CHAPTER 2
THE LAW OF INHERITANCE
THE LAW OF INHERITANCE
A fact that has been proven since old times, is children's inheritance of their parents characteristics, and that these characteristics are found in children's genes before they are transferred into their mother's wombs. They live with these characteristics as growing unborn children, and after birth, with the growth of the child, these characteristics become more apparent.
In fact, even nursing has an amazing effect on nursed children's characteristics, as Imam Ali said:
"Don't have an idiotic woman nurse your children, for surely nursing is a means for passing on contagious diseases."
Additionally, many detailed scripts have been published regarding this law. In light of this, it is appropriate to briefly discuss the biographies of the parents of Fatima (AS), so we may derive a conclusion about the magnificent which surrounded her life from the genetic viewpoint. Because this is not the (direct) subject of our book, we will summarize the subject the subject as follows:
The chief of prophets and messengers, Muhammad Ibn Abdullah is the purest being, the most honorable creature, and the foremost of all the world. It was for Muhammad's sake that Allah created all beings ,and there is not an honor, virtue or noble deed in the existing universe that the great Prophet doesn't enjoy the greatest share of.
This is the least that can be said about the Messenger
(P.B.U.H), there is no exaggeration or extravagance in these words, rather they are like saying: The sun shines, and honey is sweet. For that is the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) from whom Fatima Zahra descended.
As for Lady Khadija, she was a beautiful, tall, light skinned woman, considered noble among he people; she was wise in decision-making, enjoyed a great deal of intelligence and sharp discernment. She bestowed her brilliant insight of economical principles, especially in the export and import field, on the trade market. This was Khadija the human, the woman, and the wife; on the other hand, she granted thousands of dinars to her husband to use as he saw fit. Thus, Khadija financial support had a great role formation stage and critically needed material aid. Thus, Allah foreordained Khadija's property to help Islam and fulfill its goals.
Allah's Messenger said in this regard:
No property has ever been so useful to me as khadija's . While in Mecca, the prophet used this property to free slaves, help the needy, support the poor and rescue his financially inflicted companions also paved the way for those who wished to immigrate; all this through Khadija's wealth from which he spent freely during her life; and when she died , he and her children inherited it.39
Therefore, the meaning of the Prophet's saying:
"Religion succeeded and became manifest only through Ali's sword and Khadija's property," becomes clear.
Furthermore, her conduct throughout her married life with the Messenger, is worthy of praise and glorification; for this reason whenever he remembered his wife or her name was mentioned to him, he would bless her and a feeling of sadness overcame him and perhaps tears would run down his face in her remembrance.
Once the Prophet (P.B.U.H) mentioned near Aisha,
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39. Amali Al-Sheikh.
Aisha responded:
"She was not but a such and such of an old lady, and Allah replaced her with a better one for you."
He replied:
"Indeed Allah did not grant me bette than her; she accepted me when people rejected me, she believed in me when people doubted me, she share her wealth with me when people deprived me, and Allah granted me children only through her."40
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40. Al-Esti'ab.
CHAPTER 3
THE PROPHET'S MARRIAGE
THE PROPHET'S MARRIAGE
The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H)married lady Khadija at the age of twenty-five, while Khadija herself was forty years old. Yet some historians allege that she was twenty-five, and still orders claim that she was twenty-eighty old.
It is also that she had two previous marriages before marrying the Prophet (P.B.U.H);some historians dispute this and indicate that she was a virgin when He (P.B.U.H) married her. This last claim is not common.
The Prophet's marriage to Khadija was not a usual one, it was a unique marriage because it was not initiated as a result of a love relationship, nor were there material or political motives behind it, which was commonplace among the elite classes. In fact, there was no correspondence between the prophet's (P.B.U.H) economical position and that of Khadija's. On one hand, the Messenger was sponsored by his poor uncle, Abu Talib, and on the other hand, Khadija was the wealthiest lady in Mecca. Thus, there was an evident gap between them in this peculiarity.
Khadija heard that the Prophet had a bright and sacred future ahead of him-perhaps she heard this from her servant Maisarah, who informed her of what had happened to the Messenger during a commercial trip to Syria in which he had worked for her. Or perhaps he conveyed to her what the monk in Busraa said about the future of the Prophet-upon learning this, Lady Khadija suggested that Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) marry her,
and urged him to ask for her hand from her Father, Khuwailed (according to some historians it was her uncle).
The Prophet, who performed to marry a poor woman from his own economical class, apologized to Khadija and refused her request. But she being wise, reasonable and honorable woman informed him that she was ready to grant him herself and that property was not difficult thing to put at his disposal. So she once again urged him to send his uncles to ask for her hand from her Father Khuailed.
The Prophet's uncles and aunts were astonished at this news; a very wealthy lady who sponsors hundreds of people, and tens of men work for her in property and trade for her throughout the summer and winter seasons,between Yemen, Mecca and Syria; a great lady whom the noblemen had asked to marry, but she had refused them all, giving herself to a poor Quraishan young man, sponsored by his poor uncle, Abu Talib!! Could she have been honest in doing so?! Could this news be true? Safiya Ibnat Abdul Mutallib (the Prophet's aunt) rushed to Khadija's house to validate the news. She was warmly welcomed by Khadija who informed her of her earnest desire to do so.
CHAPTER 4
LADY KHADIJA ON THE
WAY TO A BLESSED LIFE
LADY KHADIJA ON THE
WAY TO A BLESSED LIFE
When Safiya returned home and informed her brothers (the prophet's uncles) of the authenticity of the news, happiness mixed with amazement and astonishment overtook them.
Khadijat who refused to marry the princes and lords of Arabs, because she deemed them unworthy to marry, chose to be the wife of a poor man who owned nothing of the ephemeral things of this world ,of even a foot of land!!
This was the wonder of wonders!!
The Prophet's uncles proceeded towards Khadija's house and asked for her hand from her father (or uncle) who at first rejected them but later agreed to the proposal.
Inevitably, an appropriate sum of money had to be presented to Khadija as her dowry, how could it be obtained? And who would donate it?
This was a difficult question at hand, until Khadija once again surprised everyone by giving four thousand dinars as a gift to the Prophet, and urged him to pay it to her father as her dowry. Although according to another historical finding, it was Abu Talib who paid the dowry from his own money.
Even though Khadija was a woman of high standard who sacrificed material gains to achieve honor, her father, Khuwailed, possessed contradicting values. This difference between Khadija
and her father is not rare between parents and their children; in fact, this ideological difference can also be found between various classes of people, brothers,spouses, and parents.
Khadija's payment of the dowry was a unique, amazing and unforeseen act; for the Arabs were not acquainted with women giving dowries to their husbands. Thus. it was not unexpected of Abu Jahl to incite an envious commotion and say:
"O people ,we have thus seen men paying dowries to women; we are not used to women giving dowry to men!" In answer to this, Abu Talib angrily replied:
"What is the matter with you? O you wicked man! Men like Muhammad are to be given gifts and grants, but your likes give gifts that people always reject."
or he said:
"If it was a man like my nephew then the greatest dowries are to be granted to him, but men like you cannot get married save by paying large sums of money."
The blessed wedding took place in the best possible way, the Messenger moved in with Lady Khadija who felt that she was going through the happiest period of her life, because she had reached her best wishes and sweetest dreams.
Khadija gave birth to several children of whom only four daughters survived. Zainab, Um Kulthum, Ruqia, and Fatima-Zahra who was the youngest and most exalted of them all.
There is a difference between historians regarding the first two daughters, for some claim that they were the prophet's stepdaughters; but the fact is that they were his direct daughters. This fact will be explained in the coming pages, if Allah wills.41
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41. The story of Khadija's marriage was summarized and carried on from Bihar Al-Anwar, V.6
CHAPTER 5
A GLANCE AT
"TRANSCENDENTAL EVENTS"
A GLANCE AT
"TRANSCENDENTAL EVENTS"
The previous paragraphs spoke of Lady Khadija 's excellent and noble characteristics, which should be a fantastic example for mankind to follow. She is the lady who gave birth to Fatima Zahra and brought her up with talents and virtues.
Fatima Zahra was descendant of two great people; we have briefly spoken about her parents, lives and virtues and have drawn a picture through which we can look at Fatima's genius and a corner of her life in light of genetic inheritance becomes clear to us.
Furthermore, there are undisputed facts that have been declared by the Sacred Messenger and Ahlul-Bayt (AS) which neither science nor contemporary discoveries have been able to conquer the deep meaning of, despite what science has achieved in these fields. Because these facts are beyond the reach of machines and telescope, nor can natural or logical senses realize them.
Actually ,the truth goes beyond material and logical realization, for the five senses are unable to define it. So you may, if you wish, call these facts "Transcendental Facts."
Before elaborating on these facts, it is incumbent upon us to make a brief introduction, thus we say:
The sperm which is formed in the womb to become an embryo develops from the blood, which is produced from digesting
the food by various organs of the body. Hence, there is no doubt that sperm which is a product of eating pork or drinking liquor differs from that which is produced from lamb meat; because of the difference in composition between various types of foods. In addition , food has peculiar effects on the human psyche and spirit; there are some foods which bring happiness to the heart and calm the nerves, while others do exactly the opposite.
Permissible and pure food have beneficial effects on man; contrary to this, impure food such as liquor or impermissible food like stolen or usurped meat harm men. The influence of the food we eat becomes apparent in the sperm. Elaboration on this subject by procuring proof and evidence takes special effort which would lead us away from our original subject.
In conclusion, food which is eaten by the parents has an enormous effect of the future of the child, because it is from this food that the sperm is formed and carried on to the womb to grow and become a human being.
Furthermore, the psychological state of the parents during sexual intercourse has a great effect on the child's state of mind and his psychological behaviour in the future. Besides this, persistent want and earnest desire to have sexual intercourse are influential on the appearance and intelligence of the child.
In light of these two points (the nutritional and psychological effects upon children), we move on to elaborate on the subject by verifying it through a selection of narrations mentioned in Volume 6 of Bihar al-Anwar.
Gabriel descended to the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) and told him: O Muhammad! The most Exalted sends His peace upon you and commands you to refrain from (coming close to) Khadija for forty days.
It was difficult for the Prophet, who loved and adored Khadija
to do so; nevertheless (in obedience to Allah's command) he spent forty days fasting and praying nights. When it was close to the end of the forty days, he (P.B.U.H) summoned Ammar Ibn Yaser and asked him to go to Khadija and tell her: "O Khadija ! do not assume that my separation from you means abandoning or forsaking you, rather the Lord commanded me to do so, so expect nothing save benevolence, for surely Allah (exalted is His Name) praises you to His most honorable angels several times a day. Therefore, with nightfall,close the door and lay down to sleep ;for I will be staying at Fatima Bint Assad's house. "This brought sad tidings to Khadija who missed having the Prophet by her side.
At the end of the forty days, Gabriel once again descended to Allah's Messenger and said: "O Muhammad ! The Most Exalted sends His peace upon you and commands you to be prepared for His salutation and gift."
The Prophet said:
"Gabriel What is the Lord of the world's gift and what is His salutation?"
Gabriel said: "I have no knowledge of it."
At that moment, Michael descended with a plate covered with a kerchief made of brocade or sarcenet and presented it to the Prophet! Gabriel said to him (P.B.U.H):
"O Muhammad your lord commands you to break your fasting with this food tonight."
Imam Ali Ibn Abu Talib (AS)said in this regard:
"The Prophet (P.B.U.H) used to order me to open the door to whoever wanted to join him when he came to break his fast, but that night he ordered me to guard the door of the house and said to me: 'O son of Abu Talib! this food is forbidden to everyone save me."
Then he (A.S) said:
"I sat at the door, and the Prophet (P.B.U.H) uncovered the
plate, in privacy, to find a cluster of dates and a bunch of grapes; he ate until satisfied and drank his need of water. He then exalted his hands to be washed, so Gabriel poured the water, Michael washed his hands, and Israfil dried them. Therefore, the remaining food with the plate ascended to heaven. Then he (P.B.U.H) started to prepare himself for prayers when Gabriel said to him:
"Prayer is forbidden to you until you go to Khadija's house and perform coition with her; for Allah (Glory be to Him) ordained upon Himself to create noble progeny from you tonight.' So he (P.B.U.H) rushed to Khadija's house."
Khadija said: "I have gotten used to seclusion by that time ,so when night arrived I covered my head, put down the curtains, locked the doors, performed my prayers, put out the lantern, and retired to my bed. That night while I was between the states of sleeping and being awake, the Prophet knocked on the door; so I exclaimed: Who is knocking on the door that only Muhammad knocks on?"
The Prophet gently and politely replied:
Open the door khadija, I am Muhammad.
Khadija said:
"I cheerfully got up and opened the door for the Prophet to come in. He (P.B.U.H) usually requested the water jugs to perform ablution and two short prayer prostrations before he retire. On the contrary, that night he (P.B.U.H) did not request the jug nor did he perform prayers ... instead, what occurs between a woman and her husband caused water to come out of springs , before the Prophet left me, I felt Fatima's weight in my womb ..."
It can be concluded from the above mentioned narrations that:
1. Allah Almighty commanded His Messengers to abandon Khadija a period of time so that his longing and wanting her increased.
2. He (P.B.U.H) performed more worship so as to achieve a higher level of spirituality and sacredness, as a result of being in constant contact with the heavenly world.
3. He (P.B.U.H) broke his fast on the pure heavenly gift, which was quickly transformed into sperm because of its delicateness.
4. The sperm was produced from eating a delicate heavenly food that differs from material nutritions.
5. The Prophet (P.B.U.H) immediately proceeded to Khadija's house in order to transfer the sperm to her womb after the previously mentioned preparations.
This narration was mentioned by the following Sunni scholars with minor variations between some of their accounts of it:
1. Kharazmi in his book Maqtal Al-Husayn p. 63, 68.
2. Dhahabi in Al-Etedal v.2, p. 26.
3. Talkhees Al-Mustadrak v. 3, p. 156
4. Asqalani in Lisan Al-Mizan v. 4, p. 36
In addition, there are various traditions with minor verbal differences and the same fundamental meaning that Fatima Zahra (A S) was created from a sperm produced from heavenly food. We mention herein some of these narrations and restrict ourselves to the part which are related to our subject in observance of briefness and omit the rest:
Imam Reza (AS) said: "The Prophet said (P.B.U.H.):
'On the night of my ascension to Heaven, Gabriel took my hand and led me to into Paradise, then he handed me dates from which I ate: those dates were formed into sperm. When I descended to Earth, I came unto Khadija who became pregnant with Fatima; thus Fatima is a human huri, whom whenever I long for Paradise I smell"42
Imam Baqir (AS), on the account of Jabir Abdullah, said:
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42. Amali As-Sadouq.
"It was said to the Messenger of Allah; Surely you kiss, embrace and bring Fatima close to you ... and treat her better than your other daughter".
He (P.B.U.H.) commented:
"Indeed, for Gabriel brought me an apple from heaven, which I ate and it was transformed into sperm that I placed in Khadija who later bore Fatima. Hence, I smell paradise's fragrance in her."43
Ibn Abbas said:
"Aisha entered the house while the Messenger of Allah was kissing Fatima, so she said: Do you love her, O Messenger of Allah?'
He replied: 'Indeed, by Allah if you knew the extent of my love for her, your love would increase for her. When I was in the forth heaven ...(until he said) that I found these dates softer than butter, more pleasant than musk and sweeter than honey. So when I descended to earth, I came unto Khadija and she bore Fatima. Thus, Fatima is a human huri, whenever I long for paradise I smell her"44
This last narration was also mentioned with variations by:
1. Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdadi in his history book v.5, p. 87
2. Kharazmi in Maqtal Al-Hussain p. 63
3. Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Al-Demashqin Mizan Al-Etedal v. 1, p.38
4. Az-Zarandi in Nazm Durar As Simtain.
5. Asqalani in Lisan Al-Mizan v. 5 p. 160
6. Qanduzi in Yanabi Al-Mawaddah.
7. Muhib-Ad-Din At-Tabari in Dhakhaer Al-Uqbi p. 43.
These narrations are mentioned on the accounts of Aisha, Ibn Abbas, Saed Ibn Malik, and Umar Ibn A-Khattab.
8. Sheikh Shua'b Al-Misri in Ar-Rawd Al-Faeq p.214, writes:
"Some noble narrators mentioned that one day Lady Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Master of creatures (the
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43. Elal Ash-Sharaye'.
44. Bihar: V.6.
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) to show her a fruit from the Dwell of peace (paradise). Thus, Gabriel brought him who was chosen above all (P.B.U.H.) two apples from Paradise and said:
'O Muhammad, He who appointed a due proportion for all things says to you:
"Eat one apple and give the other to Lady Khadija, then come unto her, for I will create from you (both) Fatima Zahra." The Chosen One (P.B.U.H)did what The Guardian (Gabriel) told him to do, and .. (until he said). Thus, whenever the Chosen One (P.B.U.H) longed for Paradise and its greatness, he would kiss Fatima and smell her beautiful fragrance and say: Fatima is a human huri"
There are successive narrations in this regard, but we satisfy ourselves with what has been mentioned.
There remains a point here on which elaboration is rather important; it is noticeable that narrations clearly state that Khadija bore Fatima immediately after the Prophet's Ascension to heaven, which took place in the second or third year after revelation.
Nevertheless, there is a collection of narrations from the Holy Imams of Ahlul Bayt (AS), which state that Fatima was born five years after the first revelation to the Prophet (P.B.U.H). This indicates that she stayed in her mother's womb for more than two years, which is definitely incorrect. How can the contradictions between the narrations be explained?
There are several Probabilities can be given as answers to this question; they are:
1. The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H)ascended to heaven more than once, as was stated in the Book of Kafi. This, in my opinion, is the most accurate account of this affair.
2. Taking into account some narrations which state that Fatima (AS) was born in the second or third year after the fist
revelation (as will be mentioned together with the historians' opinions who claim that Ascension tool place in the third year of revelation); this contradiction can be explained especially in light of the various saying regarding the month during which Ascension occurred.
Among the unique merits of Fatima Zahra was that she spoke to her mother while she was in her mother's womb. Shiite scholars are not alone in reporting this merit of Fatima; several Sunni scholars and narrators also support this fact. For instance, Abdurrahman Shafe'i narrated in his book Nuzhat Al-Majalis v.2,p. 227, that Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
"When I was pregnant with Fatima, which was an easy pregnancy, she would speak to me from inside my womb.
Also, Dahlawi in Tajhiz Al-Jaish quoted the author of Madh Al-Khulafa Ar-Rashidin as saying:
"When Khadija was pregnant with Fatima, She (Fatima) used to speak to her from her womb, but Khadija kept this from the Prophet.
One day, the Prophet entered the house and found Khadija speaking to someone while no one was in the room with her, He (P.B. U.H.) inquired as to whom she was speaking: she replied;
That which in my womb, surely it speaks to me.
Then the Prophet said:
Rejoice Khadija, for this is the girl whom Allah made to be the mother of eleven of my successors who will come after me and after their father".
Shuab Ibn Saad Al-Misir mentioned the following in Ar-Rawl Al-Faeq p.214:
"At the time When Khadija's pregnancy had become apparent, the infidels asked the Prophet (P.B.U.H) to show them the splitting of the moon; upon hearing this Khadija declared:
"O what a disappointment it would be! Had Muhammad lied
while he is the best Messenger of my Lord?"
It was then that Fatima called Khadija from her womb and said;
"O Mother, do not be grieved nor sorrowful, for surely Allah is with my father". When Fatima was born, the skies became illuminated from the brightness of her face.
Likewise, the narration which states that Khadija spoke of Fatima Zahra's talking while still in her womb, has already been mentioned at the beginning of this chapter.
