The Series of Al-Kawthar — Part 3

In the previous discussion, it was explained that the very origin of goodness is the Ahl al-Bayt, and the very origin of evil is the enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt; and that attaining knowledge of Lady Fatima al-Zahra (peace be upon Her) has no limit—even in Paradise.

Allamah Mirjahani writes in his book Junnat al-‘Asimah:

When the people of Paradise are enjoying the blessings of Paradise, suddenly a light fills the entirety of Paradise. The people of Paradise think that it is the sun and say, “Our Lord, did You not say that there is no sun in Paradise?” The angel appointed over Paradise tells them: “Fatima and Ali smiled, and Paradise was illuminated by the light of their smiles.”

It is here that we must ask: Who is Fatima? Have we even come to know ourselves so that we may be able to know Fatima?

Whoever knows himself has indeed known his Lord.

Amir al-Mu’minin (pbuh) says:

“Do you think that you are a small being, while within you are contained vast worlds?”

We have a narration stating that all the seven heavens and seven earths are a representation of the human being—a human being who possesses various realms within himself, such as the body, the spirit, the soul, and other levels of existence.

Therefore, to attain knowledge of Fatima, we must begin with self-knowledge; and if we come to know Lady Fatima, we will also have come to know ourselves.

During the Prophet’s Mi‘raj, a heavenly apple was brought to him to eat—an apple whose fragrance surpassed all the fragrances of Paradise—and that became the seed from which Fatima was conceived. For this reason, in the Ziyarah we address Lady Fatima with these words:

Peace be upon you, O Apple of Paradise.

The Prophet (pbuh)—from one of whose lights the Divine Throne was created—was commanded by the Most Sacred Divine Essence to devote himself to worship for forty nights, to remain apart from Lady Khadijah, and to fast for forty days, so that the seed of Fatima might be placed within him.

After forty nights, as soon as the call to the Maghrib prayer was made, Jibra’il descended and said: “O Muhammad! Do not perform the prayer at its earliest time; instead, bring about the conception of Fatima.”

All of these stages were a preparation for the physical manifestation of Lady Fatima in this world—Fatima, who appeared in human form, and yet:

Indeed, she is not like the women of humankind; she is a heavenly maiden who has appeared in human form.