The Promised: The Balancing Act

The Promised: The Balancing Act

Fatimah- Who was she and what is her story?

 “The Prophet had a special love for Fatimah. He once said: "Whoever pleased Fatimah has indeed pleased God and whoever has caused her to be angry has indeed angered God. Fatimah is a part of me. Whatever pleases her pleases me and whatever angers her angers me."

Fatimah Az-ahraah: It was said that Fatimah was given the name az-ahraah because Fatimah, may God be pleased with her, was given the title of "az-Zahraah" which means "the Resplendent One". That was because of her beaming face which seemed to radiate light. It is said that when she stood for Prayer, the mihrab would reflect the light of her countenance. She was also called "al-Batul" because of her asceticism. Instead of spending her time in the company of women, much of her time would be spent in Salat, in reading the Quran and in other acts of ibadah.” She was also known as As-Siddiqa, meaning the honest.

Fatimah az Zahra was born five years before revelation came down. This beautiful little girl was very attached to her father, the last messenger, the mercy to mankind- Muhammad, salla Allahu alayhi wasalam. She grows up seeing her father’s status in the Makkan society- loved by a small group of people who accepted Islam but despised and hated by the Quraysh. She, too, just being related through family is loved by a small group of people but hated just as Rasulullah (sws). When we are young, we love to feel accepted by our society but this young women, grew up being hated at times, watching her father get attacked at times, yet she grows up not wanting the pleasure of people but pleasure through truth. She grows up fearless and ready to stand up against injustice.

There are many situations in the Prophet’s (sws) life in Makkah where the character of Fatima (R) is established. One time, when Rasulullah (sws) was praying and in sujood, a group from the Quraysh came and dumped intestines onto his head. At this Fatima becomes enraged and extremely angry. She stands up and yells angrily at the Quraysh for what they had done to her father. When injustice occurred, she spoke out and stood up for her beloved father. In another instance, Rasulullah (sws) was making tawaff and the Quraysh started mocking him, eventually hitting him. Upon seeing this, Fatima starts shouting for help. Abu Bakr hears her and comes over to protect the Prophet (sws) but eventually gets hit as well. Once again, she stands up for her father, and when he needs help she is right there by his side. In another instance, the Prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him had come home covered in dust from head to shoulders. Fatima began to clean the dust off of him and starts to weep. She starts to cry and weep as she’s cleaning the dust from her poor father. And Rasulullah, may peace and blessings be upon him, comforts his daughter and tells her “Don’t worry, Allah will take care of your father.”

As she grows older, Fatima experiences many of the hardships and struggles that the early Muslims faced. After being exiled from Makkah, Fatima goes with her father and the other Muslims and suffers through the harsh winters and the intense heat of the summers. These constant difficulties never made her question why or want more when she grew up. When we experience a difficult childhood, we have hope in that when we grow up, we will be in a better situation. If you lived a poor childhood, you desire an adulthood where money is not a problem. But in the example of Fatima, you see this women’s hardship not just when she’s little but continue as she grows up and marries.

Every struggle, though, molds her into a more beautiful Muslimah.

Fatimah lived with her father in Medina. Throughout those years many people came to ask for her hand. Two of the marriage proposes were turned down. Then one day Ali the son of Abu Talib came to the Prophet peace be upon him to ask for Fatimah’s hand in marriage he was very shy. The Prophet peace be upon him approved. Fatimah and Ali were married at the beginning of the second year of hijrah. She was about 19 and Ali was about 21.  From then Fatimah’s life began with Ali. It was no different from the way she lived with her father. Her and Ali lived in poverty, with many hardships. Fatimah was the only sister who was not married to a wealthy man. Imagine how much they suffered but yet Fatimah never complained. Suffering did not stop there. There were times when they would go days without food. Once the Prophet peace be upon him was hungry he went to his house but there was no food. Then he went to Fatimah’s house and there was no food either. When he finally got hold of food which was two loaves of bread he would send it to Fatimah. The Prophet peace be upon him would not have eating for three days but because his love for Fatimah was so strong he would give her the food instead.  Eventually Fatimah moved to live close to her father. Together they shared the joy, sorrows, and hardships.

Fatimah gave birth to her first child which was a boy named Hasan which means the beautiful one. Then a year later she gave birth to another boy and named him Husayn (Hussein) which means little Hassan. In the eighth year after the hijrah Fatimah gave birth to a little girl whom she named Zaynab after her sister but sadly she died shortly after her birth. Then Fatimah gave birth to another girl and named her Umm Kalthum after her other sister who had died of an illness. Fatimah was busy being a mother and raising her children. But besides all of that she would help her father as much as she can. During the times of the war she would clean her Fathers wounds, give food to the distressed Muslims that fought in the wars and was a noble helpful pious women that did everything she can to be there and help her father.

Fatima was not just a daughter, a wife, and a mother but she was also a contributor to society. Her example teaches us balance, it teaches us moderation. She was able to balance her family roles but still was a student and still contributed to her society. During many major battles that occurred throughout Islamic history, she was out there in the heart of the action tending to the wounded, supplying food and water to the soldiers, and during one battle she even led the prayer for the other women who were helping out. She wasn’t just confined to the home; she was out there helping her community, being there to aid the Muslims during such trying times.

Before the Prophet peace be upon him died it was narrated that, “In Ramadan of the tenth year just before he went on his Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet confided to Fatimah, as a secret not yet to be told to others: "Jibril recited the Quran to me and I to him once every year, but this year he has recited it with me twice. I cannot but think that my time has come." Subhnallah, on his return from the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet did become seriously ill. One day he summoned Fatimah. When she came, he kissed her and whispered some words in her ear. She wept. Then again he whispered in her ear and she smiled. Aisha saw and asked: You cry and you laugh at the same time, Fatimah? What did the Messenger of God say to you?" Fatimah replied: "He first told me that he would meet his Lord after a short while and so I cried. Then he said tome: 'Don't cry for you will be the first of my household to join me.' So I laughed." Not long afterwards the noble Prophet passed away.

Fatimah lived five more months after her father had passed. Through all the struggling she dealt with and all the poverty she wept through. The strong ambition she had to raise her children in this stricken state that her and her husband were in she never complained, never asked why. Her faith was so firm in Allah. Her ability to keep going and carry on has left an impact on her father the Prophet peace be upon him.  Fatimah left this world in the early morning  of Ramadan. She woke up looking unusually happy. In the afternoon she called Salma bint Umays who was looking after her at that time and she asked Salma to put her bed in the court yard outside so she can look at the heavens and she called for her husband Ali. He was confused when he saw her laying there and he asked Fatimah what was wrong. She then replied smiling "I have an appointment today with the Messenger of God." Fatimah was just 29 years old.

We should take Fatimah az Zahra as an amazing example. She struggled and never gave up. In times of our everyday struggles we give up. Our struggles are nothing compared to how much Fatimah struggled. This great noble woman came from a family of poverty and hardships that took over her life until the day she died. She died in a state of happiness despite her struggle. Her reward is indescribable. To know that she was going to meet her father after all the despair she went through. Never give up despite the hardships that come your way because in the end you will be rewarded.

Fatimah, an example for every Muslim

Islam is a religion of balance, it is not some radical religion or a religion so lenient that a follower could not be determined from a disbeliever. Islam is the true religion and a religion of moderation. Today we find people on TV claiming that “Islam is a balanced religion” as if it is something new but Islam has been a balanced religion from the beginning and till the horns will blow. Muslims are the fickle ones not Islam, Muslims are the ones who are figuring out what deen is, the deen is not changing.

Today we have made people choose, you are either “Mr. Religious” or you are “Mr. Community”. We find people who are very knowledgeable but are like mosquitos, their knowledge only benefits them and they are of no benefit to others. And we will find people who are extremely into civil rights and community related things, but have not prayed on salah in their adult life. You don’t have to choose.  Muslims should be the full package, and Islam encourages us to be. First, we need to have the deen, because without deen, we have nothing and our efforts are meaningless. So if we are not praying, we should not be out in the community giving dawah, volunteering, going to political campaigns to support Muslims, how can we support the Muslim cause when we don’t even practice what defines us as Muslims? Second, we should not stop there, some people find the straight path and stop there contributing nothing to society, is this the Sunnah of the Prophet (sws)? Sometimes we say that we are on the Sunnah of the Prophet (sws) but we go against it in our actions. We need to not act like this chosen society of people who have the truth, like some cult. Islam is not a cult, as Muslims, we should be like a candle in a dark room, our light should spread to the darkness of the world in all aspects. And we can take this from the story of Fatimah.

Fatimah (R) is a woman, every Muslim can take from because unlike Mariam who was tested with all that she stood by or Asiyaa who was tested with brutal physical torture from the one who loved her most, Fatimah was, for lack of better words, a human being facing the tides of societies like we do every day of our lives.  She was a daughter, wife, and a contributor to society. And on a greater notes, she was patient with what she was given, today we are very blameworthy, we need to stop that, we need to believe in the Qadr of Allah, things happen for a reason, and sometimes for reasons we will never understand, but know that Allah has your back. Allah is your friend, Allah is your companion, Allah is your Protector.

Remember Allah in everything that you do, and Allah will remember you.