یکم ربیع الاولFirst of rabi ul awal

When the door of daughter of Muhammad (peace be upon him) burned

*احراق در زہرا

The Tragedy of the First of Rabi al-Awwal

The Burning of the Door of Zahra (sa) 💔

Exactly 10 years after the Migration (Hijrah) and only 3 days after the passing of the Prophet ﷺ,
on the 1st of Rabi al-Awwal, the door of Lady Zahra (sa) — the very door at which the Prophet himself used to stand and say:
“Peace be upon you, O People of the Household of Prophethood and the Source of Messengership” —
was set on fire…
and the unborn child, Hazrat Muhsin (as), was martyred in the pure womb.

The Status of Lady Fatima (sa) and Her Household

It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ declared the house of Fatima (sa) and Ali (as) the best of houses, and that this household is the foremost example of the Qur’anic verse:

“In houses which Allah has permitted to be exalted and wherein His name is remembered; there glorify Him therein morning and evening.” (Qur’an 24:36)

Regarding the verse “Enjoin prayer upon your household” (Qur’an 20:132), Abu Sa‘id Khudri narrates that when this verse was revealed, the Prophet ﷺ went for eight months, every day at the time of prayer, to the door of Fatima (sa). He would greet them with “Peace be upon you, O People of the Household of Prophethood”, invite them to prayer, and then recite the Verse of Purification: “Indeed Allah only desires to remove defilement from you, O People of the Household, and to purify you completely.” (Qur’an 33:33)

The Prophet ﷺ also ordered that all doors opening into the Prophet’s Mosque be closed, except the door of Ali (as) and Zahra (sa).

According to Sunni scholar Ali ibn Ahmad al-Samhudi (d. 911 AH), the house of Lady Zahra (sa) was located inside the Prophet’s Mosque, near the column called “Murbā‘at al-Qabr,” also known as the place of Jibril.

The historian al-Ya‘qubi (3rd century AH) records that during the Saqifa incident, some companions such as Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, Fadl ibn Abbas, Salman al-Farsi, Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, Ammar ibn Yasir, and Bara’ ibn Azib refused to pledge allegiance to the first caliph. Later historical sources (including those quoted by Sayyid Murtada al-Askari) mention that those who refused the pledge had gathered in the house of Fatima (sa) with Imam Ali (as).

The Attempts to Force Allegiance

The first caliph, after securing his pledge, sent Umar and Qunfudh several times to the house of Fatima (sa) to compel Ali (as) and his supporters to pledge allegiance.

According to Ibn Qutaybah in al-Imamah wa al-Siyasah:
The first time, some companions came out and pledged due to threats, except Ali (as), who swore not to leave until he compiled the Qur’an. The second and third times, Qunfudh returned with no success. The fourth time, Umar himself came with others, dragged Ali (as) out, and brought him before Abu Bakr.

According to Shaykh Mufid in al-Ikhtisas:
When Ali (as) was taken toward the Prophet’s Mosque, Zubayr, who was already there, drew his sword in defense, shouting: “O sons of Abd al-Muttalib! While you are alive, is Ali to be treated like this?” But Khalid ibn Walid threw a rock that caused Zubayr’s sword to fall, and Umar broke it.

According to al-Tabari (3rd century AH), when Zubayr left the house of Fatima (sa), he stumbled and dropped his sword, which was seized.

Imam Ali (as) was threatened with execution if he refused allegiance. He reminded those present of the Prophet’s declaration of his succession at Ghadir and other places, but the first caliph replied that he had heard the Prophet ﷺ say: “Prophethood and caliphate cannot be combined in one household.”

Shaykh Mufid affirms that Ali (as) did not pledge allegiance on the day of Saqifa.

Some narrations state that when Ali (as) was threatened with death, Abbas (the Prophet’s uncle) held Ali’s hand to prevent the forced pledge, and they left him. According to al-Imamah wa al-Siyasah, the first caliph said: “As long as Fatima is with him, we will not compel Ali.”

The Anguish of Lady Fatima (sa)

When government men first came to the house, Lady Fatima (sa) stood behind the door and said:
“I have not seen a people worse than you! You left the funeral of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ unfinished and rushed to decide the matter of rule without consulting us, depriving us of our rights!”

When they came again, she cried out:
“O my father! O Messenger of Allah! See how so-and-so and so-and-so have treated us after you!”
Some of those present were shaken and left.

Abu Bakr al-Jawhari (d. 323 AH) in al-Saqifa wa Fadak narrates that when Ali (as) was dragged out, Fatima (sa) confronted Umar, saying:
“How quickly you have attacked the family of the Messenger of Allah! By Allah, I will never speak to you until I meet my Lord!”

In Tafsir al-‘Ayyashi: When Ali (as) was taken away, Fatima (sa) came with Hasan (as) and Husayn (as) to the ruler and said:
“If you do not release Ali, I will go to the grave of the Prophet ﷺ, with my hair uncovered, and complain to Allah!”
Imam Ali (as) sent Salman to tell her not to do so, and she returned home.

The Threat and Burning of the Door

Eventually, those sent to force allegiance gathered wood and threatened to burn the house with all inside. This threat is mentioned even in Sunni sources such as al-‘Iqd al-Farid, Tarikh al-Tabari, al-Ansab al-Ashraf, al-Musannaf, and al-Imamah wa al-Siyasah.

When warned that Fatima (sa) was inside, Umar replied: “Even if she is inside.”
Those with him included Usayd ibn Hudayr, Salamah ibn Salam ibn Waqsh, Thabit ibn Qays, Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, Muhammad ibn Maslamah, and Zayd ibn Aslam.

According to Shi‘i sources such as Kitab Sulaym ibn Qays and al-Mas‘udi’s Ithbat al-Wasiyyah, the door was set alight, and Fatima (sa) was crushed behind it, leading to her injury and the martyrdom of her unborn son, Muhsin (as).

Lady Fatima (sa) cried out:
“O Father, O Messenger of Allah! See how your beloved daughter is treated!”
Then turning to her servant, she said:
“Ah! O Fiddah, take me, for by Allah, the child in my womb has been killed.”

The Qur’anic Connection

“And when the infant girl buried alive is asked, for what sin was she killed?” (Qur’an 81:8–9)

Imam al-Sadiq (as) explained to Mufaddal:
“By Allah, this verse refers to Muhsin (as), the son of Fatima (sa). We, the Ahl al-Bayt, are its meaning.”

Final Narrations

On the Day of Judgment, it will be proclaimed that the greatest stillborn child is Muhsin ibn Fatima (as). (References: al-Irshad, Bihar al-Anwar, Dalail al-Imamah, Manaqib Aal Abi Talib, Tafsir al-Qummi and others)

“Indeed, the curse of Allah is upon the oppressors.” (Qur’an 11:18)
“And those who oppressed will soon know to what return they will be returned.” (Qur’an 26:227)