The phrase “Mahdi bin Fāṭima” is frequently used by the Shi'a. Although using this phrase is a matter of taste, it is rooted in narrations which, in different aspects, represent a special relation between Lady Fāṭima* and Imam Mahdi. Some aspects of this connection are briefly as follows:
Imam Mahdi the offspring of Lady Fāṭima
«عن امِّ سلمَة، قَالَتْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ يَقُولُ: اَلْمَهْدِيُّ مِنْ عِتْرَتِي مِنْ وُلْدِ فَاطِمَةَ» (1)
"It is narrated from Umm Salamah to have said, 'I heard from the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad) to have said, 'Mahdi is of my lineage, from Fatima's sons.'"
In another narration, it is quoted from Ali Ibn al-Hussain who narrated from his father, Hussain, and he narrated from the Messenger of Allah, to have said to his daughter Fatima,
«أَبْشِرِي يَا فَاطِمَة، فَإنَّ المَهْديَّ مِنْكِ» (2)
"O Fatima! Good news for you since truly Mahdi is of your lineage."
Lady Fāṭima a role model for Imam Mahdi
Imam Mahdi as a perfect human and infallible Imam has announced in one of his letters that Lady Fatima is a proper role model for him. He stated,
«... وَ فِي اِبْنَةِ رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ لِي أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ» (3)
"… In the Prophet's daughter (Fāṭima), there is a good exemplar for me…"
The special status of Lady Fāṭima and Imam Mahdi in connection to the Qadr night
There is a narration of Imam al-Sādiq to have said,
«إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ اَلْقَدْرِ اَللَّيْلَةُ فَاطِمَةُ وَ اَلْقَدْرُ اَللَّهُ فَمَنْ عَرَفَ فَاطِمَةَ حَقَّ مَعْرِفَتِهَا فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ لَيْلَةَ اَلْقَدْرِ وَ إِنَّمَا سُمِّيَتْ فَاطِمَةَ لِأَنَّ اَلْخَلْقَ فُطِمُوا عَنْ مَعْرِفَتِهَا» (4)
"(In the verse of the Quran when Allah says,) "Verily, We sent down the Holy Qur'an in the Night of Qadr" the word "al-Layla" (the night) means Fatima, and "al-Qadr" (Ordainment) means Allah.[5] Therefore, whoever knows Fatima truly and completely has realized "laylat ul-Qadr". Surely, she has named "Fatima" because, decidedly, creatures cannot know her (as she is, so understanding the real preciousness of that night is unlikely.)"
On the other hand, concerning the connection between Qadr night and the Imamate of the twelve Imams, Ibn ʿAbbās narrated from Imam Ali to have stated,
«إِنَّ لَيْلَةَ اَلْقَدْرِ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ وَ إِنَّهُ يَنْزِلُ فِي تِلْكَ اَللَّيْلَةِ أَمْرُ اَلسَّنَةِ وَ لِذَلِكَ اَلْأَمْرِ وُلاَةٌ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَقَالَ اِبْنُ عَبَّاسٍ مَنْ هُمْ؟ قَالَ أَنَا وَ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ مِنْ صُلْبِي أَئِمَّةٌ مُحَدَّثُونَ» (6)
"Indeed, there is the Night of Ordainment in every year and the affairs of every year are sent down and ordained in that night. There are guardians for this matter (who receive these affairs) after the departure of the Messenger of Allah." Ibn 'Abbas asked, "Who are those guardians?" The Imam answered, "I and the eleven Imams of my lineage to whom angles send down and speak."
The love of the Holy Prophet for Lady Fāṭima and Imam Mahdi
The great and infinite love of the Holy Prophet for Lady Fatima is not hidden from anyone; this love was so much that the Prophet always used to say:
«فاطِمَةُ بَضْعَةٌ مِنِّي مَنْ سَرَّها فَقَدْ سَرَّنِي وَ مَنْ ساءَها فَقَدْ ساءَنِي فاطِمَةُ أعَزُّ الْبَرِيَّةِ عَلَيَّ» (7)
"Fatima is a part of me; everyone who delights her verily delights me, and everyone who grieves her verily grieves me. Fatima is my dearest one."
In one narration quoted by Imam Ali, it is said that the Prophet while introducing Imam Mahdi, referred to his love for him and said,
«بِأَبِي وَ أُمِّي سَمِيِّي وَ شَبِيهِي وَ شَبِيهُ مُوسَی بْنِ عِمْرَانَ عَلَيْهِ جُيُوبُ النُّورِ أَوْ قَالَ جَلَابِيبُ النُّورِ يَتَوَقَّدُ مِنْ شُعَاعِ الْقُدْسِ» (8)
"May my father and mother be sacrificed for the sake of him (Mahdi), he is my namesake. He is similar to me and Prophet Moses bin Imran. Halos of light, gaining their brightness from Divine light, envelop him."
Footnote:
*Lady Fāṭima al-Zahrā is the only surviving child of the Prophet of Islam, the wife of Imam Ali, and the mother of Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn, who was martyred in Medina at the age of 18.!
1. Bihār al-Anwār, vol. 51, p. 75, hadith 30; Sunan, by Abī Dāwūd, vol. 4, p. 1832, hadith 4284; Sunan, by Ibn Mājih, kitāb al-Fitan, Section Khurūj al-Mahdi, hadīth 4086.
2. Kanz al-'U'mmāl, by al-Muttaqī al-Hindī, vol. 12, pp. 105 and 106.
3. Bihār al-Anwār, vol. 53, p. 180, hadith, 9.
4. Bihār al-Anwār, vol. 43, p. 65, hadith. 58.
[5] This means that just as it is difficult to see objects in the darkness of night, the position of Lady Fatima is also difficult to understand because it is so high. In addition, Allah, Who knows the value of everything correctly, is aware of her great worthiness.
6. Al-Kāfī, vol. 1, p. 532, hadith 11.
7. Bihār al-Anwār, vol. 43, p. 39, hadith 41.
8. Bihār al-Anwār, vol. 36, p. 337, hadith 200.
Source: The Final Hope, January 2021, Issue no. 4
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