Log in Sign up
Back to Discover
📖

Fatima

philosophy religion Maturity 11-13 religion death dying
This article covers sensitive topics: religion, death_dying. Parents can manage visibility in Parental Controls.

Fatima was a very special woman.

Paris, BnF, Supplément Persan 1030 fol. 467v cropped Fatima.jpg
Paris, BnF, Supplément Persan 1030 fol. 467v cropped Fatima.jpg
She was the daughter of Muhammad. Many people look to her for help. She was kind and very brave. Her life is still important today. Do you know her name?

54 words

Fatima was the daughter of Muhammad.

Mohammed with his daughter Fatima and son-in-law, Ali, from the 1595 illustrated edition of the Siyer-i Nebi.jpg
Mohammed with his daughter Fatima and son-in-law, Ali, from the 1595 illustrated edition of the Siyer-i Nebi.jpg
She was very kind and caring. Many people see her as a great example.
Paris, BnF, Supplément Persan 1030 fol. 467v cropped Fatima.jpg
Paris, BnF, Supplément Persan 1030 fol. 467v cropped Fatima.jpg
She married a man named Ali. They lived a simple life with little money. Fatima did hard work at home. Her name is still very popular for girls today. She is remembered by many people around the world.

93 words

Fatima was the daughter of Muhammad.

Mohammed with his daughter Fatima and son-in-law, Ali, from the 1595 illustrated edition of the Siyer-i Nebi.jpg
Mohammed with his daughter Fatima and son-in-law, Ali, from the 1595 illustrated edition of the Siyer-i Nebi.jpg
Many people see her as a great example. She was known for being kind and generous.
Paris, BnF, Supplément Persan 1030 fol. 467v cropped Fatima.jpg
Paris, BnF, Supplément Persan 1030 fol. 467v cropped Fatima.jpg
Some people call her al-Zahra. This name refers to her prayer. Others say it refers to a light she carries.

Fatima married Muhammad's cousin, Ali. They lived a very simple life. They did not have much money. Fatima did hard work at home. Ali worked at many jobs to help. They had two sons named Hasan and Husayn. These sons are very important in Shia Islam.

Fatima died shortly after her father. There are different views on why she died. Sunni Muslims believe she died from grief. Shia Muslims believe she died from injuries during a raid on her home. Her burial place is not known for sure.

Jannatul-Baqi before Demolition.jpg
Jannatul-Baqi before Demolition.jpg
Many Muslim girls today are given her name. She remains a very special figure in history.

184 words

Fatima bint Muhammad was a very important figure in Islamic history. She was the daughter of the prophet Muhammad and his wife Khadija. Many people look to her as a great example of how to live. She is often seen as a model of kindness and generosity. Some people also see her as a person who showed great strength during hard times.

Mohammed with his daughter Fatima and son-in-law, Ali, from the 1595 illustrated edition of the Siyer-i Nebi.jpg
Mohammed with his daughter Fatima and son-in-law, Ali, from the 1595 illustrated edition of the Siyer-i Nebi.jpg
Because of her life, her name is a very popular choice for Muslim girls today. Her family line also continues through her children to this day.

Fatima's life was filled with many different roles and duties. She was a daughter, a wife, and a mother to two sons. Her sons were named Hasan and Husayn, who are very important in Shia Islam. In her home, she worked hard on many domestic chores. Her husband, Ali, also worked many jobs to help their family. They lived a very simple life and did not have much money. To help them, Muhammad taught them a special way to pray called the Tasbih of Fatima. This prayer uses three special phrases to help ease their burdens.

Historians have different ideas about when Fatima was born. Some say she was born in Mecca around 605 CE. Other sources say she was born a bit later, around 612 or 615 CE.

Paris, BnF, Supplément Persan 1030 fol. 467v cropped Fatima.jpg
Paris, BnF, Supplément Persan 1030 fol. 467v cropped Fatima.jpg
She grew up in Mecca during a time when her father faced many enemies. One story says she rushed to help Muhammad when people were unkind to him. She also lost her mother, Khadija, when she was still a child. After her mother died, it is said that the angel Gabriel came to comfort her.

Fatima is known by many beautiful titles that show how people respect her. One common name is al-Zahra, which relates to her regular prayers.

FatimaalZahra.jpg
FatimaalZahra.jpg
Shia Muslims believe this name also refers to a light that shines from her. Other titles include al-Tahira, which means the pure one, and al-Siddiqa. Some reports say that angels spoke to her, much like they spoke to Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Persian miniature of Jesus and Mary.jpg
Persian miniature of Jesus and Mary.jpg
Because of these special qualities, she is often compared to the most holy women in history.

There is much discussion about the end of Fatima's life. She died within six months after her father passed away in 632 CE.

Jannatul-Baqi before Demolition.jpg
Jannatul-Baqi before Demolition.jpg
Sunni Muslims believe she died from her grief over her father. However, Shia Muslims believe she died from injuries during a raid on her house. There was also a disagreement about a place called Fadak, which was a village with farmland. Some say it was a gift to her, while others say it was taken by the first caliph, Abu Bakr. Because of these events, her exact burial place remains a mystery.

495 words

Fatima bint Muhammad was a central figure in early Islamic history. She was the daughter of the prophet Muhammad and his first wife, Khadija. To many Muslims, she serves as an ultimate archetype for women. She is remembered for her compassion, her generosity, and her ability to endure suffering.

Mohammed with his daughter Fatima and son-in-law, Ali, from the 1595 illustrated edition of the Siyer-i Nebi.jpg
Mohammed with his daughter Fatima and son-in-law, Ali, from the 1595 illustrated edition of the Siyer-i Nebi.jpg
Her lineage is also vital because Muhammad's family line survived through her children. Today, her name and various titles remain popular choices for Muslim girls. Many religious traditions view her as a person of immense spiritual importance.

Fatima's life involved many different responsibilities and roles. She was a daughter, a wife, and a mother to two sons, Hasan and Husayn. In Shia Islam, these sons are recognized as the second and third imams. During her marriage to Muhammad's cousin, Ali, the couple lived in severe poverty. They performed hard physical labor to survive. Ali worked various jobs, while Fatima managed the domestic chores of the household. To help ease their heavy burdens, Muhammad taught them the Tasbih of Fatima. This consists of three specific phrases used during prayer.

Residence of Fatimah.JPG
Residence of Fatimah.JPG

There are different historical accounts regarding Fatima's early life and family. The mainstream Sunni view suggests she was born in Mecca around 605 CE. This would mean she was over eighteen when she married. However, Twelver Shia sources report she was born later, around 612 or 615 CE.

Paris, BnF, Supplément Persan 1030 fol. 467v cropped Fatima.jpg
Paris, BnF, Supplément Persan 1030 fol. 467v cropped Fatima.jpg
While some sources say she had three sisters, many Shia sources believe she was Muhammad's only biological daughter. She grew up in Mecca while her father faced ill-treatment from enemies. One account describes her rushing to help Muhammad when filth was thrown on him by an enemy named Abu Jahl.

Fatima is known by many honorific titles that reflect her character. Her most common epithet is al-Zahra, which relates to her piety and regular prayer.

FatimaalZahra.jpg
FatimaalZahra.jpg
Shia Muslims believe this name refers to a primordial light that radiates from her. Other titles include al-Siddiqa, al-Tahira, al-Mubaraka, and al-Mansura. Some reports also call her al-Muḥadditha, meaning one who is spoken to by angels. This comparison is similar to how the mother of Jesus, Mary, is viewed.
Persian miniature of Jesus and Mary.jpg
Persian miniature of Jesus and Mary.jpg
In both Sunni and Shia collections, she is recognized as the leader of the women of the worlds.

Her marriage to Ali held deep spiritual significance for the Muslim community. Muhammad reportedly stated that he married her to the best member of his family.

Mubahala.jpg
Mubahala.jpg
Some traditions suggest that Ali did not marry again while Fatima was alive. While polygyny is permitted in Islam, Muhammad reportedly banned a marriage proposal between Ali and the daughter of Abu Jahl. This was done to prevent a union between the prophet's daughter and the daughter of an enemy. Ali is reported to have said that looking at Fatima made his worries and sadness disappear.

After Muhammad died in 632 CE, Fatima experienced deep grief and political tension. She and Ali refused to acknowledge the authority of the first caliph, Abu Bakr. They believed Ali was the rightful successor to Muhammad.

FatimaalZahra.jpg
FatimaalZahra.jpg
A major dispute arose regarding Fadak, a village with agricultural land. Shia views hold that Muhammad gifted this land to Fatima, but Abu Bakr seized it. Sunni views differ on whether the land was a gift or part of the state's revenue. Fatima contested this, using her sons and a maid named Umm Aiman as witnesses. Abu Bakr required different legal standards for witnesses to confirm her ownership.

Fatima's death within six months of her father's remains a subject of intense controversy. Sunni Islam holds that she died from the weight of her grief. In contrast, Shia Islam teaches that she died from injuries sustained during a raid on her house.

Jannatul-Baqi before Demolition.jpg
Jannatul-Baqi before Demolition.jpg
It is believed she requested that the caliph not attend her funeral. Because of this, she was buried secretly at night. Consequently, her exact burial place remains uncertain to this day. Her life continues to be a subject of study in theology and history.

698 words
🖼️ Images & Media (9)
File:The Marriage of 'Ali and Fatima, Iran, ca. 1850.jpg
The Marriage of 'Ali and Fatima, Iran,...
File:Mohammed with his daughter Fatima and son-in-law, Ali, from the 1595 illustrated edition of the Siyer-i Nebi.jpg
Mohammed with his daughter Fatima and...
File:Paris, BnF, Supplément Persan 1030 fol. 467v cropped Fatima.jpg
Paris, BnF, Supplément Persan 1030 fol....
File:Residence_of_Fatimah.JPG
Residence_of_Fatimah.JPG
File:Jannatul-Baqi before Demolition.jpg
Jannatul-Baqi before Demolition.jpg
File:Mubahala.jpg
Mubahala.jpg
File:آیه_تطهیر.jpg
آیه_تطهیر.jpg
File:Persian miniature of Jesus and Mary.jpg
Persian miniature of Jesus and Mary.jpg
File:FatimaalZahra.jpg
FatimaalZahra.jpg
Up Next
📖
Zaynab bint Ali
Philosophy Religion
More to explore

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.