In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate
“Allah only intends to keep the causes of evil away from you and purify you completely, O members of the Prophet’s Household!” (Qur’an 33:33)
Allow me to tell you about a situation, maybe it seems simple, but it truly happened to me. I once longed deeply to travel for ‘Umrah to visit our master, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). My mother had already traveled there,
along with a group of my female friends, and I missed joining them. I was grieved to the point that I started saying, “O Lord, are You displeased with me because I didn’t travel with them?”
So later, my friend and I went to visit Ahl Al-Bayt (the mosques). After finishing the visit, we went home, and that night shortly before dawn I was praying.
While I was in prostration, I said literally: “O Lord, if I am accepted by You, tell me that I am accepted—give me a sign, like seeing my mother on television.”
Meaning, seeing her performing sa‘y and such. And indeed, I actually saw my mother passing by on the screen. I called out to my friend, who was asleep next to me on the couch.
I shouted, “Maryam, get up—I saw them on TV!” She woke up startled and said to me, “I just saw Sayyida Zaynab telling me: ‘Tell Redab that you are accepted.”
At that moment I said to myself: I was talking between me and my Lord! So, who informed Sayyida Zaynab? There is no one but Allah who conveyed it to her to come and say this.
So, glory be to Allah, the connection between them is profoundly continuous.
Very few people mention Ahl Al-Bayt. Even today, many speak about the biography of our master Muhammad (PBUH, i.e. about the Prophet himself,
and about his wives—but very few speak about the Household of the Prophet. There aren’t many stories about Sayyida Fatima, nor many about Sayyida Zaynab,
about their lives, their children, and the relationships between them. This is rarely addressed in the field of Da‘wah (Islamic preach), whether by men or women.
We often find many stories about Sayyida ‘A’isha, and many stories about later female Companions, or about men.
But discussion about the Prophet’s Household is scarce. Yet if it were present, we would find many things we could emulate and apply in our morals and in our lives.
But truly, it is very limited.
O Allah, send Your prayers and peace upon our master Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the father of al-Zahra’.
Episode 12
Lady Fāṭimah al-Zahrāʾ and Her Daughters (peace be upon them)
Despite the fact that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasized the status of Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra’ (peace be upon her),
as the leader of the women of the worlds in this life and the Hereafter, the narrations about her in Sunni sources
are few compared to her rank, and the same applies to her daughters and granddaughters,
among the women of the Prophet’s Household. Does this concealment mean their role ended?
Men, from the era after the Successors and their subsequent generations until recently, have continued to appear carrying the trust of the Muhammadan inheritance,
from the Household of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), and this has never ceased and will continue until Allah inherits the earth and those upon it.
As for women, some people claim that the Muhammadan inheritance among women has ended, and that the last prominent figure was
Sayyida Nafisa (may Allah be pleased with her). But it does not mean that Allah hiding the perfected women of the Household
after Sayyida Nafisa indicates their absence. No—they do exist in every time and place.
Just as no time or place is devoid of a Muhammadan inheritor among men, likewise no time or place is devoid of a Muhammadan, Fatimid inheritor among women.
Manifestation (Dhuhur) and concealment (Khafa’) in general are divine commands. Allah manifests whom He wills and conceals whom He wills. This is a general principle we must understand when understanding the status people of special high-esteem.
In some eras, Allah brings forth more women than men, and in other eras the opposite occurs. Whether the women of the Household are manifest or hidden, their role is established.
The humble supplication of one noble woman in the last third of the night can accomplish for the Ummah what many outward deeds cannot. And the women belonging to Ahl Al-Bayt continue to
learn knowledge and teach it to women, serving alongside the Imams among the men. Their role is preserved, whether visible or concealed.
This is the divine will of my Lord.
One of my friends—his mother is someone who carefully preserves the lineage—used to do works of reconciliation (Islah). She is originally from Upper Egypt’s Aswan.
She would work to reconcile people, fulfill their needs, and despite old age and many illnesses, she would personally carry food
to the homes of the poor. She would sit with them, eat with them, and remain the entire day solving all their problems, never leaving until the house that was full of conflict
became as peaceful as doves of peace.
So yes, they do exist—but Allah concealed them out of protective jealousy for their rank. When we examine history, we find that the Household of the Prophet were killed, displaced, and slaughtered across eras.
There was no state nor Caliphate that came without killing or exacting revenge upon the Household of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).
Thus Allah concealed the women of the Household to protect them, and likewise the men of the Household—saints and righteous ones—concealed the women of the Household.
The men bore harm and hardship, faced people, and carried the complete Muhammadan inheritance, while the women of the Household were concealed—just as the state of Sayyida Fatima, may Allah be pleased with her, was concealed, whose true status,
measure, balance, and rank are known only to Allah, the Almighty.
If Sayyida Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, established the House of Prophethood, then her daughter Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra’, peace be upon her,
was the one through whom Allah decreed the continuation of the noble lineage, through her children (upon them and their grandfather be peace and blessings).
Our Lady Fatima, peace be upon her, was born in the Sacred City of Allah (Mecca),
five years before the Prophetic mission, and the birth of this pure plant
occurred on the twentieth of Jumada al-Akhirah, on a radiant Friday, when her luminous face shone forth.
So all praise is due to Allah, Glory be to Allah, there is no deity but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest.
Allah placed successive generations of women around the Prophet (PBUH). First, Aminah (may Allah be pleased with her and peace be upon her). Some people become upset, but no, she is our mother.
May Allah be pleased with her and grant her peace, despite their objections. No womb that carried the Master of Existence could ever be in the Fire, how deficient are such minds!
Those who believe that the parents of the Prophet (PBUH) are in the Fire possess deprived minds. Aminah carried and gave birth, and she was a vessel of the divine secret, light,
and a great source of preserving the chain of lineage. Then the link passed to Fatima bint Asad, who safeguarded the trust—then to whom?
To our Lady Khadijah. First, a mother (Aminah), then a nurturer (Fatimah bint Asad), now a wife—chosen by Allah. Why?
To preserve the progeny of the Prophet (PBUH). He married thirteen wives, but who was chosen for this role?
It was our Lady Khadijah, from whom the Prophet (PBUH) had offspring. And whom was Khadijah carrying in her womb?
Fatima—the leader of the women of Paradise, the leader of the women of the worlds. Al-Hasan and al-Husayn—this entire blessed offspring came from where?
From Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her. Then the trust passed to Fatima, the other secret, glory be to Allah. She who became the refuge, security, and beloved daughter of the Prophet (PBUH).
Sayyida Fatima represents the model of a daughter deeply attached to her father, yet she also became a source of immense goodness through the offspring she bore.
Al-Hasan, al-Husayn, and Zaynab—these are defining signs in the history of the Household, and they have a long legacy.
Sayyida al-Zahra’ was not given much time to live; she passed away shortly after the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).
She was comprehensive and complete, without exaggeration.
She combined Prophetic knowledge, Prophetic moral character, and she transmitted that to her children.
Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra’ raised al-Hasan, al-Husayn and nurtured them in this manner.
She bore responsibility for this household and became the ultimate model of the righteous, upright woman at the highest level.
She is the benchmark for women—every woman measures herself against her.
In sincerity, truthfulness, trustworthiness, obedience, and endurance of asceticism in this world,
and humility—despite her father being the great master and supreme leader of the entire Ummah, indeed of all creation.
The Arabic name “Fatima” al-Zahra’ linguistically denotes that Allah, Almighty, weaned her from all evil and opened for her all doors of goodness,
because her father is the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).
She is called “al-Zahra’”, and Zahra’ in Arabic is the feminine of Azhar. Something that is azhar possesses complete beauty—not merely outward beauty,
but both outward and inward beauty. This is how Sayyida Fatima lived and interacted with all these meanings.
She first served her father before being married to our master ‘Ali. She took care of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and apprenticed herself to him.
The Prophet (PBUH) saw in Fatima an extension of Khadijah. And from a very young age, even as a child,
she carried upon her shoulders the burden of this message. She would follow her father through the streets of Mecca, trying only to protect him,
or ease something for him. Out of intense attachment—glory be to Allah—she was the first of the people to die after the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).
And she presented to the Ummah al-Hasan and al-Husayn, the leaders of the youth of Paradise.
Welcome, O daughter of Ṭā-Hā; to you belongs the virtue. Our hearts are enthroned in love for the Messenger of Allah.
A heart that trembles in reverence, for this love we have prolonged our nights, And through righteousness we rejoice.
Our Lady Fatima, peace be upon her, became known by many titles that reflect her exalted rank.
She is al-Zahra’, al-Batul, the leader of the women of the worlds, the leader of the women of Paradise, and she is “the mother of her father,” as the Prophet (PBUH) described her.
He described her with the highest description possible for any woman—or even any man.
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Fatima is a part of me; what harms her harms me, and what exhausts her exhausts me.” And this hadith has a context.
He said: “Fatima is a part of me”—bid‘ah with a kasrah on the ‘ayn—not bud‘ah or a drop, but rather a piece, meaning a part of me.
Among the special rulings of the Prophet (PBUH) was that his daughters were not to have co-wives.
That is why our master ‘Uthman did not marry another woman alongside Ruqayyah, nor alongside Umm Kulthum, until they passed away.
Polygamy was normal among them. Abu al-‘As married the Prophet’s daughter, Lady Zaynab and did not marry another alongside her.
When the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) married Fatima to ‘Ali, he assumed that ‘Ali understood this ruling—that his daughters were not to be taken as co-wives.
But our master ‘Ali reasoned intellectually—those who suggested this matter to him—and he reflected: what is the prohibition to take another wife, when the Shari‘ah permits it?
This was merely a thought, but the Prophet (PBUH) restrained him from it. He said: “I do not make the lawful unlawful, nor the unlawful lawful—but there is something called a situational ruling.”
A situational ruling means that certain circumstances have a specific judgment. The daughters of the Prophet have a special ruling: they are not to be with cowives.
Because if someone married another woman alongside a daughter of the Prophet and she became hurt or angry, that would be disastrous—and we want the daughters of the Prophet to always be a source of mercy.
When the matter reached Fatima—though ‘Ali never decided to remarry, it was only a thought—she went to her father.
She said: “Look at what ‘Ali intends to do; it is said that you do not become angry for your daughters.” The Prophet (PBUH) became angry—not for himself,
but for the one who could not bear such a situation. He became angry for Fatima, not for himself—for he never became angry for himself.
He feared that Fatima might become hurt or saddened, and if Fatima were hurt before Allah, that would be a grave matter for our master ‘Ali.
Fatima al-Zahra’ is a part of the Messenger of Allah, as her father described her, and the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) possesses the complete perfection.
Thus, that part of him (his duater) must possess the greatest share of this perfection.
Fatima’s heart is connected to the heart of the Prophet, so if Fatima’s heart changes toward Ali, it means the Prophet’s heart changes toward Ali—and the Prophet loves Ali.
Thus, our Master, the Messenger of Allah, saved ‘Ali from a trial in which a major problem could have occurred; and therefore, even the Prophet in this matter,
the matter of forbidding our Master Ali from marrying another woman over Fatima, or divorcing her if he wished to marry—of course, our Master Ali did not divorce her,
it was to protect our master Ali and to safeguard Fatima’s heart from being disturbed, yet the Prophet still did not become angry for his own sake; rather, our master, the Messenger of Allah, became angry out of concern for his daughter and for our master Ali.
From where did our Lady Fatima learn that she is a part of the beloved (PBUH)? From where did she acquire the culture of her upbringing, intimately and personally connected to the Messenger of Allah?
From the One to whom her father, the Prophet, received revelation, she sat with the Prophet, was nurtured by his hand, adopted the Prophet’s manners, and learned everything from the Prophet.
And despite all this, she did not live in comfort or luxury, because she was the daughter of the Messenger of Allah, the leader of the Women of the Worlds; she had nothing for herself.
She would even work and grind [grain] on a grinding stone until her noble hands became chafed, peace be upon her.
Lady Fatima did not live long after the passing of the Messenger of Allah—only six months. After that, our master ‘Ali married sixteen times, sixteen women thereafter.
And he fathered many children, but their names are not well-known in history, because the one who made the names of our master ‘Ali’s children famous was their mother, Fatima.
So their honor came from Fatima, and that is why the Prophet said: “The children of every man are affiliated with their father, except the children of Fatima—they are both affiliated with me and I am their father.’ This is a great honor, indeed.
The fact is that Lady Fatima raised children for us—children who were well-balanced and sound in character, as if she had nursed them on the very milk of truth.
And when they spoke, they spoke the truth: she gave birth to one child of exemplary character, full of forgiveness, and another of equally upright character, steadfast in upholding justice.
And a third child who bore calamities, harsh social conditions, successive wars, and relentless persecutions—yet she developed no social complexes.
Nor did she suffer from psychological depression—anyone in the position of Lady Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) today would likely be overwhelmed by mental distress.
A social problem that today might require 20–30 years of therapy—yet remarkably, many women now possess the strength to remain widows and raise their children.
And they raise and educate their husband’s children, nurturing and strengthening them. Whoever asks about the role of women in society should look at Lady Fatima—how she gave birth to the Imams.
Take Fatima as an example: she was weaned from all that is besides Allah, and she weaned creation from perceiving her high stations. Fatima was weaned from worldly distractions and from what is false or vain.
Fatima—the secret that cannot be comprehended, Fatima—the hidden jewel between the gate and the city. I am the city of knowledge, and ‘Ali is its gate. Where is Fatima in this city?
It is as if the city has a dome—the dome of the beloved, peace be upon him—and beneath this dome rests a hidden jewel, revealed only to those who can pass through the gate.
He immerses himself in knowledge and is consumed by love for the master of creation; only then will the master of creation, peace be upon him, reveal to him the secret of this hidden jewel.
O Fatim, O Fatim
O Fatim, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah
O Fatim, O Fatim
Fatim, she is Al-Btaul (The Chaste)
Fatim, whom Allah Himself uniquely favored.
And the Prophet’s very being was intertwined with hers.
Fatim, whom Allah Himself uniquely favored.
And the Prophet’s very being was intertwined with hers.
With all our love for the Prophet, we seek acceptance.
O Fatim, She is Al-Batul (The Chaste).
After Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her), the role of the women of the Prophet’s Household (peace be upon them) continued in serving the Muslims and bearing burdens on their behalf.
This is clearly evident in the life of Lady Zaynab, daughter of Lady Fatimah (peace be upon them both).
The Prophet (PBUH) said in a hadith: ‘The most severely tested people are the Prophets, then the righteous, then those who are best among them, and then the best.’
We mentioned that the Prophet (PBUH) told out mater ‘Ali: ‘You will only be granted what you are provisioned with.’ Here, ‘provision’ refers to trials, hardships, or burdens.
Their responsibility was to carry the burdens of the Ummah, both visible and hidden. Outwardly, they faced the obvious trials, while inwardly, they endured the turbulence and challenges of the heart and soul.
And Allah makes them a means to awaken awareness of both apparent and hidden trials, so that a person may turn to one of the righteous among the scholars of Ahl al-Bayt,
And when one sits with him, bearing the spiritual and physical burdens, Allah, by the blessing of his presence, eases these burdens from them.
Whatever burdens one encounters, he rises lightly, like a gentle breeze. This is a proven reality. The women of the early era endured trials that few could bear—only someone like Lady Zaynab could withstand such challenges.
Lady Fātimah (may Allah be pleased with her) lost her mother at a young age, and likewise, Lady Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) also lost her mother while still a child.
After that, Lady Fātimah (peace be upon her) lost her father, the Prophet (PBUH), one of the greatest calamities she ever faced, yet she remained steadfast and patient.
Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) lost her father at the hands of the treacherous, when they killed Imam ʿAlī (peace be upon him) in the prayer niche (mihrab).
Lady Fātimah (peace be upon her) lost all her siblings during her lifetime, while Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) witnessed the loss of Imam al-Ḥasan (peace be upon him) and later was forced to leave with the rest of the Prophet’s household (peace be upon him),
and she witnessed it with her own eyes.
In this period, certain women of Ahl al-Bayt demonstrated extraordinary courage and resilience, at a time when the men of Ahl al-Bayt were on the brink of annihilation during the tragic events surrounding the martyrdom of Sayyiduna al-Husayn.
After the death of her brother al-Hasan and the killing of most of the male children, only Ali Zain al-Abidin remained,
under the protection of Lady Zaynab, may Allah be pleased with her, and al-Hasan ibn al-Hasan, there were no others present on the scene except the women of Ahl al-Bayt.
Lady Zaynab, may Allah be pleased with her, stood as the head and guiding reference of Ahl al-Bayt. Anyone seeking to engage with the household of the Prophet had to approach her, for she was their emblem and leader.
That is why it is said that Lady Zaynab, may Allah be pleased with her, bore burdens that thousands of men could not endure.
She bore the responsibility of the great trust—the trust of the Prophet’s Household and their continued presence in this world.
O Zainab, you are in this world like the sun! Allah, Allah!
She has a light that shines and never fades—Allah, Allah!
And whoever comes to this presence is healed—Allah, Allah!
By Allah’s will, you are his healer—Allah, Allah!
When she took in what remained of Ahl al-Bayt, embraced them, protected them, and moved them from place to place so that the lineage would continue.
This demonstrates the strength of responsibility and the power of the women of Ahl al-Bayt, and how much Allah granted them of wisdom, resilience, and courage to face the difficult times when men were failing.
Here, it highlights the greatness of Lady Zainab’s status that inner steadfastness connected to Allah, which enabled her to face all these hardships, even witnessing her brother being martyred.
She witnessed the killing of Ahl al-Bayt and saw the vile, atrocious acts of the corrupt, wicked, and the enemies of Ahl al-Bayt.
They inflicted all this upon her brothers and Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet, yet she stood firm with unwavering resolve, protecting them and guiding them safely to refuge.
She witnessed the death of those dearest to her—her children were with their uncle, Sayyiduna al-Husayn, along with the rest of the senior members of the Prophet’s family, who were all martyred.
Who could bear such a burden? And then, when one comes to the city and sits with her, they cannot endure what they hear of the ordeals she chose to reveal, so that people may understand the immense patience of Ahl al-Bayt.
Consider how much they endured. People later reaped the harvest, yet they bore only the burdens and weights—what even mountains could scarcely carry. This life, this patience, this steadfast endurance is unparalleled and cannot be repeated.
Among women, there is none like them in endurance. People shared their stories because it was astonishing that any human could bear such trials.
Even more astonishing, it is as if Allah, Glorified and Exalted, appointed her—after the martyrdom of Ahl al-Bayt—to carry the trust of the Prophet’s secret. When Ahl al-Bayt were slain, the one entrusted with preserving this secret was Lady Zaynab.
By her courage, dignity, and bravery, she protected Imam Zain al-Abidin from being killed. When the descendants of al-Husayn (peace be upon him) were captured, they chose her as a captive, intending to humiliate her—but she remained steadfast.
They intended to humiliate her, but Allah elevated her, raised her status, and exalted her name. The Muhammadan strength and Fatimid dignity manifested through her when she stood before Yazid.
And she said to him: ‘Do your utmost and exert all your effort, for you will never erase our memory—just as the memory of Ahl al-Bayt of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) cannot be erased, and the Qur’an is its source,
The Prophet (PBUH) is their origin, and they [his Household] are his fruits.’
Therefore, every member of Ahl al-Bayt, and indeed every member of the Prophet’s nation, owes a debt of honor to Sayyida Zaynab, peace and Allah’s pleasure be upon her, for her unmatched virtue and service.
For she was the one who provided protection, accompanied by the daughters of Ahl al-Bayt—daughters of al-Hasan and al-Husayn. Most of these noble women were later moved to Egypt under the guidance of Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas.
‘Go to Egypt, for there are people there who love you for the sake of Allah, Ahl al-Bayt.’ From there, she went and took with her the daughters of Sayyiduna al-Husayn—Fatimah al-Nabawiyyah and Sukayna.
From this point, the women of Ahl al-Bayt began to emerge and gain prominence in Egypt, especially since they were the ones present at that time, and they became the bearers of the two trusts.
They carried the trust of preservation and the responsibility of representation, serving as the ones who embodied and represented the family and Household of the Prophet (PBUH).
The noble men and women of the family of the Prophet (PBUH) have ongoing roles in the life of the Ummah, roles that continue even if we are not always aware of them.
In recent times, people often overlook the family of the Prophet (PBUH) simply because they do not follow news about them or show interest. Many even claim to be from the family of the Prophet (PBUH) when they are not.
In the Sunnah, the principle is to believe and have good assumptions. Yet, you will find some people, whose minds have been overtaken by the whispers of Satan, saying, “We don’t know; this is just a paper they took from so-and-so.”
This is meant to intimidate—it comes from the eveil whispers of Satan, not from Allah. As Allah says, “Indeed, the devils do whisper to their allies to argue with you” (Quran 6:121).
This comes from the inspiration of Satan, because he knows that if the true history and conduct of Ahl al-Bayt were known among people, it would awaken them and guide them to the truth.
So, whenever the story of Ahl al-Bayt is mentioned to someone, Satan immediately intervenes. He acts as if he is saying: “Distract them from this story, conceal it,” because if this story matures and rises in people’s hearts, it will awaken awareness and change minds.
Exactly. When the people truly rise and internalize the legacy of Ahl al-Bayt, Satan no longer has influence among them. His first instinct is always to obscure and overshadow their story, to make it unnoticed or forgotten. But for those who follow and reflect—those who are attentive—the truth of their legacy
will realize that many women of Ahl al-Bayt in this time, who have preserved their lineage and are aware of their connection to Prophet (PBUH), stand apart from others. With this noble lineage comes a natural alignment with knowledge and righteousness, so that virtue and piety become inseparable from their identity.
O Allah, send Your blessings and peace, forever and always, upon the Prophet (PBUH) and all of his Household.
The role of the Household of our master Muhammad (PBUH) in spiritual education will be the focus of our next episode, Allah willing.
