Fatima's knowlege

Fatima (a.s) acquired her divine knowledge from the clear spring of Prophethood and received the excellence of truth from the house of revelation. So her attentive heart was embellished with wisdom and her brilliant reason together with her brightness realized to the fullest extent the real meaning of every fact.

Yet, despite the fact that Fatima heard an abundant volume of narrations from her father (p.b.u.h), what has been repotred on her authority is limited to certain issues. The reason for this will be explained later.

Among the narrations reported on Fatima's account are:

1. Bihar Chapter--Knowledge. Imam Askari (a.s) said: "A woman came to Fatima Zahra (a.s) and said: 'I have a weak mother who has become confused about a matter related to her prayer; she sent me to inquire from you about it''

Fatima Zahra (a.s) answered her; the woman repeatedly came with questions for Fatima, and she (a.s) kindly answered her every time. One day the lady again approached Fatima (a.s) with another question from her mother and said to Fatima:

'I shall not inconvenience you (any more), daughter of Allah's Messenger.'

Fatima replied: 'Ask me regarding anything which comes to your mind, because if a man had been hired to transport a heavy load to the top of a mountain for a reward of one thousand dinars, do you think it would bother him?'

The woman said: 'NO'

Fatima continued: 'My reward for (answering) every inquiry is more than that which fills (the space) between the ground and the Throne with pearls; thus, I should be more apt to answer your questions. Surely I heard my father say.

When the scholars of our S hi it e (followers) are gathered (on the Day of Resurrection), they will be bestowed with garments of honor equal in quantity to their knowledge and struggle to guide Allah s worshippers, up to the point that anyone of them will be gifted with one million garments of light.' Then the caller of our Exalted and Glorified Lord will say:

'O you guardians of the orphans of Muhammad. (You) who inspire them when they are separated their fathers, who are their Imams; these are your pupils and the orphans whom you guarded and inspired, therefore bestow them with garments of knowledge in life. Thus, they will bestow each orphan with that which corresponds to the amount of knowledge he received from them (the scholars); up to the point that some orphans are bestowed with one million garments. Like-so, the orphans bestow those who learnt from them.' Then Allah, the Exalted said:

'Repeat upon these scholars, the guardians of the orphans, the bestowment and double and complete for them and for those who follow them.'

Fatima (a.s) then added:

Worshipper of Allah, surely a thread of those garments is better than that on which the sun rises."

2. Bihar V.10: Yazid Ibn Abdulmalik (Nawfali?!) quoted his father, who quoted his grandfather as saying: "Once, I entered the house of Fatima (a.s), who was the first to greet me; she then said: 'What brings you here?'

I said: 'I have come in search of blessing.'

Fatima then said: 'My father (who was present,) said, 'He who greets him or me for three consecutive days, will be granted Paradise by Allah.'

I said: 'While you are living?'

She answered: 'yes, and after we are dead."

3. Kasf Al-Ghana:

Imam Ali (a.s) quoted Fatima as saying: 'The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h) said: Fatima, praises you, will be forgiven by Allah; companion where ever in Paradise I may be.'

 4. Da'awat Ar Rawandi:

Swaid Ibn Ghafla said:

'Once, Ali (a.s) was inflicted with hardship, so Fatima knocked on the Messenger of Allah's door, who said:

'I hear the movement of my beloved one near the Um Ayman get up and see!'

 Um Ayman opened the door and Fatima entered the house. The Prophet then said:

'You have come to us at a time that you have not previously come!'

Fatima said: 'Messenger of Allah, 'what is the angels' food near our Lord?'

The Messenger of Allah said: 'By Him Who holds my soul in His hand, fire has not been lit (in our house) for a whole month; yet, I will teach you five statements which Gabriel taught me.'

 She (a.s) said: 'Messenger of Allah, what are these five statements?'

The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said: 'O Lord of the First and Last; O You Possessor of Might, and Strength; O You Who are Merciful with the poor; O You most Beneficent, most Merciful."

(Note: It appears as if the fifth statement has been mistakenly erased.) Thereafter Fatima returned and Ali (a.s) saw her and exclaimed:

"May my father and mother be your sacrifice, Fatima; what have you to tell me?"

She said: "I went seeking worldly things, but have returned (with the goodness of) the hereafter!"

Ali (a.s) then said: "Expect goodness, expect goodness!"

5. Bihar V.10: It is reported in Al-Kafi that Imam Sadiq (a.s) said:  "Once, Fatima approached Allah's Messenger with a problem. The Prophet listened to her problem and gave her a wrapped piece of material and said:

'Learn that which is written in it.' (When she opened it) she found written in it:

'He who believes in Allah and the Last Day, shall not harm his neighbor.

He who believes in Allah and the Last Day, shall honor his guest.

He who believes in Allah and the Last Day, shall say that which is useful or keep silent."

ISLAMIC DRESS, A SOCL4L NECESSITY

 Among the Islamic teachings to which Lady Fatima Zahra (a.s) gave special attention, was protecting women's honor and beauty through observing the Islamic way of dress. Fatima realized that crimes, social disasters, and humiliations were majorly due to unveiling, debasement, dissoluteness and mixture of the sexes. These social crimes are now called freedom and civilization by various publications that are scattered throughout Muslim and non-Muslim countries.

It shouldn't be forgotten that less than one-tenth of such crimes and debasements, used to occur to Muslim women when they observed the Islamic covering and exalted themselves from exhibiting their bodies to men. That day when they used to bestow themselves in the garments of honor and modesty, when they truly believed in that which is forbidden and permitted. But as time passed, they exhibited their privacy to thousands of men from all walks of life and with many different faiths; Muslim women lost their honor and dignity... and reached the point of disgrace where they stand today!!

The following are two reports which explicitly present the Messenger s admiration of Fatima's stands regarding women:

A. Abu Nu'aym reports in Hilyat Al-Uwlia V.2. P.40, that Anas Ibn Malik said:

"The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h) asked: 'What is best for women?' We did not know how to answer the Prophet, so Ali (a.s) asked Fatima about the Prophet's question.

Fatima answered: 'It is best for them not to see men and not to let men see them.'

Ali returned to Allah s Messenger and conveyed Fatima's answer to him. When the Prophet had heard the answer, he said:

'Surely she has spoken the truth, for she is part of me.'

B. Ibn A1-Maghazili mentions in his book Manaqib that Ali Ibn Al-Hussain Ibn Ali (a.s) said:

"Once a blind man asked for permission to enter Fatima's house, but she kept a veil between them. The Messenger of Allah noticed her actions and asked:

'Why did you keep a veil between you when he can not see you?'

Fatima (a.s) answerd: Messenger of Allah, it is true that he can not see me, but I can see him and he can smell my fragrance.'

 At this, the Prophet (p.b.u.h) said: 'I bear witness that you are part of me."

In addition to these narrations, many prayers and supplications have been reported on Lady Fatima's account; among them is the famous supplication for the relief of fever and headaches. This supplication is mentioned below as an example of Fatima's prayers.

Fatima (a.s) taught the following supplication to Salman Al-Farsi (may Allah be pleased with him) and said to him:

"If it pleases you not to be inflicted with fever as long as you live in this world, then read these words, which my father, Muhammad, taught me and I say every morning and evening:

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, Most Merciful

In the Name of Allah the light;

In the Name of Allah the light of light;

In the Name of Allah, light upon light;

In the Name of Allah, the planner of affairs;

In the Name of Allah, Who created light from light;

and

Revealed light upon the Turr;

By a decree inscribed;

In a scroll unfolded,

According to a decree fore-ordained;

Unto a Learned Prophet;

Praise be to Allah, Who is Known with Might;

Whose Glory is established;

Who is praised during times of prosperity and infliction;

And may Allah s grace be upon our Master,

Muhammad;

And his purified progeny.

Salman later said: "By Allah, I have taught this supplication to more than a thousand souls in Mecca and Medina who were inflicted with fever, and they were all relieved by the will of Allah."

Ibn Tawoos (may Allah bless his soul) wrote in his book Muhaj Ad-Da'awat, that Allah's Messenger (p.b.u.h) taught Fatima the following supplication:

'O Allah, Our Lord and the Lord of Everything;

(He) Who revealed Tawrat, Injeel and Furqan (Quran);

(He) Who causes the seed-grain and the date-stone to split and sprout;

I seek refuge in You from every beast that you shall seize by its forelock

Surely You are the First, where nothing has succeeded (You);

And the last, where nothing shall come after (You);

You are the Evident, there is nothing more Manifest than You;

And the Eminent, there is nothing more Eminent than You;

Send your grace upon Muhammad and his Ahlul-Bayt.

May Peace be upon them;

And settle my debts for me;

Make me free from poverty,

And decree easy for me all my affairs.

O You! Most Merciful of all.

Source - Fatima The Gracious, compiled by Abu-Muhammad Ordoni (Jordanian).