In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

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 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 (PBUH) in this world; her foot had swelled because of standing for prayers ⁽¹⁾. Indeed, what has been narrated about Lady Fatimah’s 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 Lady Fatimah’s prayer it is enough to note that the Creator of the universe praises and regards the worships of Fatimah (PBUH) and her husband, Ali (PBUH).

After the Prophet’s migration from Mecca to Medina, Ali Ibn Abitalib (PBUH) accompanied Lady Fatimah (PBUH) and a number of other women and some weak people to migrate to Medina in a small caravan according to what the Prophet had ordered him. The infidels of Mecca who had failed to capture the Prophet in his migration decided to take family as captives as an alternative to catch him. Nonetheless, Amir al-Mu’minin’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 Mecca.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) rushed to see Ali and Fatimah (PBUT) with indescribable happiness. He hugged Ali (PBUH) and said: “Before you arrive, the angel 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. Gabriel brought these verses from the Gracious God:

‘Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): "Our Lord! You have not created this without purpose, glory to You! Give us salvation from the chastisement of the Fire.’ ⁽²⁾”

The spiritual scent of these verses made Ali and Fatimah (PBUT) 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 al-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, 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:

Ali (PBUH) found his wife in tears, he then sought the cause of it, Zahra (PBUH) responded, “I thought of my state in the end of this life and in purgatory, since the transition from my father’s 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, 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&HP), asks the commander of faithful believers, Imam Ali (PBUH), “How did you find your spouse?”, Ali (PBUH) does not waste a split second and answers immediately “the best companion and aide in obeying and worshiping Allah”. This is how the personality of Zahra (PBUH) is presented in the view of Imam Ali (PBUH), at the first night of their marriage.

(Selected from “Jaami Az Zulale Kawthar” by Ayatullah Muhammad Taqi Misbah Yazdi)  

The Roshd website congratulates all the Muslims of the world and especially you dear friend the birthday anniversary of the complete exemplar of servitude and the utmost model of chastity, the daughter of the Prophet of Islam, Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (PBUH).

Roshd Islamic Shia Website

Footnotes:

1. Bihar al-Anwaar, vol. 43, p. 75, Narration 62

2. The Holy Quran (2:191)

3. Ihqaaq al-Haq, vol. 4, p. 481

4. Bihar al-Anwaar, vol. 42, p. 117