Fatimah (Arabic: فاطمة‎; fāṭimah; pronounced /ˈfɑːtˤɪma/; c. 605 or 615 –632) was a daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from his first wife Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. She is regarded by Muslims as an exemplar for men and women. She remained at her father's side through the difficulties suffered by him at the hands of the Quraysh of Mecca. After migration to Medina, she married Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muhammad's cousin, and was mother to four of his children. She died a few months after her father, and was buried in Jannat Al-Baqi' in the city of Medina, although the exact location of her grave is unknown. Most Shias believe that she was injured when defending Ali against the first Caliphate, and that this incident led to her early death.

She seems to have performed only three acts of political significance, each recorded in almost all sources, both Sunni and Shia, though in different versions. First, after the conquest of Mecca she refused her protection to Abu Sufyan ibn Harb; second, after the death of Muhammad she defended Ali's cause, opposed the election of Abu Bakr, and had violent disputes with him and particularly with Umar; third, she laid claim to the property rights of her father and challenged Abu Bakr's categorical refusal to cede them, particularly Fadak and a share in the produce of Khaybar.

Birth

Fatima Al-Zahraa / Fatimah bint Muhammad (c. 605–632), the daughter of Muhammad, was born in Mecca to Khadija, the first wife of Muhammad. There are differences of opinion on the exact date of her birth, but the widely accepted view is that she was born five years before the first Qur'anic revelations, during the time of the rebuilding of the Kaaba in 605, although this does imply she was over 18 at the time of her marriage which was unusual in Arabia. Shia sources, however, state that she was born either two or five years after the first Qur'anic revelations, but this timeline would imply her mother was over fifty at the time of her birth.

Fatimah is generally placed as the fourth of Muhammad's adopted daughters after Zaynab, Ruqayya, and Umm Kulthum. According to Shi'a scholars, Fatimah was Muhammad's only biological daughter.

Titles

Fatimah is given many titles by Muslims to show their admiration of her moral and physical characteristics. The most used title is "az-Zahra" (meaning "the shining one") and she is commonly referred to as Fatimah Zahra. She was also known as Ummu Abeeha (Mother of her Father) and "al-Batul" (the chaste and pure one) as she spent much of her time in prayer, reciting the Qur'an and in other acts of worship.

Muslims regard Fatimah as a loving and devoted daughter, mother, wife, a sincere Muslim, and an exemplar for women. It is believed that she was very close to her father and her distinction from other women is mentioned in many hadith. After Khadijah, Muslims regard Fatimah as the most significant historical figure, considered to be the leader (Arabic: Sayyidih) of all women in this world and in Paradise. It is because of her moral purity that she occupies an analogous position in Islam to that Mary occupies in Christianity. She was the first wife of Ali, whom Sunnis consider the fourth Rashidun caliph and Shias consider the first infallible Imamah, the mother of the second and third Imams, and the ancestor of all the succeeding Imams; indeed, the Fatimid Caliphate is named after her.

List of Shi'a titles for Fatima Zahra

Muslims express their love and devotion to pivotal figures in Islamic history by giving these figures titles. Shi'a Muslims hold Fatima Zahra, Muhammad's daughter, in special reverence, and give her these titles:

• Aabida (Devout)
• Aadila (Lady who Judges right)
• Aalia (Lady of High Rank)
• Aalima (The Intelligent Lady)
• Aamila (Doer, An Active Lady)
• Adil (Beloved)
• Afzal al-Nisa (The most supreme of the women)
• Ahad-ul-Akbar
• Arfiya
• Azhra (The chaste)
• Aziza (Respected Lady)
• Basita (Given of Prosperity)
• Batina (Intrinsic)
• Batool (The pure one)
• Batool-e-Izra
• Buzat-il-Rasool
• Daniya (Liberal Lady)
• Durra An-noor (Path of light)
• Fakhr-e-Hajra (Pride of Lady Hajra)
• Farwaia
• Fasiha
• Fateha (Soorah Alhamd of Qur'an)
• Fatima-tuz-Zehra Salamulaah Allehe
• Fazia
• Habiba (Beloved)
• Hajiya (Pilgrim who have performed Hajj)
• Hakima (Philosopher)
• Halima (Gentle Lady)
• Hazira (Ready, Present)
• Hijaziya
• Hirra
• Hissan (Comely & Beautiful)
• Hujjata
• Iftikhar-e-Hawwa (Pride of Lady Eve First Women)
• Ihleya (Wife of Imam Ali)
• Umm-ul-Aaima (Mother of Imams)
• Umm-ul-Abeeha (Mother of her Father)
• Umm-ul-Hasan (Mother of Hasan ibn Ali)
• Umm-ul-Hussein (Mother of Husayn ibn Ali)
• Umm-ul-Kitab (Mother of the Book)
• Umm-ul-Masaib (Mother of Sufferings)
• Umm-ul-Mohsin (Mother of Al Muhsin)
• Umm-ul-Sibtain (Mother of Sibtain i.e. Hasan ibn Ali & Husayn ibn Ali)
• Insia Hora
• Jaaza
• Jaleela (Great Woman)
• Jamila (Beautiful Woman)
• Kalima-e-Baqiya
• Karima
• Khair-un-Nisa
• Khatoon-e-Junat (The Lady of Paradise)
• Kokub dari
• Lailat-ul-Qadr (19th, 21st & 23rd Night of Ramadan)
• Malik-e-Tatheer (Owner of Tatheer(purity))
• Mardhiah (The one who pleases God)
• Maryam-e-Kubra (Greater Mary)
• Masooma (Infallible)
• Mastora (The Lady)
• Mehroosa
• Mosofa
• Mubarakah (The blessed)
• Mubarika
• Muhudissa
• Mukhdoma
• Mukhera
• Mukrima
• Mumjida
• Munjiya
• Muqdra
• Murj-ul-Bahrain Yaltaqyan

• Murziya
• Musliya
• Muthara
• Najiba
• Naseeba
• Nasiha
• Nasiya
• Nazeeral-il-Bashr
• Nijiya
• Nooriya (The Light)
• Nuqya
• Nusbeeha
• Qahira
• Qaima (The Everlasting)
• Qaria
• Radhiah (The gratified)
• Rafeea (Exalting)
• Raghiba (Desirous)
• Rahija
• Rakiya
• Rashk-e-Aseeya (Pride of Lady Aseeya)
• Razia (Contented, Agreed)
• Razzya
• Sabeea
• Sabeeha
• Sadiqa (Faithful)
• Sahiba (Lady, Mistress)
• Sahib-Hil-Aati
• Saima
• Sajida (Worshipper, Adorer)
• Saleeha (Virtuous)
• Saleema (Perfect)
• Sania
• Sayyeda-Tun-Nisa-el-Alameen (Leader of all women of the Universe)
• Sayyeda Aalim
• Shafeea (Advocate)
• Shafeqa (Merciful)
• Shafia (Healer)
• Shahida (Evident)
• Shajra-e-Tayyiba (Lady with Clean Genealogical Tree)
• Shahzadi-e-Kaunain (Princess of the Universe)
• Siddiqa (The Truthful)
• Soora Kausr (Sorrah Kausur of Quran)
• Sorat-e-Nafs-e-Kuli
• Tahira (The Virtuous)
• Taqqya (Pious Lady)
• Tehama (Pillar, Prop)
• Timur
• Waeeba
• Wafiya
• Waleeya
• Wali-e-Khuda (friend of God)
• Waziha
• Zahida (A devout lady)
• Zahira (Visible Lady)
• Zahra (The Lady of light)
• Zakiyah (The chaste)

Marriage

Many of Muhammad's companions asked for Fatimah's hand in marriage including Abu Bakr and Umar. Muhammad turned them all down saying that he was awaiting a sign of her destiny. Ali, Muhammad's cousin, also had a desire to marry Fatimah but did not have the courage to approach Muhammad due to his (Ali's) poverty. Even when he mustered up the courage and went to see Muhammad, he could not vocalise his intention but remained silent. Muhammad understood the reason for his being there and prompted Ali to confirm that he had come to seek Fatimah in marriage. He suggested that Ali had a shield, which if sold, would provide sufficient money to pay the bridal gift (mahr). Muhammad put forward the proposal from Ali to Fatimah who remained silent and did not protest which Muhammad took to be a sign of affirmation and consent.

The actual date of the marriage is unclear, but it most likely took place in 623, the second year of the hijra, although some sources say it was in 622. Fatimah is reported to have been between the ages of 9 and 19 at the time of her marriage while Ali was between 21 and 25. Muhammad told Ali that he had been ordered by God to give his daughter Fatimah to Ali in marriage. Muhammad said to Fatima: "I have married you to the dearest of my family to me." Ali sold his shield to raise the money needed for the wedding, as suggested by Muhammad. However, Uthman ibn Affan, to whom the shield was sold, returned it back to Ali saying it was his wedding gift to Ali and Fatimah. Muhammad himself performed the wedding ceremony and two of his wives, Aisha and Umm Salama, prepared the wedding feast with dates, figs, sheep and other food donated by various members of the Medinan community. According to Hossein Nasr, their marriage possesses a special spiritual significance for all Muslims because it is seen as the marriage between the greatest saintly figures surrounding Muhammad.

Their marriage lasted about ten years and ended when Fatima died. Although polygyny is permitted by Islam, Ali did not marry another woman while Fatimah was alive.

Descendants

Fatimah was survived by two sons, Hasan and Husayn, and two daughters, Zaynab and Umm Kulthum. Controversy surrounds the fate of her third son, Muhsin. Shias say that she miscarried following an attack on her house by Abu Bakr and Umar, while Sunnis insist that Muhsin died in his infancy of natural causes.

Modern descendants of Muhammad trace their lineage exclusively through Fatimah, as she was the only surviving child of Muhammad. Muhammad had no sons who reached adulthood.

Fatimah's descendants are given the honorific titles sharif (meaning noble), sayyid (meaning lord or sir) and respected by both Sunni and Shi'a, though the Shi'as place much more emphasis and value on the distinction.