Ali Says Goodbye! “Fatima’s Touch: Poems and Stories of the Prophet’s Daughter”

By Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi, New Age Islam 4 March 2025 Today, the 3rd Ramazan marks Yaum-e-Wisaal—the demise day of Sayyida Hazrat Fatima Zahra (SA) —Prophet Muhammad’s most beloved daughter and mother of Imam Hasan and Hussain (AS). She is most aptly given these honorifics in Islamic tradition: Khatoon-e-Jannat (the lady of heaven), Syeda-e-Kainaat (the leader of both this world and the hereafter) and Syyeda-tun-Nisa (crown of the womanhood). She has also been described in an authentic prophetic tradition as “Ummu Abiha” meaning that she was akin to a mother for her beloved father, the holy Prophet (pbuh). More to the point, Fatima Zahra SA was the first to be given the great epithet of “Nūr-un-Nisa”. Nūr—an Arabic-origin word etymologically meaning “light”— is widely used as both feminine and masculine name among Muslims in Arabia and South Asia particularly in the Indian subcontinent. Various derivatives of the same Arabic root letters al-Noor or al- Nūr include Munawwar (bright or full of light), Tanweer (radiant, illuminating or enlightening) and Anwar (plural of Noor) with its variants in other languages being: Noora, Nora, Norah, Noura. Nisaa is also an Arabic-origin word meaning: women and thus Noor-un-Nisa means “the brightness of the womankind.” In Islamic mysticism, the term “Noor” has deeper connotations. To the Sufis, Noor is the first creation of God from which all other creatures and all beings gradually emanated. In essence, Noor is the prophetic light Noor-e-Muhammadi that entails the soul of all human existence and thus the core of spirituality in Islam. Sufi mystics believe that while creating this universe, Allah created his replica in the form of (the Prophet’s light). That is, God first created the light of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and then gave life to other creations with the Prophet’s Noor. In this sense, the Prophet (pbuh) is the “Noor” or spiritual manifestation of God’s signs and an epitome of His wide embrace of all creations regardless of faith and creed. Now keeping this key precept in view, take this prophetic tradition into a serious consideration and deliberate: Narrated Al-Miswar bin Makhrama: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Fatima is a part and piece of my flesh, and he who displeases her, makes me unhappy." (Sahih al-Bukhari 3714) Another prophetic saying goes as follows: “Indeed, Fatima is a part of me, and is the light of my eyes and the fruit of my heart”. From the above hadiths, it is patently clear that Sayyida Fatima Zahra (SA) was an embodiment of the Prophetic Light— Noor-e-Muhammadi – and a manifestation and reflection of the Prophet ﷺ himself, and thus her persona and magnanimous character truly remains an abiding inspiration for all women and humanity at large. At a time when modern life style lures people especially women to look for temporary pleasure in worldly desires, luxury and wealth, Hazrat Fatima Zahra (SA) reminds us all that the lasting happiness and inner peace can emanate only from an abiding faith, simplicity, sobriety, contentment (Qana’at), uprightness (Istiqamat) and complete reliance on God (Tawakkul). Her famous gift “Tasbeeh-e-Fatima” is a glaring example. Once she sought a house maid for help and ease in her house chores. But she was rather gifted a Tasbeeh from her father, the holy Prophet (pbuh): an invocation of divine blessings for Allah’s special support and succour through the Tasbeeh (chanting) of “Subhan ’Allah” and “Alhamdulillah” 33 times, and “Allahu Akbar” 34 times. Thus, Fatima Zahra’s lifestyle sets an unprecedented example of how a woman can win against all odds and overcome life struggles through an unshakable spiritual strength and an unwavering will power. Without going in detail into the biographical particulars of Hazrat Fatima’s life, I would like to reproduce my favorited poems and stories of Fatima Zahra (SA) from the beautiful book “Fatima’s Touch: Poems and Stories of the Prophet’s Daughter” by Tamam Kahn. This writer has augmented invaluable guidance and spiritual insights from the American Sufi author and master and a female disciple of famous Chishti Sufi mystic Murshid Sam (Samuel Lewis also known as Ahmad Murad Chishti). As a Murshida or Pirani (female spiritual master) with the Sufi Ruhaniyat International, Tamam has accumulated a wealth of wisdom from Universalist Sufi Masters, and Mystics of other traditions. In this book, which is considered one of her best work, she has portrayed Syeda Fatima, her blessed family in the historical milieu. Significantly, this unexplored history must have been a common knowledge by now. But let alone non-Muslims, even most Muslims are ignorant of the whole cultural history of Islam and key Islamic figures, and therefore our historical record and traditional knowledge of Islam is so spotty, so ravaged and so dismissive. Through a rigorous research and poetic artistry, the book masterfully deciphers the deep meanings of the life and legends of Fatima Zahra, while at the same time introducing Westerners to the origins of Islam, and the vital importance of women in its foundation. The courage of conviction and determination that the author has exhibited in this admirable work can be gauged in her own words: “My work here as a poet is to honour what has been told, which often reads as conflicting information. I write to make Fatima accessible. I visit both the Sunni and Shia hadith [she outlines the doctrinal differences in the introduction] and appreciate their messages, but, most importantly, I write to join this contentious family through the quiet power of poems. Poetry has a way of nudging sense and meaning inside a stream of words, the way water runs under the desert sand—to green an oasis”. In a sequence of poems interspersed with prose texts, Tamam’s book Fatima’s Touch gives us a sense of the transcendent life and plural teachings of Syeda Fatima (SA). In the preface, she recounts how she undertook and accomplished this momentous job: “I have followed the Sufi path for forty years. To me, Sufism is the fragrance over the flowers of religion. My husband, Shabda, and I have travelled widely among the mystics in North Africa, the Middle East and India. For the last fifteen years I have been exploring the stories of the first women in what would become Islam—(from salaam). The word Islam is associated with “... the inner state that causes the feeling of peaceful surrender to the protection, safety, and healing of the Divine.” In the fall of 2012, Shabda and I planned a trip to Turkey. I asked everyone I could think of—Sufis, publishers, scholars, professors— for names of those in Istanbul knowledgeable about Fatima al-Zahra. Without exception, they all directed me to Cemâlnur Sargut, female Sufi teacher and scholar who “aims to see all humanity as one without discriminating between genders, religions, sects or outlooks.” Thirty-three of the poems are written in meter, like the repetition and variations of drumbeats, recalling a time when the written word was marginal and poetry was spoken in easy- to-remember patterns. Now take a glance at these beautifully flowing poems which seem to connect us to the rhythms of the beloved Fatima Zahra’s lifetime – from her blessed birth to sad demise: Delivery Who do you think delivered this baby? Nuha, my friend from Syria, asked me. They were there—The Women of the Book! the sister of Moses, the Pharaoh’s spouse, Abraham’s wife and the Mother of Jesus— Kulthum, Asiya, Sara, Maryam — they brought her forth. Lets celebrate the birth of Fatima with a cake, whipped and spooned and baked perfectly. Frosted and layered with date cream and butter. It’s heavenly. Confections shimmer like Hijaz stars. There is something grim about childbirth In the seventh century. After such labor a woman like Khadija with a bed full of children has earned the perfect cake, a birth cake, with a layer for each pair of soothing hands. Explanation: During Ramadan in 2003, author Tamam Kahn, scholar Nuha al-Abed, and a Mevlevi Sufi sat in a hotel room in Damascus. They shared stories from generations of Syrian women. Nuha told them their legend of Syeda Fatima’s birth. Khadija began her labor alone. Then four ancient matriarchs, all of them Women of the Book, honored her with their presence and divine help. Fatima Zahra was delivered by the sister of Moses, wife of Abraham, Mother of Jesus, and wife of the Pharaoh. Sacred Names Five-year-old Fatima playing alone— hiding in curtains, counting to ten, yelling in Arabic: “here I come!” LIGHT OF HEAVEN, here I come!” PURE. BRAVE. GLORIFIED. SHINING. “They’ll call me these names when I get to heaven.” KNOWLEDGEABLE. SHE-WHO-SATIFIES-GOD. Explanation: In this poem, Fatima Zahra is five or six years old, youngest of four daughters, living comfortably in a house where her mother Khadija manages a profitable international caravan business. Her home in the middle of Mecca is a hub of activity with servants as well as visiting relatives and successful townspeople. Her father, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is often at home, and the house has a yard where the large animals, horses and camels, are stabled. She wanders outside to sit in dust and palm duff, polishing her father’s shoes to demonstrate her devoted service. He, in turn, appreciates and adores her little daughter. Shine The shining happened every day, in tent and hut, in all the rooms, and while the breeze would linger, Zahra’s glow, all white, relentlessly lit up each scene with light that squeezed out dark—she sparked delight, a living pole star—a lighthouse beaming, pointing toward each heart as if to soothe and bleach the soul of doubt as noon-prayer yellow sang a cord, a citrine gem; that sound showed women bound in Zahra’s golden ties of love and thought, while unity of sound went round and round and reddened as the sun passed through the taut line of the earth—red stayed in land and air; while Zahra’s face shone conscious and aware. Explanation: Fatima al-Zahra glowed. Her other name, Zahra, means “Radiant One.” Three times a day she shone with light. Her face was shining in the Morning Prayer. The whiteness of that light entered Medina and illuminated its walls. At noon, the light of her face shone with a yellow color, and the glow lit the rooms. At the end of the day, when the sun had set, Syeda Fatima’s face radiated with redness joyfully. Inscribed in Light Here on one leg of God’s vast throne these ancient words inscribed in light Fatima, sayyida for women of the worlds sayyida, unnamable woman’s blessing sayyida a prodigious mandate yet Allah extends his glory to Fatima her name and task precisely written touched by the breeze from a thousand wings. Explanation: Sayyid, as a term of high respect, means a master or lord, and refers to descendants of the Prophet but there is not a parallel translation for the feminine Sayyida. Here it can be translated as “leader” which clearly states Hazrat Fatima’s lofty position written in light on the leg of God’s throne. It’s said that Prophet Adam read it and mentioned it to Prophet Muhammad when he was on his Night Journey through the seven heavens. Here “paradise” expands into worlds, not just ours but further, much further, beyond what we know and experience, beyond the stars. Fatima Tells of Interruption Night covers me, then laughs, issues its interruptions. I’m jostled by, uncovered by intrusion, interruption. My prayers slide off with deep fatigue. I wake to father’s knock. He has renewed his interruption. See how he smiles: a people pray! Late night prayers, he means, high in a holy mood of interruption! I kiss his cheek as ‘Ali openly remarks: If God wishes us to wake, we wake (an argued interruption). Our children stir, but then my train of thought pulls sacred words, and moves, occluding interruption. As if an eagerness filled everything, I’m held in timeless locomotion’s joy, oh gratitude—no interruption. Explanation: In this poem, the core of the story is that the Prophet (pbuh) came to the house of Fatima and Ali and joyfully tells them—in the middle of the night: Rise from your sleep and pray during part of the night. This offers a scene of Prophet Muhammad encouraging his daughter and her husband to replace sleep with prayer. Imagine her living with Ali and four small children in exhausting poverty. But as the poem develops, the shift is to prayer and the repetition of sacred phrases energizing Fatima. Scent Three kinds of beautiful, the best of heaven; blurred devotion’s details meet Muhammad’s love of Women, prayer and the perfumes-of-existence… and the whole world’s neighbourhood smells sweet. Explanation: Once Prophet Muhammad’s wives asked him, “Why do you like Fatima so much?” He replied: “Fatima smells like the scent of paradise. The smell of the prophets is quince, of the Houris is myrtle, and of the angels is rose. Fatima has the smell of quince, myrtle, and rose. These beautiful words were said by Allah’s Messenger: “Allah has made dear to me from your world women and fragrance, and the joy of my eyes is in prayer.” Scholar on Islam and Sufism Annemarie Schimmel explains: “this hadith allows us a glimpse into the twofold function of the Prophet, who knew how to combine this world and the next and… how to sanctify both.” Ali Says Goodbye! I am the voice that begs Fatima not to die I am the tree that pleads with the earth, ‘Hold fast my roots’ I am the sword she cleaned, the lips she kissed I am the face she held with rinsed hands I am the head nodding, yes I am her private night burial I am the tears spilled for her I am her husband, Abul-Hasan I am her feet as she stands for justice Only she will have me—I am the prey of the lioness She is a purse of gold, a crown of Certainty I am Abu Turab – the father of dust. Explanation: Just before the Prophet (pbuh) passed away, he predicted his daughter Fatima would be the first to join him. She during August, 632 CE, just ten weeks after her beloved father and left behind her husband, Ali, often called Abul-Hasan –“father of Hasan”. Ali was also called “Abu Turab”. For when he would despair or feel distressed and grief-stricken, he would throw dust on his head. Therefore, the Prophet (pbuh) nicknamed him, “Father of Dust.” This precisely how Tamam Kahn’s “Fatima’s Touch” helps us re-connect with the beautiful life of beloved Fatima Zahra. “Fatima’s Touch” also liberates the persona of Bibi Fatima from layers of hagiography and at the same time reveals her deep inner spirituality as well as her intuitive grasp of what it means to be an inspiring woman, especially to those who struggle with the restrictions of organised religion and patriarchal culture. ----- A Regular Columnist with Newageislam.com, Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi is an Indo-Islamic scholar, Sufi poet and English-Arabic-Urdu-Hindi writer with a background in a leading Sufi Islamic seminary in India. He is currently serving as Head of International Affairs at Voice for Peace & Justice, Jammu & Kashmir. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/books-documents/ali-fatima-poems-stories-prophet-daughter/d/134781 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism