References
1. This is the renowned sermon of Sayyidah Fāṭimah al-Zahrā. The words of the Infallibles are far beyond the comprehension of anyone except their Creator, who created them as the epitome of infallibility and embodiment of perfection. Their words are replete with lucidity, insight and perfection, while pearls of wisdom and eloquence flow through their tongues. It is for this reason that I have mainly relied upon the book “Khutbae Haḍrat Fāṭimah” of one of the present Marja, Āyatullāh al-Uẓmā Shaykh Ḥusayn ʿAlī al-Muntazarī, wherein he explains each of her statements in detail. Instead of translating the literal meanings, I have sufficed upon quoting their explanation. For further study, readers are requested to refer to this informative work.
2. Refer to the Qurʾānic verse: “This day have I perfected for you, your religion, and have completed my favour upon you, and chosen for you Islām (to be) the religion.” Sūratul Māʾidah (5): 3. This verse was revealed on the day of Ghadīr al-Khum wherein the authority of Imām ʿAlī was established by the Prophet while returning from the farewell pilgrimage. Thus the ‘complete bounties’ in this case refers to the bounty of the wilāyah of Imām ʿAlī by whose means the bounty of guidance is completed.
3. Refer to the Qurʾānic verse: “And if you reckon Allāh’s bounties, you will not be able to compute them.” Sūrah Ibrāhīm (14): 34.
4. Refer to the Qurʾānic verse: “And when your Lord declared: If you are grateful then I will increase (My favours) upon you, and if you are ungrateful, then verily My torment is indeed severe.” Sūrah Ibrāhīm (14): 7.
5. Here Sayyidah Fāṭimah taunts the audience and says that you think that you are worthy of all of these great entitlements and satisfied with it, while the reality is that you do not stand up to defend truth against falsehood. Then what is the use of this status being bestowed upon you when you do not act and defend the rights of the Ahlul Bayt?
6. Refer to the Qurʾānic verse: “And when the Qurʾān is recited, then listen to it and be attentive that you might be shown mercy.” Sūratul Aʿraf (7): 204.
7. They are the recommended acts which are rewarded, but if they are not performed, then no sin is committed. For example, the optional (nāfilah) prayers that either precede or follow the daily prayers.
8. Permissible acts, performance or non-performance of these acts does not entail any reward or punishment.
9. There are certain unworthy acts, which a Muslim is advised to avoid, but no sin is committed if one engages in them, Allāh’s pleasure is not in them.
10. Refer to the Qurʾānic verse, “Take alms out of their wealth (O Prophet), you would cleanse them and purify them thereby.” Sūratul Barā’at (9): 103
11. Refer to the Qurʾānic verse, “Verily, only the patient ones will be paid their recompense without any account.” Sūratul Zumur (39): 10
12. Refer to the Qurʾānic verse, “And for you there is (security of) life in retribution, O you people of understanding, so that you may guard yourself (against evil).” Sūratul Baqarah (2): 179
13. Refer to the Qurʾānic verse, “They who fulfill their vows, and fear the day the woe of which stretches far and wide” Sūratul Dahr (76): 7
14. Refer to the Qurʾānic verse, “Intoxicants and games of chance, (dedication of) stones (i.e. idols) and (divination by) arrows, are only an abomination of Satan’s handiwork.” Sūratul Māʾidah (5): 90
15. Refer to the Qurʾānic verse, “Verily they who accuse protected believing women, unaware (of the crime), shall be accursed in this world and in the hereafter.” Sūratul Nūr (24): 23
16. Noble Qurʾān, Sūrah Āle ʿImrān (3): 102
17. Noble Qurʾān, Sūratul Fāṭir (35): 28
18. Noble Qurʾān, Sūratul Tawbah (9): 128
19. Refer to the Qurʾānic verse, “And call you unto the way of your Lord with wisdom and kindly exhortation and dispute with them in a manner which is the best.” Sūratul Naḥl (16): 125
20. Refer to the Qurʾānic verse, “Verily Allāh intends but to keep off from you (every kind of) uncleanliness O people of the House, and purify you (with) a thorough purification.” Sūratul Aḥzāb (33): 33
21. Noble Qurʾān, Sūrah Āle ʿImrān (3): 103
22. Refer to the Qurʾānic verse, “And remember when you were few and deemed weak in the Earth, fearing that people may carry you away by force, but He strengthened you with His aide and provided you with the good things (of sustenance) that you may give thanks” Sūratul Anfāl (8): 26
23. Refer to the Qurʾānic verse, “Soon will Allāh bring (forward) a people, them He loves and they love Him, lowly before the believers, mighty against the infidels, striving hard in Allāh’s way, and they fear not the censure of any censurer. This is the Grace of Allāh, He gives it to whomsoever He desires” Sūratul Māʾidah (5): 54
24. Noble Qurʾān, Sūratul Tawbah (9): 49
25. Noble Qurʾān, Sūratul Kahf (18): 50
26. Noble Qurʾān, Sūrat Āle ʿImrān (3): 85
27. Refer to the Qurʾānic verses, “They intend to put out the Light of Allāh with (the blow of) their mouths, and disdains Allāh save that He perfects His Light, though the infidels may detest this.” Sūratul Tawbah (9): 32 and “They intend they to put out the Light of Allāh with their mouths, but Allāh will perfect His Light, though the disbelievers may be averse.” (Sūratul Saff (61): 8)
28. Noble Qurʾān, Sūratul Māʾidah (5): 50
29. Noble Qurʾān, Sūrah Maryam (19): 27
30. Noble Qurʾān, Sūratul Naml (27): 16
31. Noble Qurʾān, Sūrah Maryam (19): 5-6
32. Noble Qurʾān, Sūratul Anfāl (8): 75
33. Noble Qurʾān, Sūratul Nisāʾ (4): 11
34. Noble Qurʾān, Sūratul Baqarah (2): 180
35. Noble Qurʾān, Sūratul Anʿām (6): 67
36. Noble Qurʾān, Sūrat Hūd (11): 39
37. Refer to the Qurʾānic verse, “And Muḥammad is not but an Apostle, (other) Apostles have already passed away prior to him, therefore if he dies or be slain, will you turn upon your heels?” (Sūrat Āle ʿImrān (3): 144 )
38. Noble Qurʾān, Sūrat Āle ʿImrān (3): 144
39. Noble Qurʾān, Sūratul Shuʿarā (26): 227
40. Noble Qurʾān, Sūrat Hūd (10): 121-122