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Islam / Cultic personalities
Fatima
Arabic: fātimatu z-zahrā'
Other spellings: Fatimah; Fatema
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Fatima's grave at Jannat al-Baqi, Madina, Saudi Arabia.
Showing the claimed grave of Fatima, at Jannat al-Baqi, Madina, Saudi Arabia.
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(Ca. 605-633) Daughter of Muhammad, the founder of Islam, and Khadija. Fatima was married to Ali, and mother of Hassan and Husayn (according to Shi'i traditions, a third son, Muhassin, died as a child), and two daughters.
Fatima is, therefore, the ancestral mother of the Imams of the Shi'i Muslims, as well the ancestral mother of all claiming to be descending from Muhammad, as none of Muhammad's other children had progeny.
Little is reported of Fatima's life, but she appears to have had poor health throughout her life. We hear about her relationship with Muhammad's wife, A'isha, which involved mcuh hostility. When Abu Bakr became the first Caliph, her relations with him also became difficult, probably because she had expected her husband to take over after Muhammad, and because Abu Bakr denied her the inheritance of the oasis of Fadak from her father.
Most of the other Shi'i stories about her are strongly religious.
All Muslims have great respect for her, but it is in Shi'i Islam that she plays the most important role, ascribed there with superhuman qualities, and being the "noblest ideal of human conception." She is called "the virgin" and "the mother of the two Jesuses", reflecting an important influence from Christianity.
In Shi'i Islam, her birthday and her marriage are two dates that are celebrated.
History
Ca. 605: Born in Mecca.
622 or 623: Marries Ali.
632: Muhammad dies, and Fatima helps to promote her husband, Ali's claim on becoming new leader for the muslims, but without success. Abu Bakr becomes the leader and takes his revenge on Fatima by denying her her expected inheritance.
633: Dies in Madina.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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