the wrongdoers! And if anyone
desires a religion other than
Islam (submission to Allah), it
never will it be accepted from him;
And in the hereafter, he will be in
the ranks of those who have lost.
Surely you have not waited until
its stampede seized, and it became
obedient. You then started
arousing its flames,
instigating its coal
complying with the call of
the misled devil, quenching
the light of the manifest religion,
and extinguished the
light of the sincere prophet.
You concealed sips on froth and
proceeded towards his (the Prophet)
kin and children in swamps and
forests (meaning you plot against)
them in deceitful ways), but we
are patient with you as if we are
being notched with knives and
stung by spearheads in our
abdomens, Yet -now you claim-
that there is not inheritance
for us!
What!
"Do they then seek after a
judgement of (the Days of)
ignorance?
( 230 )
But How, for a people whose
faith is assured, can give
better judgement than Allah?
Don't you know?
Yes, indeed it is obvious to
you that I am his daughter
O Muslims!
Will my inheritance be usurped?
O son of Abu Quhafa!
Where is it in the Book of
Allah that you inherit your
father and I do not inherit
mine?
Surely you have come up with
an unprecedented abandon
the Book of Allah and cast it
behind your back?Do you not
read where it says:
'And Sulaiman inherited Dawood?
And when it narrates the story of
Zakariya and says:
'So give me an heir as from
thyself; (One that) will inherit
me, and inherit the posterity of
Yaqoob '
And:
'But kindred by hood have prior
rights against each other in the
Book of Allah'
And:
( 231 )
'Allah (thus) directs as
regards your children's (inheritance)
to the male, a portion equal to
that of two females'
And:
'... If he leaves any goods, that
he make a bequest to parents
and next of kin, according to
reasonable usage; this is due
from the pious ones
You claim that I have to
share! And that I have no
share! And that I do not
inherit my father! What!
Did the Allah reveal a (Quranic)
verse regarding you,
from which He excluded my father?
Or do you say:
'These (Fatima and her
father) are the people of two
faiths, they do not inherit
each other?!' Are we not, me
and my father, a people
adhering to one faith?
Or is it that you have more
knowledge about the
specifications and generalizations
of the Quran than my father
and my cousin (Imam Ali )?
So, here you are! Take it!
(Ready with) its nose rope
and saddled! But if shall
( 232 )
encounter you on the Day of
Gathering; (thus) what a wonderful
judge is Allah, a claimant
is Muhammad, and a day is the
Day of Rising
At the time of the Hour shall
the wrongdoers lose; and
it shall not benefit you to
regret (your actions) then!
For every Messenger, there is
a time limit; and soon shall
ye know who will be inflicted
with torture that will humiliate
him, and who will be confronted
by an everlasting punishment
(Fatima then turned towards the Ansars and said:)
O you people of intellect!
The strong supporters of the
nation! And those who embraced
Islam; What is this short-coming
in defending my right? And
what is this slumber (while you
see) injustice (being done
toward me)?
Did not the Messenger of Allah
(P.B.U.H), my father, used to
say:
'A man is upheld (remembered)
by his children'?
O how quick have you violated
(his orders)?!
( 233 )
How soon have you plotted
against us? But you still
are capable (of helping me in)
my attempt, and powerful (to help
me) in that which I request and
(in) my pursuit (of it).
Or do you say:
"Muhammad (P.B.U.H) has perished;'
Surely this is a great calamity;
Its damage is excessive
its injury is great,
Its wound (is much too deep)
to heal
The Earth became darkened
with is departure; the stars
eclipsed for his calamity;
hopes were seized;
mountains submitted
sanctity was violated, and
holiness was encroached upon
after his death. Therefore,
this, by Allah,is the great
affliction, and th grand
calamity; there is not an
affliction -which is the like
of it, nor will there be a
sudden misfortune (as surprising
as this).
The Book of Allah-excellent in
praising him-announced in the
courtyards (of your house)
( 234 )
the place where you spend your
evenings and mornings;
A call,
A cry,
A recitation, and (verses)
in order:
It had previously came upon
His (Allah's) Prophets
and Messengers; (for it is)
A decree final, and a
predestination fulfilled:
"Muhammad is not but an Apostle:
Many were the apostles that passed
away before him. If he
died or was slain, will ye
then turn back on your heels?
If any did turn back on his
heels, not the least harm will
he do to Allah; but Allah (on
the other hand) will swiftly
reward those who (serve Him)
with gratitude."
O you people of reflection;
will I be usurped the inheritance
of my father while you hear and
my call, and are included in the
(news of the) affair?
(But) You are numerous and well
equipped! (You have) the means and the
( 235 )
power, and the weapons and
the shields .Yet, the call
reaches you but you do not answer
the cry comes to you
but you do not come to help?
(This) while you are characterized
by struggle,known fro goodness
and welfare, the selected group
(which was chosen), and the
best ones chosen by the Messenger
(P.B.U.H) for us, Ahlul Bayt.
You fought the Arabs
bore with pain and exhaustion,
struggled against the nations, and
resisted their heroes.
We were still, so were you in
ordering you, and you in obeying
us. So that Islam became triumphant,
the accomplishment of the days
came near, the fort of polytheism
was subjected, the outburst of
fabrications subsided, the flames
of infidelity calmed down, and the
system of religion was well-ordered.
Thus, (why have you) become confused
after clearness? Conceal
matters after announcing them?
Turned on your heels after daring?
Associated (others with Allah)after
believing?
Will you not fight people who
( 236 )
violated their oaths? Plotted
to expel the Apostle and became
aggressive by being the first (to
assault) you?
Do ye fear them?
Nay, it is Allah Whom ye should
more justly fear, if you believe!
Nevertheless,
I see that you are inclined
to easy living; dismissed he
who is more worthy of guardianship
(Ali A.S); You secluded yourselves
with meekness and dismissed that
which you accepted. Yet, if you show
ingratitude, ye and all on earth
together, yet, Allah free of all
wants, worthy of all praise.
Surely I have said all that I
have said with full knowledge
that you intent to forsake me,
and knowing the betrayal which
your hearts sensed of soul
the effusion of fury,
the dissemination of (what is)
the chest and the presentation
of the proof. Hence,
Here it is!
Bag it (leadership and) put
it on the back of an ill she-
camel, which has a thin hump,
( 237 )
with everlasting grace, marked
with the wrath of Allah,and the
blame of ever (which leads to)
the Fire of (the wrath of) Allah
kindled (to a blaze), that which
doth mount (right)to the hearts;
For,
Allah witness what you do,
and soon will the unjust assailants
know what vicissitudes their affairs
will take!! And I am the daughter
of a warner (the Prophet P.B.U.H)
to you against a severe punishment.
So act and so will we,
and wait, and we shall wait."
(The end of Lady Fatima's speech.)
It appears from recorded historical events, that Lady Fatima (AS) was successful at the beginning in persuading Abu Bakr to hand back Fadak to her; listen to part of a speech he (according to some historians's) delivered after hearing Fatima's speech .He said:
"O daughter of the Messenger of Allah ... . Surely the Prophet is your father, not anyone else's, the brother of your husband, not any other man's; he surely preferred him over all his friends and (Ali) supported him in every important matter, no one loves you save the lucky and no one hates you save the wretched. You are the blessed progeny of Allah's Messenger, the chosen ones, our guides to goodness,our path to Paradise, and you -the best of women -and the daughter of the best prophets, truthful is your sayings,excelling in reason. You shall not be driven back from your light ... . But I surely heard your father saying:'We th group prophets do not inherit, nor are we inherited.'
( 238 )
Yet this is my situation and property, it is yours (if you wish): it shall not be concealed from you, nor will it be stored away from you. You are the Mistress of your father's and the blessed tree of your descendants. Your property shall not be usurped against your will, nor can your name be defamed. Your judgement shall be executed in all that which I possess. This, do you think that I violate your father's (will)?"
Fatima then refuted Abu Bakr's claim that the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) had stated that Prophets can not be inherited, and said:
Glory be to Allah!!
Surely Allah's Messenger (P.B.U.H) did not abandon Allah's Book, nor did he violate His commands. Rather, he followed its decrees and adhered to its chapters. So do you unite with treachery justifying your acts with fabrications? Indeed this after his departure is similar to the disasters which were plotted against him during his lifetime. But behold! This is Allah's Book, a just judge and a decisive speaker, saying:
'One that will (truly) inherit Me, and inherit the posterity of Yaqub'.
and
and Sulaiman inherited Dawood.
Thus, He (Glory be to Him) made clear that which He made share of all heirs, decreed from the amount of inheritance, allowed for males and females and eradicated all doubts and ambiguities (pertaining to this issue which existed with the) bygones.
Nay!
But your minds have made up a tale ( that may pass) with you, but, (for me) patience is most fitting against that which ye assert, it is Allah (alone) whose help can be sought".
It is apparent that Abu Bakr chanced that mode with which he addressed Lady Fatima (as) after delivering her speech. Listen to
( 239 )
his following speech; which is his reply to Fatima's just reported speech.
Abu Bakr said:
"Surely Allah and his Apostle are truthful, and so has his (the Prophet's) daughter told the truth. Surely you are the source of wisdom, the element of faith, and the sole authority. Nay Allah not refute your righteous argument, nor invalidate your decisive speech. But these are the Muslims between us who have entrusted me with leadership, and it was according to their satisfaction that I received I received what I have. I am not being arrogant, autocratic, or selfish, and they are my witness."
Upon hearing Abu Bakr speak of the people's support for him, Lady Fatima Zahra (AS) turned towards them and said:
"O people,
who rush towards uttering falsehood and are indifferent to disgraceful and losing actions!
Do you not earnestly seek to reflect upon the Quran, or are your hearts isolated with locks? But on your hearts is the stain of the evil which you committed; it has seized your hearing and your sight, evil is that which you justified, cursed is that which you reckoned, and wicked is what you have taken for an exchange! You shall, by Allah, find bearing it (to be a great) burden, and its consequence disastrous. (That is) on the day when the cover is removed and appears to you what is behind it of wrath. When you will be confronted by Allah with that which you could never have expected, there will perish, there and then, those who stood on falsehoods."
Although parts of Abu Bakr's speech can not be verified with authentic evidence, and despite the fact that we have already mentioned part of the actual speech which Abu Bakr delivered after Lady Fatima's arguments, it appears certain that Abu Bakr
( 240 )
was finally persuaded to submit Fadak to her.
Nevertheless, when Fatima was leaving Abu Bakr's house, Umar suddenly appeared and exclaimed:
What is it that you hold in your hand?"
Abu Bakr replied: "A decree I have written for Fatima in which I assigned Fadak and her father's inheritance to her."
Umar then said; "With what will you spend on the Muslims if the Arabs decided to fight you?"
Umar then seized the decree and store it up!!!
( 241 )
CHAPTER 50
FADAK IN THE POLITICAL ARENA
In addition to being a reason encouraging others to be unjust to Ahlul-Bayt, the usurping of Fadak by Abu Bakr ignited political unrest throughout history. Sheik Jafar subhani, a leading historian, wrote the following in his book The Messenger P.601 regarding Fadak throughout history:
"The foundation of the deprivations of the descendants of Fatima's claim of Fadak was laid in the time of the First Caliph. After the martyrdom of Ali, Mu'awiyah assumed the reins of government and divided Fadak amongst three persons (Marwan, Amr ibn Uthman and his own son, Yazid). During the period of the Caliphate of Marwan, all three shares were assumed by him and he gifted them to his son, Abdul Aziz. He, in turn, gave the same to his son, Umar. On account of the fact that Umar Bin Abdul Aziz was an upright person from amongst Bani Umayyah, the first heresy which removed was that he returned Fadak to the descendants of Fatima. After his death, however, the succeeding Umayyad Caliphs again took away Fadak from the Bani Hashim and it continued to remain in their possession till their rule came to an end.
During the Caliphate of Bani Abbas, the question of Fadak vacillated in a strange manner. For example, Saffah gave it to Abdullah Bin Hassan and after him Mansur Dawaniqi took it back, but his son Mahdi returned it to the descendants of Zahra. After him Musa and Harun took it away from them on account of some political
( 242 )
considerations. When Ma'mun assumed the office of caliph, he handed it over formally to its owner. After his death, the conditions of Fadak vacillated once again and it was returned at one time to the descendants of Fatima and then taken away from them again.
During the period of the Caliphate of Bani Umayyah and Bani Abbas, Fadak assumed largely a political aspect as compared with its pecuniary aspect, And even if the First Caliphs were in need of income from fadak, the later Caliphs and nobles were so rich that they did not stand in any need of income from it. Hence, when Umar Bin Abdul Aziz handed over Fadak to the descendants of Fatima, Bani Umayyah reproached him and said: By this act of your, you love found fault with the two venerable men (viz. Abu Bakr and Umar). They, therefore, persuaded him to distribute the income from fadak among the descendants of Fatima, but to keep its ownership with himself."
( 243 )
CHAPTER 51
THE HOUSE OF GRIEF
When political oppositions fails, silent starts. This kind of protest can be more effective than the first, because in addition to having the benefits of offending and disapproving of the opponent's acts, it also gives the person the chance of keeping calm and tranquil.
Lady Fatima Zahra (AS) acted in such a manner when she realized that with the weaknesses which afflicted her, she could not prevail. So she took refuge in a house in Baqi' near the tombs of martyr, to cry for her father and complain to him about that which grieved her. Fatima (AS) used to visit the great tomb of her father and take handful of the dirt from his grave and smell it then begin weeping. Fatima (AS) would then return to her home and cry day and night. The elderly men of Medina came to Imam Ali (AS) complaining and said:
"Abu Al-Hassan! Fatima cries day and night so none of us can sleep comfortably. Hence, we demand you to ask her to either cry during the day of the night."
Imam Ali (AB) replied: "Most gladly."
He then proceeded towards Fatima who was crying; when she saw him approaching, she stopped and Imam Ali (AS) said:
"Daughter of Allah's Messenger, the elderly men of Medina have asked me to ask you to either cry during th day or the night."
Fatima answered:
( 244 )
Abu Al-Hassan, how short will my stay among them be? And soon I will depart from them. Therefore, by Allah, I join my father Allah's Messenger (P.B.U.H)."
When Imam Ali (AS) saw her insistence, he built a house for her behind Baqi' which later became known as "The house of griefs." Thereafter, with every sunrise, Fatima (AS) would take Al-Hassan and Al-Hussain to that house and cry until sunset, when Imam Ali (AS) would come and bring them back home.
Once, lady Fatima Zahra (AB) longed for the sound of Adhan the call for prayer which was performed by Bilal. But Bilal had taken an oath to never perform it again after the Prophet's death; nevertheless, in respect to Fatima's request, he decided to do so. Yet, as soon as Bilal said; "Allahu Akbar" Fatima (AB) remembered the era of her great father (P.B.U.H) and started weeping, so that when Bilal said:
"I bear witness that Muhammad is His worshipper and Messenger", Fatima took a deep breath and fell unconscious, When Fatima (AB) fell, the people requested Bilal to stop Adhan, because they believed that Fatima had died.
Now that the voice of rejection seized to reveal that which was in Fatima's heart, the language of tears spoke out for her; and as it is correctly said: "The language of tears, is more painful to the heart and sadder to the eyes"!!