Seyed Hashem Moosavi,
This week’s article is dedicated to “The Role of Lady Fatimah (sa) in Elucidating the Status of Imamate and Understanding the Imam,” in commemoration of the first ten days of Fatimiyyah.
Introduction
The knowledge of the Imam, or Imamology, in the Shia school of thought, is one of the foundational pillars of Islamic beliefs. This understanding extends beyond recognizing the individual qualities of the Imam and serves as a basis for the cohesion and guidance of the Islamic community. The Imam, as the Hujjah (proof) of God on earth, is seen not only as a religious leader but also as a comprehensive model of humanity and perfection.
Within this framework, Lady Fatimah (sa)-the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (sa) and the wife of Imam Ali (as)-plays a crucial and influential role in Imagology and in clarifying the status of the Imamate. Her character and teachings, especially in facing the challenges after the Prophet’s demise, are filled with profound lessons on the Imamate and divine leadership. Through studying and examining her life, one can gain a deeper understanding of the Imamate’s status and responsibilities.
Section One: The Status of Imamate in Islam
The Holy Quran, in several of its verses, references the status of Imamate, distinguishing it from Prophethood and elevating it above that station. Prophet Abraham (as), after passing through the ranks of Prophethood and succeeding in divine tests, was granted the status of Imamate. Likewise, the Prophet of Islam (sa), by divine command on the day of Ghadir Khumm, appointed Imam Ali (as) as the Imam after him. Furthermore, in a well-known hadith, the Prophet states: “Whoever dies without recognizing the Imam of his time dies the death of ignorance.” The Quran also explicitly states that the religion of Islam reaches its completion with the appointment of the first Imam following the final Prophet.
All these events underscore the high value and esteemed position of the Imamate, clearly highlighting the role and importance of the Imam in Islamic thought.
Section Two: The Role of Lady Fatimah (sa) in Defending the Status of Imamate
The words and actions of Lady Fatimah (sa) serve as a prominent example of complete adherence to the Holy Quran and as an ideal model for following its teachings. Her unwavering defence of Imam Ali’s (a.s.) Imamate clearly illustrates the essential role of recognizing and accepting the Imamate for attaining eternal happiness. As the honourable daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.), Lady Fatimah illuminated and emphasized the truths of Imamate and the necessity of allegiance to the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.), establishing a path that continues to guide Muslims today.
After the Prophet’s demise, she was among the few who stood firmly in defence of the authority and rights of Imam Ali (as). With courage and sincerity, she faced pressures and threats, even sacrificing her life for this cause. She emphasized that Imamate and divine leadership are not matters of public election but rather a divine responsibility entrusted to the Imam, stressing the importance of following the Imam to maintain unity within the Muslim community.
Section Three: The Discursive Framework of Lady Fatimah (sa) in Defending the Status of Imamate
A precise and principled elucidation of the status of Imamate and leadership within the Muslim community is one of the most effective means of defending this position. Lady Fatimah (s.a.) skilfully employed various forms of speech to communicate the grandeur and lofty status of the Imamate. Here are a few examples of her words:
- The Imam is Like the Kaaba: In this regard, she conveyed through a hadith: «مَثَلُ الاِمامِ مَثَلُ الکَعبَة اِذتُؤتى وَ لاتَأتى» “The Imam is like the Kaaba; people should come to him (to circle around), not that he should go to the people.” This analogy highlights the centrality of the Imam, who, like the Kaaba, stands as a focal point that people are drawn toward for guidance.
- The Imam as the Axis for Seekers of God: She also stated, «و هو الامام…قطب الاقطاب» “He is the Imam… the axis of all seekers (of God).” This expression places the Imam as the spiritual centre around which all those striving for divine closeness revolve.
- The Imam as the Inheritor of the Prophets: In an extended statement, she introduced the Ahl al-Bayt (as) and described the position of Imam Ali (as) as the most eminent among them: «نَحنُ وَسیلَتُهُ فى خَلقِه وَ نحن خاصَّتُهُ وَ مَحَلُّ قُدسِهِ وَ نَحنُ حُجَّتُهُ فى غَیبِهِ وَ نحن وَرَثَة اَنبیائِه»
“We (the Ahl al-Bayt) are the means by which God connects to His creation. We are His chosen ones, His sanctuary, His manifest proof, and the inheritors of His prophets.”
This narration identifies four core roles of the Imamate: as the link between creation and the Creator, as the place of divine selection, as the manifest proof and vicegerent of God on earth, and as the inheritors of the prophets.
- The Imam as the Guarantor of Order and Unity for the Community: Lady Fatimah (sa) expressed a profound perspective on this role, saying: «فَجَعَلَ اللّهُ…طاعَتَنا نِظاماً لِلملةِ وَ اِمامَتَنا اَماناًلِلفُرقَة» “God made our obedience (the Ahl al-Bayt) the cause of social order for the community and our Imamate and leadership the safeguard against division.” She also stated, «اَمَا وَ اللّهِ لَو تَرَکُوا الحَقَّ عَلَى اَهلِهِ وَ اتَّبَعُوا عِترَةَ نَبیّهِ لَمَا اختَلَفَ فِى اللّهِ اثنَان» “By God, if they had left the truth with those to whom it belonged and followed the lineage of the Prophet, not even two people would have disagreed about God (and His judgment).”
This narration clearly illustrates that the rightful Imamate not only brings social and political unity within the Islamic community but also guarantees a unified belief system worldwide.
Section Four: How Lady Fatimah Serves as a Role Model for the Imam of Our Time in Facing Contemporary Challenges
In the second section, we noted that Lady Fatimah (sa) serves as a profound example in defending the status of Imamate, even for the infallible Imams (as. As a conclusion to this discussion, we can observe that her example serves as a model for Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) in three key ways:
- Refusal to Pledge Allegiance to Oppressive Rulers: Lady Fatimah (sa) never pledged allegiance to the oppressive rulers of her time. Similarly, Imam al-Mahdi (aj) also refrains from any association with oppressive rulers and, according to narrations, will appear with no allegiance to the tyrants of the time.
- Following Conventional Means and Avoiding Extraordinary Methods to Assert Rights: Although the right of caliphate was taken from Imam Ali (as), Lady Fatimah (sa) did not resort to extraordinary means to reclaim this right. In the same spirit, Imam al-Mahdi (aj) currently employs ordinary methods to advance truth and guide the community without resorting to unconventional methods.
- Enduring Injustice and Upholding Prayers for the Community: Despite the injustices suffered by her and the Ahl al-Bayt (as), Lady Fatimah (sa) continuously prayed for the well-being of the Muslim community, placing them above herself. Likewise, Imam al-Mahdi (aj), despite the hardships and rejections he faces, remains committed to the guidance and salvation of the Muslim community, offering them compassion, guidance, and prayers.
These three qualities in Lady Fatimah (sa) serve as a model for Imam al-Mahdi (aj), demonstrating steadfastness and resilience on the path of truth and the guidance of the Muslim community.
