Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (peace be upon her) was one of the women
who made a model for all the women and the desirable pattern was
manifested in her. In the long path of humanity where many women
such as Maryam, Asieh, Khadijeh reached perfection, Hazrat Fatemeh
Zahra (p.b.u.h.) attained the utmost peak of humanity and
thoroughness. Therefore, knowing that dignified woman shall serve as
knowing all the values and principles of Islam. Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra
was a part of being of the prophet (peace be upon him and his
progeny).
We seize the
opportunity to study the event of Fadak an important historical
event to be familiar with a part of life of Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra
(p.b.u.h.) which is closely related to conduct of that holy woman.
Fadak was a
village, located near Kheybar which was possessed by prophet in
seventh year of his emigration. This fertile land is located in
distance of 140km from Medina. As it detected from history and
Islamic narrations, when Fadak was possessed by prophet (p.b.u.h.)
it had fruitful and green trees the numbers of which were equal to
the trees grown in city of Koofeh.
Having defeated
the forces of Jews at Kheybar and Alghora regions, to end the powers
of the Jews the Prophet of God dispatched to Fadak a representative.
Having held the negotiations, the chief of the village preferred
peace to war and the inhabitants of the region undertook to assign
to the prophet half of their products and the Muslims were bound to
defend their rights. According to verse: 6, sura: Hashr, the lands
arrested by the Islamic guards without occurrence of war, will be
named Faye and such properties will belong to prophet of God
(p.b.u.h.) and he can use it anywhere at his discretion.
When, Verse: 38
of Sura: Room was sent to the prophet, God commissioned the prophet
(p.b.u.h.) to give Fadak to Hazrat Fatemeh (p.b.u.h.) and prophet
(p.b.u.h.) fulfilled the mission and bestowed to Hazrat Fatemeh,
Fadak. As of that time, the daughter of prophet, was herself
administering the affairs of Fadak and owned the land.
When prophet of
God passed away, a group of people were gathered in Saghifeh Bani
Saedeh and accepted Aboobakr as a Caliph. Caliph commenced
administration of the formalities and the affairs. He sent out of
Fadak, representative of Hazrat Fatemeh (p.b.u.h.) and this way, he
possessed forcibly Fadak which belonged to Hazrat Fatemeh
(p.b.u.h.).
When Hazrat
Fatemeh (p.b.u.h.) became aware that Caliph had arrested Fadak,
prohibiting her indeed of its possession, she visited him and
announced her being entitled to its possession in three ways as
follows:
1.
I have
been owner of Fadak and this land has been administered by me and
according to none of the religious and social laws, ownership of
anyone will be removed, without any reason.
2.
This
land has been gifted to me and my father gifted Fadak to me when he
was alive, upon permission of God and I serve as its religious and
legal owner. When Aboobakr asked her to present witnesses for her
claim, Hazrat Fatemeh (p.b.u.h.) introduced Amiralmomenin (p.b.u.h.)
and Ome Eiman as witnesses. This is the same fact having been
instructed by God in verse: 38, Sura: Room and Verse: 26, Sura: Asra
and having been confirmed by most of the Sunni scientists and
historians under the verse. For instance, Ibn Abi Alhadid mentions
the same fact in volume: 16, pages: 275, 268. When the
aforementioned verse was descended, prophet of God (p.b.u.h.) called
Fatemeh (p.b.u.h.) and gave to her, Fadak.
3.
When
Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (p.b.u.h.) observed that Aboubakr did not
consider the two previous proofs, she mentioned the case of heritage
and stated: “I am on the land the only daughter of my father, so I
demand for my father’s legacy”.
But, what was
the main reason for arrest of Fadak?
Firstly we
mention the answers given by the Sunni Scientist, Ibn Abi Alhadid
who states: I heard when having discussions and negotiations with
the Imamate scientists that they say: “Just as they denied
succession of Ali (p.b.u.h.) and tend to damage illicitly the family
of prophet, arrest of Fadak was another wound imposed on the body of
the family of prophet. Then, he narrates another fact: The first
and the second Caliph did not deprive Fatemeh (p.b.u.h.) from Fadak,
but they intended to prohibit strengthening of Ali (p.b.u.h.) so
that he could not fight for his succession and for the same reason
they prohibited receipt of fifth of properties of Muslims by the
family of Bani Hashem to make them poor, abject, disable, to be
forced to work for their living costs, not to be able to try for
succession.”
Imam Motazali,
narrating from his master, Ali Ibn Fareghi states: “If that day,
Aboobakr had confirmed Fatemeh’s Claim and had given to her, Fadak,
the other day she would refer to him again, to claim that her
husband had to be the successor of her father, and would this way
depose Aboobakr”.
In the end of
this discussion, it is worth-mentioning that reaction of
Amiralmomenin Ali (p.b.u.h.) and the other Imams at the different
times to the case of Fadak, indicates that Fadak was not important
just as a materialistic issue, because none Imams ever intervened in
administration of Fadak, as of the time it was arrested, neither Ali
(p.b.u.h.) during his reign, nor the toher Imams, but Imam Ali
(p.b.u.h.) and his wife mentioned the matter, only to prove the fact
of Imamate and to prevent deviation of Islamic nation after holy
prophet passed away.