The Friday Message - Issue No: 480 - Ummul Masaib: The Mother of sorrow

Ummul Masaib: The Mother of sorrow:

Sayyida Fatima al Zahra a.s. had lived in anguish from the very beginning of her life and had been a witness to events of great sorrow. She constantly saw how her revered father, the Noble Prophet, was mistreated by the unbelievers. Later she herself fell a victim to the same abuse, only this time not by unbelievers, but by some believers from the Muslim ummah.

Isn’t it distressful that those who oppressed her were not the pagan Arabs, but members of the Muslim ummah?

Ironically these persons had been in the company of the Noble Prophet. They had witnessed him physically. They received his guidance and seen how great his reverence was towards the Ahlul Bayt a.s.

Day of great sorrow:

Barely 75 or 90 days after the sad departure of the Noble messenger of Allah from this mortal world, his beloved daughter Sayyida Fatima al Zahra a.s. passed away. The demise of Sayyidatu Nisaa il ‘aalamin – the chief of women of the worlds-which took place on 3rd of Jamaadi al Thaani 11 A.H. is certainly a day of great grief for the Muslim world. Other dates recorded of this sad occasion are 13^th /14^th Jamaadi al Awwal,11 A.H.

What great torment can one cause upon the Noble Prophet Rasulallah- Messenger of God- than to confront his beloved daughter Sayyida Fatima al Zahra a.s., deny her rights and testimony, make her suffer emotionally, harming her physically, aborting her unborn child and ultimately leading to lose her life?
 

Heartbreaking grief:

To be able to appreciate the magnitude of grief that martyrdom of Sayyida Fatima al Zahra a.s., heralds for Muslims and history of Islam one needs to grasp the exalted status of this revered lady. It is only through intellect and the spiritual  ‘ears and eyes’ of one’s inner self that one is able to comprehend the tragedy. 

Reflect on the following ahadith-sayings- of the Noble Prophet:
• “Fatima is a part of me. Whosoever angers her has angered me. Whatever hurts her hurts me and whatever angers her has angered me.”  

• “Surely Allah is angered with Fatima’s anger and is pleased with her pleasure.”  

• On his death bed, the noble Prophet overcome with tears said, “….whenever my sight falls upon Fatima I recall those events and sorrows that will befall her after my death. It is as if I see that trouble has entered her house and others disrespect her whilst usurping her rights. She is not given aid while her side is fractured and the child in her womb is killed and she cries out: O my father, O Muhammad, O Messenger of Allah, .…There will be none to reply to her and she will ask for help, but none will come to her rescue…..”

What will be the fate of these evil persons? It’s Divine verdict:

“Surely those who annoy Allah and His Messenger Allah has cursed them in this world and the hereafter and He has prepared for them a humiliating punishment. (Sura Al Ahzab 33:57)

“As for those who torment the Messenger of Allah there is a painful punishment for them.” (Sura at Tawba 9:61)

Will you stand beside Sayyida Fatima al Zahra a.s.?

The Noble Prophet introduced her as Sayyidatu Nisaa il ‘aalamin – the chief of women of the worlds, not just as her daughter, or wife of Imam Ali a.s.or mother of Imam Hassan a.s. , Imam Husayn a.s. and her other offspring. This is what we have to focus on.

What in her has earned her that supreme title? What has been her impact on Islam, and human civilisation in general? Where did she stand on questions of Islam like Imamat, and other controversies that emerged immediately after the death of the Noble Prophet ? Who were on her side and who were against her and why? Where do we stand on those questions that led to her martyrdom as we mark the martyrdom ?

Deviating from the guidance of life set out by this noble lady would distance one from her, cause her displeasure and earn Divine wrath. Thus, God forbid, one would not be standing beside her.
 
Do not cause grief to Sayyida Fatima al Zahra a.s.

What can we learn from her noble life to become the kind of persons Allah SWT wants us to become?

Do we consciously strive to earn pleasure of Sayyida Fatima al Zahra a.s.?

As we lead our daily lives are we always mindful of not causing her additional sorrow?

What actions does one need to forego so as to avoid causing her more grief?