Hadrat Fatimah Zahra (S.A.) and the “Night of Divine Decrees”
By: Ayatullah Makarem Shirazi
After the completion of this booklet I was thinking of writing a preface for it that would be both an articulation of the magnificence of this great lady of the world of humanity, and also be closely related to the books’ contents. Nothing occurred to me than the traditions of the Pure Imams (a.s.), which were related to their mother Zahra (s.a.). I opened Volume forty-three of the book “Bihar-al-Anwar” and my eyes fell upon this sentence, in which Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said in a tradition recorded in the commentary of “Forat-bin-Ibrahim” speaking of the meaning of the Quranic verse:
English Interpretation: “The night of (Qadr), i.e. Divine Decrees is Fatimah (s.a.), therefore whoever knows Fatimah (s.a.) well has understood the Night of Divine Decrees, and the reason for Fatimah being named Fatimah[7] is that mankind has been “Prevented from obtaining” her acquaintance!”[8]
I saw that this was a very unusual interpretation! Fatimah (s.a.) is the very Night of Divine Decrees. Anyone who really knows Fatimah (s.a.) as she is, has understood the Night of Divine Decrees. Very few persons have known Fatimah (s.a.) as she is and was.
We know that Quranic verses have a literal meaning and a figurative meaning, and many interpretations. Without a doubt the literal interpretation of the chapter “Qadr” tells of the night in which the Holy Quran was descended upon the pure heart of the Prophet (S), and in which the divine decrees (destinies) of human beings are ascertained for a year, according to Divine Wisdom. As such, what was said in the tradition above is a figurative interpretation of this chapter’s meaning, or the second meaning of the chapter “Qadr”.
And what a close relationship there is between the existence of “The lady of Islam” and the “Night of Divine Decrees”.
1. The Night of Divine Decrees is (the disguised or unknown of “Qadr”), undoubtedly this great Lady, who the Prophet (S) would call a part of his flesh and reckoned her pleasure to cause God’s pleasure, and her anger God’s anger, is also the disguised or unknown of Qadr.
2. The Night of “Qadr” is hidden among the nights of the year[9]. The grave of the Lady of Islam is unknown among the graves of the great Personages of Islam, and when those who wish to pay pilgrimage to her enter Medina and visit the shrines of all the other great ones but seek her grave not to find it, will well understand the heavy load of this sorrow.
3. The Night of “Qadr” is better than one thousand night worship لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ and the virtue of it’s worship is greater than that of a long life of eighty years. The virtue of this great Lady is also greater than thousands upon thousands of virtuous persons and her rank is more superior.[10]
4. The “Night of Qadr” was the time in which the Quran was descended upon the pure heart of the Prophet of Islam, a sudden, all together revelation, even though its gradual descent took over twenty three years.
The “Night of Qadr” may also therefore be named as the Night of the descent of virtue and perfection, knowledge and wisdom. The being of Fatimah (s.a.) is also the source for the luminosity of the guardianship and Imamat and also divine knowledge and wisdom.
5. The “Night of Qadr” is the night in which by command of God, the Angels ascertain the destinies of all human beings and present them to “Waly-al-Amr” (the guardian of his command. It is a night of which in its entirety is peace and good.
The brief life of this Lady of Islam was also from beginning to end, goodness, soundness and blessing and was given the attention and interest of the Angels.
The close relationship between the “Night of Qadr” and the being of Fatimah (s.a.) deems it necessary for all of us to strive harder in knowing her, and obtaining greater benefit from the blessings of her radiance.
* * *
Indeed how painful are the encounters that spiteful enemies and uninformed persons had with this “Night of Qadr” and friends of God. One example of the most curious of these encounters is their encounter with that Hazrat in the matter of Fadak. By studying it, many mysteries and questions enshrouding the issue of “Fadak” will be resolved.
What you will be reading in this booklet is a condensed explanation and analysis of this matter. In this discussion of the naked historical facts related to Fadak, any interpretations that could cause a misunderstanding or excite sentiments have been avoided. Especially the majority of its sources are taken from the very well known Sunni sources.
God willing, this is an effective step for a re-evaluation of the history of Islam and a greater understanding of Fatimah (s.a.) the great Lady of Islam.
Qum - Howza °lmiah, Nasser Makarem Shirazy 1407, 2Oth Jamadi Ath-Thani.
“The happy Birth date of Fatimah Zahra (s.a)”
Notes:
[6]Night of Divine Decrees or Night of Power = Night of Qadr (ليلة القدر)
[7](فطم) is from the root word (فطم) originally meaning “weaning from milk” and in the appropriate choice of this name for the lady Islam, reasons have been mentioned, including the above meaning..
[8]Bihar-al-Anwar; vol. 43 pg. 65; tradition 58
[9]According to the reports of the religions great ones, it is bidden among three nights (the 19th, 21st, and 23rd of Ramadhan).
[10]Because her satisfaction and pleasure causes God’s pleasure; and His pleasure is greater than the world and everything in it.
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