The merits and virtues of a supreme lady like Fatima (s.a) are too extraordinary and outstanding to be described by ordinary people. Therefore, we briefly highlight some verses of the Holy Quran, which point to the character of Hadrat Fatima (s.a) Al-Zahra (s.a). These verses are revealed unto the Holy Prophet (s.a) on different occasions; each of which indicates some aspects of her sanctity:
1-Surah Al-Kawthar:
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Verily, We granted you Kawthar (the Abundant Blessing). So, turn to your Lord in Prayer and make a sacrifice. Surely, your enemy (and not you) is the one who shall be without posterity.
Kawthar means Abundant Blessing, and it may include a broad range of concepts; however, many great Shiite scholars believe that ‘Fatima Al-Zahra (s.a)’ is the personality who best fits the concept of ‘Kawthar’.
Before Holy Fatima (s.a) was born, the enemies of the Holy Prophet (s.a) repeatedly annoyed him by saying that he was the one who should be without posterity (as all his children had died due to different reasons). Here, in this verse, Almighty Allah negates the claims of His prophet’s enemies and says: “We granted you the Kawthar”. So, we can conclude that Fatima (s.a) is the same Kawthar (the Abundant Blessing) mentioned in the Holy Quran; as all later offspring of the Holy Prophet descended from Fatima (s.a) Al-Zahra (s.a), who were (and are) the guardians of Islam. Besides the twelve Infallible Imams (a.s.) – who have an exceptional standing – if we have a look at the past history of Islam, we come across innumerable Sayyids (the offspring of the Holy Prophet and Fatima (s.a)), among whom we can trace countless Islamic scholars, authors, jurisprudents, narrators, interpreters, and devoted commanders, who struggled hard to safeguard the teachings and precepts of Islam, ideologically and physically.
2- Surah Al-Insan, Verses 7-11:
“…They fulfill vows and fear a day, the evil of which shall be spreading far and wide. And they give food – out of love for Him (Allah) – to the poor and the orphan and the captive (and say): We only feed you for Allah’s sake; we desire from you neither reward nor thanks: Surely we fear from our Lord a stern, distressful day. Therefore Allah will guard them from the evil of that day and cause them to meet with ease and happiness”
These verses of the Holy Quran speak of the Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.), eulogizing their selflessness and piety. These verses are good evidence for their merits and virtues. The historical occasion to which these blessed verses refer was, once Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein were at their childhood age, they fell sick and the Holy Prophet together with some of his companions visited them. He suggested that Ali (a.s.) should make a vow to Allah for his sons’ health. Heeding the Prophet’s suggestion, Imam Ali (a.s.), Holy Fatima (s.a), along with their maid, Fizza, took a vow that if the boys recovered, they would fast for three consecutive days. Eventually Hassan and Hussein (a.s.) recovered, and to fulfill the vow, they also fasted along with their parents and the maid.
They all fasted for three consecutive days, but each day – at the time of breaking the fast – some needy person (as verse No. 8 indicates) appeared, and the Ahlul-Bayt gladly fed him, and themselves passed the nights without food and broke their fasting with water only.
On the fourth day, Imam Ali (a.s.) took his dear sons – Hassan and Hussein -with himself to see the Holy Prophet. When the Prophet (s.a) observed them – trembling with hunger – he said, “It grieves me to see you in this condition”. Then, he stood up and accompanied them to their house. On entering the house, he was shocked to see the sight of his daughter Fatima (s.a), sitting hollow-eyed on her prayer mat, her stomach stuck to her back. It was then that the Archangel Gabriel came down with this Surah, saying:
“O Muhammad, Allah congratulates you for having such a (devoted) household”, and then recited the verses of Surah Al-Insan.
All Shiite scholars unanimously agree that at least 18 verses of this Surah (Chapter) are revealed on the abovementioned occasion. These verses are considered as a great badge of honor for the Holy Ahlul-Bayt.
3- The Verse of Tat’heer (Purity) (in Surah Al-Ahzab: Verse 33):
Verily, Allah desires to keep away the uncleanness (impurities) from you, O people of the House! And to purify you, a (thorough) purifying…
This is actually a genetic purification of the Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.); that is, the Ahlul-Bayt (including Hadrat Fatima (s.a)) are not only infallible (far from any kind of uncleanness, disobedience, error, sin, or personal whim) but also away from ‘the thought of sin’.
4- The Verse of Mubahala (Mutual Cursing) Surah Aale-Imran: Verse 61):
If anyone disputes with you in this matter – after what has come to you of knowledge – then say: Come let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our souls and your souls; then let us earnestly pray, and invoke the curse of Allah upon the liars.
This verse points towards an epoch-making event, narrated by all historians and commentators; an event that revealed to the Muslims how near and dear the progeny of the Prophet are to Allah, the Exalted.
This event that clearly marked out the distinct status of the Ahlul-Bayt, is known in the annals of Islamic history as Mubahala, that is, invoking Allah’s curse on the liars. And through this story, we perceive that Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein are the sons of the Holy Prophet, Fatima (s.a) is his selected lady, and Imam Ali is actually his soul. These are the members of Prophet’s household, the nearest ones to him, and those who are the symbols of truth to prove the superiority and truthfulness of the great religion of Islam.
Birth
Hadrat Maryam`s respectable parents are Imran and Hannah. In her old age, Hannah was expecting a child. With the birth of a son in mind, she made an oath to Allah that the child to be born would be freed from all worldly affairs and specially dedicated to Allah's service. Almighty Allah blessed her with a daughter, who was to be the mother of Hadrat Isa (Jesus), Hadrat Maryam (a.s.) , the chosen one among the women.
The Holy Quraan says: Behold! When the wife of Imran said: "O my Lord! I do dedicate unto Thee what is in my womb for Thy service. So accept this of me; for thou Hearest and Knowest all things." When she delivered, she said: "O my Lord! Behold! I am delivered of a female child!" (3: 35-36)
Hadrat Maryam's Childhood
Thus Hadrat Maryam (a.s.) was born. She could not be devoted to temple service as her mother had intended, due to being a female. This was under the Mosaic Law at the time. However, as the new born was marked out for a special destiny to be the mother of the miracle-child Hadrat Isa (a.s.) , she was accepted for the service of Almighty Allah.
Hadrat Maryam's Miracle
Hadrat Maryam (a.s.) grew up under Allah's special protection. Her sustenance came from Allah, and her upbringing was indeed a pure one.
The Holy Quran, most beautifully testifies this childhood miracle of Hadrat Maryam (a.s.) :
"Right graciously did her Lord accept her, He made her grow in purity and beauty, to the care of Zakariya (Zachariah) was she assigned, every time he entered (her) chamber to see her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: "O Maryam! Whence (comes) this to you?" She said: "From Allah. For Allah provides sustenance to whom He pleases without measure." (3:37)
Hadrat Zakariyya looked after Hadrat Maryam (a.s.) whilst she was in the service of Allah.
Birth of Hadrat Isa (a.s.)
So Hadrat Maryam (a.s.) grew up in a very pious religious environment, always remaining busy in the worship of her Creator Almighty Allah. Then followed the miraculous birth of Hadrat Isa (a.s.) .
Hadrat Maryam (a.s.) , the mother of Hadrat Isa (a.s.) was unique, in that she gave birth to a son by a special miracle, without the intervention of the customary physical means. This of course does not mean that she was more than human, any more than her son was more than inhuman.
Asiya (the name means the one who tends to the weak and heals) is considered to be one of four great, noble, and pious women in Islam. In the Quran, she was the wife of the Pharaoh and was the one who adopted Moses after he was found floating in the Nile River. According to the Prophet Mohammed (s.a.), she will be among the first women to enter the Paradise as she accepted Moses' monotheism over the Pharaoh's beliefs.
Her belief in God was so strong that made her an everlasting symbol throughout the centuries: “And Allah sets forth, as an example to those who believe, the wife of Pharaoh.”
Asiya, the Queen of Egypt, was of a noble line in Egypt and belonged to Israelites. Other sources said she was Egyptian. In any case, she lived in the palace of the Pharaoh at the highest rank and most glorious position. She could sink into her sea of pleasures and forget her Lord and human values.
Her husband was Pharaoh, a tyrant who had spread about his hegemony and injustice not only in the entire territory of Egypt and its colonies but also within his own palace. This was a fact, of which Asiya was well aware.
The Pharaoh heard about the promised savior and his fortune-tellers confirmed this promise. They told him that a baby-boy would be born and that the baby would grow up and kill him. The Pharaoh was afraid of this prophecy, thus he thought of a way to eradicate the possibility. He decided to kill all the baby-boys who would be born among the Israelites.
Under these horrible circumstances, Yokheved became pregnant with Moses. When the time for her parturition approached, she was involved in a serious worry; but her faith in God calmed her down and caused her to beseech God to save the life of her beloved baby.
When she gave birth to her son, she wondered what would happen to him if the Pharaoh’s soldiers were informed of him. At that critical moment, God sent down His revelation. "So We sent this inspiration to the mother of Moses: Suckle him, but when you have fears about him, cast him into the river, but fear not nor grieve, for We shall restore him to you, and We shall make him one of Our messengers."
Asiya, unlike her husband, was a humble woman. She was displeased with her husband's wicked deeds. Asiya had no child. Maybe God had reserved the motherly bosom of that faithful lady to bring up a blessed child like Moses! Or maybe she was divinely inspired to bear the affection for little Moses in her heart, giving her the firm will to resist Pharaoh in his order of killing that innocent baby.
In that lovely morning, Asiya was sitting by the Nile. Suddenly, she saw a small box heading for the green bank. The small box anchored as a beautiful boat. She rose and ordered her guard to bring her the box and when she saw the baby, she became attached to him.
Much furious was Pharaoh to see that little baby. But his wife, according to the Quran, said: "(Here is) a joy of the eye, for me and for you: slay him not. It may be that he will be of use to us, or we may adopt him as a son."
Pharaoh accepted at the end and his envoys started their search for a nurse to suckle the baby. But Moses refused the breasts of all women. It was due to the divine will which prohibited him from accepting them.
Mary (Moses’ sister) could enter the palace with her good sense and braveness and, as the Quran told us, suggested: "Shall I point out to you a household that will nourish and bring him up for you and be sincerely attached to him?"
The God said in the Qur'an: "And We ordained that he refused to suck any foster mother before." Finally, by the grace of God, the child was returned to his mother by the guidance of Mary. Moses grasped her breast and reposed in her bosom and that way, the divine promise was fulfilled: "So We restored him to his mother that she might be comforted and not grieve, and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true; but most of them do not understand."
When Moses was appointed by the Almighty as his prophet, Asiya acknowledged her faith in the new creed and converted to Moses’ religion. At first she concealed her faith. For years she worshipped the one God and kept her faith under the guidance of Prophet Moses. But finally her secret was disclosed and Pharaoh blazed with anger.
At the first stage he tried to prevent Asiya from believing in God. For this purpose he resorted to any means he thought; once he threatened her, and once he tempted her with fascinating assurances and sweet promises. But neither threats nor promises worked. Asiya’s soul was linked to someone else. She cared for no one except her Creator and whatever Moses said. She was neither afraid of her cruel husband nor was she happy with her position as the Queen of Egypt.
She thought of one thing only: how to guide her husband to the straight path, make him believe in the true God, and push him to give up his unjust behavior towards his poor subjects.
At last, Pharaoh offered his wife two choices: either to accept Moses’ religion and be ready for any kind of torture or to regard her husband as god and continue her life as the Queen of Egypt. Witnessing the miracles of Moses, she put her strong faith in the One God. She knew that Pharaoh was but a tyrant who would perish someday. She knew that living in the magnificent palace should end sooner or later, while the blessings of her God would last forever.
When Pharaoh could not make her wife surrender to his will, he ordered his men to nail her to the ground and put a heavy boulder on her chest under the hot sunshine. At the very last seconds of her life, Asiya was talking to her God. The Holy Quran cites her invocation as follows. “When she said: My Lord, Build for me a home with thee in the paradise, and deliver me from Pharaoh and his work, and deliver me from evil-doing folk!”
The Holy Prophet of Islam said about her: “There are three persons who never, even not for a single moment, disbelieved in the divine revelation: … and Asiya, Pharaoh’s wife.”
Hajar is the second wife of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and mother of Prophet Ismael.
At first, Hajar was a slave-girl, who worked in the house of Prophet Ibrahim and his wife, Sara.
Sara bore Ibrahim no children, and Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.) decided to marry Hajar – by the suggestion of Sara – after Sara proved to be infertile.
After a while, Hajar gave birth to a blessed child, who was named Ismael.
Allah ordered Ibrahim to emigrate from Egypt to Mecca along with his second wife Hajar and their little son Ismael, and to leave them alone in that barren land.
After this event, Sara, too, became pregnant with a child, who was given the name of Isaac.
Going over the story of emigration of Ibrahim and Hajar, and seeing the endurance of Hajar during this journey, we find out a good evidence to prove that Hajar was really an outstanding example of those who travel toward their Lord.
When Ibrahim (a.s.) arrived at the Holy Kaaba in Mecca, by the order of God he placed Hajar and Ismael there and left them alone in that barren land just with a little amount of food and water, and returned to Egypt with a heart full of confidence and faith in Almighty God.
Hajar had fully trusted in her God; therefore, after return of Ibrahim she was submissive to her Lord’s will. Really it seemed too agonizing to stay at a strange, barren, hot, and desolate land, where hot winds blew and direct sunshine burned everything. Although some people came to Mecca to perform Hajj or to pray, nobody dwelled there due to the unbearable living conditions.
While leaving his wife and son in Mecca, Prophet Ibrahim prayed to Allah:
“O our Lord! Surely I have settled a part of my offspring in a valley unproductive of fruit near Your Sacred House; our Lord, in order that they may keep up prayer; therefore make the hearts of some people yearn towards them and provide them with fruits; maybe they may be grateful…” (The Holy Quran, Surah Ibrahim, Verse 37)
Hajar was obedient enough to the divine predestination. She endured the hard conditions until their food and water exhausted. Her little son was dying from thirsty in that hot desert; so Hajar started to search for water. Seeing a mirage at a distant, she ran seven times between the two mounts of Safa and Marwah with the hope of finding water to save her baby. She was so determined that did not choose to sit beside her child and wait for a divine miracle to save them; rather, her ‘decisive will’ made her to make efforts for this purpose.
In that hard moment, the heart of Hajar was focused on the divine mercy. She had no connection with the materialistic causes. She had pinned her hope in God and sought assistance from Him.
Suddenly, she noticed that a spring is bubbling under the feet of Ismael. Seeing that, she realized that Divine Grace was still with them and the Merciful Allah would never let them alone. Tired of her running, she came near her baby and watered him.
Patience and sincere efforts of Hajar was so important that was selected by Almighty Allah as a big sign for the generations to come, and it was included in the ritual rites of all those Muslims who go to Mecca to perform Hajj throughout the history up to the end of the world. It is called Sa’ye (running) between Safa & Marwah. This is actually a meaningful and evocative act that commemorates the pure struggles of a faithful woman and the subsequent Divine Favor.
And the place, where water came to the surface, is now called Zamzam Spring. The pilgrims of Kaaba are much eager to drink from its water and seek blessings from it.
Thus, Hajar was favored by Almighty Allah’s grace as she had pinned her hope in His mercy. She and her son were saved from a definite death, and their names were made eternal. When the Zamzam spring appeared, the birds of that hot desert started to fly around it. Observing the flock of birds, a tribe named Jarham, who lived in the vicinity of Mecca, realized that there might be a source of water. So they traced the spring in that region, found it near Kaaba, and dwelled there. In this way, Hajar and her son were rescued from loneliness, and Ibrahim’s prayer was responded.
After a while Ibrahim (a.s.) came to visit Hajar and Ismael. Much pleased was he to observe so many people living there. Afterwards, Ibrahim came to visit them from time to time. Although Ismael was deprived of his father’s direct care in Mecca, he grew up under his mother’s training. Prophet Ibrahim was so confident of Hajar’s capabilities and merits that had entrusted the duty of training of this blessed child on her shoulders.
Hajar - this devoted and obedient woman to Allah and His Holy Prophet – left behind a sainted child who later became the forefather of our Holy Prophet - Hazrat Mohammad (s.a.) – who is a descendant of Prophet Ismael.
After her demise, Hajar was buried besides the Holy Kaaba. The place where her grave is located, is known as Hijr Ismael (i.e. the breeding place and lap for Ismael, one of the divine messengers).
Hijr Ismael – where tombs of Hajar and Ismael are now located – is a piece of land that every Muslim who performs Hajj, is obliged to circumambulate around it. Circumambulating the Holy Kaaba without circumambulating Hijr Ismael would not be accepted and shall be void.
Hajar was a perfect paradigm of those who travel toward Almighty Allah.