Story No. 292 – Fatimah Zahra (pbuh) / Hazrat Fatima Zahra (pbuh) on the Prayer Rug of Servitude

History has witnessed many amazing worships from devoted and faithful people to Allah (SWT). However, the worship of a great young lady Fatimah Zahra (pbuh) has added significant beauty to the rest of worships and it has become an honor for the rest of worshippers. Her worships are described in the following manner:

 

There is no worshipper like Fatimah Zahra (pbuh) in this world; her foot had swelled because of standing for prayers. Indeed, what has been narrated about Fatimah Zahra’s (pbuh) worship and prayer is far beyond what we have seen or heard of other worshipers.

 

It is impossible for anyone to describe the quality and quantity of her worships in words except for Allah (SWT) and His especial selected servants. In order to recognize the greatness of Fatimah Zahra’s (pbuh) prayer it is enough to note that the Creator of the universe praises and regards the worships of Fatimah Zahra (pbuh) and her husband, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (pbuh).

 

After Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) migration (Hijrah/Hijrat) from Makkah to Medina, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (pbuh) accompanied Fatimah Zahra (pbuh) and a number of other women and some weak people to migrate to Medina in a small caravan according to what Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had ordered him. The infidels of Makkah who had failed to capture Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in his migration decided to take family as captives as an alternative to catch him. Nonetheless, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb’s (pbuh) bravery kept their goal as illusive as it was. The caravan reached Medina safe and sound after a number of battles during the path from Makkah.

 

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) rushed to see Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (pbuh) and Hazrat Fatima Zahra (pbuh) with indescribable happiness. He hugged Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (pbuh) and said: “Before you arrive, the angel Jibril (Gabriel) descent on me and told me all about your journey; he told me all about your prayers on the way; your late night and continuous worships; your thought and ponderings and your battles on the way until here. Jibril (Gabriel) brought these verses from the Almight Allah (SWT):

 

“Those who remember Allah standing, sitting and lying on their sides and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth (saying): Our Lord! You have not created this without purpose, Glory be to You! Give us salvation from the chastisement of the fire.” (Noble Qur’an, 3:191)

 

The spiritual scent of these verses made Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (pbuh) and Fatimah Zahra (pbuh) forget about the long and exhausting trip they had. For Allah (SWT) had accepted their continuous prayers, worships, remembrance and ponderings.

 

The quality of her devotion to Allah (SWT) was incomparable; as Fatimah Zahra (pbuh) worshiped Allah (SWT) in every moment of her life and worship was rooted in her daily life. Her deeds, words, glances, efforts, breaths and all of her day and night were worships. Every night, Fatimah Zahra’s (pbuh) home was her prayer rug; after putting the children to bed and finishing the housework, she stood for praying so long so that her feet were sore and swollen.

 

The first night of her marriage is narrated as follows:

 

Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (pbuh) found his wife in tears, he then sought the cause of it, Fatimah Zahra (pbuh) responded, “I thought of my state in the end of this life and in purgatory, since the transition from my father Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) to my own house reminded me of my transition to the grave. By the grace of Allah (SWT), let’s rise for prayer in the first hours of our married life and spend the night in worshiping the Lord.”

 

Indeed, in the sweetest and most memorable moment of her life, the very example of human excellence and the gems of women in heavens and on earth, Fatimah Zahra (pbuh) remembers the reason of her creation and asks her husband to accompany her in spending the night seeking closeness to Allah (SWT). And the day after, when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), asks the commander of faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (pbuh), “How did you find your spouse?” Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (pbuh) does not waste a split second and answers immediately “the best companion and aide in obeying and worshiping Allah (SWT).” This is how the personality of Fatimah Zahra (pbuh) is presented in the view of Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (pbuh), at the first night of their marriage.