Fatimah - Martyrdom

Martyrdom

Following the farewell pilgrimage, Muhammad summoned Fatimah and informed her that he would be dying soon but also informed her that she would be the first of his household to join him. Some days after this discussion, Muhammad died, following which Fatimah was grief-stricken and remained so for the remainder of her life until she died less than six months later, in the month of Ramadhan. Sunnis believe that Fatimah reconciled her differences with Abu Bakr prior to her death although the Shia Muslims believe in her anger with him until her death.

There are two distinct views on the manner of her martyrdom between the Shias and Sunnis.

Shias, however, maintain that Fatimah died as a result of injuries sustained after her house was raided by Umar ibn al-Khattab who burnt the house and stormed her house by pushing the door to the farthest extent, cracking her rib-cage whilst she was pregnant. Note that this accident also has been affirmed by the Sufi (nagina mosque order) scholar Maulana Shibli's famous book Al-Farook, but he has described the other reasons for this incident as well. Umar not only murdered her in the process but her unborn child, Mohsen, who was miscarried shortly thereafter as a direct result of Umar's attack. Muhammad appeared in a dream and informed Fatimah that she would be passing away the next day. Fatimah informed her husband Ali of her impending death, and asked him not to allow the oppressors to be involved in her ceremonial prayers janazah (prayer performed in congregation after the death of a Muslim) or take part in the burial.

Some sources say, the next day when she died, her two sons were the first family members to learn of her death and immediately proceeded to the mosque to inform their father who, upon hearing the news, fell unconscious. When he regained consciousness, Ali, according to Fatimah's wishes, performed the janazah and buried her during the night on 3rd Jumada al-Thani 11 AH (632) making out three other false graves to ensure her real grave could not be identified. With him were his family and a few of his close companions.

Shias and specially Iranians held ceremonies every year during 20 days in Jumada al-awwal and Jumada al-awwal to commemorate the anniversary of the martyrdom of Fatimah. Mourners marched in procession through the streets to reaffirm their allegiance to the ideals of Fatima. The exact location of her grave is hidden as she asked to hide her grave location from the first Caliph.

The Sunnis state that on the morning of her death, she took a bath, put on new clothes and lay down in bed. She asked for Ali and informed him that her time to die was very close. Upon hearing this news, Ali began to cry but was consoled by Fatimah who asked him to look after her two sons and for him to bury her without ceremony. After her death, Ali followed her wishes and buried her without informing the Medinan people.