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As a means blessings with the name Fatimah I will mention here all those personalities who had the name Fatimah. I begin first with the female Companions, then the famous Tabi’at, then conclude with those who were named Fatimah from the grandmothers of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and lastly others who were named Fatimah.[1]
She is Fatimah al Zahra’ radiya Llahu ‘anha bint Muhammad salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. She was born eighteen years before hijrah and passed away in the eleventh year after hijrah, six months after the demise of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam according to the authentic and preferred opinion.
Her agnomen was Umm Abiha. She is the best of those named Fatimah and in fact the best of all women, as is mentioned in Hadith.[2] Her mother is Khadijah bint Khuwaylid.
She married ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib when she was eighteen years old, and they were blessed with Hassan and Hussain—Leaders of the Youth of Paradise—Muhsin (who passed away in infancy), Zainab—the wise lady of the Banu Hashim—and Umm Kulthum. She is the first person for whom a bier was made in Islam. It was constructed for her by Asma’ bint ‘Umays al Khath’amiyyah.
She narrated 18 ahadith.
It has been said that her name is Fakhitah, some said ‘Atikah, while some say Hind. The more popular opinion is that it was Fakhitah. Her agnomen by which she was famous is Umm Hani’. She was married to Hubayrah ibn Abi Wahb ‘Amr ibn ‘A’idh al Makhzumi who died upon disbelief. She bore him ‘Amr, Ja’dah, Hani’, and Yusuf. She embraced Islam during the Conquest of Makkah. She has reported 46 ahadith. She passed away some time after the fiftieth year hijri.
She is the mother of ‘Ali, ‘Aqil, and Jafar radiya Llahu ‘anhum. She emigrated and passed away in Madinah. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had her shrouded in his shirt, whereupon he said, “I have not met anyone after Abu Talib, who was kinder to me than her.” She is the first of the Banu Hashim to be mother of a Khalifah, and thereafter it was Sayyidah Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha. The most correct opinion is that she passed away in the year 50 A.H, and is buried in al Baqi’.
It has been said that it is actually Fatimah bint al Aswad ibn ‘Abdul Asad. She embraced Islam and pledged allegiance to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. She is the lady on whose behalf Sayyidina Usamah ibn Zaid radiya Llahu ‘anhu interceded regarding the punishment for stealing and the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam reprimanded him saying, “O Usamah, Are you interceding concerning one of the punishments decreed by Allah? Verily even if Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, were to steal, I would cut of her hand (Allah forbid).”[3]
She was the wife of ‘Abbas Ibn ‘Abdul Muttalib, who bore him Harith.
Her mother was Ritah bint al Harith ibn Jabalah. She was born in Abyssinia, as were her sisters Zainab and Aisha, the daughters of Harith. All of them except Fatimah passed away when returning from Abyssinia due to some contaminants in the water they drank. She was thus the only surviving heir of Harith.
She was married to ‘Abdullah ibn Jahsh ibn Ri’ab, and she bore him Muhammad.
Mention of her is found in a narration reported in Sahih al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim from Hisham ibn ‘Urwah—from his father—from Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha, “Fatimah bint Abi Hubaysh came to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and said, ‘I am a woman whose blood keeps flowing (even after the menstruation period). I am never pure; should I, therefore, abandon prayer?’ The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, ‘Not at all, for that is only a vein, and is not menstruation…’”[4]
She has narrated 3 ahadith.
Her mother is Salma bint ‘Umays al Khath’amiyyah. Her agnomen was Umm al Fadl, and some have said it was Umm Abiha. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam wed her to Salamah ibn Abi Salamah ibn ‘Abdul Asad. She is one of the Fatimahs who are referred to in the narration reported in Sahih Muslim from ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib radiya Llahu ‘anhu, “Ukaydir of Dawmat al Jandal presented to Allah’s Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam a silk garment, which he handed to ‘Ali and said, “Tear it to make head coverings for the Fatimahs.”[5]
It has been said that the Fatimahs are three: Fatimah al Zahra’ radiya Llahu ‘anha bint Muhammad salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, Fatimah bint Asad, and Fatimah bint Hamzah.”
It has also been said that they are four, but the name of the fourth has not been specified by anyone, as explained by Ibn Hajar[6] and my own research attests.[7] However, I did come across a manuscript of Murtada al Zabidi wherein he presented a number of opinions regarding the name of the fourth. One of these opinions is that the fourth is Fatimah bint ‘Utbah, sister of Hind bint ‘Utbah. Al Saghani says it is Fatimah, mother of Asma’ bint Hamzah.[8]
I say: Either this is an error on al Saghani’s part or a typing error as Hamzah radiya Llahu ‘anhu had no wife by the name Fatimah, instead it is his daughter who is named Fatimah. Her mother is an Ansariyyah, the daughter of al Millah ibn Malik ibn ‘Ubadah ibn Aws.
She is the sister of ‘Umar ibn al Khattab radiya Llahu ‘anhu. She embraced Islam early on with her husband, Sa’id ibn Zaid ibn ‘Amr ibn Nufayl. It has been said that her title was Umaymah and her agnomen Umm Jamil. Her name is always mentioned in the famous incident when ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu embraced Islam.
She is the wife of ‘Amr ibn Abi Uhayhah Sa’id ibn al ‘As. She embraced Islam early on and migrated with her husband to Abyssinia. She is amongst those women who pledged allegiance to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
She is al Juhayniyyah, amongst those women who pledged allegiance to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
She has been mentioned amongst those the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam intended to marry.
Sahma’ is the name of Sharik’s mother. The name of his father is ‘Abdah ibn Mughith ibn al Jadd ibn al Ijlan al Balawi, ally of the Ansar. Fatimah is mentioned in the biography of her father, who is a Sahabi, due to her courage the day Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu was attacked, when she carried Marwan ibn Hakam after he was injured and fell. She took him into her home, saving him from being killed.
She is a Sahabiyyah, paternal cousin of Hind bint ‘Utbah. Mention of her has passed, where it was mentioned that some have said that she was the wife of ‘Aqil ibn Abi Talib, as stated by Ibn Hisham. Al Waqidi said, “His wife was Fatimah bint al Walid ibn ‘Utbah. Ibn Abi Mulaykah said, “The wife of ‘Aqil was Fatimah bint ‘Utbah, sister of Hind bint ‘Utbah.
She is a Sahabiyyah, sister of Sa’id ibn ‘Amir—the famous Sahabi—and wife of Mughirah ibn Abi al ‘As, the paternal uncle of ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu. She gave birth to Aisha who was later married by Marwan, and she bore him ‘Abdul Malik.
She is the mother of ‘Uthman ibn Abi al ‘As al Thaqafi. She was present for the birth of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. This took place at night. She said, “There was nothing but light radiating from the house. I gaze up at the stars and they appeared to be so close that I thought they could fall on me.”
She is the sister of Hind bint ‘Utbah. She pledged allegiance to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam along with her sister. She was married by ‘Aqil ibn Abi Talib as attested to by a number of scholars.[9]
Her agnomen was Umm Quhtam al ‘Amiriyyah. She emigrated with her husband, Sulayt ibn ‘Amr, to Abyssinia where she gave birth to a boy named Sulayt. Her mother is ‘Atikah bint As’ad ibn ‘Amir ibn Bayadah al Khuza’iyyah.
She is the paternal aunt of the famous Sahabi Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah al Ansari radiya Llahu ‘anhu. She is the sister of Amr ibn Hizam radiya Llahu ‘anhu. It is reported in an authentic narration from Jabir radiya Llahu ‘anhu: When my father was killed, I began to remove the shroud from his face, and my tribesmen were warning me not to. My paternal aunt, Fatimah bint ‘Amr began to cry…[10]
It has been said that she is a Sahabi, while others have said she is the same Fatimah bint ‘Amr ibn Hizam.[11]
She is the elder sister of the famous Sahabi Dahhak ibn Qais. She is amongst the early Muhajirin. She was very intelligent. She was first married to Abu Bakr ibn Hafs al Makhzumi who divorced her; she then married Usamah ibn Zaid radiya Llahu ‘anhu. The consultative panel appointed by ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu convened in her home after the martyrdom of ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu. She has narrated 34 ahadith of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.[13]
Her agnomen is Umm Jamil. She migrated to Abyssinia with her husband, Hatib ibn al Harith who passed away in Abyssinia. She and her son emigrated to Madinah with the Companions of the ship.
She was from the Banu Mazin ibn al Najjar. She is of those who pledged allegiance to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. It has been said that she is an Umm Walad. She was married by Dawood ibn Abi Dawood ibn ‘Amir ibn Malik ibn Khansa’.
Her father was martyred in the Battle of Yamamah. Her mother is Umm Hakim bint Abi Jahl. Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan married her thereafter and she bore him Sa’id and Walid.
Her father was killed upon disbelief during the Battle of Badr. She is the niece of Fatimah bint ‘Utbah. She is of the Muhajirin and the virtuous. She was married by her uncle, ‘Abu Hudhayfah ibn ‘Utbah, to Salim who was martyred in Yamamah.
She is the sister of Sayyidina Khalid ibn Walid radiya Llahu ‘anhu. Her mother is Hantamah bint ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Ka’b al Kinaniyyah. She embraced Islam during the Conquest of Makkah and pledged allegiance to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. She is the wife of Harith ibn Hisham, and the mother of ‘Abdur Rahman ibn Harith and Umm Hakim bint Harith. She narrated from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam one Hadith, the Hadith of the lower garment, which was reported from her by her son, Abu Bakr ibn Harith.[14]
It is said that it is the name of the master who set her free, Salim Mawla Abi Hudhayfah.
She is the sister of the famous Sahabi, Hudhayfah ibn al Yaman. She has narrated a Hadith.[15] Her nephew, Abu ‘Ubaidah ibn Hudhayfah narrated from her. She embraced Islam and pledged allegiance to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
She has been mentioned by Abu Bakr ibn Abi ‘Asim in al Wahdan. Al Tabarani included her amongst the Sahabiyyat[16].
Her father is the maternal grandfather of al Harith ibn ‘Abbas ibn ‘Abdul Muttalib, and she is the wife of ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhu. Ibn Hajar has given preference to the opinion that she is a Sahabiyyah, and similarly her father was a Sahabi. However, while he mentioned her in the biography of her father in al Isabah,[17] he mentioned her alone in her biography with the female Companions.
I say: If she is the mother of Harith then she is definitely a Sahabiyyah, as Harith is from the young Sahabah[18], but there is a difference of opinion concerning the mother of Harith. Ibn Hazm was of the opinion that the mother of Harith was an Umm Walad from Hudhayl named Hajilah bint Jundub ibn al Rabi’[19]. The more authentic and preferred opinion is that of Ibn Hajar as he reported it on the strength of Zubair ibn Bakkar who is a reliable specialist in genealogy.
After some lengthy research I managed to find others who say that the mother of Harith is Hajilah bint Jundub ibn al Rabi’, from the children of Taym ibn Sa’d ibn Hudhayl ibn Mudrikah.[20]
Had there been no consensus on the children of ‘Abbas ibn ‘Abdul Muttalib and that all of them saw the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and are Sahabah,[21] I would have said that ‘Abbas had another son who was named Harith as well, which is not farfetched.
NEXT⇒ Appendix 2 – Those named Fatimah from the Tabi’at
[1] I will only mention those who were virtuous, intelligent, wise, and noble. Those like Umm Qarfah Fatimah bint Rabi’ah ibn Badr al Fazariyyah who would harm the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and incited her sons to fight against the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam I will not mention. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam sent a battalion under the leadership of Zaid ibn Harithah to fight them. Umm Qarfah was captured and killed. Similarly, I have not discussed those who were singers, lewd, or loose.
[2] The Hadith is reported in Sunan al Nasa’i, 1/251, # 7078. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “O Fatimah, are you not pleased to be the queen of the women of this Ummah or queen of the women of the universe,” on which she smiled. A similar narration is reported in al Mustadrak al Hakim, 3/170, # 4740, after which he said the chain is Sahih according to the conditions of al Bukhari and Muslim but they have not reported it. Musnad al Tayalisi, 1/196, # 1737, has a similar narration. They all narrate from Masruq—from Aisha bint Abi Bakr al Siddiq. In Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah, 6/388, #32273, it is reported from ‘Abdur Rahman ibn Abi Layla, who narrated that the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “Fatimah is the queen of the women of the universe after Maryam bint ‘Imran, Asiyah wife of Firoun, and Khadijah bint Khuwaylid.” Al Tirmidhi, 5/703, 3878, reported it with his chain from Anas, “The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, ‘Sufficient for you from the women of the world [in virtue] is Maryam bint ‘Imran, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad, and Asiyah wife of Firoun.’” After which he said, “This Hadith is Hassan Sahih.” Al Albani said it is sahih. A similar narration has been reported in Musnad Ahmed, 4/124, 3/135. Shu’ayb al Arna’ut said its chain is sahih on the conditions of Al Bukhari and Muslim. Ibn Hibban, 15/401, # 6951, has reported it with the words, “Best of the women of the universe.” Shu’ayb al Arna’ut said it is sahih. Musnad Abi Ya’la, 5/380, # 3039, reported it and Hussain Salim Asad said its chain is sahih.
[3] The hadith of the Makhzumi woman who stole and Sayyidina Usamah intended to intercede for her has been reported by al Tirmidhi from ‘Urwah—from Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha:
The Quraysh were troubled by the affair of a woman from the tribe of Makhzum who stole. So they said, “Who will speak about her to the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam?’ They said, ‘Who can do it other than Usamah ibn Zaid, the one dear to the Messenger of Allah?’ So Usamah spoke with him, the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, ‘Do you intercede about a penalty from Allah’s penalties?’
Sunan al Tirmidhi, # 1420. Al Albani said it is sahih.
[4] Sahih al Bukhari, # 226; Sahih Muslim, # 333.
[5] Sahih Muslim, # 2071.
[6] Al Isabah, pg. 1743, biography of Fatimah bint Hamzah.
[7] There a number of chains for this narration, a few are as follows: Sunan Ibn Majah, # 3596; al Mujam al Kabir, # 887; # 1069; Musnad Abi Ya’la; Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah, # 24647; Shu’b al Iman, # 6105.
[8] Murtada al Zabidi: Idah al Madik Fi al Ifsah ‘an al ‘Awatiq, manuscript in al MAktabah al Azhariyyah, pg. أ-11.
[9] Refer to Tafsir ibn Kathir, Surah al Nisa’: 35; Tafsir al Qurtubi; Musnad al Shafi’i; Musannaf ‘Abdur Razzaq, # 11887; Sunan al Bayhaqi al Kubra, # 14563; as well many other references.
[10] Sahih al Bukhari, # 1187.
[11] Ibn Hajar has reported in detail what has been said about her, refer to al Isabah, pg. 1746.
[12] He full ancestry is as follows: Fatimah bint Qais ibn Khalid ibn Wahab ibn Tha’labah ibn Wa’il ibn ‘Amr ibn Shayban ibn Muharib ibn Fahr ibn Malik ibn al Nadr ibn Kinanah. Her mother is Umaymah bint Rabi’ah al Kinaniyyah.
[13] Ibn Hazm: Asma’ al Sahabah al Ruwat, pg. 99; Talqih Fuhum Ahl al Athar, pg. 366.
[14] The Hadith of the lower garment: Al ‘Uqayli has reported from ‘Abdul Salam ibn Harb—from Ishaq ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Farwah—from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abbas ibn al Harith—form Abu Bakr ibn al Harith—from Fatimah bint al Walid, Mother of Abu Bakr: She was in Syria wearing a cloak made of silk, then she wore a lower garment beneath it. It was said to her, “Why have you word this lower garment?” She replied, “I heard the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam ordering to wear a lower garment.”
[15] Her Hadith can be found in Sahih Jami’ al Saghir wa Ziyadatuhu, # 1005. It was declared sahih by al Albani. The Hadith is: “Verily those who are tested the most severely are the Prophets, then the pious, then those similar to them and so on.”
[16] The Hadith is found in recognized works of Hadith such as: Al Ahad wa al Mathani, section: 6, # 3478, by Abu Bakr al Shaybani—from al Zuhri—from Hind bint al Harith and Fatimah al Khuza’iyyah: The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam went to visit a lady of the Ansar when she was ill. He asked her, “How do you feel?” She replied, “I am fine except I am suffering from a fever.” The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “Be patient, as it removes the sins of man just as fire removes rust from steel.” It is also reported in Mustadrak al Hakim, # 1279, with the same chain from Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah as opposed to Fatimah al Khuza’iyyah.
[17] Refer to the biography of Junaid ibn Awf, # 1242 and the biography of Fatimah bint Junaid, # 12265.
[18] Ibn Hajar mentioned Harith in the second category of al Isabah. So did Abu ‘Umar in al Isti’ab.
[19] This opinion was cited by Musa’id Salim al ‘Abdul Jadir in Ma’al al Rutub, but he did not mention his source.
[20] Majma’ al Zawa’id, 9/440, # 15485; Al Isti’ab, 1/59, “As for Harith ibn ‘Abbas, his mother is from Hudhayl.” Usd al Ghabah, 1/213, on the authority of al Isti’ab; al Tabaqat al Kubra, where her name was mentioned in full: Hajilah bint Jundub ibn al Rabi’, from the children of Taym ibn Sa’d ibn Hudhayl ibn Mudrikah ibn Ilyas ibn Mudar ibn Nizar.
[21] All of the children of ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhu saw the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as has been mentioned by a number of scholars. Some of them even narrated Hadith from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Abu ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul Barr said, “All of the children of ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhu saw the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Fadl and ‘Abdullah even heard Hadith from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.” Ibn Hajar said, “They are ten brothers: Fadl, ‘Abdullah, ‘Ubaidullah, Qutham, Ma’bad, ‘Abdur Rahman, Kathir, Sabih, Mushar, and Tamam. There is agreement on all of them except the eighth and ninth, who was mentioned by Ibn Hisham al Kalbi only…” [Al Isabah, # 853.] I say: Also mentioned among the children of ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhu: Harith and ‘Awf. His daughters have been mentioned to be: Umm Habib, Umm Kulthum, Umm al Fadl, and Aminah. ‘Abdullah, ‘Ubaidullah, and Fadl accompanied the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, with no disagreement concerning this. Qutham: al Dhahabi has said, “He accompanied the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, he has narrated very little from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.” [Siyar A’lam al Nubala’, 3/44] Al Mughlata’i said, “Many have mentioned him among the Sahabah.” Ma’bad: He was born during the lifetime of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He has not narrated anything.” Kathir: He was born one month before the demise of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Ibn al Sakan said, “He met the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam when he was still young, it is not established that he heard anything directly from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.” Tamam: It has been said that he is the youngest of ‘Abbas’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu children, and he is from the young Sahabah. Ibn Hajar mentioned him in the second category of Sahabah in al Isabah. There is difference of opinion regarding whether he is a Sahabi or not. ‘Abdur Rahman: Ibn Hajar quoted Mus’ab al Zubairi saying about him, “He was born during the lifetime of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and did not memorise anything from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam…” Harith: Ibn Hajar mentioned him in the second category of Sahabah (those who were young). Ibn ‘Abdul Barr mentioned him in the biography of his brother Tamam and ‘Awn. Umm Habib: She was a Sahabiyyah and is mention in the Hadith of Umm al Fadl. Ibn Sa’d mentioned her amongst the female Companions. Umm Kulthum: Ibn Hajar mentioned her in the first category, “Ibn Mandah said about her, ‘She met the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and reported Hadith from him.” Umm al Fadl: There is difference of opinion whether she is a Sahabiyyah or not. Aminah: The most correct opinion is that she is not a Sahabiyyah.