Virtues & Excellences of Sayyidāh Fāṭimah az-Zahrā - TheSunniWay

This work details the virtues, status, and life events of Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah az-Zahrā’ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا, emphasizing her unique relationship with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It highlights her position within the Ahl al-Bayt, her physical and behavioral resemblance to the Prophet ﷺ, and the spiritual honors bestowed upon her by Allah. The text draws upon numerous hadith to establish her as a central figure of purity and excellence, whose pleasure and displeasure are directly linked to the pleasure and displeasure of the Prophet ﷺ.

The account also covers specific interactions between the Prophet ﷺ and his daughter, including his practice of visiting her before and after his travels and his habit of rising to greet her. Furthermore, the work records details regarding her marriage to Sayyidunā ‘Alī رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, the Prophet’s ﷺ prayers for her offspring, and her instructions concerning the modesty of her own funeral proceedings.

The Ahl al-Bayt and the Verse of Purification

• The identity of the Panjatan Pāk — the work identifies the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا, Sayyidunā ‘Alī رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, Sayyidunā Ḥasan رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, and Sayyidunā Ḥusayn رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ as the members of the household for whom the verse of purification was revealed (▸page 3, ▸page 4).
• The act of purification — the Prophet ﷺ would gather these individuals under a woolen sheet and pray for Allah to remove impurity from them and cleanse them ▸page 3.
• The daily practice of the Prophet ﷺ — for six months, the Prophet ﷺ would pass by the door of Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا at the time of Fajr prayer to call the household to prayer and recite the verse of purification ▸page 4.
• The status of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ — when Sayyidatunā Umm Salamah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا asked if she was included in the group under the sheet, the Prophet ﷺ replied that she was in her place and on the side of good, but the specific designation of the Panjatan Pāk is applied to the five mentioned (▸page 3, ▸page 4).

Virtues and Status

• Resemblance to the Prophet ﷺ — Sayyidatunā ‘Ā’ishah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا stated that she had not seen anyone who resembled the Prophet ﷺ in habits, demeanour, and walking more than Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا (▸page 4, ▸page 5).
• The Prophet’s love for his daughter — the Prophet ﷺ would stand up to welcome her, hold her hand, kiss it, and seat her in his own place ▸page 9.
• The Prophet’s declaration of kinship — the Prophet ﷺ frequently referred to her as a piece of his body or a piece of his liver, stating that whatever hurts her hurts him and whatever pleases her pleases him ▸page 6.
• Divine pleasure — the Prophet ﷺ informed Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا that Allah is displeased at her displeasure and pleased at her pleasure ▸page 6.
• Leadership in Paradise — she is described 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 ﷺ stated that Allah has forbidden the fire of Hell for her offspring and will not punish her or her children with it ▸page 8.
• Lineage on the Day of Judgment — the Prophet ﷺ declared that on the Day of Judgment, all lineages will be disconnected except his, and that he is the father and ascendant of the descendants of Fāṭimah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا ▸page 7.
• Entry into Paradise — the Prophet ﷺ informed Sayyidunā ‘Alī رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ that he, Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا, and their two sons would be the first to enter Paradise, followed by those who love them ▸page 8.

Marriage and Family

• Marriage to Sayyidunā ‘Alī — the Prophet ﷺ stated that he was ordered by Allah to give Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا in marriage to Sayyidunā ‘Alī رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ▸page 6.
• Prohibition of a second marriage — the Prophet ﷺ forbade Sayyidunā ‘Alī رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ from marrying the daughter of Abū Jahl while being married to Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا, stating that he would not permit the daughter of the Apostle of Allah and the daughter of the enemy of Allah to be in one marriage ▸page 6.
• Best state for a woman — when asked by the Prophet ﷺ what is best for a woman, Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا replied that it is best that no unrelated man sees her (▸page 7, ▸page 8).
• The Prophet’s prayer for the couple — on their wedding night, the Prophet ﷺ sprinkled water on them and prayed for blessings upon them and their offspring ▸page 7.

Final Days and Legacy

• The Prophet’s secrets — during his final illness, the Prophet ﷺ whispered to Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا that his time was near, which caused her to cry; he then whispered that she would be the first of his family to join him, which caused her to smile (▸page 4, ▸page 5).
• Funeral modesty — before her death, she requested that her Janāzah be fully covered so that her body figure would not be noticeable; Sayyidatunā Asmā’ bint ‘Umays رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا fulfilled this by using branches to create a frame under the shroud (▸page 9, ▸page 10).
• Announcement on the Day of Judgment — the Prophet ﷺ reported that an announcer will call for the people of the gathering to lower their gaze so that Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا may pass ▸page 10.