Fatimah al-Sughra was the daughter of 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib ('a) Ibn 'Abd al­Muttalib Ibn Hashim Ibn 'Abd-Manaf. Her mother was a bondmaid. She married Muhammad Ibn Abi Sa'id Ibn 'Aqil Ibn Abi Talib and had Hamidah and Muhammad. After the death of her husband she married Sa'id Ibn al-Aswad Ibn Abu al-Bukhtari and together they had Barzah and Khalid. After his death she married with Mundhir Ibn 'Ubaydah Ibn al-Zubayr and together they had 'Uthman and Kabrah. She was still alive after the death of Mundhar.1 Fatimah Bint 'Ali ('a) passed away in the year 117 according to al-Tabari.2

Her Merits

Fatimah was present at Karbala' with her brother, Imam al-Husayn ('a), and her sisters. She witnessed all of the tragedies and oppression which came upon the household of the Messenger of God (S), and was taken as a captive with Zaynab ('a) and the other women from the household of the Prophet (S) to Damascus.3

Al-Barqi has counted her among the transmitters of traditions from Imam al­Hasan ('a).4 She has also related traditions from her father 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib ('a), Asma' Bint 'Umays, her brother Muhammad Ibn al-Hanafiyyah, and the wife of Imam 'Ali, Umamah Bint Abu al-'As Ibn Rabi'.

The people who have related traditions from her are: Harith Ibn Ka'b al-Kufi, Razin Bayya' al-Anmat, al-Hakam Ibn 'Abd al-Rahman Ibn Abi Nu'aym al­Bajali, 'Urwah Ibn 'Ubaydullah al-Jahani ('Abdullah) Ibn Qushayr, 'Isa Ibn 'Uthman, Musa, Nafi' Ibn Abi Nu'aym al-Qari, and Abu Basir.5

Ibn Sa'd based on his documents relates from al-Hakam Ibn 'Abd al-Rahman Ibn Abi Nu'aym from Fatimah Bint 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib ('a) as saying, "The Prophet (S) said, 'Whoever frees a Muslim or a believer, God will protect a part of his body from hellfire for each part of the body of that freed person.'"6

Al-Saduq based on his documents relates from Harith Ibn Ka'b from Fatimah Bint 'Ali ('a) that she said, "When Yazid - may God curse him - ordered to take the women of Imam al-Husayn ('a) prisoner along with 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn ('a), they didn't have anything to warm or cover themselves with. The skin on their faces began to peel. Not a single stone remained in Jerusalem but that when it was removed the blood of four-legged animals could be found beneath it. People saw a red sunlight on their walls as if there were colored sheets (on the walls) until Imam 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn ('a) departed from there with the women, and the head of Imam al-Husayn ('a) was returned to Karbala'."7

Al-Saduq based on his documents relates from 'Urwah Ibn 'Abdullah (or 'Ubaydullah) Ibn Qushayr al-Ju'fi from Fatimah Bint 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib ('a) as saying, "Revelation descended on the Prophet (S) and encompassed him. He fell asleep on the lap of 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib until the sun set. Then the Prophet (S) asked him, "O 'Ali have you prayed your afternoon prayer?'

'Ali answered, 'No, I was busy protecting you.'

The Prophet (S) prayed, and the sun returned until it had lit the room and half of the mosque."8

Al-Kulayni based on his documents relates from Abu Basir from Fatimah Bint 'Ali from Umamah Bint Abu al-'As Ibn Rabi' and her mother Zaynab the daughter of the Messenger of God (S) as saying, "'Ali came to me during the month of Ramadan. I took dates and mushrooms for him and he ate them. Amir al-Mu'minin ('a) liked mushrooms."9 Fatimah Bint 'Ali ('a) has reported hadith al-manzilah from Asma' Bint 'Umays.10

Al-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah have related traditions from Fatimah Bint 'Ali Ibn Abi­Talib ('a).11

Al-Suyuti has written, "Ibn Majah in descriBintg Abu Nu'aym al­Qari has quoted Fatimah Bint 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib ('a) as saying, 'I heard 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib say, 'O Kaf, Ha, Ya, 'Ayn, Sad, forgive me'"'12

• 1. Kitab al-Irshad, p. 186; al-Mujdi, p. 12; al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 465.
• 2. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 443; A'lam al-Nisa', vol. 4, p. 81.
• 3. A'lam al-Nisa', vol. 2, pp. 94-98; Tarajim al-Nisa', p. 297.
• 4. Rijal al-Barqi, p. 61; Mu'jam Rijal al-Hadith, vol. 23, p. 197.
• 5. Tahdhib al-Kamal, p. 261.
• 6. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 466; Tahdhib al-Kamal, p. 262; Wasa'il al-Shi'ah, vol. 23, p. 11.
• 7. Al-Amali by Shaykh al-Saduq, p. 167; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 45, p. 140.
• 8. Al-Amali by Shaykh al-Saduq, p. 94.
• 9. Al-Kafi, p. 37.
• 10. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 24, p. 147; Tahdhib al-Kamal, p. 263.
• 11. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 443; Tahdhib al-Kamal, p. 262.
• 12. Al-Itqan, vol. 3, p. 28; Tahdhib al-Kamal, p. 263.