Praise be to Allah for that which He bestowed (upon us); And thanks be to Him
for all that which He inspired; and commended in His Name for that which He
Provided: Form prevalent favors which He created, And abundant benefactions
which He offered and perfect grants which He presented; (such benefactions) that
their number is much too plentiful to compute; Bounties too vast to measure;
Their limit was too distant to realize; He recommended to them (His creatures)
to gain more (of His benefaction) by being grateful for their continuity; He
ordained Himself praiseworthy by giving generously to His creatures; I bear
witness that there is no God but Allah Who is One without partner, a statement
which sincere devotion is made to be its interpretation; hearts guarantee its
continuation, and illuminated in the minds is its sensibility. He Who can not
be perceived with vision; neither be described with tongues; nor can imagination
surround His state.
He originated things but not from anything that existed before them, and
created them without examples to follow. Rather, He created them with His might
and dispersed them according to His will; not for a need did He create them; nor
for a benefit (for Him) did He shape them, But to establish His wisdom, Bring
attention to His obedience, manifest His might, lead His creatures to humbly
venerate Him, and to exalt His decrees. He then made the reward for His
obedience, and punishment for his disobedience, so as to protect His creatures
from His Wrath and amass them into His Paradise.
I too bear witness that my Father, Muhammad, is His Slave and Messenger, Whom He
chose prior to sending him, named him before sending him; when creatures were
still concealed in that which was transcendental, guarded from that which was
appalling, and associated with the termination and nonexistence. For Allah the
Exalted knew that which was to follow, comprehended that which will come to
pass, And realized the place of every event. Allah has sent him (Muhammad) as
perfection for His commands, a resolution to accomplish His rule, and an
implementation of the decrees of His Mercy. So he found the nations to vary in
their faiths; Obsessed by their fires, Worshipping their idols, And denying
Allah despite their knowledge of Him. Therefore, Allah illuminated their
darkness with my Father, Muhammad, uncovered obscurity from their hearts, and
cleared the clouds from their insights. He revealed guidance among the people;
So he delivered them from being led astray, led them away from misguidance,
guided them to the proper religion, and called them to the straight path.
Allah then chose to recall him back in mercy, love and preference. So, Muhammad
is in comfort from the burden of this world, he is surrounded with devoted
angels, the satisfaction of the Merciful Lord, and the nearness of the powerful
King.
So may the praise of Allah be upon my Father, His Prophet, Trusted one, the
chosen one
from among His creatures, and His sincere friend, and may peace and blessings of
Allah be upon him.'
Fatima (A) then turned to the crowd and said:
'Surely you are Allah's slaves at His command Prohibition; You are the bearers
of His religion and revelation; You are Allah's trusted ones with yourselves;
and His messengers to the nations. Amongst you does He have righteous authority;
A covenant He brought unto you, and an heir He left to guard you; That is The
eloquent book of Allah; The truthful Quran; The brilliant light; The shining
beam; Its insights are indisputable; Its secrets are revealed; Its indications
are manifest; and its followers are blessed by it. (The Quran) leads its
adherents to goodwill; and Hearing it leads to salvation; with it are the bright
divine authorities achieved, His manifest determination acquired, His prohibited
decrees avoided; His manifest evidence recognized; His satisfying proofs made
apparent, His permissions granted, and His laws written.
So Allah made belief to be purification for you from polytheism.
He made Prayer, An exaltation for you from conceit.
Alms -A purification for the soul and a (cause of) growth in subsistence.
Fasting an implantation of devotion.
Pilgrimage -A construction of religion.
Justice -A harmony of the hearts;
obeying us (Ahlul-Bayt)Management of the nation.
Our leadership (Ahlul-Bayt), Safeguard from disunity.
Jihad (struggle) a strengthening of Islam.
Patience -A helping course for deserving (divine) reward.
Ordering goodness (Amr Bil Maruf) Public welfare.
Kindness to the parents A safeguard from wrath.
Maintaining close relations with one's kin -A cause for a longer life and
multiplying the number of descendants.
Retaliation (Qesas)-For sparing blood (souls).
Fulfillment of vows-subjecting oneself to mercy.
Completion of weights and measures -A cause for preventing the neglect of
others' rights. Forbiddance of drinking wines an exaltation from atrocity.
Avoiding slander -A veil from curse.
Abandoning theft-a reason for deserving chastity.
Allah has also prohibited polytheism so that one can devote himself to His
Lordship.
Therefore; Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of
Islam;
Obey Allah in that which He has commanded you to do and that which He has
forbidden, for surely those truly fear among His servants, who have knowledge.'
Lady Fatima Zahra (A) then added:
'O People! Be informed that I am Fatima, and my father is Muhammad I say that
repeatedly and initiate it continually; I say not what I say mistakenly, nor do
I do what I do aimlessly.
Now hath come unto you an Apostle from amongst yourselves; It grieves him that
you should perish; Ardently anxious is he over you; To the believers he is most
kind and merciful. Thus, if you identify and recognize him, you shall realize
that he is my father and not the father of any of your women; the brother of my
cousin (Ali (A)) rather than any of your men. What an excellent identity he was,
may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his descendants Thus, he
propagated the Message, by coming out openly with the warning, and while
inclined away from the path of the polytheists, (whom he) struck their strength
and seized their throats, while he invited (all) to the way of his Lord with
wisdom and beautiful preaching He destroyed idols, and defeated heroes, until
their group fled and turned their backs. So night revealed its dawn;
righteousness uncovered its genuineness; the voice of the religious authority
spoke out loud; the evil discords were silenced; The crown of hypocrisy was
diminished; the tightening of infidelity and desertion were untied,
So you spoke the statement of devotion amongst a band of starved ones; and you
were on the edge of a hole of fire;(you were) the drink of the thirsty one; the
opportunity of the desiring one; the fire brand of him who passes in haste; the
step for feet; you used to drink from the water gathered on roads; eat jerked
meat. (Lady Fatima (A) was stating their lowly situation before Islam) You were
despised outcasts always in fear of abduction from those around you. Yet, Allah
rescued you through my father, Muhammad after much ado, and after he was
confronted by mighty men, the Arab beasts, and the demons of the people of the
Book Who, whenever they ignited the fire of war, Allah extinguished it; and
whenever the thorn of the devil appeared, or a mouth of the polytheists opened
wide in defiance, he would strike its discords with his brother (Ali, (A)), who
comes not back until he treads its wing with the sole of his feet, and
extinguishes its flames with his sword. (Ali is) diligent in Allah's affair,
near to the Messenger of Allah, A master among Allah's worshippers, setting to
work briskly, sincere in his advice, earnest and exerting himself (in service to
Islam); While you were calm, gay, and feeling safe in your comfortable lives,
waiting for us to meet disasters, awaiting the spread of news, you fell back
during every battle, and took to your heels at times of fighting. Yet, When
Allah chose His Prophet from the dwell of His prophets, and the abode of His
sincere (servants); The thorns of hypocrisy appeared on you, the garment of
faith became worn out, The misguided ignorant(s) spoke out, the sluggish
ignorant came to the front and brayed. The he camel of the vain wiggled his tail
in your courtyards and the your courtyards and the Devil stuck his head from its
place of hiding and called upon you, he found you responsive to his invitation,
and observing his deceits.
He then aroused you and found you quick (to answer him), and invited you to
wrath, therefore; you branded other than your camels and proceeded to other than
your drinking places. Then while the era of the Prophet was still near, the gash
was still wide, the scar had not yet healed, and the Messenger was not yet
buried. A (quick) undertaking as you claimed, aimed at preventing discord
(trial), Surely, they have fallen into trial already! And indeed Hell surrounds
the unbelievers. How preposterous! What an idea!
What a falsehood! For Allah's Book is still amongst you, its affairs are
apparent; its rules are manifest; its signs are dazzling; its restrictions are
visible, and its commands are evident. Yet, indeed you have casted it behind
your backs! What! Do you detest it? Or according to something else you wish to
rule? Evil would be the exchange for 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 judgment of (the Days of)ignorance? But How, for a people whose faith is
assured, can give better judgment 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 thing. Do you intentionally 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: Allah (thus) directs you 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 no share! And that I do
not inherit my father! What! Did 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 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 Message, 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, my father,
used to say: A man is upheld (remembered) by his children'? O how quick have you
violated (his orders)?! 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 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 his 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 the 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
houses) in 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 see me?! (And while) You are sitting and gathered
around me? You hear my call, and are included in the (news of the) affair? (But)
You are numerous and well equipped! (You have) the means and the 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 for goodness and welfare, the selected group (which was
chosen), and the best ones chosen by the Messenger 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 was subjected,
the outburst 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 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)); 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 that your hearts sensed. But it is the state 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 with everlasting disgrace,
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 witnesses 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) to you against a severe punishment. So, act and so
will we, and wait, and we shall wait.'
Comments posted are the sole opinion of the author and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of AIM. |
