Mouood Mouood English Edition
Commenting on Imam Ali’s speech after Fatima’s burial, the commentator on Nahjul Balagha-English version-published by Ansariyan Publication, p.347 – wrote:
“The treatment meted out to the daughter of the Prophet after his death has been extremely painful and sad. Although Sayyedah Fatima (A.S.) did not live in this world more than a few months after the death of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.), yet even this short period has a long tale of grief and woe (about her). In this connection, the first scene that strikes the eyes in that the arrangements for the funeral rites of the Prophet had not yet been made when the contest for power started in the Saqifa of Bani Sa’eda. Naturally, their leaving the body of the Prophet (without burial), must have injured lady Fatima’s grief-stricken heart to see that those who claimed love and attachment (to the Prophet) during his life, became so engrossed in their machinations for power that instead of consoling his only daughter, they did not even know when the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) was given funeral bath and when he was buried; and the way they condoled her, was that crowded at her house with material to set fire to it and tried to secure allegiance by force with all the display of oppression, compulsion and violence. All these excesses were with a view to so obliterate the prestigious position of this house that it might not remain its lost prestige on any occasion. With this aim in view, in order to crush her economic position, her claim for (the estate of) Fadak was turned down by dubbing it as false, the effect of which was that lady Fatima (A.S.) made the dying will that none of them should attend her funeral.”
Fatima Bint Muhammad was ready to meet her Lord. She bathed, than lay down in her garment… She then instructed Asma Bint Umais to wait awhile and then to call her name; if there was no answer, this would mean that she (A.S.) had departed towards her Lord.
Asma waited awhile, then called Fatima’s name… but there was no answer;
Asma repeated the call:
“O daughter of the chosen Muhammad!
O daughter of the most honorable of them whom women bore!
O daughter of the best of those who have walked on gravel!
O daughter of him who was at ‘A distance of but two
bow-lengths or (even) nearer” (a Quranic verse, (53:9))
…There is no answer… silence overwhelms the house …Asma then proceeds towards Fatima and finds her dead.
At that point, Hassan and Hussein entered and asked:
“Where is our mother?”
Yet Asma uttered not a word!
Hassan and Hussein proceeded towards their mother and found her dead. At this, Hussein turned towards Hassan and said:
“May Allah console you for our Mother!”
Imam Ali (A.S.) was at the Mosque. Hassan and Hussein went to the Mosque and broke the news to their father. As soon as he (A.S.) heard their words, he fell unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he said:
“Who will console me now, daughter of Muhammad? You used to console me, so who will take your place now?”
The Hashimite women were then gathered to receive the news of the great calamity… Yes, the calamity befell them once more, while the blood was still flowing from the wound of losing the Prophet…
Medina shakes…
Everyone came to console Ali (A.S.) and his two children… Allah is with you, Zahra’s children…
It was just yesterday that you were inflicted with the death of your great father-the Prophet of Allah-and your new calamity is not any less than that one! But take patience, for this is the will of the Mighty Lord.
* Book: Fatima (S.A) The Gracious. By: Abu Muhammad Ordoni
