Hazrat Fatimah’s Social Responsibilities
Fatimah (peace be upon her) was a responsible and duteous woman, believing that she was not able to think of herself alone and lead a life for her own sake, because Islamic umma belongs to all and regards all people as the members of one body.
“ كنتم خيرامة أخرجت للناس”
She had got this strong sense of responsibility since childhood and had been her father’s confidant when she was only five or six. She lent her mother a hand in house works, and when she grew up, she felt sympathetic towards all the people and was willing to solve their problems.
1. She was parallel with people:
Why Fatimah (peace be upon her) was slapped in the face? Why the enemy whipped her? Was she meant to promote her husband’s position? Was she meant to build up a reputation for herself? Wasn’t she the daughter of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants)? Had she done anything to abuse this honour and title?
The history has recorded that all Fatimah’s effort and anxiety, and all her activities were for the sake of the people. She was of the opinion that by the usurpation of Ali’s right, the right of the people keeping Ali (peace be upon him) away from the caliphate is oppression to the humanity. Due to this fact, she is ready to tolerate all pains so as to stop occurring such oppression.
Observing the necklace in Fatimah’s neck, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) pointed out to her by his look that there were more vital necessities in the society that must be regarded. Fatimah (peace be upon her) opened the necklace and sent it to her father. The father then said, “Dear Fatimah! You are of me. We must attend to the people’s pains”. Then, he spent it to ameliorate the life of the poor through selling it. She thinks of the people so that she would not like anybody to deceive the Ummah through her martyrdom and prove his leadership through attending her funeral ceremony and carrying her coffin.
2. She is in Charge of the Women Leadership:
Before the women be abused or taken as a means, Fatimah (peace be upon her) endeavoured to save them from being a plaything.
She raised an opportunity in which women could set themselves free from being ignorant and inferior and made her utmost so as to achieve a noble character for them. She tried to save the lives of the women from absurdity, not to be a means for the satisfaction of men’s passion, and not to jeopardize their grandeur and honour.
She taught the women how to obstruct the way of exploitation and be free by regarding their Qur’anic and Islamic character. Fatimah (peace be upon her) proved that woman should not be bargained as goods with a heavy marriage portion. She also proved that marriage just for the satisfaction of the passion and ambition is a pernicious form of social life and the cause of collapse of woman’s value.
3. She is a Sample for Women:
Fatimah (peace be upon her) is a sample for all the women at all times, especially those who are willing to preserve their honour and defend their purity and piety, since her age to Doomsday.
She is a perfect sample for women in all aspects of man’s life. She is the sample and symbol of freedom and is far from impurity and sin, slavery and captivity. She aimed to teach the people how to elevate their souls instead of indecency and insipid adornment and; therefore, managed to attract the hearts through this way. She taught the women that they could do manly jobs in case of necessity, but have to keep their eyes pure from the strangers and preserve their purity and nobility.
She also taught them how to rise against the oppression, usurpation, and injustice. To teach them the aforementioned lessons practically, Fatimah (peace be upon her) tried so much that the flames of her life light were extinguished. But she never stopped fulfilling her mission until the end of her life.
4. She is at the Service of the People of Society:
She was always thinking about the people and their needs before thinking about herself, and she knew it as a responsibility for herself, and in this way, she thought of both material and spiritual aspects. She had devoted her life to them, thinking day and night how to ameliorate the quality of this service.
She dedicated her wedding dress to the poor at her wedding night and went to Ali’s house with her old dress.
Like her husband and children, she dedicated her food which they had to break their fast to the orphan, poor, and captive for three successive nights as the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) said in this regard,
“واغوثاه اهل بيت محمد يموتون من الجوع”.
Although she knew that there existed no food storage in the house, she spent the Fadak income for the poor.
She sent her house curtain to her father in order to provide a shirt for the poor.
Sometimes, she dedicated her share of food to the poor and remained hungry.
She was worshipping and praying during the night and wished luck and prosperity for the people first.
Yes, she was a woman, but thought of human beings as the divine prophets and guardians. Also, she was ruthful and merciful to the believers.
Yes, she should be so, because she is the source of the abundant blessing, and has learnt the lesson of the philanthropy in the school of revelation and under the supervision of a professor as Mohammed (A.S), the father of humanity. She should be benevolent toward people, because she is under the supervision the one, the holy
Qur’an said about him, “ وما ارسلناك الا رحمة للعالمين”.
Take from: Fatimah (A.S) The Most Paramount Lady of Islam
By: Dr. Ali Ghaemi
Other links:
Let’s know Hazrat Fatimah’s Honor and grand dignity
The Mystery of Hazrat Fatimah’s Grandeur and Eternity
Hazrat Fatimah (A.S), the Sample of Deconstruction
The Lady of light
