JANABE FATIMA ZAHRA (s.a.

)
The Criterion of Truth
By Ghulam Reza Kamran


Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) - The Criterion of
Truth
By : Ghulam Reza Kamran
Quantity : 1000
Date of
Publication
:
Jamaadi al-Ula 1433 A.H.
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Price : Rs. 15/-


Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.):

Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) is the chief of all
women of Paradise.
1


1
SahihBukhari, vol. 5, pp. 82, 94


Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.):

Fatima (s.a.) is a part of me. The one who
angers her has angered me
1


1
SahihBukhari, vol. 5, p. 92

5
In The Name Of Allah The Most Beneficent &The Most
Merciful
It is imperative for the present day Muslims to know the
treatment meted out to the beloved and cherished daughter of
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) after his
(s.a.w.a.) demise. Every Muslim should be aware of the
inhuman and merciless manner in which she (s.a.) was treated
by the people in general and the rulers in particular. This is
because all Muslims irrespective of their sect are unanimous
that J. Fatima (s.a.) possesses extraordinary excellence and
virtues. Thus it is vital to know how she was treated by the
caliphs of that time because this will become the criterion of
judging the veracity of those rulers. In this short treatise we fill
focus only on two issues and highlight the relevant points
Part One
Imam Bukhari has narrated a famous tradition from Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in his Sahih, vol. 5, p. 96. Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) said,

Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) is the chief of all
women of Paradise
This tradition leaves no doubt that J. Zahra (s.a.) is the foremost
woman of the universe. This is because the women of Paradise
are special and chosen ones and J. Zahra (s.a.) is their chief and
leader. Hence she excels all the women of the universe without
Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) - The Criterion of Truth

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exception. J. Aasiya, J. Khadija, J. Maryam .. All of them are
the women of Paradise. J. Zahra (s.a.) is superior to all of them
since she (s.a.)is their leader in Paradise.
Allah says about J. Maryam in the Holy Quran

, .
And when the angels said, O Maryam! Allah
has chosen you and purified you and selected
you from all the women of the worlds
1

J. Zahra (s.a.) is the leader of a pious, chaste and virtuous lady
like J. Maryam (s.a.). This shows the exalted and lofty status of J.
Zahra (s.a.). The famous research scholar of the AhleSunnah, J.
Aaloosi mentions in his book Tafseer-e-RoohulMana on pg.
155 of, vol. 20 that, J. Zahra (s.a.) is superior to J. Maryam
(s.a.). According to the Holy Quran, J. Maryam (s.a.) is the chief
of the women of the universe while J. Zahra (s.a.) is her leader.
The tradition of SahihBukhari too underlines this point.
Imam Bukhari has mentioned one more tradition that emphases
the prominence of J. Zahra (s.a.). He says that Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) said

1
Surah Aale Imran; verse 42
Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) - The Criterion of Truth

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Fatima is a part of me. The one who offends
her has offended me
1

The above tradition clearly states that J. Zahra (s.a.)is a part of
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). Anyone who dares to anger her has in
fact angered the illustrious personality of Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.). It is important to note that the anger of J. Zahra (s.a.)
cannot be ignored and dismissed considering it as the emotional
outburst of an ordinary woman. Rather her displeasure is
rooted in intellect and divine revelation. Thus her anger reflects
the wrath and anger of Allah. Anything that angers Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) will certainly infuriate Allah. And if anyone angers
Allah then it will result in his destruction and annihilation. Allah
says in the Holy Quran

The one on whom My anger descends will be
destroyed
2

Hence, the anger of J. Zahra (s.a.) will result in the anger of Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and the anger of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) will
lead to the wrath of Allah. And anyone who angers Allah will be
obliterated.
Now pay attention to this discussion that is found in
SahihBukhari, Sahih Muslim &Musnad of Ahmed ibnHanbal.

1
SahihBukhari, vol. 5 p. 96
2
Surah Taha; verse 81
Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) - The Criterion of Truth

8

...

...

.
J. Zahra (s.a.) sent an envoy to Abu Bakr
demanding her inheritance. The inheritance
included her share of the booty of Madina, the
orchards of Fadak and the portion of Khums
(Sahme Imam). Abu Bakrflatly refused saying,
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) has said that we do
not leave behind any inheritance. Whatever is
left behind by us is charity (i.e. it belongs to
everyone and not to any particular
person).Thus he declined to give J. Zahra (s.a.)
Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) - The Criterion of Truth

9
her inheritance. This angered her (s.a.)
immensely and she refused to talk to him all her
life. She lived for six months after the demise of
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). When she left for the
heavenly abode, H. Ali (a.s.) buried her in the
darkness of the night without informing Abu
Bakr about her death. H. Ali (a.s.) prayed her
funeral prayers alone. Till then he had not
pledged his allegiance to Abu Bakr
1

The above discussion is mentioned in the following books with
slight variations
Kitab-o-JehadwaSair, vol. 4, p. 29; published by
MoasisAzzuddin 1408 AH
Musnad of Ahmed ibnHanbal, vol. 1, p. 9; published by
DaarusSadir, Beirut
Tabaqaat-e-IbnSaad, vol. 2, p. 315; published by Daar-e-
Beirut, 1405 AH
Tareekh-e-Tabari, vol. 2, p. 236; published by
DarrulQutubulAalemiyaah 1408 AH
The point that is clear from the above excerpt is that by denying
J. Zahra her lawful inheritance, Abu Bakr made her angry and
caused her immense agony. He took the help of a (fictitious)
tradition of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)We prophets do not leave
behind any inheritance and deprived her (s.a.) of her rights.

1
SahihBukhari, vol. 5 p. 252
Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) - The Criterion of Truth

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Does the intellect accept this fact that both H. Ali (a.s.) and J.
Zahra (s.a.) were unaware of such a tradition from Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.)while they (a.s.) were the nearest to Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.)? Isnt it strange that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) never
mentioned this tradition to them in all these years? Had such a
tradition really existed, then J. Zahra (s.a.) would never have
staked her claim to her inheritance knowing the saying of her
father (s.a.w.a.).
The AhleSunnah and the Shias are unanimous that Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) had appointed H. Ali (a.s.) as his successor. Is it
possible that on one hand Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) declared H. Ali
(a.s.) as his successor and on the other hand he (s.a.w.a.) failed
to inform him about the matter of inheritance?Isnt the famous
tradition of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)Im the city of knowledge
while Ali is its gate commonly found in all books of traditions?

.
1

Who can forget Hadees-e-Saqlain? It is such a well-known
tradition that both Shia and AhleSunnat scholars
2
have narrated
it in their books of traditions. Has not Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
equated H. Ali (a.s.) with the Holy Quran in this tradition? It
means that H. Ali (a.s.) was fully cognizant with the Holy Quran.

1
AsadulGhabah, vol. 4 p. 22 published by DaaraIhyaToraasulArabi,
Beirut
2
Musnad Ahmed ibnHanbal, vol. 5 p. 182 189; published by
DaarusSadir, Beirut
Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) - The Criterion of Truth

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Also Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) will never mention a thing that is
contrary to the Quran.
Now lets pay attention to an argument mentioned in the book
of Tabaqaat-e-IbnSaad.
1
It is written

...
J. Zahra (s.a.), accompanied by Abbas bin
Abdul Muttalib& H. Ali (a.s.) went to Abu Bakr
to demand her inheritance. Abu Bakr said, Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) has said, We do not leave
behind any inheritance. Whatever we leave
behind is charity Hearing this, H.Ali(a.s.)
presented the following verses of the Holy
Quran as his argument.

1
Tabaqaat-e-IbnSaad, vol. 2 p. 315, published by Darrul Beirut
1405 AH
Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) - The Criterion of Truth

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And H. Sulaiman(a.s.) was the inheritor of H.

Dawood(a.s.)
1

When H. Zakariya prayed to his Lord for a son

he said O Lord! Grant me a son who will
inherit from me and inherit from the progeny
of H. Yaqub
2

Abu Bakr confessed that what H. Ali (a.s.) had said was the
truth. H. Ali (a.s.) said, The Book of Allah clearly states this fact
(that prophets do leave behind inheritance). H. Ali (a.s.) wanted
to leave no reservation in the minds of the people about the
matter of inheritance. He wanted everyone to know that
prophets (a.s.) in the past - have left behind inheritance that is
inherited by their lawful heirs.
No tradition of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) can ever be contrary to
the Holy Quran. It shows that the tradition put forward by Abu
Bakr to deny J. Zahra (s.a.) her lawful right was fabricated and
fake. Besides this, J. Zahra (s.a.) is the chief of all women of
Paradise. A lady with such a lofty status would certainly not
react angrily if Abu Bakr was the lawful caliph and successor
of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) - specially, when Abu Bakr put forth a

1
Surah Naml, verse 16
2
Surah Maryam, verse 6
Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) - The Criterion of Truth

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tradition of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) to deny her (s.a.) the share
of inheritance. (i.e. if her (s.a.) father (s.a.w.a.) had really said
such a tradition, then she (s.a.) would be the first one to accept
it)
In the light of the tradition mentioned by Bukhari, anyone who
displeases J. Zahra has in fact displeased Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
Then how can a person be called as the successor of Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) when in reality, he has offended and
displeased Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and Allah?
Every Muslim, prays at least 10 times a day to Allah

Guide us on the straight path. The path of
those upon whom You have bestowed Your
favours and not the path of those upon whom
Your wrath has descended and are deviated
1

So, if the wrath of J. Zahra (s.a.) is the wrath of Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) and Allah, then how can a person who is the object of
Allahs wrath stake a claim to Imamateand caliphate?Should we
pray to Allah to tread the path of such a doomed person?

1
Surah Al-Hamd, verse 6, 7
Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) - The Criterion of Truth

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One more point
All the scholars & historians of AhleSunnah who have narrated
the events of J. Fatima Zahra (s.a.)& her demand for
inheritance, have also discussed the matter of H. Alis(a.s.)
allegiance.
IbnQutaibahDainoori writes in his book Al-Imamat-o-was-
Siyaasato, vol. 1, p. 13,
All those who did not pledge their allegiance to Abu Bakr were
present in the house of H. Ali (a.s.). Abu Bakr sent Umar to
arrest them. When Umar reached there, he asked them to come
out of the house but they refused. Umar asked his men to
collect some firewood and he placed it at the door of H.Ali (a.s.)
and shouted, I swear by the One in whose hands lies the life of
Umar. Either you come out of the house or I will set it ablaze
and burn you to death Someone said from inside, O Abu Hafs
(kuniyat of Umar)! J. Zahra is in the house. Umar replied So
what? I dont care. Umar, along with his companions had
reached the door of J. Zahra (s.a.). She heard their menacing
voices and complained to Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) loudly,
O my beloved father! O Messenger of Allah!
After your demise,
IbnKhattab&IbnQuhafahcrushedus with
calamities.
When the rioters heard the voice of J. Zahra, they were taken
aback and felt ashamed. They too began to cry and withdrew
themselves. Only Umar (and a few of his cronies) were left
Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) - The Criterion of Truth

15
standing at the door.Finally they arrested H. Ali (a.s.) and
dragged him to Abu Bakr and compelled him to pay allegiance.
H. Ali (a.s.) asked, What if I refuse?
They said, I swear by the One besides whom there is no
other god! We will behead you
H. Ali (a.s.) said, In that case you have killed a servant of
Allah and the brother of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
They said, You may be a servant of Allah,but not the
brother of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
All this while, Abu Bakr was a silent spectator. Umar snubbed
him and said, Why dont you order H. Ali (a.s.) to give you
allegiance? Abu Bakr replied, Till the time J. Fatima (s.a.) is
with him I shudder to do such a thing. At that time, H. Ali (a.s.)
turned towards the blessed grave of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and
uttered the same words that H. Haroon had told to H.
Moosa(a.s.)when the Bani Israel had turned their backs to him
(H. Haroon(a.s.)) and began worshipping the cow. At that time
H. Haroon told H. Moosa(a.s.)

.
O son of my mother! Indeed the people
weakened me (i.e. rebelled against me) and it
was certain that they would have killed me
1


1
Surah Aaraf, verse 15
Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) - The Criterion of Truth

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Later, Umar told Abu Bakr, Let us proceed to the house of J.
Zahra and apologise to her since we have offended and
displeased her. They sought her permission to enter the house
but she refused. They exhorted her in the name of H. Ali (a.s.).
Finally she let them in the house. But when they entered the
house, J. Zahra turned her face away from them and stared at
the wall. They saluted her but she did not reply to their
salutations. Abu Bakr started speaking in an apologetic voice, O
the beloved of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)! I swear by the
Messenger of Allah! I respect and cherish you more than my
own relatives. In fact I hold you dearer than Ayesha. Alas!If only
I too would have died along with Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)! I
would not have lived to see this day
At that time, J. Zahra(s.a.) narrated a tradition of Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.). She said,
I ask you by the oath of Allah! Have you not
heard the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) say, The
satisfaction of Fatima (s.a.) is my (s.a.w.a.)
satisfaction and her displeasure is my
displeasure? Have you not heard him say, The
one who befriends Fatima (s.a.) has befriended
me and the one who makes her happy has made
me happy? Did he not say, The one who makes
her angry has in fact made me angry?
All of them confessed that they had indeed heard the Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) narrate such a thing. Then J. Zahra (s.a.) said,
Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) - The Criterion of Truth

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I make Allah and His angels as a witness that
both of you have displeased me and have made
me angry. When I meet Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), I
will certainly complain about you to him
On hearing this Abu Bakr said, I seek refuge in Allah from His
wrath and also from your anger. Saying this Abu Bakr wept
hysterically. But J. Zahra (s.a.) said,
I swear by Allah! I will curse both of you after
every obligatory prayer
Hearing all this, Abu Bakr became very sad and remorseful.
After coming out of the house, he told the people, All of you
will go home to your wives and sleep peacefully leaving me in
this mess. I dont need your allegiance. Please break it and leave
me alone.
Sending of Umar by Abu Bakr; threat of Umar to burn down the
house along with its inhabitants; setting ablaze the house of J.
Zahra etc are all events mentioned in many books of
AhleSunnah. Some of them are
TareekhAbiFidaa, vol. 1, p. 156, published by Daar-ul-
Maarefat, Beirut 1404 AH
Al Oqd-ud-Fareed, vol. 5, p. 13, published by Daar-ul-
Kutub-ul-Aalemiyaah, Beirut
The threat of Umar to burn down the house of H. Ali (a.s.)
TareekhTabari, vol. 2, p. 223, published by Daar-ul-Kutub-
ul-Aalemiyaah, Beirut 1408 AH


Allah says in the Holy Quran

.
Surely those who trouble Allah and His
Messenger, Allah has cursed them in this world
as well as the Hereafter and has prepared for
them a disgraceful chastisement.
1


1
Surah Ahzab, verse 57


MasooribnMukhramah narrates the following tradition from
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.),
...

.
Certainly Fatima (s.a.) is my beloved and
cherished daughter. The one who angers her has
angered me and the one who troubles her has
troubled me
1


1
HilyatulAwliyah, vol. 2, p. 40, published by Daar-ul-Fikr, Beirut

20
Part Two
The earlier discussions in this treatise clearly demonstrate that
Siddiqah-e-Kubra, Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) did not pledge her
allegiance to Abu Bakr and when she departed from this world,
she was extremely angry with both Abu Bakr& Umar. Also as
per the tradition of Bukhari, till the time that J. Zahra (s.a.) was
alive, H. Ali (a.s.) too had not sworn allegiance to Abu Bakr.
Almost all the authentic books of traditions of the Shias & the
AhleSunnah, mention an oft quoted tradition that anyone who
dies without recognising and submitting to the Imam of the
time, has died as an infidel. The famous tradition of Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) states,
(1)

.
The one who dies without an Imam dies the
death of (the era of) ignorance
1

(Era of ignorance implies the period before the advent of Islam.
The people living at time were idolaters and polytheists)
(2)

.

1
Musnad Abu Dawood, p.359; Musnad Imam Ahmed, vol. 4, p.96
Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) - The Criterion of Truth

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The one dies without pledging his allegiance to
an Imam, dies the death of (the era of)
ignorance
1

(3)

.
The one who forsakes an Imam, leaves the
society and dies later, then he has died the
death of (the era of) ignorance
2

The above traditions emphatically state that it is obligatory for
every Muslim to swear his allegiance to the Imam of the time.
Anyone who fails to do so will not die as a Muslim.
The previous pages make it amply clear that J. Fatima Zahra
(s.a.) did not pledge her allegiance to Abu Bakr in her entire life.
In fact she departed from this world without acknowledging and
endorsing the caliphate of Abu Bakr. On the other hand, there
are traditions that unequivocally state that J. Zahra (s.a.) is the
leader of the women of Paradise and she was the beloved of
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). Analysing the two sets of traditions, we
are confronted with three questions.

1
Sahih Muslim, vol. 4, p. 136 published by Muasis Azzuddin 1407
AH; AsSunan-ul-Kubra, published by MajlisDairatulMaarif
Seminary, vol. 8, p. 156 Hyderabad 1354 AH
2
Sahih Muslim, vol. 4 p. 124; AsSunan-ul-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 156
Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) - The Criterion of Truth

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(a) All the traditions that speak about the recognition,
allegiance& obedience of Imam are false & fabricated
(b) God forbid, god forbid, the leader of all the women of
Paradise will herself not go to Paradise since her death is
of ignorance (god forbid)
(c) The caliphate of Abu Bakr is unfair and unjust while the
Imamate of H. Ali (a.s.) is valid and lawful. And J. Zahra
(s.a.) was subscribing to the Imamate of H. Ali (a.s.).
It is obvious that no sane and god fearing Muslim will ever
accept the first two views. The same three points are also
applicable to H. Ali (a.s.). If a person dies without submitting to
the Imam of the time then he has died as a polytheist. Now, if a
persons death is on ignorance, then obviously his life too is of
disobedience and ignorance. On the other hand, in the light of
Hadees-e-Saqlain, H. Ali (a.s.) has been equated with the Holy
Quran.
The following traditions of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) too speak
about the greatness of H. Ali (a.s.)

.
Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) - The Criterion of Truth

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Ali is with the truth and the truth is with Ali.
They will not separate from each other till they
meet me at the Hauz (of Kausar) in Qiyamat
1

.
Ali is with the Quran and the Quran is with him.
Both of them will not separate from each other
till they meet me at the Hauz
2

.
Ali is with the truth and the Quran while the
truth and Quran are with Ali. They will not
separate from each other till they meet me at
the Hauz
3

.

1
Tareekh Baghdadi, vol. 14 p. 322, published by Daarul Kitab
Arabi, Beirut
2
As-SawaequlMoharreqah, p. 123
3
Rabi-ul-Abraar, vol. 1, pg,828, published by Matbaa Amir, Qum
1410 AH;
Janabe Fatima Zahra (s.a.) - The Criterion of Truth

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Alis relation to me is like the relation of my
head with my body.
1

According to some traditions of SahihBukhari, H. Ali (a.s.) did
not pledge his allegiance to Abu Bakr for at least six months.
Does it mean that God forbid those days of the life of H. Ali
(a.s.) were the days of ignorance?
Also, the above traditions clearly state that life without an Imam
is the life of ignorance. Does it mean that all the esteemed
companions had become polytheists in the days immediately
after the death of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and before the
appointment of Abu Bakr as the caliph of the Muslim nation? At
that time the entire Muslim nation was without an Imam.
Is it not clear from traditions that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had
categorically announced the successorship of H. Ali ibn Abu
Talib(a.s.) in his (s.a.w.a.) own life time by the order of Allah?
Did he (s.a.w.a.) not emphasis and elaborate about the
mastership (wilayat) of H. Ali (a.s.)?
This is the only scenario that will protect the entire Muslim
nation from dying the death of the era of ignorance.
Hence the one who wants to save himself from
dying a death of ignorance should accept and
submit to the Imamate of AmeerulMomineen
Ali ibn Abu Talib(a.s.).
Was salam

1
Tareekh Baghdadi, vol. 7 p. 12; As-SawaequlMoharreqah, p. 75