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The Bequest of Fatimah and her Final Moments
a. One of the bequests that Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha had made to ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was that he should get married to Umamah bint Abi al ‘As, the daughter of Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anha who was the sister of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha: “For she will care for my children after I pass away just like I had cared for them,” Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha said.[1]
We find mention of this particular bequest in the books of the Shia as well. I will suffice on referring to one book specifically. This bequest is recorded in the following words:
وأنا أوصيك أن تتزوج بنت أختي زينب تكون لولدي مثلي
I advise to get married to the daughter of my sister[2], Zainab, for she will be caring for my children like me.[3]
b. The Shia scholars have also written that during the last moments of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha when ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu would come to the masjid to perform Salah, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma would enquire regarding her health. This has been narrated by Sulaim ibn Qais al Hilali al Shia, a close student of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu, in his book. The narration reads as follows:
وكان علي رضي الله عنه يصلي في المسجد الصلوات الخمس فلما صلي قال له أبو بكر و عمر كيف بنت رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم إلي أن ثقلت فسالا عنها….
And ‘Ali would perform the five times daily salah in the masjid. When he would complete his salah Abu Bakr and ‘Umar would ask him: “How is the daughter of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam doing?”[4]
Note:-
The Shia have made many alterations to this narration and have added malicious statements to it. Nevertheless, the following aspects are obvious from this narration:
- ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu would perform his five times daily salah in the masjid with the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum behind Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu.
- Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma knew of the ailment of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha and would every now and then ask regarding her well-being and health.
- There existed no ill feelings that obstructed them from socialising with one another. They would constantly ask regarding each other’s well-being.
c. The Shia have also written that Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma had come to offer their condolences to ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu after the demise of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha. It is narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhuma:
قال ابن عباس قبضت فاطمة من يومها فارتجت المدينة بابكاء من الرجال والنساء و دهش الناس كيوم قبض فيه رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم. فأقبل أبوبكر وعمر تعزيان عليا و يقولون له يا أبا الحسن لا تسبقنا بالصلوة علي ابنة رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم
All the men and women of Madinah were profusely crying the day Fatimah passed away. And the people were just as flummoxed as they were at the demise of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Abu Bakr and ‘Umar came to offer their condolences to ‘Ali and said: “O ‘Ali! Do not perform the funeral prayer of Fatimah without us.”[5]
Benefits of These Narrations
- Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anha was the biological sister of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha for she was the real daughter of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and not his step daughter. Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha dearly loved her (Zainab’s) children. We should also have a similar sentiment for the sisters of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha.
- Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma had always honoured their relationship with Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam by caring for Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha and enquiring from ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu regarding her health till her very last moments.
- ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu would perform all his prayers in the masjid. There was no animosity whatsoever.
- Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma had consoled ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu at the demise of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha and had requested him not to hasten in performing the funeral prayer so that they could all perform it collectively.
All these narrations prove that the relationship between the two families were healthy and sound even though the Shia have time and again endeavoured to sketch a different image altogether of them being at logger heads with one another.
NEXT⇒ The Contention Around the Funeral Prayer of Fatimah
[1] Al Isabah wa al Isti’ab, mention of Umamah bint al ‘As
[2] There few things here that should not go unnoticed:
- Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anha was the eldest daughter of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. She was the biological sister of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha and hence the sister-in-law of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu. She was in the wedlock of Abu al ‘As ibn Rabi’. The linage of Abu al ‘As meets up with the linage of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu in the fourth grandfather. His linage goes as follows: Abu al ‘As ibn Rabi’ ibn ‘Abdul ‘Uzza ibn ‘Abdul Shams ibn ‘Abd Manaf. This is his relationship with Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam from his father’s side. His relation with Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam from his mother’s side is that he was the son of Halah bint Khuwaylid, the sister of Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha. In other words he was the nephew of Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha and the maternal cousin to Fatimah and Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anhuma. Allah had granted him the honour of marrying Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anha and thus becoming like a brother of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu in the sense that they both married two sisters. Thereafter he became the father-in-law of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu. (al Isti’ab and Usd al Ghabah)
- The ‘ulama’ have written that he had travelled to Yemen with ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu. ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu had made him his deputy in Yemen when he intended to return to Madinah. And he was present with ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu the day Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu was nominated as the Khalifah. (Isabah wa Isti’ab 4/122, mention of Abu al ‘As)
- The ‘ulama’ state that his real name was Laqit and some suggest that it was Miqsam. He had one daughter from Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anha; her name was Umamah and one son whose name was ‘Ali. He passed away before reaching the age of puberty.
- I intend to dispel a misconception here, viz. the Shia say that Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anha was not the biological daughter of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, rather she was the daughter of Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha from her previous husband which makes her the step daughter of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. They substantiate this claim by means of some texts in which the words Rabibah al Nabi i.e. one under the guardianship of the Nabi, appear. Ibn Athir al Jazri has stated that Rabibah al Nabi refers to Zainab the daughter of Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha whose biological father was Abu Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anhu; not to Zainab the daughter of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. For she was the biological daughter of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam from his wife Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha. (Usd al Ghabah 5/468, chapter regarding the Zainabs)
[3] Kitab Sulaim ibn Qais al Hilali al Shia (published in Najaf, Iraq), p. 226
[4] Kitab Sulaim ibn Qais al Hilali al Shia, p. 224-225
[5] Kitab Sulaim ibn Qais al Hilali al Shia, p. 226
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The Bequest of Fatimah and her Final Moments
a. One of the bequests that Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha had made to ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was that he should get married to Umamah bint Abi al ‘As, the daughter of Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anha who was the sister of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha: “For she will care for my children after I pass away just like I had cared for them,” Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha said.[1]
We find mention of this particular bequest in the books of the Shia as well. I will suffice on referring to one book specifically. This bequest is recorded in the following words:
وأنا أوصيك أن تتزوج بنت أختي زينب تكون لولدي مثلي
I advise to get married to the daughter of my sister[2], Zainab, for she will be caring for my children like me.[3]
b. The Shia scholars have also written that during the last moments of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha when ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu would come to the masjid to perform Salah, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma would enquire regarding her health. This has been narrated by Sulaim ibn Qais al Hilali al Shia, a close student of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu, in his book. The narration reads as follows:
وكان علي رضي الله عنه يصلي في المسجد الصلوات الخمس فلما صلي قال له أبو بكر و عمر كيف بنت رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم إلي أن ثقلت فسالا عنها….
And ‘Ali would perform the five times daily salah in the masjid. When he would complete his salah Abu Bakr and ‘Umar would ask him: “How is the daughter of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam doing?”[4]
Note:-
The Shia have made many alterations to this narration and have added malicious statements to it. Nevertheless, the following aspects are obvious from this narration:
- ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu would perform his five times daily salah in the masjid with the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum behind Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu.
- Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma knew of the ailment of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha and would every now and then ask regarding her well-being and health.
- There existed no ill feelings that obstructed them from socialising with one another. They would constantly ask regarding each other’s well-being.
c. The Shia have also written that Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma had come to offer their condolences to ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu after the demise of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha. It is narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhuma:
قال ابن عباس قبضت فاطمة من يومها فارتجت المدينة بابكاء من الرجال والنساء و دهش الناس كيوم قبض فيه رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم. فأقبل أبوبكر وعمر تعزيان عليا و يقولون له يا أبا الحسن لا تسبقنا بالصلوة علي ابنة رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم
All the men and women of Madinah were profusely crying the day Fatimah passed away. And the people were just as flummoxed as they were at the demise of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Abu Bakr and ‘Umar came to offer their condolences to ‘Ali and said: “O ‘Ali! Do not perform the funeral prayer of Fatimah without us.”[5]
Benefits of These Narrations
- Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anha was the biological sister of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha for she was the real daughter of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and not his step daughter. Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha dearly loved her (Zainab’s) children. We should also have a similar sentiment for the sisters of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha.
- Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma had always honoured their relationship with Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam by caring for Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha and enquiring from ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu regarding her health till her very last moments.
- ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu would perform all his prayers in the masjid. There was no animosity whatsoever.
- Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma had consoled ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu at the demise of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha and had requested him not to hasten in performing the funeral prayer so that they could all perform it collectively.
All these narrations prove that the relationship between the two families were healthy and sound even though the Shia have time and again endeavoured to sketch a different image altogether of them being at logger heads with one another.
NEXT⇒ The Contention Around the Funeral Prayer of Fatimah
[1] Al Isabah wa al Isti’ab, mention of Umamah bint al ‘As
[2] There few things here that should not go unnoticed:
- Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anha was the eldest daughter of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. She was the biological sister of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha and hence the sister-in-law of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu. She was in the wedlock of Abu al ‘As ibn Rabi’. The linage of Abu al ‘As meets up with the linage of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu in the fourth grandfather. His linage goes as follows: Abu al ‘As ibn Rabi’ ibn ‘Abdul ‘Uzza ibn ‘Abdul Shams ibn ‘Abd Manaf. This is his relationship with Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam from his father’s side. His relation with Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam from his mother’s side is that he was the son of Halah bint Khuwaylid, the sister of Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha. In other words he was the nephew of Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha and the maternal cousin to Fatimah and Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anhuma. Allah had granted him the honour of marrying Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anha and thus becoming like a brother of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu in the sense that they both married two sisters. Thereafter he became the father-in-law of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu. (al Isti’ab and Usd al Ghabah)
- The ‘ulama’ have written that he had travelled to Yemen with ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu. ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu had made him his deputy in Yemen when he intended to return to Madinah. And he was present with ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu the day Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu was nominated as the Khalifah. (Isabah wa Isti’ab 4/122, mention of Abu al ‘As)
- The ‘ulama’ state that his real name was Laqit and some suggest that it was Miqsam. He had one daughter from Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anha; her name was Umamah and one son whose name was ‘Ali. He passed away before reaching the age of puberty.
- I intend to dispel a misconception here, viz. the Shia say that Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anha was not the biological daughter of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, rather she was the daughter of Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha from her previous husband which makes her the step daughter of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. They substantiate this claim by means of some texts in which the words Rabibah al Nabi i.e. one under the guardianship of the Nabi, appear. Ibn Athir al Jazri has stated that Rabibah al Nabi refers to Zainab the daughter of Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha whose biological father was Abu Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anhu; not to Zainab the daughter of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. For she was the biological daughter of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam from his wife Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha. (Usd al Ghabah 5/468, chapter regarding the Zainabs)
[3] Kitab Sulaim ibn Qais al Hilali al Shia (published in Najaf, Iraq), p. 226
[4] Kitab Sulaim ibn Qais al Hilali al Shia, p. 224-225
[5] Kitab Sulaim ibn Qais al Hilali al Shia, p. 226