The Al-Fateh Mosque (Bahrain)

The Great Women of Islam

In the name of Allah, Who is the most Beneficent and the most Merciful.

Hazrat Anâs (RA) reports that Nabî (SAW) has said: “From among the women of the world who have reached perfection and who are worthy of are as: Maryam (AS) the daughter of Imrân; Khadija daughter of Khuwailid; Fatima daughter of Muhammad and Asiyah (AS) wife of Fir’aun” (Tirmidhi)

The scholars of hadîth are of the view that this statement was made before Syeda Aisha (RA) reached the position of excellence whereupon Nabî (SAW) said: “The virtue of Aisha (RA) over all the women of the world is like the virtue of tharîd [a meat dish] over all other food.”

The hadith however bring up to four women who attained excellence in faith and character by virtue of their religious fervor, patience, hard work and morality. Their lives radiated with piety, trust, patience and gratitude. Their lives serve as beacons of guidance for all believers, especially in times of hardship, difficulty and struggle.

1.     Hazrat Maryam (AS)

Maryam (AS) the daughter of Imrân:

Allah reveals that "Allah chose Prophet Adam and Prophet Nuh, and the family of Prophet Ibrahim and the family of 'Imran, over all other beings-descendants one of the other..." (Surah Al 'Imran: 33-34). In other words, 'Imran's family descended from the Prophet Adam (AS), Prophet Nuh (AS), and Prophet Ibrahim (AS), and they were dignified people. One of these chosen people was Hazrat Maryam (AS), whose family sincerely believed in Allah, respected the limits that He has established for humanity, and always sought and trusted Him.

Then `Imran's wife, a sincere believer, found out that she was pregnant with Hazrat Maryam (AS), she immediately prayed to Allah. She praised Him and promised that she would dedicate her child to Him. When she gave birth to a girl, she named her Maryam, which means to abide, in other words someone who relentlessly worships Allah. Allah reveals her prayer in the following verse:

Remember when the wife of 'Imran said: "My Lord, I have vowed to You whatever is in my womb, to be devoted [to Your service]. Please accept it from me. You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing." When she gave birth, she said: "My Lord! I have given birth to a girl"-and Allah knew very well what she had given birth to, male and female are not the same-"and I have named her Maryam and placed her and her children in Your safekeeping from Satan, the accursed." (Surah Al 'Imran: 35-36)

True freedom can be achieved only by serving Allah, surrendering to Him, and freeing oneself from all service to any other beings or values. This is what 'Imran's wife prayed for when dedicating Maryam to Allah, for she wished her daughter to be someone who served only Allah and who did not seek her people's or society's acceptance.

Right after Hazrat Maryam's birth, her mother turned toward Allah, sought His good pleasure, and asked Him to protect Maryam, as well as her children, from Satan's evil. Allah accepted this wholehearted prayer "and made Hazrat Maryam (AS) grow in health and beauty" (Surah Al 'Imran: 37). In other words, Hazrat Maryam received the best upbringing and the most superior character.

Hazrat Maryam's mother's wholehearted faith in Allah, acceptance of only Allah as her mentor, constant turning toward Him, and her genuine surrender to Him are very important examples upon which all believers should reflect.

Hazrat Maryam, like the rest of her family, was known among her people for her devotion to Allah as well as her religiosity, chastity, and sincerity. Allah speaks of her as someone obedient to Him.

And Maryam, the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity-We breathed Our Spirit into her. She confirmed the Words of her Lord and His Book, and was one of the obedient. (Surat at-Tahrim: 12)

… and she who guarded her chastity. We breathed into her some of Our Spirit and made her and her son a Sign for all the worlds. (Surat al-Anbiya': 91)

Some miracles

Meeting of Hazrat Maryam (AS) with Hazrat Jibril (AS)

. Hazrat Maryam experienced many miracles throughout her life. One of these was her meeting with Hazrat Jibril (AS). Once, when she left her family and society and went toward the east, she met Hazrat Jibril (AS), who appeared to her in the form of a well-built man:

Mention Maryam in the Book, how she withdrew from her people to an eastern place and concealed herself from them. Then We sent Our Spirit to her, and it took on for her the form of a handsome, well-built man. (Surah Maryam: 16-17)

Not knowing who this man was, she sought refuge with Allah and told him that she held Allah in the utmost fear and respect: "She said: 'I seek refuge from you with the All-Merciful, [leave me] if you have fear [and respect] of Allah'" (Surah Maryam: 18). Her words clearly demonstrate her complete trust in Allah, as well as the importance she placed upon chastity and devotion to Allah. Her words not only expressed all of this, but also called upon this unknown man to have fear and respect of Allah.

Hazrat Jibril (AS) introduced himself with the following words: "I am only your Lord's messenger [an angel] so that He can give you a pure boy" (Surah Maryam: 19). As the Qur'an recounts:

When the angels said: "Maryam, your Lord gives you good news of a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, 'Isa, son of Maryam, of high esteem in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near." (Surah Al 'Imran: 45)

Hazrat Maryam replied: "How can I have a boy when no man has touched me and I am not an unchaste woman?" (Surah Maryam: 20), thereby indicating her chastity. Hazrat Jibril (AS) told her that:

He [Jibril] said: "It will be so." Allah creates whatever He wills. When He decides on something, He just says to it, "Be!" and it is. (Surah Al 'Imran: 47)

He said: "It will be so." Your Lord says: "That is easy for Me. It is so that We can make him a Sign for humanity and a mercy from Us. It is a matter already decreed." So she conceived him and withdrew with him to a distant place. (Surah Maryam: 21-22)

By Allah's will, Hazrat Maryam (AS) became pregnant with Prophet 'Isa (AS) and yet remained a virgin. Her pregnancy was independent of this world's usual cause-and-effect relationship. The circumstances of his conception were among the features of Prophet 'Isa's (as) miracles.

A role model for Muslim women

The Qur'an, the only true guidance for humanity, was revealed so that people would know how to deal with all of the situations that they may encounter while in this world. In addition, the Sunnah (example) of our Prophet (saas) shows how to implement its teachings into one's life. Allah even made it possible for people to understand how to live the Qur'an's morality by giving examples from the Prophets' and other Muslims' lives: "There is an excellent example in them for you to follow, that is for those whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day. But if anyone turns away, Allah is the Rich Beyond Need, the Praiseworthy" (Surat al-Mumtahana: 6) and"We have sent down Clear Signs to you, the example of those who passed away before you, and an admonition for those who guard against evil" (Surat an-Nur: 34). In these verses, He reminds sincere Muslims, who hope for the best in Hereafter, that the people presented in the Qur'an serve as good examples and guidance for them.

One of these sincere Muslims is Hazrat  Maryam (AS), one of the two women noted for their exemplary characters: "Allah has made an example for those who believe: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said: 'My Lord, build a house in the Garden for me in Your presence, rescue me from Pharaoh and his deeds, and rescue me from this wrongdoing people.' And Hazrat  Maryam, the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity-We breathed Our Spirit into her. She confirmed the Words of her Lord and His Book, and was one of the obedient" (Surat at-Tahrim: 11-12). Therefore, every believer is responsible for learning about Maryam's good character from the Qur'an, which gives the most accurate information, and trying to emulate her.

Hazrat Maryam (AS) as having the ideal Muslim woman's character

Allah introduces Hazrat Maryam (AS) as having the ideal Muslim woman's character. This character is completely different than the common character of women in today's unbelieving societies, where they usually share a common socially acceptable character handed down from their ancestors. In these societies, men and women are expected to conform to very different sets of character traits, for men's ideals, worldview, lifestyle, and evaluation of events are believed to be different from those of women.

According to the Qur'an, however, men and women have the same responsibilities and a character, for Allah refers to an ideal Muslim character. He defines the Islamic character in the following verse:

Men and women who are Muslims, men and women who are believers, men and women who are obedient, men and women who are truthful, men and women who are steadfast, men and women who are humble, men and women who give charity, men and women who fast, men and women who guard their chastity, men and women who remember Allah much: Allah has prepared forgiveness for them and an immense reward. (Surat al-Ahzab: 35)

As this verse shows, each person's character is not determined by his or her society's values or continuing traditions, but by the ideal Muslim character. Any woman who adopts this character will have the strongest and the most solid personality possible. And by implementing it in her life, she will win Allah's good pleasure and love, instead of striving to attain status or superiority in her society.

She was one of the chosen women on Earth

According to historical sources, Allah honored Hazrat Maryam (AS), who lived approximately two millennia ago, with the birth of Prophet 'Isa (AS). She was one of the chosen women on Earth as well as in the Hereafter. Born in Roman-occupied Palestine, she was a Jewess and lived in the Jewish community.

Idolatry was Rome's state religion. The Jews, once a nation preferred by Allah "over all other beings" (Surat al-Baqara: 47), had altered His religion, adopted false beliefs, rebelled against Allah's commands, and were no longer grateful for His gifts to them. Some of them even murdered the Prophets sent to them by the grace of Allah, because the Jews did not like the commands that these exalted men convey. The Qur'an reveals their transgressions:

We made a covenant with the tribe of Israel and sent Messengers to them. Each time a Messenger came to them with something their lower selves did not desire, they denied some and they murdered others. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 70)

Maryam was born at a chaotic time, when the Jews' only hope was their expected Messiah (savior). Unknown to her, Allah had already determined to choose and raise her for this holy duty. She was central to the Israelites' expectations, for she would give birth to Prophet 'Isa (AS), whom He compliments in the following terms: "His name is the Messiah, 'Isa, son of Maryam, of high esteem in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near. He will speak to people in the cradle and when fully grown, and will be one of the believers" (Surah Al 'Imran: 45-46).

Allah chose Hazrat Maryam (AS) to represent morality and true religion among her people, who had left the true religion and embraced superstitions and idle speculation. Allah reveals many aspects of her life, among them her birth and family, the birth of Prophet 'Isa (AS), her superior character, and how she resisted her society's slanders and accusations.

2.     Hazrat Khadija (RA), the Daughter of Khuwailid

Hazrat Abdullah ibn Jafar (RA) reported that he heard Sayyiduna Ali (RA) say in Kufa that Allah's Messenger, (RA) said, "The best of the women of her time was Maryam, daughter of Imran, and the best of the women of her time was Khadijah, daughter of Khuwaylid."

Hazrat Khadija (RA) was extraordinarily wise, intelligent, gentle, and persuasive called Tahira meaning chaste and pure even in the era of ignorance. She was extremely wealthy and a prosperous business woman. She married Nabî (SAW) at the age of forty while he was twenty five. She provided the moral, financial, and emotional support for Nabî (SAW) when he was blessed with Nubuwat. When Nabî (SAW) first saw Jibra’îl (AS) in the cave of Hira, he was terrified and feared for his life. He ran down the mountain trembling and crying: “Cover me up! Cover me up!” It was Hazrat Khadija (RA) who consoled him; she was his pillar of support; she believed in him when everyone else doubted him. She served as his refuge, consoled him, supported him and cared for him when he was alone, confused and terrified. She stood by him when everyone else shunned him. Hazrat Khadija (RA) rallied to the call of Islam, she gave a home to Nabî (SAW), she was his first confidant, and tower of strength.

 Biography of Hazrat Khadijah (R.A)

Hazrat Khadijah (RA) was the first to embrace Islam and confessed that her husband was the Messenger of Allah (RA). She came from a noble family. Her father Khuwaylid had been one of the most honoured leaders of their tribe until he was killed in battle. Her husband had also died, leaving her a very wealthy woman. When Muhammad (SAW) was still a young man, she entrusted him with some of her wealth, asking him to trade with it in Syria on her behalf. He was already well known for his honesty, truthfulness and trustworthiness. He returned from Syria after having made a large profit for Khadijah.

After hearing his account of the journey, she decided that he would make the best of the husbands, even though many of the most important nobles of the Quraish had already proposed to her and had been refused, and in due course she proposed to him. After the Prophet's uncle, Hazrat Abu Talib (RA), had given the proposal of marriage, so the marriage between Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) and Khadijah (RA) was took place. At the time of the marriage, the Prophet (SAW) was twenty-five years old, while Hazrat Khadijah (RA) was forty years old.

 The more Hazrat Khadijah (RA) came to know about her husband, the more she loved and respected him. Everyone in Makka called him 'al-Amin', which means 'the trustworthy one', and she, more than anyone else, knew how fitting this name was. It became Muhammad's custom each year to spend the month of Ramadan in isolation in a cave on the mountain of Hira, which is on the outskirts of Makka. Hazrat Khadijah would always make sure that he was provided with food and drink during his retreat. Towards the end of one Ramadan, when he was forty and Khadijah fifty-five, Muhammad (SAW) suddenly appeared at their house in the middle of the night, trembling with fear and saying, "Cover me up, cover me up!"

Hazrat Khadijah (RA) was very alarmed to see him in such a state. Quickly she wrapped a blanket around his shoulders and, when he had calmed down, she asked him to describe exactly what had happened. He told her how a being whom he had never seen before - in fact it was the angel Jibril - had suddenly appeared to him while he was asleep and had said, "Read!"

"But I cannot read," he had replied, for he was unlettered and could neither read nor write. "Read!" the angel had repeated, clasping Muhammad close to his chest. "I cannot read," he had repeated. "Read!" the angel had repeated, firmly embracing him yet again. "What shall I read?" he had asked in desperation, and the angel had replied:

Read, in the Name of thy Lord who created, created man from a clot, Read, and thy Lord is the Most Gracious, Who taught with the pen, taught man what he did not know.(Quran 96:1-5)

Although Muhammad (SAW) did not fully realize it at the time, this was the beginning of the revelation of the Qur'an; but in that first encounter with the angel Jibril, Muhammad (SAW) was very frightened, for he did not know who the angel Jibril was or what was happening. He woke up and ran out of the cave only to find Jibril still in front of him, and whenever he turned away from him, there Jibril was in front of him yet again, filling the horizon with his mighty yet beautiful form.

"Oh Muhammad," said Jibril eventually, "you are the Messenger of Allah and I am Jibril," and with these words he disappeared from Muhammad's sight.

After the angel had disappeared Muhammad (SAW) had clambered down the mountain as fast as he could run, not knowing if he was going mad and imagining things, or if he had been possessed by one of the jinn.

As she listened to Muhammad's (SAW) words, Hazrat Khadijah (RA) did not share any of these fears. She realized that something tremendous and awe-inspiring had happened to her husband, and she was certain, knowing him as she did, that he was neither mad nor possessed. "Do not worry," she said, "for by Him who has dominion over Khadijah's soul, I hope that you are the Prophet of this nation. Allah would never humiliate you, for you are good to your relatives, you are true to your word, you help those who are in need, you support the weak, you feed the guest and you answer the call of those who are in distress."

When Muhammad (SAW) as a little more relaxed, Hazrat Khadijah (RA) took him to see her cousin, Waraqa ibn Nawfal, for he was a man of knowledge, and she was sure that he would be able to explain the meaning of what had just happened to her beloved husband. Waraqa had studied the books of both the Jews and the Christians very closely and he had learned a great deal from many of their wisest people. He knew that the coming of another Prophet had been foretold by both Moses and Jesus, peace be on them, and he knew many of the signs that would confirm the identity of this Prophet when he appeared.

After listening closely to his story, Waraqa, who was both old and blind, exclaimed, "This is the same being who brought the revelations of Allah to Moses. I wish I was young and could be alive when our people will drive you out."

"Will they drive me out?" asked Muhammad (SAW)

"Yes," replied Waraqa. "No one has come with what you have been given without being treated with enmity; and if I were to live until the day when you are turned out, then I would support you with all my might. Let me just feel your back." So, saying, Waraqa felt between the Prophet's shoulder-blades and found what he was feeling for: a small round, slightly raised irregularity in the skin, about the size of a pigeon's egg. This was yet another of the many signs that Waraqa already knew would indicate the identity of the next Prophet after Jesus, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

"This is the Seal of the Prophet Hood!" he exclaimed. "Now I am certain that you are indeed the Prophet whose coming was foretold in the Torah that was revealed to Moses and in the Injil that was revealed to Jesus, (pbut) You are indeed the Messenger of Allah, and the being who appeared to you on the mountain was indeed the angel Jibril!"

Hazrat Khadijah (RA) as both overjoyed and awed to find that her understanding of what had happened on the mountain had been confirmed. Not long after this incident, Muhammad (SAW) was commanded in a subsequent revelation from Allah, through the angel Jibril, to call people to worship Allah only, and it was at this point that Khadijah did not hesitate in expressing in public what she had now known for certain in secret for some time: " I bear witness that there is no god except Allah," she said, "and I bear witness that Muhammad (SAW) is the Messenger of Allah."

In the years that followed, difficult years in which the leaders of the Quraish did everything in their power to stop the Prophet spreading his message, Hazrat Khadijah (RA) was a constant source of help and comfort to Muhammad (SAW) in the difficulties which he had to face. All her wealth was spent in the way of Allah, helping to spread the message of her husband, helping to free slaves who had embraced Islam, and helping to feed and shelter the community of Muslims that slowly but surely began to grow in numbers and strength.

The Quraish were infuriated by the Prophet's success and did everything in their power to discourage both him and his followers, often inflicting awful tortures on them, but without success. The situation became so bad that the Prophet told some of his followers to go to Abyssinia, where their ruler, the Negus, who was a sincere Christian gave them shelter and protection. Eventually there came a time when, as Waraqa had foretold, Muhammad and his followers -along with all the members of his tribe, the Banu Hashim were driven out of the city of Mecca and forced to camp out in a small ravine in the mountains nearby. This happened long after Waraqa had died, and about seven years after that extraordinary night of power in which Muhammad (SAW) had received the first revelation of Quran through the angel Jibril. There, while their homes lay empty in Mecca, the Muslims were exposed to the bitterly cold nights of winter and the fiery hot days of summer, with very little food and shelter. No one would buy and sell with the Muslims, or allow their sons and daughters to marry any of them. Fortunately those who secretly sympathized with the Muslims would send what food they could to them whenever the chance arose, sometimes by loading provisions onto a camel or a horse and then sending it off at a gallop in the direction of the camp, hoping that the animal would not stop or get lost before it reached its intended destination.

For three years the small Muslim community lived a life of hardship and deprivation, but although they suffered from hunger and thirst, and from exposure to heat and cold, this was a time in which the hearts of the first Muslims were both purified and also filled with the light of knowledge and wisdom. The Muslims knew that they were following the truth, and so nothing else mattered. They did not care what the Quraish did to them or said about them. Allah and His Messenger were enough for them!

It was during this period that the Muslims who had sought shelter in Abyssinia returned, only to find the situation even worse than when they had left it. Not long after, many of them returned to Abyssinia, their numbers swelled by those whom the Prophet (SAW) had told to accompany them. Finally the boycott was lifted and the Muslims were allowed to reenter the city; but the three years of hardship had taken their toll. First of all the Prophet's uncle, Abu Talib, who was by then more than eighty years old, died; and then a few months later, during the month of Ramadan, Khadijah also died, at the age of sixty-five, may Allah be pleased with her. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) mourned her deeply. They had shared twenty-five years of marriage together and she had given birth to five of his children. Only one of the Prophet's future wives, Maria the Copt, would give him another child, Ibrahim, and he, like Qasim, was destined to die when he was still very young, at the age of eighteen months.

Hazrat Khadijah (RA)  had been the first to publicly accept Muhammad (SAW) as the Messenger of Allah, and she had never stopped doing all she could to help him. Love and mercy had grown between them, increasing in quality and depth as the years passed by, and not even death could take this love away. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) never stopped loving Khadijah, and although he married several more wives in later years and loved them all, it is clear that Khadijah always had a special place in his heart. Indeed whenever 'Aisha, his third wife, heard the Prophet speak of Khadijah, or saw him sending food to Khadijah's old friends and relatives, she could not help feeling jealous of her, because of the love that the Prophet still had for her.

Once Hazrat Aisha (RA) asked him if Hazrat Khadijah (RA) had been the only woman worthy of his love. The Prophet (SAW) replied: "She believed in me when no one else did; she accepted Islam when people rejected me; and she helped and comforted me when there was no one else to lend me a helping hand." It had been related by Abu Hurairah (RA) that on one occasion, when Hazrat Khadijah (RA) was still alive, Jibril came to the Prophet (SAW) and said, "O Messenger of Allah, Hazrat Khadijah (RA) is just coming with a bowl of soup (or food or drink) for you. When she comes to you, give her greetings of peace from her Lord and from me, and give her the good news of a palace of jewels in the Garden, where there will be neither any noise nor any tiredness." After the Prophet's uncle, Abu Talib, and his first wife, Hazrat Khadijah (RA) had both died in the same year, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his small community of believers endured a time of great hardship and persecution at the hands of the Quraish. Indeed the Prophet, who was now fifty years old, name this year 'the Year of Sorrow.'

In private his dearest wife was no longer present to share his life; and in public the insults that he received from the Quraish multiplied, now that he had no longer had the protection of his dead uncle. Even when he journeyed to Ta'if, a small city up in the mountains outside Mecca, to call its people to worship Allah, he was rejected and stoned by them. It has been related by Aisha that on his way back to Mecca, Jibril appeared to the Prophet (SAW) and said, "Allah, may He be exalted and glorified, has heard what the people have said to you and how they have responded to your invitation, and he has sent the angel in charge of the mountains so that you can tell him what you want him to with them." Then the angel in charge of the mountains called out to him and greeted him and said, "O Muhammad, Allah has listened to what your people have said to you. I am the angel in charge of the mountains, and your Lord has sent me so that you can order me to do whatever you want. If you wish, I can bring the mountain of the outskirts of Mecca together so that they are crushed between them." But the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said to him, "Rather I hope that Allah will make their descendants a people who will worship Allah alone, without ascribing any partners to him."

It was a while after this that following Surah was revealed:

In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate

By the morning hours, and by the night when it is stillest, Your Lord has not for sake you nor does He hate you, And truly what comes after will be better for you than what has come before, And truly your Lord will give to you so that you will be content. Did he not find you an orphan and protect you? Did he not find you wandering and guide you? Did he not find you destitute and enrich you? So do not oppress the orphan, And do not drive the beggar away, And speak about the blessings of Your Lord. (Quran 93:1-11)

And so it happened. After three years of constant struggle, a relative of his, called Khawla, went to him and pointed out that his house was sadly neglected and that his daughters needed a mother to look after them. "But who can take the place of Hazrat Khadijah (RA)?" he asked. "Aisha, the daughter of Abu Bakr, the dearest of people to you," she answered. Abu Bakr (RA) had been the first man to accept Islam and he was the Prophet's closest companion. Like Hazrat Khadijah (RA), he had done all that he could do to help the Prophet (SAW), and had spent all his wealth in the way of Allah. However , while the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was now fifty-three years old, Hazrat Aisha (RA) as only a little girl of seven. She was hardly in a position to look after either the Prophet's household or children. "She is very young." Replied the Prophet. Khawla had a solution for everything. She suggested that he marry at the same time a lady called Sawda, the widow of Al-Sakran ibn 'Am

3.        Hazrat Fatima (RA), the Daughter of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

Introduction

The Holy Prophet (SAW) would often say: “Fatima is of my flesh, he who angers her, angers me” (Bukhari & Muslim)

The Holy Prophet also (SAW) said: “Whoever injures (bodily or otherwise) Fatima, he injures me; and whoever injures me injures Allah; and whoever injures Allah practices unbelief. O Fatima! If your wrath is incurred, it incurs the wrath of Allah; and if you are pleased, it makes Allah pleased, too.”

Hazrat Fatima (RA) was the youngest Daughter of the Holy Prophet (SAW): She was the mother of Hazrat Imam Hassan (RA) and Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA). Her mother was Hazrat Khadija (RA) daughter of Khuwaylid. She was born in Mecca on a Friday (615 AD), the 20th of Jumada II in the fifth year after the declaration of the Prophetic message.

Hazrat Fatima (RA) passed away on the 14th of Jumada I of 11 A.H. which corresponded to August 7, 632 A.D. at the age of 18 years .She was buried somewhere in the graveyard of Jannatul-Baqi' in Medina in an unmarked and unknown grave. According to her will, her husband, Hazrat Ali (RA), did not leave any marks identifying her grave, and nobody knows where it is. According to Shiite Muslims, she was the only daughter of the Holy Prophet (SAW).

Her Names

Hazrat Fatima (RA) has nine names or titles:

1. Fatima ,
2. al-Siddiqa  (the truthful one),
3. al-Mubaraka  (the blessed one),
4. al-Tahira  (the pure one),
5. al-Zakiyya  (the chaste one),
6. al-Radhiayya (the grateful one),
7. al-Mardhiyya  (the one who shall be pleased [on Judgment Day]),
8. al-Muhaddatha  (the one, other than the Prophet, to whom an angel speaks) and
9. Al-Zahra (the splendid one).
   
   

The Prophet (SAW) taught Hazrat Fatima ‎(‎RA‎) divine knowledge and endowed her with special intellectual brilliance, so much so that she realized the true meaning of faith, piety, and the reality of Islam. But Hazrat Fatima ‎(‎RA‎) also was a witness to sorrow and a life of anguish from the very beginning of her life. She constantly saw how her revered father was mistreated by the unbelievers and later how she herself nfell a victim to the same abuse, only this time by some “Muslims”.

Her Birth

Hazrat Khadija (RA) narrates the following about the birth of her well-regarded daughter: “At the time of Fatima’s birth, I sent for my neighboring Qurayshite women to assist me. They flatly refused, saying that I had betrayed them by marrying and supporting Muhammad. I was perturbed for a while when, to my great surprise, I saw four strange tall women with halos around their faces approaching me.

Finding me dismayed, one of them addressed me thus, ‘O Khadija! I am Sarah, mother of Ishaq (Isaac). The other three are: Maryam mother of Christ, Asiya daughter of Muzahim and Umm Kulthum sister of Moses. We have all been commanded by God to put our nursing knowledge at your disposal.’ Saying this, all of them sat around me and rendered the services of midwifery till my daughter Fatima was born.”

The motherly blessings and affection received by Hazrat Fatima (RA) were only for five years after which Hazrat Khadija (RA) left for her heavenly home. The Holy Prophet (RA) brought her up thereafter.

Her Marriage

When Fatima came of age, a number of hopefuls sought her hand in marriage. The Holy Prophet (SAW) was awaiting the Divine order in this respect until Hazrat Ali (RA) approached him and asked for her hand in marriage. The Holy Prophet (SAW) came to Fatima (RA) and asked, "My daughter! Do you consent to be wedded to `Ali, as I am so commanded by Allah?" Hazrat Fatima (RA) thereupon bowed her head in modesty. Umm Salamah narrates the following: "Fatima’s face bloomed with joy and her silence was so suggestive and conspicuous that the Holy Prophet (SAW) stood up to shout: Allahu Akbar'!"

On Friday, Thul Hijja 1, 2 A.H., which corresponded to 28th May 25, 624 A.D. the marriage ceremony, took place. All the Muhajirun and Ansars of Medina assembled in the mosque while Hazrat`Ali was seated before the Holy Prophet (SAW) with all the ceremonious modesty of a bridegroom.

The Holy Prophet first recited an eloquent sermon then declared: “I have been commanded by Allah to get Fatima wedded to `Ali, and so I do hereby solemnize the matrimony between `Ali and Fatima on a dower of four hundred mithqal of silver.” Then he asked Imam Ali, "Do you consent to it, O Ali? " "Yes, I do, O Holy Prophet of Allah!" replied Imam Ali (RA).

Then the Holy Prophet raised his hands and supplicated thus: “O Lord! Bless both of them, sanctify their progeny and grant them the keys of Your beneficence, Your treasures of wisdom and genius; and let them be a source of blessing and peace to my umma.” Her children; Imam Hasan, Imam Hussain, Zainab and Umm Kulthum, are well-known for their piety, righteousness and generosity. Their strength of character and actions changed the course of history and fortified Islam which otherwise would have been lost to mankind.

As a wife, she was very devoted. She never asked Hazrat Ali (RA) for anything in her entire life. As a mother, she cared for and brought up wonderful children; they have left their marks on the pages of world history which time and the plots of enemies of Ahl al-Bayt (RA) will never be able to erase.

A role model for all Muslim women

Hazrat Fatima (RA) is famous and acknowledged as the "Sayyidatu nisa '1-`alamin" (Leader of all the women of the world for all times. For all the verses revealed in the Holy Qur'an for women, Hazrat Fatima (RA) is the perfect model, who translated every verse into action. In her lifetime, she was a complete woman, being Daughter, Wife and Mother at the time.

Hazrat Fatima (RA) inherited the genius and wisdom, the determination and will power, piety and sanctity, generosity and benevolence, devotion and worship of Allah, self-sacrifice and hospitality, forbearance and patience, knowledge and nobility of disposition of her illustrious father, both in words and in actions. “I often witnessed my mother,” says Imam Husain, "absorbed in prayer from dusk to dawn."

Her generosity and compassion for the poor was such that no destitute or beggar ever returned from her door empty-handed. She (RA) worked, dressed, ate and lived very simply. She was very generous; and none who came to her door ever went away empty handed. Many times she gave away all the food she had had, staying without any food at all. As a daughter, she loved her parents so much that she won their love and regard to such an extent that the Holy Prophet (SAW) used to stand up whenever she came to him.

The Prophet (SAW) taught Hazrat Fatima ‎(‎RA‎) divine knowledge and endowed her with special intellectual brilliance, so much so that she realized the true meaning of faith, piety, and the reality of Islam. But Fatima ‎(‎RA‎) also was a witness to sorrow and a life of anguish from the very beginning of her life. She constantly saw how her revered father was mistreated by the unbelievers and later how she herself fell a victim to the same abuse, only this time by some “Muslims”.

Hazrat Asiya (AS), wife of the Pharaoh

 “And for those who have faith Allâh has set forth a parable in the (story) of Fir’aun’s wife when she prayed: O my sustainer! Build for me a mansion in paradise by You and save me from Fir’aun and his doings and save me from all evil doing people.”

When the magicians fell into sajdah and declared their faith in Allâh and accepted Mûsa (AS) as the Nabî of Allâh – the wife of Fir’aun also declared her faith. Fir’aun began punishing her by pegging her to the ground and exposing her to the midday sun. Whenever he turned away from her the angels would give her shade with their wings. He then gave her a choice: ‘Either retract from your belief or be prepared to be crushed by a huge boulder.’ She chose to be crushed. As she was placed onto the ground she raised her sight towards the sky -she saw her place in Jannah and prayed: “O my sustainer! Build for me a mansion in paradise by You and save me from Fir’aun and his doings and save me from all evil doing people. As she said this, her rûh left her body and the boulder then crushed her lifeless body.

Hazrat Asiya (AS) also known as Asiya bint Muzahim, is respected by Muslims as one of the greatest women of all time. She was the wife of the Pharaoh ("Fir'awn"), who reigned during Hazrat Musa's (AS) time. The Qur'an registers her as a great person and she is respected all the more by Muslims as she was married to one of the most evil men in history, but never lost faith in God and remained steadfast in prayer and belief. She declared her faith in the message of God after witnessing the miracle of Moses in the Court of Pharaoh and after witnessing the death of another believing woman under torture. Pharaoh tried to turn her away from the God of Moses and sought her mother's help. But Asiya refused to reject the God of Moses. On Pharaoh's order, she was tortured to death.

Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) is said to have mentioned her as one of the four greatest women of all time, alongside Mary, the mother of Jesus, Hazrat Muhammad's (SAW) first wife Khadija (RA), and his daughter Hazrat Fatimah (RA).

Her Character

Hazrat Asiya (AS) was the wife of the Pharaoh. a malicious person, but she was a virtuous and believing woman who accepted the faith that Moses and Aaron were preaching. Although she had exceeding wealth, she was not arrogant like the Pharaoh. She realized that faith in God was far more important and was thus exalted by God amongst the women of her generation.

Fall of blessing in the lap of Hazrat Asiya

Asiya and her maids were at the neighbouring Nile River one day. To their amazement, they found a crate floating in the river. Asiya immediately ordered the crate to be brought out on shore. Although the maids thought there was a treasure in the crate, they in fact found a baby boy inside. Asiya instantly fell in love with him and knew that this boy, Moses, was no ordinary baby. She told the Pharaoh about the baby and convinced her husband to allow the baby to live with them. The wife of Pharaoh said: "(Here is) joy of the eye, for me and for thee: slay him not. It may be that he will be use to us, or we may adopt him as a son." And they perceived not (what they were doing)! (Qur'an 28:9)

Hazrat Asiya (AS) then offered Moses' mother to live in their household as Moses' wet nurse and paid her for her services, being unaware that the wet nurse was Moses' mother. Thus, mother and son were reunited again.

The tradition holds that Hazrat Asiya worshipped God in secret and praying in disguise fearing her husband. She died while being tortured by her husband, who had discovered her monotheism.

A sincere beleiver

It is said that Hazrat Asiya was a sincere believer and that she fully submitted herself to God, despite being the wife of Pharaoh. According to Hadith, she will be among the first women to enter Paradise because she accepted Moses's monotheism over Pharaoh's beliefs. The Qur'an mentions Asiya as an example to all Muslim.

And God sets forth, as an example to those who believe the wife of Pharaoh: Behold she said: 'O my Lord! Build for me, in nearness to Thee, a mansion in the Garden, and save me from Pharaoh and his doings, and save me from those that do wrong':—Qur'an, chapter 66 (At-Tahrim), verse 11

Conclusion

These four women changed the course of human history, through their resolution, faith and courage. Hazrat Miryam (AS) life was characterized by piety, chastity and faith, Hazrat Khadija (RA) neither capitulated to the trappings of wealth, nor to power and fame, Hazrat Fatima (RA) made tolerance in the face of unending hardships and was crowned the ‘leader of all women in Jannah’, whilst the wife of Fir’aun Hazrat Asiya (AS) chose faith over royalty. These were women distinguished by patience who found the true friendship of Allâh through their unfailing steadfastness in the face of grinding sacrifices.

May Allâh grant our women the privilage to follow the beautiful conduct of

these icons of virtue, humility and courage.