Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra سلام اللہ علیہا

Zahoor and early life

Fatima’s zahoor was in Mecca, in the house of the Prophet ﷺ and Khadija bint Khuwaylid. According to the report most widely followed in the Twelver tradition, her zahoor fell on 20 Jumada al-Thani in the fifth year after the beginning of the mission. She grew up amid the persecution of the early Muslims: she shared the years of boycott in the valley of Abu Talib and lost her mother while still a child.

Reports describe her caring for her father when he returned from the hostility of Quraysh, which is why she was given the kunya Umm Abiha — “the mother of her father”.

Marriage and household

After the migration to Medina she married Ali ibn Abi Talib in 2 AH. Their household was famously simple. Their children were Hasan, Husayn, Zaynab and Umm Kulthum; Twelver sources also name a son, Muhsin, who did not survive.

Many commentators, Shia and Sunni, report that Surat al-Insan (Qur’an 76:5–22) was revealed after the household gave away its food for three days — to a poor man, an orphan and a captive — while fasting. She was among those the Prophet gathered beneath his cloak when Qur’an 33:33, the Verse of Purification, was recited (the event of al-Kisa, recorded in Sahih Muslim), and she was the only woman to accompany him at the Mubahala (Qur’an 3:61).

After the Prophet

The Prophet’s passing in 11 AH was followed by the dispute over succession and over Fadak, a property the Shia hold he had given to her during his lifetime, and over her inheritance. She delivered a celebrated sermon in the mosque of Medina defending her rights and setting out the purposes of Islamic law; early texts of it are preserved by Ibn Abi Tahir Tayfur (d. 280 AH) and in al-Tabrisi’s al-Ihtijaj. Sahih al-Bukhari also records that she remained displeased over the matter of the inheritance until her death.

Twelver sources report that she was injured during the events at her house in the days after the Prophet’s passing; this is the basis of the annual Fatimiyya commemoration and of the Twelver understanding of her death as martyrdom. Sunni historiography generally does not accept these reports.

Passing and burial

She passed away in Medina in 11 AH, only weeks or months after her father. In accordance with her wishes, Ali buried her at night with a small number of people present, and the location of her grave was concealed. It remains unknown: her house, the area between the Prophet’s grave and pulpit, and al-Baqi are all suggested. For Twelver Shia the hidden grave is itself a lasting testimony.

Teachings and legacy

Her sermon explains the wisdom of acts of worship and law — faith as purification from associating partners with God, prayer as a cure for arrogance, alms as purification and growth, justice as harmony among hearts. The tasbih she was taught by her father — 34 times Allahu akbar, 33 times al-hamdu lillah and 33 times subhan Allah — is recited by Shia after every obligatory prayer.

Reports in al-Kafi describe a “Mushaf of Fatima”, a book of knowledge dictated to her and preserved by the Imams; the same reports state explicitly that it contains nothing of the Qur’an.

Significance in Twelver Shia belief and Fiqh-e-Jafariya

Fatima is the link between prophethood and Imamate: every Imam after Ali is her descendant. Twelver theology counts her among the Ma‘sumin; her words and conduct are treated as an authoritative source alongside those of the Prophet and the Imams. She is the supreme exemplar of faith, knowledge, worship and courage for women and men alike.

Significant dates

1. 20 Jumada al-Thani, 5th year of the mission (c. 615 CE)Zahoor in Mecca (widespread Twelver report)
2. c. 617–619 CEBoycott of Banu Hashim in the valley of Abu Talib
3. c. 619 CEDeath of her mother, Khadija
4. 2 AH (624 CE)Marriage to Ali ibn Abi Talib
5. 15 Ramadan 3 AHZahoor of Imam Hasan
6. 4 AHZahoor of Imam Husayn
7. 9 or 10 AHThe Mubahala
8. 11 AHPassing of the Prophet; the sermon in the mosque of Medina
9. 3 Jumada al-Thani 11 AH (632 CE)Martyrdom in Medina, per the most widely followed Twelver report

Narrations and texts

Narrations are given as careful paraphrases, not verbatim translations. See the Editorial Methodology

Differing reports

• Year of zahoor: the widespread Twelver report places it in the 5th year after the beginning of the mission; other reports, and most Sunni historians, place it about five years before the mission — which would make her considerably older at marriage and death.
• Date of passing: 3 Jumada al-Thani (about 95 days after the Prophet) is most widely commemorated; another Shia report gives 13 or 14 Jumada al-Ula (75 days); Sunni sources commonly give about six months.
• Cause of death: Twelver sources regard her as martyred following injury; Sunni historiography generally records illness.
• Location of the grave is unknown; several sites in Medina are suggested.
• Umm Kulthum: the reports of her marriage to Umar ibn al-Khattab are disputed among Shia scholars.

Sources

1. al-Qur’an al-Karim. 33:33; 3:61; 76:5–22; 108
2. al-Kafi — al-Kulayni, Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub (d. 329 AH / 941 CE). Kitab al-Hujja, Bab mawlid al-Zahra
3. Kitab al-Irshad fi Ma‘rifat Hujaj Allah ‘ala al-‘Ibad — al-Mufid, Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Nu‘man (d. 413 AH / 1022 CE)
4. Balaghat al-Nisa’ — Ibn Abi Tahir Tayfur, Ahmad (d. 280 AH / 893 CE)
5. al-Ihtijaj ‘ala Ahl al-Lijaj — al-Tabrisi, Ahmad ibn Ali (6th c. AH / 12th c. CE)
6. al-Jami‘ al-Sahih — al-Bukhari, Muhammad ibn Isma‘il (d. 256 AH / 870 CE)
7. al-Sahih — Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj al-Naysaburi (d. 261 AH / 875 CE)
8. An Introduction to Shi‘i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelver Shi‘ism — Momen, Moojan
9. Kitab al-Irshad fi Ma‘rifat Hujaj Allah ‘ala al-‘Ibad — al-Mufid, Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Nu‘man (d. 413 AH / 1022 CE). Part I
10. al-Luhuf ‘ala Qatla al-Tufuf — Ibn Tawus (d. 664 AH / 1266 CE)