The Story of Fatima Az Zahra (R.A.)
• Her Birth:
Fatima bint Mohammad (R.A.), famously known as Fatima Az Zahra (R.A.), was the fourth and most favorite daughter of the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.). Fatima Az Zahra (R.A.) was born in Makkah, five-years before the Prophet-hood of Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) (approx. 615 CE). Her mother was Khadija Bint Khuwailid (R.A.), first wife of Prophet (S.A.W.). With Maryam (mother of Isa A.S.), Khadija (R.A.) and Asiah (Pharoh's wife), Fatima (R.A.) was the purest and best of women-kind (Ref: Tirmidhi: 3878).
• Her Sisters and Brothers:
Fatima Az Zahra (R.A.) had three sisters, Zainab (R.A.), Umm Kulthum (R.A.) and Ruqayyah (R.A.). She also had three brothers named Qasim (R.A.), Abdullah (R.A.) and Ibrahim (R.A.) but all of her brothers died in childhood.
• Her Early Life:
Fatima Az Zahra (R.A.) was nursed by her mother and brought up by her father (S.A.W.) in the Prophet's (S.A.W.) home, contrary to the local customs at that time where the newborns were sent to "wet nurses" in the surrounding villages. She spent her early youth under the care of her parents in Makkah and acquired good manners of her parents. When she was five years old, there happened a great change in her father's (S.A.W.) life as he was sent as a Messenger to all of mankind. After Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) declared his prophet-hood, Fatima (R.A.) suffered a lot of hardships and troubles.
Among the severe troubles that she faced was the siege in the valley of Abu Talib where she suffered the pain of hunger and thirst side by side with her father (S.A.W.) and early Muslims.
• Death of her mother Khadija (R.A.):
When the siege of Abu Talib ended, Fatima (R.A.) was afflicted by the death of her mother Khadija (R.A.). Fatima (R.A.) found it very difficult to cope with the loss and sorrow of her mother’s death. To console her, Prophet (S.A.W.) informed her about having received word from angel Gabriel that Allah had built a palace in paradise for her mother.
• Her Migration to Madinah and Marriage with Ali (R.A.):
Fatima (R.A.) and her sister Umm Kulthum (R.A.) stayed in Makkah when the Muslims migrated to Madinah. Then the Prophet (S.A.W.) sent a Sahabi (companion) to bring them to Madinah. She was eighteen years old by then.
After the Battle of Badr, many great companions of Prophet (S.A.W.) betrothed Fatima (R.A.) like Abu Bakr Siddiq (R.A.) and Umar ibn Khattab (R.A.) but the Prophet (S.A.W.) kindly apologized to them saying that he (S.A.W.) waiting for a sign from Allah. Then Ali lbn Abu Talib (R.A.) came and asked Prophet (S.A.W.) to betroth her. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) gave her to Ali (R.A.) in marriage when she was eighteen years old. Ali (R.A.) had nothing to pay as dowry (Mehr) but a shield, which was the Prophet's gift to him.
Ali (R.A.) sold his shield to Uthman ibn Affan (R.A.) in return for four hundred and seventy dirhams, in order to give the price as a dowry to the Prophet (S.A.W.). Then the Prophet (S.A.W.) paid the dowry to Bilal (R.A.) in order to buy some perfume and give the rest to Umm Salama (R.A.) to buy the bride's luggage.
Afterwards, the Prophet (S.A.W.) invited his Sahabas (R.A.)(companions) and made the wedding banquet. After Isha prayer, the Prophet (S.A.W.) went to the bride and groom.
He (S.A.W.) then asked for water for ablution and poured the water upon them and said: "O Allah, may You bless them, make blessing be upon them and bless their offspring."
• Birth of Hassan and Hussain (R.A.):
After one year of her marriage with Ali (R.A.), Fatima (R.A) gave birth to the first grandson to the Prophet (S.A.W.), Al-Hasan lbn Ali (R.A.), in the third year after Hijrah (migration). Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) was pleased and recited ‘Athan’ (call to prayer) in his ear. He (S.A.W.) also chewed a date and rubbed the newborn mouth. He called him Hassan and on seventh day of his birth, he (S.A.W.) shaved his hair and gave away in alms silver equal to the weight of the hair and distributed among the poor.
