Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her), the honored daughter of the Prophet of Islam, was martyred in the year 11 AH in the city of Medina. The account of al-Hasanayn’s (peace be upon them) farewell to their mother, and of Amir al-Muminin’s (peace be upon him) farewell to Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her), is a portrait of love and heartbreak. Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her), the source of tranquility for her home and family, was released from the sorrows of this world before the others and hastened to meet her compassionate father, the noble Prophet.
The Heavenly Embalming Perfume
As Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) drew near to the moment of departing this transient world, she prepared herself to meet her Beloved.
It is related that Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) lived forty days after her esteemed father. When the time of her martyrdom arrived, she said to Asma:
“O Asma! When the time of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him and his family) passing came, Gabriel brought him camphor from Paradise. The Prophet divided it into three portions: one-third for himself, one-third for Amir al-Muminin Ali (peace be upon him), and one-third for me. In all, it amounted to forty dirhams. O Asma! Bring what remains of my father’s embalming perfume from such-and-such a place, and set it beside my head.”
Asma brought it and placed it beside the Lady’s head. Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) then drew her garment over herself and said:
“Wait for me a little while, then call out to me. If I do not answer you, know that I have joined my father.”
Asma waited for a time, then called to her, but she did not reply.
Then Asma cried out:
“O daughter of Muhammad al-Mustafa! O daughter of the most honored of all whom women have borne! O daughter of the best of those who have walked upon the pebbles! O daughter of the one whose nearness to his Lord was the span of two bows’ length or closer!”
Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) gave no answer. Asma drew the cloth back from her face and saw that she had passed from this world. She threw herself upon her, kissing her and saying:
“O Fatimah! When you enter into the presence of your father, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), convey to him the greetings of Asma bint Umays.”
The Farewell of al-Hasanayn
The farewell of Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon them) to their young mother is a portrait of longing and love. In disbelief, with eyes brimming with tears, they look upon their mother’s gentle face and call out her name in the hope that she might answer.
At that moment, Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon them) entered and said:
“O Asma! Why is our mother sleeping at this hour?”
Asma replied:
“O sons of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), your mother is not asleep; she has departed from this world.”
Imam al-Hasan (peace be upon him) threw himself upon his mother, kissing her, and said again and again:
“O Mother! Speak to me before my soul departs from my body.”
Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him) then came forward, kissing his mother’s feet, and said:
“O Mother! I am your son Hussain. Speak to me before my heart bursts and I die.”
Asma said to them:
“O sons of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), go to your father, Ali (peace be upon him), and tell him of your mother’s passing.”
Separation from the Beloved
No one had ever seen Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) so shaken in all his life, until al-Hasanayn (peace be upon them) rushed to their father and gave him the news, whereupon he ran toward the house in utter distress.
Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon them) left the house. When they drew near the mosque, they raised their voices in weeping. All the Companions hurried toward them and said:
“O sons of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), why do you weep? May Allah never make your eyes weep! Perhaps you looked upon the place of your grandfather, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), and wept out of longing to see him.”
They replied:
“No! Our mother, Fatimah (peace be upon her), has passed away.”
When Amir al-Muminin Ali (peace be upon him) heard this sorrowful news, he fell upon his face on the ground and said in anguish:
“After this, who will be my source of comfort, O daughter of Muhammad? I found solace in you; after you, in whom shall I find solace?”
Then he said:
“Every two friends who meet must one day part, and everything but separation is small and fleeting. That I have lost Fatimah after Ahmad shows that no friendship or companionship is everlasting.”
Afterward, Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), in deep pain, said to Asma:
“O Asma! Wash Fatimah (peace be upon her), embalm her, and shroud her.”
Asma carried out all that was required with reverence and love, and in the end the Imam (peace be upon him) prayed over her body.
References
Kashf al-Ghummah, vol. 1, p. 500
