Hazrat Fatima bint e Muhammad, famously known as Hazrat Fatima Azz Zahra (may Allah be pleased with her), was the most favorite and beloved daughter of the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him). Fatima Azz Zahra was born in Makkah in 615 C.E., five years before the Prophethood of the Messenger of Allah. Her mother was Khadijah Bint Khuwailid, Prophet's first wife.

Hazrat Aisha said about Hazrat Fatima:

"I did not see anyone resembling the Blessed Prophet (peace be upon him), regarding all manners, more perfectly than Fatima, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah."

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said About Hazrat Fatima:

"I am not pleased unless Fatima is pleased."

She has been awarded many other titles: Zahra (Lady of Light) and Sayyidatun Nisa al Aalamin (Leader of the World's Women). After her mother's death, Khadijah looked after her father, the Prophet of Islam, so devoutly that Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) used to call her "Umme-Abeeha," which means the mother her father. This was the most challenging time for the family because, in the same year, Abu Talib, who was the protector of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) from the animosity of the Quraish also died in the same year as Khadijah bint Khuwaylid.

When she was five, a significant change happened in her father's life as he was sent as a Messenger to all humanity. After the Messenger of Allah declared his prophethood, Fatima suffered a lot of hardships and troubles. Among the severe problems that she faced was the siege in the valley of Abu Talib, where she suffered the pain of hunger and thirst side by side with her family and early Muslims.

Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) married Umme Salama, an old widow, after the death of Khadijah to have someone to look after the household chores. When Umme Salama was requested to tutor the child, Fatima, the wise woman, replied, "How can I tutor one who is the personification of high virtues and purity? It is I who should learn from her." 

Her childhood was very difficult as it was the beginning of the prophecy of Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him), and he was spreading Islam to the people of Makkah. Many non-believers turned against the Holy Prophet and were after his life. From a very early age, she saw his father's suffering as he spread the message of ALLAH among the people. After a few years of suffering, she faced the tragic loss of her mother, Hazrat Khadijah, and Abu Talib, who was a big supporter and defender of his father. After Hazrat Khadijah's death, she cared for his father, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Fatima saw and dressed the wounds sustained by her father due to the stones thrown at him by the non-believers who were against the preaching of Islam. She might have heard and seen that certain wretched women hurled rubbish on her noble father. She might have learned of the plans made to put an end to her father's life. But from all these things, Fatima was neither frightened nor disheartened. 

She saw her father preaching and struggling for Islam in a very hostile environment, but she always comforted her father. 

Once, Prophet Muhammad was praying in Kabah and was prostrating to ALLAH; Abu Jahl saw this and put tripe laden with a compost of the camel on the holy Prophet's back; when Hazrat Fatima heard this news, she came running, removed it from the Prophet's back, and washed the holy back. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said to his daughter.

"One day, these enemies will be subdued, and the lord will give my religion utmost supremacy."

When Muslims and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) migrated to Madina from Makkah, she and her sister Umme Kulthum stayed in Makkah. Then, the Holy Prophet sent one of his companions to bring them to Madina. Sayyida Fatima's age was eighteen years old at that time. After the battle of Badr, Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) approached Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as he wanted to marry her. Fatima was the model of the Prophet's teaching among women, just as Ali was the best embodiment of his instructions and manly qualities among men. They were the most suitable couple to be married. She was married to Ali when she was eighteen years old. Hazrat Ali sold his shield to give the amount of meher. After marriage, Hazrat Ali and Fatima bint Muhammad bought a house near Prophet Muhammad's house. 

She had five children; two girls, Zainab bint Ali and Umme Kulthum bint Ali and three boys, Mohsin (who probably died in infancy), Hassan and Hussain. The Prophet of Allah loved his two grandchildren dearly. He used to say that they were like blossoms and would be the leaders of the youths of Paradise.

When Allah the Almighty revealed in the Holy Quran,

"Allah intends only to remove from you the impurity [of sin], O people of the [Prophet's] household, and to purify you with [extensive] purification." (Surah Ahzab:33)

It was in the same house where every morning the Holy Prophet stood outside and said loudly, "Assalamo Alaikum Ya Ahle baitin Nubuwwah" Peace and blessings on the people of the Household of the Nabi.

Ali was not among the rich; she did all the house chores alone. Once, Hazrat Fatima went to his father and asked for a servant for her household work. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) replied to her I should tell you the thing which is much better than a servant; he said that before going to bed, always recite 33 times SUBHAN ALLAH 33 times ALHAMDU LILLAH and 34 times ALLAHU AKBAR. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Dear daughter, this will be much better for you than having a servant.

There was so much respect in the heart of the Holy Prophet for Fatima that whenever her beloved daughter Fatima arrived in the mosque of the Prophet, the Holy Prophet stood up to respect her. This gesture was also to show the companion's respect for women generally, which was lacking in the Arabian society of the day. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was very affectionate towards her. He used to get so happy whenever he met her. When the Holy Prophet had to travel somewhere, the last person he met used to be Hazrat Fatima, and the first person he met when he returned from traveling was Hazrat Fatima.

Once, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was at Umme Salama's house. He called Ali, Fatima, Hassan, and Hussain and covered them with garments, saying:

"O Allah! These are the people of my house, so remove the 'Rijs' (abomination) from them and purify them with a thorough purification." (Tirmidhi: 3205)

Holy Prophet once said:

"Fatima is a part of me, and whoever makes her angry, makes me angry." (Sahih Bukhari: 3767)

These acts of the Prophet were to show the companions that this house and its occupants have a special place in the way of Allah and that this status should be maintained after the death of the Prophet. 

Hazrat Fatima was a symbol of womanhood in Islam. How should a daughter, a wife, and a mother behave in their ordinary lives? She was devoted to her father and looked after him when he was in distress by the hands of the non-believers of Makkah; she was the exemplary wife, queen of her household, yet fair to her maidservant Fizza to divide household chores between herself and the maidservant. She was a devout wife and the most loving mother to her children. There were occasions when there was no food for the family, but she would never complain. 

Once, Hazrat Ali went out to do some work to get food for the family but returned empty-handed. Sayyida Fatima asked Ali what had happened to the food. Hazrat Ali said that he did earn some money and bought food, but while on his way home, he met some poor, hungry people and gave away all the food to them. When the Prophet heard of this situation, he brought food for the family and told them that 'Ali's charitable act was of the greatest value in the eyes of Allah. The whole family was thankful to Allah, and there were no complaints against anyone. 

Hazrat Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her) would go to the mosque of the Prophet to pray with all the ladies; she would go out on the battlefield to tend the wounded. In the battle of Uhad, when her father was injured, she tended to him, cleaned his wounds, and put some burnt wool on the wounds to stop blood from flowing. When the Holy Prophet recovered, he thanked her for her great work on the battlefield.

After the Messenger of Allah had performed the Farewell pilgrimage, he got sick. Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her) visited her father at Aisha's home.

Holy Prophet welcomed her, made her sit on his right or left side, and told her a secret. After hearing this, Fatima started weeping. After seeing this, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) whispered again in her ears, and she started laughing. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said, "I never saw happiness so near to sadness as I saw today." She also asked Fatima what the Prophet of Allah had told her. Hazrat Fatima replied, "I would never disclose the secret of Allah's Messenger."

When the Prophet of Allah died, Hazrat Aisha, once again, asked Hazrat Fatima, "Would you please tell me what the Prophet (peace be upon him) whispered to you? Fatima replied, "Now I can." As for the first time, he said, "Every year, Gabriel used to revise the Quran with me once only, but this year, he has done so twice. So I think that I am about to die, and you will be the first of my family to die after me (to follow me)." So, after hearing this, I started weeping. But when he noticed my sadness, he asked me, "Fatima, would you like to be the chief of all the women in paradise or the chief of the believing women?" I smiled. 

(Hadith Reference: Sahih Bukhari: 3623 and Sahih Bukhari: 3624)

Narrated Anas ibn Malik: When the ailment of the Prophet got aggravated, he became unconscious. After that, Fatima said, Oh, how distressed my father is! He said, Your father will have no more distress after today. When he expired, she said, O Father! Who has responded to the call of the Lord Who has invited him! O Father, whose dwelling place is the Garden of Paradise (Al-Firdaus)! O Father! We convey this news (of your death) to Gabriel. When he was buried, Fatima said, O Anas! Do you feel pleased to throw earth over Allah's Apostle?

Sahih Bukhari:4462

When the Messenger of Allah died, she said, " My father, Allah has called you back, and you have responded to His Call. O' father! Garden of Firdaus is your abode. O' Father! We convey this news (of your death) to Gabriel."

Then Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her) wept, and so did all Muslims, but they remembered Allah's saying:

"Muhammad (peace be upon him) is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him." (Surah Al-Imran 3:144)

Fatima fell ill soon after the death of Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). She couldn't bear the demise of his father and died after 90 days after his father's death. She died in the eleventh year after Hijri. The month of her death is not known. She was twenty-seven years old at the time of her death. After performing the last rites, she was taken to the al-Baqii cemetery in the darkness of the night for burial.

May Allah have mercy on Fatima bint Muhammad. AAMEEN

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