Fatimah was the daughter of al-Husayn Ibn 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib Ibn 'Abd al­Muttalib. Her mother was Umm Ishaq Bint Talhah Ibn 'Ubaydullah al-Taymi. Her nickname was Umm 'Abdullah, and her epithets were Fatimah al-Sughra and Fatimah al-Nabawiyyah. She was the wife of al-Hasan Ibn al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali (al-Hasan al-Muthanna), the mother of his children: 'Abdullah, Ibrahim, al-Hasan, and Zaynab, and the sister of Imam 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn ('a).1

Fatimah and her husband al-Hasan2 Ibn al-Hasan who was her paternal cousin, traveled to Karbala' with her father Imam al-Husayn ('a). After the events at Karbala' and the martyrdom of her father, she and the remaining family of the Messenger of God (S) along with her aunt Zaynab ('a) were taken to Damascus and from there entered al-Madinah. Fatimah had no intention to remarry, but after some time at the insistence of 'Abdullah Ibn 'Amr Ibn 'Uthman and the enjoinment of her previous husband (al-Hasan) she married with 'Abdullah. Together they had the children al-Qasim, Muhammad, and Ruqayyah.

After the death of 'Abdullah Ibn 'Amr, 'Abd al-Rahman Ibn al-Dahhak al-Fikri who was the governor of al-Madinah put in charge by Yazid Ibn 'Abd al-Malik3 asked Fatimah to marry him. Fatimah refused and he started to torment and bother her. And, he threatened to whip her eldest son 'Abdullah Ibn al-Hasan under the false charge of drinking alcohol if she refused.

The person in charge of the courts in al-Madinah was a man named Ibn Hurmuz who had been summoned to report to Yazid Ibn 'Abd al-Malik. Before leaving Ibn Hurmuz went to say good bye to Fatimah and asked, “Do you need anything?"

Fatimah told him, “Tell the caliph of what Ibn al-Dahhak wants of me and how he is tormenting me." And, she wrote a letter of complaint to Yazid..... In response to her letter of complaint Yazid Ibn 'Abd al-Malik removed Ibn al-Dahhak from his post and made him pay a compensation.4

Fatimah the daughter of Imam al-Husayn ('a) passed away in the year 110 A.H. at the age of 70 years old.5 It is said that Fatimah al-Nabawiyyah the daughter of Imam al-Husayn ('a) is buried in Egypt.6

Her Merits

The story of Fatimah and Ibn al-Dahhak shows the strong will, perseverance, and bravery of a woman who refused to succumb to the oppression of the government and defended her right. After the death of her husband al-Hasan for one year she set up a tent next to his grave and lived there. She passed the nights in worship and the days in fasting.7 Fatimah was a very devout and pious

woman. Ibn Sa'd in a tradition which he quotes from some transmitters about Fatimah says, "She praised God using some beads on a string."8

Fatimah Bint al-Hasan was from a very superior family, and she had praiseworthy morals. She was older than her sister Sukaynah and was the most similar to Fatimah al­Zahra' ('a).9

Fatimah witnessed the martyrdom of her father, brothers and family in Karbala'. She witnessed the oppression to the household of the Messenger of God (S) and took refuge with her aunt Zaynab ('a). The tragedy which came upon her and her family brought about a mood far more than just crying; and, her tears dried and her voice was caught. She was taken in captivity to al-Kufah along with the other women and remaining members of the household of the Prophet (S). The welcoming of their caravan by the men and women of al-Kufah further added to the sadness of her and her family. And finally, after the speech of her aunt Zaynab ('a), she also had a speech. Fatimah spoke for the people of al-Kufah with resolution, belief, firmness, and certainty revealing the cruel deeds of the Umayyads and causing the people to cry. The people said, "O daughter of the immaculate ones! You have torn our hearts and burned our livers (meaning deeply moved us)."10

Al-Kulayni based on his documents relates from Abu al-Jarud from Imam al­Baqir ('a) as saying, "When the time of martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn ('a) arrived he openly gave his written will to his daughter Fatimah. When he was martyred, she gave that will to 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn ('a).11

Mamqani has said, "The dignity and greatness of Fatimah's position and status are so obvious that there is no reason to bring proofs and reasoning." After bringing the tradition of al-Kulayni about the trustworthiness of Fatimah and the passing on of the will, Mamqani writes, "Based on the information from this tradition it may be concluded that she is trustworthy and just."12 Ibn Habban has counted her to be one of the trustworthy.13

She has related traditions from Fatimah al-Zahra' ('a), her father al-Husayn Ibn 'Ali ('a), her brother 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn ('a), her aunt Zaynab Bint 'Ali ('a), Bilal (the muezzin), Ibn 'Abbas, 'A'ishah, and Asma' Bint 'Umays.

The people who have related traditions from her are: Abdullah Ibn al-Hasan Ibn al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali, Ibrahim Ibn al-Hasan Ibn al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali, al-Husayn Ibn al-Hasan Ibn al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali, Umm Ja'far Bint al-Hasan Ibn al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali (her daughter), Muhammad Ibn 'Abdullah Ibn 'Umar Ibn 'Uthman who was famous as al-Dibaj, 'A'ishah Bint Talhah, Hisham Ibn Ziyad, 'Umarah Ibn al-Ghaziyyah al-Ansari, Yahya Ibn Abi Ya'la, Shaybah Ibn Na'amah, Ziyad Abu Hisham the father of Abu Miqdam Hisham Ibn Ziyad, Sulayman al­Ansari, Mus'ab Ibn Muhammad, and al-Zuhayr Ibn Mu'awiyah.14

Al-Kulayni based on his documents relates from Abu Hamzah from 'Abdullah Ibn al-Hasan from his mother Fatimah Bint al-Husayn that she said, "The Prophet (S) said: 'There are three characteristics which whoever has these three, their faith is complete:

l) Whenever they are happy their happiness doesn't cause them to do vain acts.

2) Whenever they are angry their anger doesn't prevent them from doing the right.

3) Whenever they have power they don't stretch out their hand towards wealth which doesn't belong to them."'15

Al-Tabari based on his documents quotes from Shaybah Ibn Na'amah from Fatimah al-Sughra (Fatimah Bint al-Husayn) from Fatimah al-Kubra (Lady Fatimah al-Zahra') that she said, "The Prophet (S) said, 'Each Prophet had a trail (roots) which grew and started from him. Fatimah is my roots which are from me."''16

Shaykh al-Saduq based on his documents relates from Muhammad Ibn Sinan from Abu Jarud Ziyad Ibn Mundhir from 'Abdullah Ibn al-Hasan17 from his mother Fatimah Bint al-Husayn that she said, "The plunderers entered our tent. At that time, I was a young girl and had a golden anklet. A man took the anklet off of my foot while he was crying. I said, 'O enemy of God, why do you cry?' He said, 'Why shouldn't I cry when I steal from the daughter of the Messenger of God.' I said, 'Don't steal.' He said, 'I fear if I don't take this someone else will come and take it.' Fatimah says, 'They stole everything. They even took the cloths which covered our heads.'"18

'Abdullah Ibn al-Hasan Ibn al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali relates from his mother Fatimah Bint al-Husayn who relates from her father from the Prophet (S) as saying, "The most advisable thing for my people is asceticism and certainty in belief. And, the destruction of the last of them is in greed, craving, and avarice."19

Abu Miqdam al-'lbri al-Basri quotes from his mother Fatimah the daughter of Imam al-Husayn ('a) as saying, "When al-Qasim the son of the Prophet (S) died, the Messenger of God (S) came out (of his house), and Khadijah ('a) was following him. When he (al-Qasim) had been buried, Khadijah returned home."20

'Abdullah Ibn al-Hasan Ibn al-Hasan relates from his mother Fatimah Bint Hasan from her father from Imam 'Ali ('a) as saying, "Whenever the Messenger of God (S) entered the mosque he would say, 'O God! Open the doors of Your mercy on me.' And, whenever he would exit from the mosque he would say, 'O God! Open Your doors of sustenance for me."21

Ibrahim Ibn al-Hasan Ibn al-Hasan relates from his mother Fatimah the daughter of Imam al-Husayn ('a) who quotes her father al-Husayn Ibn 'Ali ('a) who relates from his father Imam 'Ali ('a) who says the Prophet (S) said, '"A person who has four qualities has been given good in this world and the next.' He then divided up these four qualities: a good disposition which causes the person to live among people in a good way, patience which keeps away the ignorance of the ignorant, and a good spouse who helps one in the deeds of this world."22

Fatimah Bint al-Husayn ('a) has also related the 'Manzilah' tradition (i.e., the Holy Prophet's famous saying to Imam 'Ali, "Your position (manzilah) to me is verily like the position of Prophet Aaron to Prophet Moses, except that no prophet shall come after me").23

Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah in their books of traditions, and al­Nasa'i in his books Khasa'is 'Ali ('a) and Musnad 'Ali have related traditions from Fatimah Bint al-Husayn.24

• 1. Al-Mujdi, p. 91; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 44, p. 167; Tahdhib al-Kamal, p. 254.
• 2. Al-Hasan Ibn al-Hasan ('a) was a dignified person, a leader, scholarly, and pious. He was responsible for collecting the religious tax (Zakat) under Imam 'Ali ('a). He was with his uncle during the day of Karbala' and was seriously wounded. He was taken with the hostages, and later received medical treatment. He died at the age of 35. [Kitab al-Irshad, p. 196].
• 3. Yazid Ibn 'Abd al-Malik Ibn Marwan was the 9th Umayyad ruler. He was born in the year 71 A.H.L in Damascus, and came to power in the year 101 A.H.L.
• 4. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 474.
• 5. A'yan al-Shi'ah, vol. 8, p. 387; A'lam al-Nisa', vol. 4, p. 47.
• 6. Al-Durr al-Manthur fi Tabaqat Rabbat al-Khudur, p. 361.
• 7. Kitab al-Irshad, p. 197.
• 8. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 474.
• 9. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 44, p. 167.
• 10. For more information as to her speech refer to Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 3, p. 285.
• 11. Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 303.
• 12. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 82.
• 13. A'lam al-Nisa, vol. 4, p. 44; Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 443.
• 14. Tahdhib al-Kamal, p. 255.
• 15. Al-Kafi, p. 2 Kitab al-Iman wa'l-Kufr, 29; Wasa'il al-Shi'ah, vol. 15, p. 363.
• 16. 'Dala'il al-Imamah, p. 87; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 43, p. 230.
• 17. This is 'Abdullah Ibn al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib ('a). In the books it is written 'Abdullah Ibn al-Husayn which is a mistake.
• 18. Al-Amali by Shaykh al-Saduq, p. 164, # 2.
• 19. Al-Amali by Shaykh al-Saduq, vol. 16, p. 15.
• 20. Al-Amali by Shaykh al-Saduq, vol. 16, p. 15.
• 21. Al-Amali by Shaykh al-Saduq, vol. 16, p. 15.
• 22. Mustadrak al-Wasa'il, vol. 14, p. 170.
• 23. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 24, p. 147.
• 24. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 442.