Great Resistance for the Cause of Truth

Hazrat Fatima Zahra’s (SA) lifestyle is a perfect role model for a Muslim woman. No other personality can, like Hazrat Zahra, be found that embodies the true and all-round identity of a Muslim woman. Above this, she is a role model for all zealous and believing men and women, Muslims and even non-Muslims who are familiar with that noble personality.

Hazrat Zahra’s (SA) life had certain outstanding features and enlightening points in various personal, family, and social dimensions. This note takes a brief look at the behavior pattern and lifestyle of Hazrat Zahra (SA) on the basis of the statements of Grand Ayatollah Khamenei.

A Mother for Her Father!

Hazrat Fatimah (SA) was also a mother before marriage; a mother for her father! During the Shi’b Abi Talib incident, this girl was like a saving angel for the Prophet of Islam; like a mother to her father; like a nurse for that great man of human history and endured a lot of hardships. After the demise of Hazrat Abu Talib and Hazrat Khadijah, the holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH) was almost alone and Hazrat Fatima Zahra (SA), who was quite young, was the only person who looked after her father during those hard days and it was then that the Messenger of Allah referred to her as “Umm Abiha” (lit. the mother of her father).

On the other hand, when the Qur’anic verse, which asked Muslims to address the Prophet as “O Messenger of Allah”, was revealed Hazrat Zahra (SA) went home and said: “Salaamun Alaikum O Messenger of Allah” and the Holy Prophet held her in his arms and said, “This verse does not apply to you. You just call me father and it will calm my heart and give me pleasure.” This was the status of Hazrat Fatima Zahra (SA) before the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH); a lesson for women and families all over the world.

An Earnest and Dedicated Wife

Hazrat Zahra (SA) is a complete and comprehensive manifestation of an ideal wife, that too, the wife of a unique personality like the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (AS) who spent most of his youth in the battlefronts fighting the enemies of Islam for the cause of Allah. She was a lady who stayed at home while her husband was regularly at the battlefront, and in his absence, the Muslim front would face a lot of problems. In terms of life, too, they lived a very modest life. They adopted this lifestyle because she was the daughter of the Prophet and the leader of the world of Islam. In spite of living in such hard conditions, she proved to be an extremely kind and sacrificing wife. The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (AS) has been quoted saying “ما أغضبنی و لا خرج من أمری” (Not once during our married life did she - i.e. Hazrat Zahra - make me angry and not even once did she disobey me). She was an ideal wife, a wife who never caused her husband to worry and their family environment was one of the sweetest family environments. The love and compassion between this husband and wife were at the highest level.

Spirituality in the Family

Hazrat Fatima Zahra (SA) took care of the spiritual education of the family in all dimensions. In practice, she worshiped and stood in prayers so much that her blessed feet would swell. Her honorable children were witnesses to her acts of worship and learned from her. Imam Hassan Mujtaba (SA) is quoted as saying: “My mother was awake the whole night until morning every Friday eve praying, whenever I heard her voice, I saw her praying for others. I once asked her the next morning as to why she prayed for others and not for herself to which she responded by saying, O my son! “Al-Jar thuma Al-Dar (lit. first neighbor then the family). Fatimah Zahra (SA) had attained such a spiritual position that angels would descend on her and talk to her. She is referred to as “Siddiqah Kobra”. A siddiq is a person who honestly acts upon what he/she thinks and talks about. It is in such a spiritual atmosphere that great children are raised.

Motherhood and Influence on Children

In spite of such a divine position, Fatima Zahra (SA) also did the housework herself. She had assumed the responsibility to take care of her husband and children... She was a mother who raised, taught, and trained her children. She raised four wonderful children. Their two sons, Imam Hassan and Imam Hossein... were brought up by this lady... the famous Hazrat Zaynab was raised by this mother.

It can be understood that the influence of Hazrat Fatima Zahra (Sa) on her two sons and two daughters was greater than the influence of the upbringing of the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (AS) because she was constantly with these children while Imam Ali (AS) was handling his responsibilities outside the home environment. Fatima Zahra (SA) left an impression on these children and she was the one who raised Hossein of Karbala and Zaynab of Karbala. Someone may say that Imam Hasan and Imam Hossein were Imams and had the essence of Imamate. But Hazrat Zaynab was not an imam and it was Fatima Zahra (Sa) who had trained her for nine years.

Hazrat Zahra (SA) and Managing a Lively Life in Difficult Conditions

Fatimah Zahra (SA) endured the hardships of managing her home affairs. The Qur’anic Surah Al-Dahr was revealed because she and her family tolerated hunger and helped the orphan, the poor, and the captive. It has also been narrated that once when Fatima Zahra (Sa) went to meet the Holy Prophet, she had turned so pale because of hunger that upon seeing her the Prophet felt extremely sad and prayed for his daughter. Despite all this, not even once did this lady ask her husband to get her something. Also, when conquests took place and spoils of war were collected, the Prophet’s daughter did not allow herself an iota of worldly pleasures, luxuries, and things that the hearts of every young girl and woman are interested in. The remarkable thing is that along with all these important elements, Fatimah Zahra’s life was a lively one. Managing a poor life in such a happy, exciting, and full of vitality was Fatima Zahra’s special quality.

The Connection Between Family and Society in the Life of Fatima Zahra (SA)

Some people mistakenly think that a person who is engaged in worship and is a devotee and supplicant and a person who engages in prayers and remembrance of God Almighty, cannot be a person of political activities. Some people also think that a woman who engages a politics can’t be a housewife. They think that these are contradictory. While this is not the case; she should be a good mother and a good wife, and also participate in social activities. Fatima Zahra (SA) was the embodiment of such a group and a combination of different roles.

The Great Resistance of Hazrat Zahra (SA) for the Right Ruler

Hazrat Zahra (SA) sacrificed her life so that the government would not fall into the hands of ineligible people. If Fatima Zahra was not the wife of the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (AS) the case would have been the same. She did not defend her husband, she defended the rightful ruler. She did not say that I am pregnant now, it is not expedient for me to get involved. She miscarried her child Mohsen - she was pregnant with - and her arm got badly hurt and badly swollen but the daughter of the Holy Prophet did not give up on standing for truth and, therefore, thwarted all the plans.

In short, her worship, her eloquence, her wisdom and knowledge, her jihad and struggle, her behavior as a daughter, her behavior as a wife, her behavior as a mother; and her kindness towards the poor made her who she was and made her an exemplary Muslim woman.