s heaven is incarnated in her, so that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) smells the scent of heaven from her.

She is Ali’s peeress as well as his confidant.

She was one of the glad tidings of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants), as he said,

فان الله اصطفاك علي نسا العالمين

Her satisfaction is the Prophet’s satisfaction, and the Prophet’s satisfaction is Allah’s satisfaction.

She is the cause of the survival and the continuation of the Prophethood and Imamate.

And at last, she has got more honor than holy Mary, because she has endowed with eleven Christlike (children).

Fatima’s Honor:

Fatima (peace be upon her) has endowed with honor and grand dignity; the honor no one could achieve it as Fatima (peace be upon her) did. Expressing all her aspects of her character is not feasible; therefore, some points are stated:

1. She is Allah’s beloved:

She is the pure servant of Allah, and is always in worship and contact with Him in order to give her servanthood superiority over her other positions, so that no luxury, effort, or attachments could prevent her from fulfilling her conscious duty. As that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) appreciated her and praised her position was due to the fact that she was pious and in contact with Allah, and not because she was the Prophet’s daughter.

Fatima’s generosity, thought, and efforts are all for Allah’s pleasure. Fatima (peace be upon her) is so dissolved in the Divine grandeur and majesty that she devotes all her things in His way: her position, her rank, her silver bracelet, her wedding dress, the screen of her house, etc. In this case, shouldn’t she be the dear of Allah?

2. She is the Prophet’s dear:

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) knows her as a part of his body and soul, as he says,

بضعة منه و روحة اللذي بين جنبيه

In the age of Ignorance and the hard times of his Prophethood, she was as a mother to her father in Mecca. She cleansed the thorns and dust that the people had thrown over the head of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) with her little hands and soothed him. Sometimes, she would cry for his loneliness and caressed for his beaten body.

She was her father’s consular at the time of Hijra, she was so dear for him in Medina that Ayesheh stated, “There was no one dearer than Fatima (peace be upon her) to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants); he attended her house every day and asked about her mood repeatedly. When he was setting for trips, Fatima (peace be upon her) was the last one, visited at the time of departure by him, and at the time of arrival, Fatima (peace be upon her) was the first one, visited”.

Owing to her dignity and action, purity and sincerity, she reached to a rank that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) stated, “ ابوهافداها ”[May his father be sacrificed to her].

Once, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) saw Ali and Fatima (peace be upon them), grinding wheat. He asked, “who gives her place to me to turn the mill?” Ali said to Fatima (a.s), “rise, ‘cause you are tired?” and then the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) sat on her place and continued her job.

Even on his point of death, she was closest to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants). The Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) whispered in her ear, “Dear Fatima, sit beside me, and recite Quran”. Yes, the whispers and Quran recitation of Fatima (peace be upon her) could sooth the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants).

3. She is Ali’s wife:

As stated before, if there was no Fatima (peace be upon her), there would be no one deserving to be her husband. Her marriage was determined by the Word of Revelation. She was a wife, kind and fidle, and the perfect symbol ofلتسكنو ايها; confidant with her husband…

She never shattered her family estate under the pretext of ornament and did not make the life bitter for her husband for the false worldly allure.

They had a house, apparently made of clay; a house, void of ornaments, but full of purity, sincerity, faith, piety, and chastity. Their dishes consisted of wooden and earthen bowls, but their soul bowls were full of grandeur and overfilled with cordiality and affection. Their bed clothes were shorter than their height, but they were full of faith, sympathy, unanimity, purity, and understanding.

The Mystery of Fatima’s Grandeur and Eternity:

Fatima (peace be upon her) is grand and eternal on the account that she has been united with Allah. She has absorbed her self in His.

She is greater than the great, because she is acquainted with Allah, who is the greatest, and she is eternal forever until Doomsday, because she is acquinted with the Eternal.

Fatima (peace be upon her) is a woman, whose grandeur cannot be inserted in expression and words, because we cannot analyze the infinite with our finite conception. When she is called “Sedigheh” [truthful], it is different from the Sedigheh, applied to others; all her members of body and thought are truthful. It is impossible to describe her grandeur through writing, speaking, and hearing, because all her attributes are in full and infinity. Her faith, her morals, devotion, soul elevation, grandeur, knowledge all are in utmost perfection.

Satisfaction and obedience of Allah:

Fatima (peace be upon her) is Allah’s real follower, and her exalted purpose and ambition are to satisfy Him and seeks for a way to achieve to this end without any shadow of doubt.

This is Fatima’s viewpoint that Allah has superiority over all things and everyone. Thus, she has accepted His bondage of servitude. She is seeking for Allah and His satisfaction in her speech, action, and all her life. This is pride that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) knows her satisfaction His satisfaction and her way as the way of God, the Almighty.

Fatima (peace be upon her) as a measure:

Scales is an instrument for measuring and the facts are assessed by it. In materialism, for measuring goods, volume, weight, and a period of time, the special measuring instruments are utilized. In spirituality, measuring is possible through samples and symbols. For instance, the level of somebody’s understanding is measured through comparison with an intelligent person; the level of somebody’s piety is measured through comparison with a pious person; the level of sOmmebody’s intelligence and talent is measured through comparison with a talented and bright person; and the level of sOmmebody’s generosity and humanity is measured through comparison with a generous person.

Fatima (peace be upon her) is a complete measure for evaluating the ladies’ deeds, and according to the infallible, “she is measure”. Fatima’s spirit power, unique courage, elevated thoughts, and excellent dispositions are all and all measures and samples. Her chastity, piety, faith, nobility, honor, housekeeping, rearing the children, abstinence from sublunary luxury, material and spiritual aspects and even her death are all measures for us.

In the history of the wOmmen world, we do not know a woman like her to be the measure and sample. All Fatima’s attributes make her more adorned than others and give a distinguished face to her.

Fatima (a.s), the Cause of Continuation of the Prophetic Mission:

It is her clean and pure womb that can be the source of grace and the origin of light and the originator of eleven clean offspring, who are the Prophet’s successors and continuance of the Prophetic mission from generation to generation.

It was not haphazard that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) knew Fatima’s wrath his wrath and her torment or satisfaction his torment or satisfaction. He said, “those, who make Fatima (peace be upon her) happy, have made me happy, and those who tease her, have in fact teased me.”

Yes, she was the continuance of the Prophetic mission, and made any kind of endeavor to promote the Islamic teachings along with Ali (peace be upon him). As a trustful trustee, she went to the companions’ houses at night and delivered them an ultimatum. She explained them that Ali is with right, and right is with Ali (peace be upon him), and if they do not adapt it, they must answer back to Allah. She wanted the people to know that what a big crime they would commit if they negate Ali’s (a.s) right, and what undesired future they would expect.

Fatima (peace be upon her) is the continuance of the Prophetic mission. She is Ali’s witness and assistance. She confirms his speeches, and tried to prove his claims, and in this way, she is not afraid of the door stroke, causing damages on her body, and as a result miscarriage. Even the enemy’s whips cannot stop her from defending Ali; the martyrdom and death in Allah’s way cannot prevent her from continuing the Prophetic mission.

She is the continuance of the Prophetic mission, because she has managed to rear a generation that were the preservers of the religion the Karbala mission, that was the continuance of the Prophetic mission.

She is the continuance of the Prophetic mission, because Imamate, the continuation of Prophethood, belongs to her generation, and Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance), who will defend Fatima’s purpose will rise to revive Islam.

How did this way of Prophetic mission continue and what happened to her offspring, who were the followers of the Prophet and Ali (peace be upon him)? Prison, torture, homelessness, banishment, stroke of sword, poison, separation from dynasty and children were some of the hardships they suffered in the way to achieve their holy end.

Fatima (a.s), the Sample of Deconstruction:

The role of Fatima (peace be upon her) in women’s revival was fabulous. She is the sample of deconstruction of the misleading customs, which were prevalent among the people in the society and had captured their hearts.

She was the practical sample of laws, through which the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) managed to apply the Islamic principles and programs.

Like the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants), Fatima (peace be upon her) tried to instruct the parents how to revere and love their daughters. While the people buried their daughters alive, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) kissed Fatima (peace be upon her) and said,” daughter is Allah’s gift.” When she was a child, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) sat her on his knees, and through this action wanted the people to take lesson.

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) should show the high position of women and how they should be viewed in Islamic ideology through her method. Kissing Fatima’s hand is the symbol of campaign and rebellion against the society viewpoint. It is a revolution against burying girls alive, teaches us indirectly that wOmmen as the gift of Allah must be revered and not heated.

The girls and wOmmen at her era were not believed, and even they were forced to work hard in the farms. They were not considered as kin; they were deprived from inheritance, retaliation was completely fulfilled for them, etc. A woman having some daughters and no son was considered as barren .

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) through having Fatima (peace be upon her) proved that having no son does not mean barrenness as the shortsighted think. On the contrary, she can be the source of abundant felicity for her own family and relatives.

She was the sample of deconstructing the wrong marriage customs. In that age, the rich just married to the rich, but she deconstructed this custom and married to Ali (peace be upon him), her cousin who was poor and by selling his chain mail had managed to provide the marriage costs.

In fact, if there existed no Fatima (peace be upon her), how these false customs were deconstructed, and how the real practical samples in the Prophetic mission were achieved?

If there existed no Fatima, how the complexes, disgrace, irregularity, making the women’s souls weak, were removed?

The variety of Fatima’s roles:

Fatima (peace be upon her) is a woman, but has several crucial roles and in each role a real sample. She is a woman, the sample of leadership and grandeur , the one, through fulfilling her roles, has managed to give a practical face to sOmme aspects of the Prophetic mission.

In achieving her role as a sample, she has got a heavy load over her shoulders; the motherhood responsibility, caring the people, helping the poor, administering justice in the society, looking after children, family management, etc. Expressing all Fatima’s aspects and roles needs a separate and lengthy book, but whatever can be stated here in brief consists of:

1. Fatima (peace be upon her) as a Muslim:

Before being the Prophet’s daughter, Ali’s wife or the mother of eleven Imams, she is a Muslim, a worthy Muslim, and before being a woman with different roles, she is Allah’s servant. She does not forget Him even for a moment, and never neglect the heavy load of responsibility.

She is a Muslim, who achieves worship and from the other side, fulfills family duties as well as social duties. And how active, energetic, and successful she has been in dividing her time and facilities for achieving her mission. Her nightly vigils , her worship, her essential social responsibilities, her important political conflicts and campaigns to stand against injustice in the society, her sense of confidence with Ali (peace be upon him), and her teachings for women all and all were in Allah’s way and for His satisfaction.

2. As a Daughter:

Fatima (peace be upon her) is a daughter, pure and clean, duteous and obedient Although she is her father’s dear, she reveres the Divine position of her father. She calls him” Rasool Allah” that means the Messenger of Allah, and when she is asked by father about the reason, she answers, “The holy Quran addresses you as so.”

She is a daughter full of affection so that she was called “Omme Abiha” that means the mother of her father, because she was very kind towards her father like a mother to her son.

While the enemy threw dust to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants), she cleansed them by his figure, caressed him as if this is her mission to soothe to her father, have sympathy towards him, and delicate her affection as a reaction against the people’s wrath and oppression.

3. As a Wife:

Unlike her sisters, she married a poor but illuminated man in order to deconstruct the inner group marriage (the marriage of the people in the same level), and more important is that in order to provide the family, she worked along with her husband.

Despite all pains, Fatima (peace be upon her) is satisfied with herself, because she does some significant roles in and out of the house through which she proves the importance of the women in the society.

She is Ali’s company in life struggles, his confidant and his consultant in life affairs. She helps Ali (peace be upon him) to administer his right.

She is an ideal wife. Her love towards Ali (peace be upon him) is real; she loves him for Allah’s sake and pleasure, and in this way, she never said any discouraging word to Ali (peace be upon him) throughout her life.

4. As a Mother:

What kind of mother was she! A sample and unique. What kind of children did she bring up! What kind of flowers did she produce in her garden! All sincere and the real obedient to Allah. The children who devoted themselves for the people and had the responsibility of serving the religious laws and its revival.

She educated the children, who were the defenders of Islam; the guards of the sublime ideological values, and are stable in this way. One by his own peace [Imam Hassan (a.s)] and the other by his bloody revolution [Imam Hussein (a.s)] watered the Islam tree and made it grow.

Her daughters were well-reared and purposeful, zeineb and Kolthum (a.s) continued the mission of Imam Hasan and Hossein (a.s). They recorded the voice of Hossein in the day of Ashora, and in Kufa and Sham (Damascus) and on the way made the people hear it. Hossein’s martyrdom is completed by their efforts, and they were the loudspeakers of Hossein’s movement.

5. As a House Manageress:

Although she was the apple of the Prophet’s eyes, and there was no one nobler than her, she worked in the house and turned the mill so that her hands had injured.

She had made the house a place of peace so that when there were a lot of pressure on Ali (peace be upon him) due to sorrow, pains, difficulties, and disorders, he resorted to the house, hoping that through speaking to Fatima (peace be upon her), he could be tranquilized.

She kept the house clean, peaceful, and calm, and although nothing is found for eating, it was overflowing with sincerity and love; her purity and tenderness was the food of the household and made them satisfied.

At the night of her marriage, she went to Ali’s house along with the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants), the latter said to her, “My daughter, whatever is related to the inner side of the house belongs to you and whatever is related to out of the house belongs to Ali. Ali has the responsibility of providing the house economic aspects, and you have the responsibility of providing the peace and quietness of the house.”

6. As a Lady of the House:

In the house, there existed a lot of chores; on the other hand, she was young, and had a number of children while each of them needed care. Therefore, she must have a fellow-work but not a slave maid. she shared the chores with her and lent a hand to her. Also, she was not as an aristocrat to sit and order, but she always gave a hand to her; washed clothes, cleaned the house, milled the wheat, etc.

Unlike the aristocrats, Fatima (peace be upon her) did not make the maid do everything and be the cause of the husband’s sensuality and make up like doll.

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) once said to her, “My daughter, a maid is a human and must be treated as a man”. Her treatment towards a maid signifies Fatima’s justice that she regardes the equality with her maid in the house chores.

Fatima’s Outlook:

Fatima (peace be upon her) is the student of Islamic school. She was brought up in revelation house and under the supervision of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants), and even when she married Ali (peace be upon him), she had a close contact with her father. Her view towards the world and its aspects is the view of Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants). It is as if she has derived all her views from the Prophet’s.

In the Islamic school, she was Ali’s classmate. They have got the same views. She was developed under the protection of the Islamic Ideology, taught by the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants).

It seems difficult to express and study all aspects of Fatima’s outlook, but whatever based on her practice, her speech, her view, can be stated includes:

1. Her View on the World:

Fatima’s view on the world is that it is a farm for cultivation. Its facts and appearance are interconnected, and it has been created by a Creator. We must love the world, but not absorb in it; it is a means and not an end. Therefore, approaching the end, one must use the means but not attach himself to it. According to Fatima (peace be upon her), the world deserves love, but not attachment.

The world is the scene of action. It is the field of struggle and effort. The world is a means to make us reach to the otherworldly felicity.

2. Her View on Wealth:

Fatima (peace be upon her) wants property and wealth but not for acquiring value and credit. She wants it for providing her life and protecting her honor.

Those who think of money as an end and seek for it all days and nights, in fact, they have got a complex, and are misleading between means and end. Whatever is achieved in life is not limited to eating, drinking, and wearing. Therefore, we’d better do our utmost to gain wealth but dedicate the rest to our end after satisfying our needs. Fatima (peace be upon her) never limited herself to wealth and did not think of it as the end, because according to her view, the abundant wealth in man’s hand can bring Allah’s pleasure and His affection if he knows how to use it.

The best wealth is her inner richness and generosity, the hand that pays sincerely will receive Allah’s pleasure, instead , and Fatima (peace be upon her) had got such an espirit.

3. Her View on Happiness:

Her view on happiness and felicity is different from others. She doesn’t see happiness in a doll’s life, luxury, beauty, materialism, decoration, make-up, etc. because these factors cannot solve man’s problems and prepare the ground for inner peace and tranquility. They are considered as worldly things and can be lost through the passage of time and as a result, involves man in a heart-rending regret.

Any love and adherence to them are wrong, because they will swallow us in themselves and make us forget our real end and our selves.

The feeling of happiness under the protection of wealth, position, and property is a plot and a deceit, a plot for the decline of our character, and a deceit for keeping us negligent of our development and perfection process. Therefore, we must have another view of happiness. Fatima (peace be upon her) sees happiness in the eternal moments in which man finds himself in the way of Allah; the time that he fulfills Allah’s orders, and obeys the Divine verdicts.

Happiness is in freedom from all bonds and limitations, having captured our minds, and not in pleasure and fruition. Fatima (peace be upon her) never spends her lifetime for happiness with the same misconception of ordinary people, and she is more rational to dissipate her life for reaching to pleasure and fruition.

Fortunately, Ali (peace be upon him), as her husband, is also not a person to provide pleasure with negative concept for her, because he deserves a great value and credit for his life and wife.

4. Her View on Mankind:

She is a responsible and duteous being. She is responsible to develop her character and elevate her soul, and tries to achieve her aims and responsibility, and exalt right perfection of mankind, come to people rescue, make progress, and make the people progress.

According to Fatima (peace be upon her), man is more exalted than he passes his life in the way of his passion as a means for a shameful life. Therefore, she tried to elevate her soul.

She was exposed to different exams during her life, in good and bad conditions, misery and happiness , pains and pleasure. She must endeavor to show herself as she really is and endeavor as she must be.

5. Her View on Death:

She has got another view of death. She thinks of it as a means of transfer from this world to the next as well as a door to happiness and prosperity.

She knows that everything in this world is temporary, even its light, its darkness, its pleasure, and its groan. The time when death arrives and Doomsday occurs, everything will be clear; the people are called to account, and man is put in “Dar Ul-Gharar”; the place of stability.

She is not frightened of death. And at the time of the Prophet’s death when he sees Fatima’s great love towards himself, he feels he must console her only; therefore, he puts his head into her ears and says, “You are the first person that will join me after my departure”. And then, Fatima (peace be upon her) not only does not get sad, but also happy. Yes, the news of death is joyful for her, because she knows that there is prosperity, comfort, and glory to those who have achieved good deeds in this world. She knows that even death for criminals is a bless due to the fact that it prevents them from more crimes and keeps them away from the abyss of adversity.

Fatima’s Learning:

Fatima (peace be upon her) is a bright student in the school of Islam. She takes lesson from her father as the best teacher: the lesson of humanity, morality, devotion, generosity, purity, benevolence, restraining her anger, serving people, etc. And her father, who found her ready tried to construct her character. He would try to teach her as much as possible, each of them separately is the lesson of life for her and the women community.

He taught her some practical lessons, concentrating her thought towards new facts. The day when Fatima (peace be upon her) asked for a servant to help her in the house chores, how the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) directed her thought towards another direction, and how he taught her the praise (Tasbihat) after the prayer. She would take lessons from the father and her husband. Even she had some writings from what she had learnt, as she said once to Fizzah she compared those writings with the value of Hassanain. It means that as a mother, a wife, as well as an infallible, she was her father’s student and deserved value for her father’s teachings.

Fatima’s Faith and Worship:

According to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants), belief to Allah was so penetrated in her nature and heart that she neglected all things at the time worshipping Allah. And under the protection of Allah’s recognition, she believed in Him and was proud of having relationship with Him.

The love towards Allah has so penetrated in her soul that she did not have any repose. In all times and situations, her deeds showed clearly her servitude to Allah through her treatment, praise to Allah, and way of life. Her ultimate attraction is towards the Divinity.

She worships Allah but not as to go to a corner, fleeing from the society and the people, and it does not mean that she stops her duties and social mission, but she resists against her ego, and, as a result, finds a new character.

Fatima’s motto is

اغير الله اتخذوا اوليا فاطرالسموات والارض

Can I choose another Lord except Allah, who is the creator of the skies and the earth? No, it seems impossible.

But Allah is her guardian, and that is He, who guardians the pious and competent people. When an opportunity raised, she started to praise and worship Allah. And that is a cause not only for her development and perfection, but also for helping the people to be kept in safety and purity.

Imam Hassan (a.s) remembers his childhood and says,” I saw my mother worshiping and praying every night and always praying for people.” I asked her, “Mother, why you do not first pray for us as your children?” she answered, “My son, first neighbors, then house”. الجار ثم الدار

All her deeds were in the direction of the Divine will, and all her deeds were considered as worship: her work, life, housekeeping, taking care of children, helping the poor, etc. are all in Allah’s way and for Allah’s pleasure.

Fatima’s Purposefulness:

Fatima (peace be upon her) is a noble woman with purpose, and due to this fact she did not take any color and did not come to agreement with injustice. Although she was young, and like other youth in youth crisis, had got some ambitions, she never stopped her purpose and did not commit any offence.

She tolerated the hardships to obtain her purpose even under the severe torture of the enemy. In general, her marriage to Ali (peace be upon him) signified her purpose, because she knew that Ali (peace be upon him) was not a kind of man who tried to make her happy as the society expected. She married the one, who was always in the battlefield to achieve his mission.

Under the protection of her purpose, she was not willing to be captured by hypocrisy and deceits, lose her sobriety and vigilance; and because of her purpose, she was far from the adversity and did not heed the world allurement. She was unique in her purpose, and we do not know anybody like her in different periods of history.