Fatimah (AS): The Righteous One of the Divine Court
Fatimah (AS): The Righteous One of the Divine Court
The Noble Qur’an states:
“And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger—those are with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor: the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.” (Surah An-Nisā’, verse 69)
Regarding this verse, Anas ibn Mālik narrates:
One morning, the Noble Prophet (PBUH) was standing in prayer, radiant in the mihrab like a shining moon. After the Fajr prayer, I said:
“If it pleases you, O Messenger of Allah, please explain the interpretation of this verse.”
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“‘The prophets’ refer to me; ‘the truthful’ refer to Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS); ‘the martyrs’ refer to my uncle Hamzah (AS); and ‘the righteous’ refer to my daughter Zahra (AS), and her sons Hasan (AS) and Husayn (AS).”
Upon hearing this, Abbas—uncle of the Prophet (PBUH)—rose from a corner of the mosque and approached him, saying:
“Are not I, you, Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husayn all from the same source?”
The Prophet (PBUH) asked, “What do you mean, dear uncle?”
Abbas replied, “You did not mention my name or honor me with this station!”
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Dear uncle, you speak the truth: I, you, Ali, Hasan, and Husayn are all from the same origin (lineage). Yet, Allah created us at a time when neither these lofty heavens existed, nor this earth was spread out, nor the Throne (‘Arsh), nor Paradise, nor Hellfire. Even then, we were glorifying and sanctifying Allah, while no other being existed to do so.
When Allah intended creation, He first created my light, and from my light He fashioned the Throne. Thus, the light of the Throne is from my light, and my light is from the Light of Allah.
Then He created the light of Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS), and from it He created the angels. Thus, the light of the angels is from the light of Ali (AS), and Ali’s light is from the Light of Allah.
Then He created the light of my daughter Fatimah (AS), and from it He created the heavens and the earth. Thus, the light of the heavens and earth is from the light of Fatimah (AS), and her light is from the Light of Allah—and Fatimah (AS) is superior to the heavens and the earth.
Then He created the light of Hasan (AS), and from it He made the sun and the moon. Thus, the light of the sun and moon is from Hasan’s light, and Hasan’s light is from the Light of Allah—and Hasan (AS) is superior to the sun and moon.
Then He created the light of Husayn (AS), and from it He created Paradise and the Ḥūr al-‘Īn. Thus, the light of Paradise and the Ḥūr al-‘Īn is from Husayn’s light, and Husayn’s light is from the Light of Allah—and Husayn (AS) is superior to Paradise and the Ḥūr al-‘Īn.
Then, by His Power, Allah created darkness and spread it before the eyes of the angels. The angels cried out:
‘O Pure and Holy Lord! Ever since we recognized these luminous forms (the lights of the Ahl al-Kisā’), we have seen no evil. We swear by their station: deliver us from this tribulation!’
At that moment, Allah created lanterns of mercy and placed them along the edges of the Throne. The angels asked:
“O Lord! To whom does this grace belong? Whose is this light?”
Allah replied:
“This is the light of My maidservant, Fāṭimah al-Zahrā’. That is why I named My maidservant ‘al-Zahrā’—because the heavens and the earth became manifest by her light. She is the daughter of My Prophet, the wife of My Wasi (successor), and My proof (ḥujjah) over My creation. I call you to witness, O My angels, that I have assigned the reward of your glorification and sanctification to this woman and her followers until the Day of Resurrection.”
At that moment, Abbas rose from his place, kissed the forehead of Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS), and said:
“O Ali! Indeed, Allah has made you a clear and decisive proof (ḥujjah bālighah) over His servants until the Day of Judgment.”
(Tafsīr Ahl al-Bayt, vol. 3, p. 286; Bihār al-Anwār, vol. 25, p. 16)
