At the epicenter of controversies in the eyes of the modern world is the role ofwomen and their rights according to Islam. What are their rights? Are they re-spected? How do Muslim women relate to Muslim men, and vice versa?

The answer to these questions lies in Islam’s very history, with Fatima Zahra, theesteemed daughter of Prophet Muhammad (A.S.)* himself. In her own shortlifetime, she emerged as a community leader, mentor, role model, and major pillarof Islam. She has been revered as the greatest Muslim woman of all time, and eventoday, she is still viewed as the pinnacle of piety and honor.

Lady Fatima’s Importance to Muslims P.2

The Secret of Fatima’s Following P.3

The Life of Fatima P.4

Fatima’s Role in History P.5

Frequently Asked Questions about Islam P.8

* AS - “Alayhis Salaam” or “Peace be Upon Them”

The Ahlul BaytMuhammad

FatimaAli

HasanHusain

Prophet Muhammad and his

immediate family members

are referred to as the “Ahlul

Bayt” and hold a special

place in the hearts of all

Muslims. Their role in Is-

lamic history is remembered

with great pride.

IslamicInformation

Center

In the name of the Most High

Adam

Noah

Abraham

Ismail Isaac

Moses

David

Solomon

Mary

Jesus

Muhammad

Fatima Ali

Hasan Husain

Today, most Muslimsregard Prophet Muham-mad as the most impor-tant figure in their dailylives. He was the messen-ger of Islam who taughtthe world about praying,fasting, giving charity,helping the poor, andtreating others with dig-nity and respect. Histeachings profoundly im-pact on the daily activitiesof all Muslims.

Prophet Muhammad,however, regarded hisdaughter, Fatima Zahra,as the most importantperson in his own life. Al-though there are a largenumber of recorded in-stances where he spokehighly about how peopleshould treat their daugh-ters in general, ProphetMuhammad referencedhis Fatima in a unique andspecial manner.

As father and daughter,their bond was especiallyclose and warm. He wasoften noted for saying,“Fatima is her father’smother.” In the context ofIslam, a mother’s role

cannot be overlooked ortaken lightly. Mothers areviewed as prime exem-plars of love and nurtur-ing. Children are advisedthat the gates of heavenlie beneath their mother’sfeet. By exalting Fatima tothe esteemed status of hisown mother, the Prophetexpressed his love and re-spect for his daughter, aswell as the love and re-spect his daughter recipro-cated by nurturing andcaring for him above allothers.

From the time of herbirth, Fatima’s life was in-tertwined with every as-pect of the Prophet’s mis-sion. She was only twoyears old when her fatherand his followers wereforced into poverty afterbeing barred from eco-nomic transactions by thepowerful tribal chiefs inMecca. Fatima survivedthree years of starvationwith her fellow Muslims inthe Abu Talib Valley inmodern day Saudi Arabia,where they experiencedlimited public interaction,

scarce quantities of food,and constant threats ofviolence and intimidation.

Sadly, her own mother,the Lady Khadija binteKhawlid, did not survivethe strife. She was ex-hausted after ten years oftireless struggle alongsidethe Prophet and the otherMuslims. Lady Khadija hadstood by the Prophet fromthe day Islam was re-vealed, and Fatima soontook her mother’s place asthe prime female sup-porter of Prophet Muham-mad.

Fatima moved to Me-dina as a young child withher father and endured thetrials and tribulations hefaced there. Early on, tribalArabs attacked Medina,hoping to destroy the en-tire Muslim population. Inthe initial attacks, theywounded Prophet Muham-mad. When she heardabout her father’s injuries,Fatima Zahra insisted thatshe would be the one tonurse him, and braved thedangers of the attack to beby his side.

Page 2

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What is the IIC?

The IslamicInformation Center

is a grass-rootsorganization that

was established toinform the public

about the trueimage of Islam andMuslims through

mass media.

Who runs the IIC?

The IIC is run byour chairman,

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Inside:

Read quotes byLady Fatima Zahraregarding Islam,

life, and herattitude towards

worship.

Read more aboutwhy 1.2 billionMuslims regard

Lady Fatima as themost influential

woman in history.

Lady Fatima Zahra’s gravesite is ahistorical mystery, as she hadrequested a secret funeral, butmany academics believe she isburied in Jannatul Baqi, a grave-yard in Medina, Saudi Arabia. Nextto Jannatul Baqi is the Mosque ofthe Prophet, where ProphetMuhammad himself is buried.

How important is Lady Fatima Zahra to Muslims?

The Secret of why Muslims Revere Lady Fatima

AlternativeSpellings

MohamadMohammadMohammedMuhammadMuhamadMohamedMohametMehmet

AliAly

Aley

FatimaFatimahFatema

HasanHassan

HusainHussainHuseinHosein

HusseinHosainHosaynHossain

Why are there so manyways to spell the same

name?

In the Arabic language,the spelling and pronun-ciation of these names is

quite clear; however,when transliterated into

English, a variety ofspellings may result de-pending upon the con-version method used.

We, as Muslims, have an intense attach-ment to Lady Fatima Zahra because sheis remembered for her exemplary role inthe foundation of Islam. Fatima was acentral figure of many dynamic issuesand challenges faced by Islam. Muslimsbelieve that she takes on the concernsof mankind, and for this reason, we feellike she is very much alive amongst us.Most people die when they breathetheir last breath, andtheir existence is lim-ited to their lifespan.However, there areothers who remainalive as long as life ex-ists, who survive aslong as their messagesurvives, and will con-tinue to love as long asthere are people whofollow their message. Lady Fatima hasbeen placed at the pinnacle of such peo-ple, since it is impossible to mention theMessenger of God without mentioningher. Any discussion of Islam in daily life,in one way or another, tacitly mandatesthe name of Lady Fatima Zahra.

This is the secret of Lady Fatima thatobliges us to keep her in our minds andour hearts. We cannot help but open upto her with our tears. More impor-tantly, we open ourselves to her mes-sage because she lived every moment ofher life in dedication to the Message ofIslam, and never once lived it for herself.This is the secret of all the members ofAhlul Bayt (as): they lived for Islam, andwholly devoted their lives to spread itsmessage of peace.

Talking about Lady Fatima requiresno exaggeration of history. With her pi-ous virtues, she represents the livingpresent and a bright future. We have

seen her in her motherhood as thegreatest of mothers, and we have seenthe difficulties imposed by that role onher weak body, but she withstood all thiswith an open mind and with patience.Then we saw her fulfilling her differentmissionary responsibilities when shestirred up the conscience of the nation,and presented the greatest lesson inhow to deal with the circumstances fol-

lowing the deathof the Prophet(A.S.). She heldthat stance whichhas proved itselfover time andstayed valid to thepresent, and willforever remain.

Studying theexperience of Lady

Fatima is not a reversion to the past,and hence a diminution of ourselveswithin those limitations, but rather aquestion of trying to draw lessons from apioneering experience by an infalliblepersonality - an experience which hasnever been confined to the past but onewhich shall always be current and self-renewing.

When we present Lady Fatima as arole model, we are not talking aboutwomen only. We present her as a rolemodel for both men and women alikebecause she is a constituent element ofIslam and the Muslim people as a whole- even if her role was a woman was thegreatest role of her life.

Muslims can learn many lessons fromLady Fatima. They can learn how tospend their time valuably and how towholeheartedly open themselves to theattainment of knowledge, spirituality,and a dynamic attitude.

Page 3

Lady Fatima was born to Prophet Muhammad and

Lady Khadija binte Khawlid in the earliest days of Is-

lam. Lady Khadija, was renowned in the Arabian Pen-

insula as an influential entrepreneur and as an out-

standing personality. She readily sacrificed her wealth

in order to promote Islam. Much like her mother,

Fatima was a manifestation of the new generation of

Muslims putting

into practice what

t h e P r o p h e t

brought, guiding

others with her life,

and bringing his

mission to fruition.

She nurtured Islam

with unyielding

love, meeting and

exceeding the stan-

dards that the

Prophet himself had

set.

Fatima Zahra was known for being an agent of

change. In an era of Ignorance, when the harsh Arabs

where burying their daughters alive, she stood up

against all odds and challenged their customs. Fatima

was nurtured in the heart of Islam’s campaign, in the

center of revelation and the ardent struggle against

ignorance and oppression. As a child, she witnessed

the Prophet’s tireless efforts to awaken and enlighten

the masses. She observed how early converts to Islam

were persecuted and tortured for their newfound be-

liefs. She grieved the loss of her once-wealthy mother

who had chosen to live in poverty and starvation be-

side the Prophet when the powerful Quraish tribe im-

posed economic sanctions on the Muslims. Fatima

endured the same poverty and deprivation, and she

lived to see the aggression and oppression against the

Messenger of God. This prepared her for a role that

would become a cornerstone in the history of human

justice.

As Islam spread and intensified in the hearts of peo-

ple, the great migration from Mecca to Medina

marked a new chapter of Islam. Fatima witnessed the

peaceful conversion of Mecca, but she also endured

the most difficult of situations as an adult. Her patient

approach to adversity made

her one of the most learned,

knowledgeable, and ele-

vated personalities of her

era, and essentially all of

time.

Even although she was

the Prophet’s daughter

when he ruled Mecca,

Fatima did not live the easy

life of a princess. Instead,

she achieved outstanding

long-term accomplishments

founding the concept of Islamic Feminism. Faith and

dedication to her father’s mission endeared her to the

heart of the Muslim community as a whole.

With her character, broad vision, and genuine multi

-dimensional excellence, Fatima transcended the

boundaries of time. She grew closer to God through

faith and knowledge, and ultimately became a haven

of purity, perfection, and love in a world mired in the

excesses of greed and corruption.

Lady Fatima’s belief and trust in God against all

odds raised the quality of life for Muslims, thereby ex-

alting the role and status of Muslim women through

her example. Her legacy lives on, demonstrating to the

community how a person can live a faith-centered life.

She made her own decisions, and she chose to live

within the parameters of Islam. Through her pious

life, she became a pillar of the light of God.

Page 4

In the Arabic lan-guage, “God” is

simply translatedas “Allah”. In fact,the Arabic versionof the Bible uses

“Allah” as the wordfor God. It is sim-ply a difference in

language, not a dif-ference in belief.Countless Chris-tians and Jewsworship “Allah”

just as theircounterparts inother countries

worship the sameGod.

Fatima Zahra has beena significant focus as arole model of Islam forhistorians, scholars andbelievers. Her uniquecharacteristics and theinfluence that she hadon the socio-politicalevents of her time en-deared her in thehearts of Muslims. Byespousing the virtuesof love, patience, per-severance and sacri-fice, Fatima’s home be-came the very centerof the Islamic move-ment.

Islamic Feminism

Fatima left a legacyof strong, pious, andindependent behavior.She was Islam’s firstfeminist, showcasingthe rights and privi-leges accorded to Mus-lim women in Islam,while encouragingother women to bettertheir own lives.

A woman is oftenviewed through thelens of her prescribedroles, such as a daugh-ter, mother, and wife.Fatima was the great-est example of how to

fulfill those roles, buteven more impor-tantly, she was a modelof how to engage insociety made of menand women alike.Fatima was tested inmany gained muchknowledge, education,and training throughthose circumstances,and learned the con-cepts of politics andgovernment, helpingthe deprived and poor,dealing with friendsand enemies, enduringtimes of poverty andprosperity, and main-taining dignity and au-thority in times ofgreat duress.

Islamic Hijab: “TheFlag of Fatima”

In her short lifespanof 18 years, Fatima ex-perienced incrediblydifficult circumstances.Instead of succumbingto those trials, Fatimaovercame them andbecame one of themost learned, knowl-edgeable, and elevatedpersonalities in history.She interacted with so-ciety through the fun-

damentals of hijab. Hi-jab is a combination ofinternal modesty waswell as modest form ofclothing that set struc-ture between men andwomen in public. Thepurpose of hijab is toempower women toenter society as humanbeings and not be seenjust as women; other-wise, men will viewtheir equal counter-parts as women first,instead of humans. Tothe same extent thatshe manifested beautyat home for her hus-band, Fatima practicedmodesty in the society.

The women of Me-dina were also drawnto Fatima’s teachings,and often gatheredaround her to learnabout the profoundvalues which weretransforming theirlives.

Fatima impartedher vast knowledge tomale students as well,such as Salman Farsi.Fatima welcomed theopportunity to educateothers and took timeto answer their ques-tions.

Page 5

Feminism, Hijab, Worship, and Living

Worship andContemplating God’s

Beauty

During the quiet mo-ments of the night, af-ter prayers Fatimawould raise her handsin supplication seekingforgiveness and bless-ings on behalf of a num-ber of people. She ex-plained to her sonHasan, who sat in wor-ship beside her, the im-portance of praying forothers before prayingfor oneself.

During the day,Fatima would glorifyGod by means of recit-ing the tasbih. This wasa prayer given to Fatimafrom her father to besaid over prayer beads.Fatima soared above all

Imam Hasan (A.S.) said: 'Onea particular friday night Isaw my mother (Fatima

Zahra) standing in prayer.She was continuously kneel-ing and performing prostra-

tion till the dawn broke.[When I listened], I would

hear her pray for the faithfulmen and women, but shedid not at all pray for her-

self. I said, 'Oh mother whydid you not pray for yourselflike you prayed for others?'so she replied, 'Oh my son,

first [pray for] thy neighbourand there after your own

house.'

Lady Fatima’s

Honorariums

Aabida (Devout)

Aadila (Lady who Judges

Fairly)

Aalia (Lady of High Rank)

Aalima (The Intelligent Lady)

Adil (Beloved)

Afzal al-Nisa (The Most Su-

preme of the Women)

Azhra (The Chaste)

Aziza (Respected Lady)

Basita (Given of Prosperity)

Batina (Intrinsic)

Batool (The Pure One)

Daniya (Liberal Lady)

Durra An-noor (Path of ight)

Fakhr-e-Hajra (Pride of Lady

Hajra)

Habiba (Beloved)

Hajiya (Pilgrim who has

performed Hajj)

Hakima (Philosopher)

Halima (Gentle Lady)

Hazira (Ready, Present)

Iftikhar-e-Hawwa (Pride of

Lady Eve, the First Woman)

others on her journeytowards Almighty Godthrough her worshipand her dedication tohelping others. “I neednothing except contem-plating Almighty God;the beauty of the Lord isenough for me,” shesaid to the Prophet. Thiswas her life’s maxim.

Living a Simple Life andHelping the Poor

When the Prophetruled over the Islamicstate, Fatima lived with-out waste, in a humbleand modest mannersimilar to that of thepoor of Medina. On oneoccasion, Salman Farsicommented on herhand which had beeninjured from constantly

grinding flour. He con-trasted her simple way oflife as the daughter of theruler and Prophet to thatof the daughters of Per-sian and Roman kings liv-ing in luxury.

To Fatima, her statusmeant living simply andnot forgetting the poor inthe society she was serv-ing.

In the rare instanceswhen she did acquirenew jewelry, clothes orhome furnishings, Fatimawas quick to them awayto those in need. Shewas given a date orchardby the Prophet, whichyielded the income sheused as welfare to pro-vide help and to feed thepoor.

Lady Fatima’s

Honorariums (cont.)

Jaleela (Great Woman)

Jamila (Beautiful Woman)

Khatoon-e-Junat (The Lady of

Paradise)

Mardhiah (The One Who

Pleases God)

Maryam-e-Kubra (Greater

Mary)

Masooma (Infallible)

Mastora (The Lady)

Mubarakah (The Blessed)

Nooriya (The Light)

Qaima (The Everlasting)

Radhiah (The Gratified)

Rafeea (Exalting)

Raghiba (Desirous)

Razia (Contented, Agreed)

Sadiqa (Faithful)

Sahiba (Lady, Mistress)

Sajida (Worshipper, Adorer)

Saleeha (Virtuous)

Saleema (Perfect)

Sayyeda-Tun-Nisa-el-Alameen

(Leader of All Women of the

Universe)

Shafeea (Advocate)

Shafeqa (Merciful)

Shafia (Healer)

Shahida (Evident)

Shahzadi-e-Kaunain (Princess

of the Universe)

Siddiqa (The Truthful)

Tahira (The Virtuous)

Tehama (Pillar, Prop)

Wali-e-Khuda (Friend of God)

Zahida (A Devout Lady)

Zahira (Visible Lady)

Zahra (The Lady of light)

Zakiyah (The chaste)

Page 7

As a daughter having full trust in theProphet, Fatima would seek her father’sapproval because she was able to graspand understand his message. Because shewas next to the Prophet and her husbandImam Ali, like Mary next to Jesus, Fatima’srole was not explicit, but she understood itnonetheless.

Fatima and Ali were husband and wife,as well as partners in upholding and bring-ing the message of Islam to light. This wasnot an easy task during theera of ignorance in whichthey lived.

Living in a blessed andhumble home, she aidedher husband in worldly andreligious affairs. The har-mony and internal tranquil-ity in their life was a mani-festation of their faith andtheir pure intentions. Theywere prime examples oftwo individuals who became enjoined as acouple. They evolved together and mani-fested a monotheistic approach to familylife. As the ancestral mother to the succes-sors of Prophet Muhammad, Lady Fatimabrought to fruition a system that leads hu-manity towards happiness and realizationof God.

Imam Ali sold his shield for his wife’sdowry, and in turn Fatima became his in-ternal shield, diminishing the torment andhardships which he faced outside theirhome. Islam gives a great deal of impor-tance to beauty and beautification in theprivate sphere of marriage. She was theepitome of beauty in her home, as well asin her respect towards her husband.

In addressing Fatima, Imam Ali wouldsay, “I offer my life to you.” The words sheused to address him with were, “May mysoul be offered to you.” The Prophet ad-vised them to divide the work between

them. The harmony in their life was a re-sult of their faith and the high regard theyhad for each other.

Guiding the Community After the Prophet

After Prophet Muhammad departedfrom this world, Fatima was filled with sor-row and exhaustion. Yet, she was deter-mined to continue her father’s messagedespite her grave loss, and she was able to

do so by furthering herrole in the home, engag-ing in spiritual devotion,founding educational andhumane circles, and ex-tending each of theserealms to the heart ofpolitics and government.

Fatima’s father hadprepared her for this newrole, and she was confi-dent and well-versed as

addressed the people of Mecca and Me-dina with a large cohort of women. Such anumber of women entering into the frontof the mosque by the pulpit, which wasadjacent to the door of her home, drewattention to her sermon.

Her public sermons and speeches, aswell as her defense before rulers when theproperty she had rightfully inherited hadbeen confiscated, set examples of decencyand justice for all women and mankind.This dispute over her inheritance was notonly a symbol of her economic rights andthe economic rights of women in Islam,but it was a symbol of something greater.

Fatima Zahra set a consistent exampleof the rights, roles, and status of Muslimwomen during her turbulent lifetime.Fatima’s role continues to unfold in thefuture, and her impact upon the straightpath can be seen today in towns and citiesaround the world.

What does Islam mean?Islam means peace achieved through the submission to the Almighty God.

If Islam steps from peace and understanding, why are there certain so-called Muslims whodo not believe in peace?

People are like that because of their ignorance. Islam believes in a philosophy of co-existence, livein peace, and let others live in peace. If one doesn't believe this, it is because of ignorance.

What is the Qur'an and what is it about?

The Qur'an is the last revelation of God among the divine revelations such as the Psalms, Torah,

and the Bible. It is a comprehensive book that talks about every aspect of creation. Holy Qur'an

"There is not a wet or dry thing on the earth that is not in the Qur'an."

What does Islam say about those who die who are not Muslims, but still posses good vir-

tues, ie. Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa, and so forth?

Islam is philosophically based on justice. Whoever does good, will be rewarded by God either in

this life or in the next.

What is a ‘Muslim’?

A Muslim is a person who submits to his Creator only.

How does someone become a Muslim?

A person must completely believe in the God, following the Prophet, and doing good deeds.

Why is Islam so demanding on rules and restrictions, like praying five times a day?

Islam wants followers to always have love and remembrance of God. In this way, we are continually

reminded of His Mercy.

Do Islam, Judiaism, and Christianity have different origins?

No, we believe Judaism, Christianity and Islam have the same origin, each believing in monothe-

ism.

How did Muhammad become a Prophet and a Messenger of God?

Prophet Muhammad (saw) was the last Prophet in the chain of Prophets chosen by God.

Does Islam tolerate other beliefs?

Islam is the most tolerant philosophy as the Qur'an rightly says: "There is no compulsion in relig-

ion."

Why is the family structure so important to Muslims?

Family is the foundation of society, through which society may achieve tranquility.

What is the status of women in Islam?

Islam believes in the equal status of men and women. As mothers, women are given an even

higher status. Our traditions say: “Paradise lies under the feet of your mother.”

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