Virtues & Excellences of Sayyidāh Fāṭimah az-Zahrā - TheSunniWay

This work details the virtues, status, and life events of Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah az-Zahrāʾ, emphasizing her unique relationship with the Prophet and her standing within the household of the Prophet. It records numerous traditions regarding her identity as a part of the Prophet's body, the spiritual purity of her family, and her role as a leader among women. The text also documents specific interactions between her and the Prophet, including his expressions of affection, his reliance on her, and the prophetic declarations regarding her descendants.

The account covers the circumstances surrounding her marriage to Sayyidunā ʿAlī, the Prophet's prayers for their union, and the specific guidance she provided regarding modesty. It concludes with details concerning her final requests for her funeral proceedings to ensure her continued concealment and modesty, as well as descriptions of her high station on the Day of Judgment.

---

Key topics & takeaways

The Household of the Prophet (Ahl-e-Bayt)

• The Verse of Purification — the Prophet gathered Fāṭimah, ʿAlī, Ḥasan, and Ḥusayn under a woolen sheet and recited the verse regarding the removal of impurity from the people of the household ▸page 3.
• Definition of Panjatan Pāk — the specific group consisting of the Prophet, Fāṭimah, ʿAlī, Ḥasan, and Ḥusayn are collectively referred to as the Panjatan Pāk ▸page 4.
• Prophetic practice — for six months, the Prophet would pass by Fāṭimah’s door at the time of Fajr prayer to call the household to prayer and recite the verse of purification ▸page 4.
• Inclusion of family — when the Prophet made dua for the purification of his family members, he clarified that his wives were in their own place of goodness, but the specific group mentioned in the verse of purification was Fāṭimah, ʿAlī, Ḥasan, and Ḥusayn ▸page 3.

Virtues and Status

• Physical and behavioral resemblance — Fāṭimah resembled the Prophet more than anyone else in her habits, demeanor, and manner of walking (▸page 4, ▸page 5).
• Part of the Prophet — the Prophet repeatedly described Fāṭimah as a piece of his body or a piece of his liver, stating that whatever displeases or hurts her displeases or hurts him (▸page 5, ▸page 6).
• Divine pleasure — the Prophet stated that Allāh is pleased when Fāṭimah is pleased and displeased when she is displeased ▸page 6.
• Leadership in Paradise — Fāṭimah is identified as the leader of the women of Paradise and the leader of the women of the Ummah (▸page 5, ▸page 8).
• Protection from Hellfire — the Prophet declared that Allāh has forbidden the fire on Fāṭimah’s offspring and will not punish her or her children with fire ▸page 8.
• Lineage — the Prophet stated that on the Day of Judgment, all lineages will be disconnected except his, and that he is the father and ascendant of Fāṭimah’s descendants ▸page 7.

Marriage and Family Life

• Marriage to ʿAlī — the Prophet stated he was ordered by Allāh to give Fāṭimah in marriage to ʿAlī ▸page 7.
• Prohibition of polygyny with the enemy — the Prophet forbade ʿAlī from marrying the daughter of Abū Jahl while married to Fāṭimah, stating that the daughter of the Prophet and the daughter of the enemy of Allāh cannot be in one person's marriage ▸page 6.
• Best practice for women — when asked what is best for a woman, Fāṭimah replied that it is best that no unrelated man sees her ▸page 7.
• Prophetic affection — the Prophet would stand up to welcome Fāṭimah, hold her hand, kiss it, and seat her in his own place ▸page 9.
• Prophetic travel — Fāṭimah was the last person the Prophet would meet before a journey and the first he would visit upon his return ▸page 5.

Final Days and Funeral

• The Prophet’s secret — the Prophet whispered to Fāṭimah that his death was near, causing her to cry, then whispered that she would be the first of his family to join him, causing her to smile ▸page 5.
• Funeral arrangements — Fāṭimah requested that her funeral be conducted in a way that kept her body fully covered and hidden from view ▸page 9.
• Use of a bier — following a suggestion from Asmāʾ bint ʿUmays, date tree branches were used to create a frame over the bier to ensure the body’s figure remained unnoticeable during the funeral procession ▸page 10.
• Day of Judgment — an announcer will call for the people of the gathering to lower their gazes so that Fāṭimah may pass through ▸page 10.