By: Seyyed Ali Shahbaz
      "Fatema is a part of me, and whoever hurts her, has hurt me, and whoever hurts me, has displeased God.”         
      We recall these words of the Messenger of Mercy – mentioned in all authentic books of hadith including those of our Sunni brethren – on the anniversary of the tragic martyrdom of his only surviving offspring, the Immaculate Daughter, Fatema az-Zahra (SA).
       Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), the Best of God’s creation, who never speaks but it is revelation revealed to him from the heavens (holy Qur’an Surah Najm) made it clear that his daughter was the Noblest of all women, superior to the Virgin Mary (SA) – the mother of Prophet Jesus (AS).
      In other words, to question the Prophet’s statement, let along criticize it or violate it, is a sure sign of disbelief. No one with an iota of faith will ever question the words of those whom God Almighty has decreed infallible and kept them thoroughly purified from all uncleanness (Holy Qur’an 33:33).
     So whenever doubts are raised concerning the Seal of Messengers and his Infallible Ahl al-Bayt, this in nothing but sickness of heart and weakness of faith.
      That is the reason, the Prophet of Peace clarified to his companions and to posterity the unique position of his Immaculate Daughter, Hazrat Fatema Zahra (SA), her Impeccable Husband, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), her Spotlessly Pure Sons, Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Husain (AS), and her Peerless Progeny culminating in Imam Mahdi (AS) and his global government of peace, prosperity and justice in the end times.
      Did all those who claim to be Muslims obeyed the divine commandment and followed the instructions of the Prophet to love, respect, venerate, and show affection for the Ahl al-Bayt, by regarding them as not just spiritual, but political heirs of the "Mercy unto the entire creation” in order to be true believers in the sight of God?
      Alas, the answer is a big NO. If they had, the Ummah would not have been splintered into so many sects today, with some indulging in the most bestial form of cannibalistic terrorism, and yet shamelessly claiming to be Muslims.
      The Prophet had practically shown to the Arabs the loftiest humanitarian values, yet there were some who though they paid lip service to Islam and outwardly performed prayer and fasting, harboured in their hearts the deepest form of malice and rancour against the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt, otherwise God would not have revealed a Surah titled "Munafeqoon” (Hypocrites).
     No sooner did the Prophet leave the mortal world, these hypocrites committed the first act of terrorism in the history of Islam by usurping the political leadership of Muslims, and then assaulting the house of Hazrat Fatema Zahra (SA). They threatened to burn down the house where the Prophet used to salute every morning, and they vowed to kill the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt, if Imam Ali (AS), the Prophet’s Divinely-designated Vicegerent doesn’t give pledge of allegiance to their Godless rule.
      Thus, according to a version, seventy-five days after the passing away of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), his daughter was made to leave the world, a martyr.
      The departure of the Prophet, followed by the calamity the Prophet’s venerable daughter had suffered as a result of the smashing upon her of the burning door of her house by a group of agents of the regime that has usurped the political power of the Islamic state, saddened Imam Ali (AS), especially the condition of his sick wife, bent with grief in the prime of youth.
       In the last moments of her life, Hazrat Fatema (SA) remembered her father’s words that she will be the first person to join him in paradise. She smiled as her husband and her four children looked at her in grief. The Imam clasped the hands of his virtuous wife, who was a source of inspiration to him. Tears welled in the eyes of the venerable grandchildren of the Prophet as they glanced at their loving mother. They remembered her nightly prayers, in which she prayed for all, and in the last would pray for her household and herself.
       Hazrat Fatema (SA) opened her eyes, kindly looking at her husband and children. It seemed that she wanted to remind her husband to take care of their children and to say her wish to be laid to rest in peace at night and far from the eyes of others, since she didn’t want the ruffians who had assaulted her door and seized the right of political leadership of Imam Ali (AS) to attend her funeral.
      Thus, as per her wish, she was laid to rest in the dead of night in an unmarked grave at an undisclosed place. Most surely, Hazrat Fatema (SA) knew that in the distant future Godless Wahhabis would occupy the Land of Revelation, destroy Islamic sites, and desecrate the tombs of the Ahl al-Bayt.
      Though there is no visible shrine to the Most Noble Lady of all times, her legacy lives on. It continues to enlighten the seekers of truth. During her short life she manifested all virtues. She possessed such an in-depth understanding of the universe and its Creator that she is considered to this day as the most excellent exemplar for all virtuous women.
      Throughout her short but fruitful life, she made every effort to promote justice and to uphold righteousness. She knew that life, with all of its ups and downs, is an opportunity for fulfillment of divine duties. Hazrat Fatema (SA) fully knew that her most important duty after the passing away of her father, was defence of "Wilayah” or the Divinely-decreed right of political leadership of her husband, Imam Ali (AS). Her famous sermon in this regard, which is an eloquent piece of Arabic literature, and serves as a guideline for proper understanding of the fundamentals of faith, such as monotheism, divine justice, Prophethood, Imamate, and the Day of Resurrection.
      In this sermon delivered to the regime that had usurped the rights of Imam Ali (AS) and seized from her the orchard of Fadak, she has spelled the blueprint for proper governance of the society, warning that the caliphate had veered from its course and would become a curse for the ummah. She pointed out that the salvation of mankind is in holding steadfast to the Revealed Word of God Almighty, the holy Qur’an, and to the "Wilayah” of Imam Ali (AS).


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Condolences on the Martyrdom Anniversary of Hazrat Fatema Zahra (SA)