Hazrat Faatemah (a.s.) is called Faatemah because nobody can fathom her position. The only way to get some insight into her august position is from the sayings of the holy infallibles (a.s.).
The following are some of the quotations from Sunni books listing her virtues and underscoring her status:
1) Cause of creation of the universe
Numerous Sunni narrators like Shaikh al-Islam al-Hamuee (exp 732 A.H.) has documented in his book Faraaed al-Simtain book 1, pg 36, from Ibne Abbas, who quotes from Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.):
When Allah created Hazrat Adam (a.s.) and angels prostrated before him, Hazrat Adam (a.s.) asked Allah whether He had created anyone, dearer than him (Adam).
Allah replied: Yes. If they were not there, I would not have created you.
Then Hazrat Adam (a.s.) expressed his desire to see them. At the time, Allah ordered the Angels to set aside the curtain. Then Hazrat Adam (a.s.) saw five shadows in front of Allah’s Throne. He asked: O Allah! Who are they?
Allah informed: This is Muhammad (s.a.w.a.), this is his cousin and brother and successor, Ameerul Momeneen Ali (a.s.), and this is Faatemah (s.a.) the beloved daughter of My Messenger, and these are the sons of Ali and the Prophet, Hasan and Husain. Listen O Adam, they are among your sons.
Khwarazmi has quoted in his Manaaqib, that Abu Hurairah, has invited attention to this sentence – If they would not have been there you would not have been created. After this, Allah informed Adam that if they had not have been there, even Arsh and Kursi, skies and earth, angels, jinn and humans would not have been created. And for this reason Hazrat Faatemah Zahra (s.a.) is the cause of creation.
2) Love of Faatemah is condition of prophethood
Allah, the Almighty, presented the Wilaayat (mastership) of Ali (a.s.), Faatemah (a.s.) and their infallible progeny (a.s.) to the creation. Those who took precedence in accepting them were appointed prophets, after them came the Shias. Allah will gather all of them in Paradise. Many traditions on these lines are available in books like Basaaer al-Darajaat.
3) Leader of the women of this world and the hereafter
Ibne Maghaazali Shaafe’ee, in his book Manaaqib, pg 399, has documented a tradition from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.): By the Almighty, who made me a Prophet, that you O’ (Faatemah (a.s.)) are the leader of all women in both worlds i.e. in this world, and the hereafter.
Many more traditions of this nature have been mentioned by Sunni scholars like Allamah Shahaabuddin Aalusi in Tafseer al-Maani, book 3, pg 155, Shaafe’ee in Seerah al-Halabi book 2, pg 6, as also by Suyuti, Muqrezi, Mannaawi, Ibn Abil Hadeed Motazali, Ahmed Zaini Vehlaan, Shaafe’ee Mufti Misri.
4) Affection and regard for Faatemah (s.a.) will serve at 100 stations
Shaikh al-Islam al-Hamuee in his invaluable book Faraaed al-Simtain, book 2, pg 67 has documented a tradition from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) that he (s.a.w.a.) informed Salmaan:
He who befriends Faatemah (a.s.) will be with me in Paradise and he who bears enmity with Faatemah will be in Hell. O Salmaan! Affection for Faatemah will rescue a person in 100 stations of which the least terrifying are death, grave, scale of deeds, resurrection, Seraat and accounting of deeds. He with whom my daughter is pleased, will benefit from my pleasure, and he with whom, I am pleased will benefit from Allah’s Pleasure. And he with whom Faatemah is angry, will incur my wrath and he with whom I am angry will be a target of Allah’s Wrath. Most deplorable is the one who tyrannizes Faatemah (s.a.) or her husband Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) or her sons or their Shias.
5) Distinction of Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) stature in Paradise
Allamah Ibne Maghaazali in Manaaqib page 37 states from Nasr b. Ali who relates on the authority of Imam Moosa al-Kaazim (a.s.), and he on the authority of his immaculate forefathers (a.s.), and they on the authority of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.), who quotes from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) who will holding the hands of Hasan (a.s.) and Husain (a.s.) informed:
He, who befriends these two, their father and their mother, will enjoy my stature in Paradise.
Khateeb-e-Baghdaadi had stated that when Nasr b. Ali, stated this tradition, Mutawakkil ordered a punishment of two lashes. When Mutawakkil’s agents were beating him, Jafar b. Abdul Waahid inquired from Mutawakkil why they were beating him as he (Nasr) was a Sunni. Nasr was then let off. (Taarikh-e- Baghdaad, book 13, pg 288)
6) Faatemah (s.a.) is Allah’s select creation
The highly regarded Hanafi scholar – Haafiz al-Muwaffaq Ibn Ahmad al-Makki al-Hanafi, famous as Akhtab Khwarazm (exp 568 A.H.) in his book Maqtal al-Husain, pg 67, has quoted a tradition on the authority of Zaid b. Ali, who relates on the authority of his forefathers (a.s.) and they, on the authority of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) who narrated that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) informed Faatemah (a.s.):
Allah after viewing all the humans on earth selected your father and made him a prophet. Again Allah viewed the world and selected your husband i.e. my brother as my successor. Then after viewing the universe for the third time, He selected you and your mother and appointed both of you as leaders of all womenfolk. Allah glanced at the universe a fourth time and selected both your sons and conferred on them the honour of being the leaders of all youths of Paradise.
Traditions of this nature have been quoted by numerous Sunni scholars like Haafiz Aasimi in his book Zain al-Fatah.
7) Faatemah (a.s.) is the subject of Adam and Hawwa’s amazement
Allamah Asqalaani in Lisaan al-Mizaan, book 3, pg 349, has mentioned on the authority of Hazrat Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) and he on the authority of his forefathers (a.s.) ending in Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.), who relates:
When Allah created Adam and Hawwa, they started taking pride in being more beautiful than others. In the meanwhile, they sighted another woman, whose face was extremely beautiful and luminous. It was difficult for them to fix their gaze on her radiance. Adam and Hawwa then asked to Allah – Who is this woman?
Allah revealed: This is Faatemah (s.a.), who is superior to all women in your progeny.
Adam asked: O Allah! How it is that she is wearing a crown.
Allah informed: That is her husband Ali (a.s.).
Adam asked: What are those two earrings?
Allah informed: Those are her two sons.
8) The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and Faatemah (s.a.) are the two Pillars of Ali (a.s.)
Highly respected theologian Haafiz Mohib al-Deen al-Tabari, in his book titled Zakhaaer al-Uqba pg 56, has a recorded a tradition wherein the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) addressed Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) (a.s.), greeting him by the title – O Father of two fresh and blossoming Flowers, shortly, both your two pillars will go.
When Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) passed away, Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) said – Of the two pillars, this was one. Shortly thereafter when Hazrat Faatemah (a.s.) passed away, he (a.s.) said this was the second pillar.
9) Paradise on salutation
Ibne Maghaazali Shaafe’ee, in Manaaqib, pg 363 has recorded a tradition on the authority of Yazid Abdul Malik who stated on the authority of his grandfather – When he went to Faatemah she took initiative in saluting me and said that when her father (Prophet (s.a.w.a.)) was alive, he used to say that whoever sends his salutations to him (Prophet (s.a.w.a.)) and to me, for three days continuously, he will earn Paradise.
The narrator asked – Is it during your lifetime?
Faatemah (s.a.): In my lifetime or afterwards.
10) Faatemah (a.s.) is the Proof of Allah
The renowned theologian and Sunni commentator of the Quran Haakim Haskaani in his book – Shawaahid al-Tanzeel, book 1, pg 58 has quoted a tradition through Jaabir b. Abdullah al-Ansaari (r.a.), who relates from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.):
Of course, Allah has appointed Ali (a.s.) and his wife (Faatemah (a.s.)) and her two sons as his Proof over creation. These persons are the ‘Doors of Knowledge’. Whoever takes guidance from them he would be treading the right path.
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