An essay by Hujjat al-Islam Gholamreza Peyvandi, Director of the Fiqh and Law Department at the Institute for Culture and Islamic Thought
Lady Fatimah taught us the way to support and sacrifice for the Imam of our time, to the extent that she sacrificed her own life for her Imam. Through the defense of Lady Fatimah for the guardianship of Amir al-Mu’minin, God completed His proof for us and taught us what we should do for the Imam of our time.
Imam Mahdi (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed, I have a beautiful example in the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (Fatimah).”( إنَّ لِي في إبنَةِ رَسولِ اللّه ِ اُسوَةٌ حَسَنةٌ )
(Al-Ghaybah, Tusi, p. 286)
In life, if a person wants to follow a model, they must examine the features of that life and then draw inspiration from these models. That is to say, the Imam (peace be upon him) emphasizes that you, too, should take inspiration from my mother Fatimah in your life system. Having a model in life means that we are not aimless; from the moment we wake up in the morning, we know how we should act.
The most prominent and significant characteristic of Lady Fatimah was her defense of her Imam of the time. Therefore, a person who considers themselves a defender of their Imam by any means fulfills a responsibility of anticipation that Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) taught us.
In the Du’a al-Ahd, we request eight positions or ranks from the Imam of our time:
- “O Allah, make me among his helpers and supporters.” اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِی مِنْ أَنْصَارِهِ وَ أَعْوَانِهِ
- “And those who defend him.” وَ الذَّابِّینَ عَنْهُ
- “And those who hasten to fulfill his needs.” وَ الْمُسَارِعِینَ إِلَیْهِ فِی قَضَاءِ حَوَائِجِهِ
- “And those who uphold his orders.” وَ الْمُحَامِینَ عَنْهُ
- “And those who precede others in complying with his will.” وَ السَّابِقِینَ إِلَى إِرَادَتِهِ
- “And those who are martyred in front of him.” وَ الْمُسْتَشْهَدِینَ بَیْنَ یَدَیْه
All these eight requests that we, the waiters during the time of occultation, ask from God have been manifested and embodied in Lady Fatimah through her defense of guardianship.
First phrase: “O Allah, make me among his helpers and supporters.” اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِی مِنْ أَنْصَارِهِ وَ أَعْوَانِهِ
The terms “helpers” (ansar) and “supporters” (a’wan) are close in meaning, but the first is broader than the second. “Helping” (nusrah) refers to general assistance, even if it is only through words, wishes, or hopes, while “support” (a’un) is more evident in actual deeds.
For instance, the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) were called helpers (ansar), but they became supporters (a’wan) when they actively helped in battles and other actions. It is possible that both terms here refer to the same thing, i.e., simply showing sincerity to the Imam. However, this interpretation goes against the apparent meaning of the phrase. It should be noted that this is not contingent on the reappearance of the Imam; rather, it is achievable during the time of occultation as well.
We might not even know that there is a rank higher than love, called the “rank of support,” meaning “the rank of assisting the Imam of our time.” If we understand that, in addition to loving the Imam of our time, we must also assist him, we may succeed in doing so. Therefore, one of the responsibilities of the aware individuals is to invite Shias and lovers of the Imam of our time to support and advocate for him and to remind them that “the rank of the Imam’s supporters is higher than that of his lovers; their reward and value before God are greater, and God’s love for them is deeper. Thus, it is appropriate for us not to suffice with heartfelt love for him but to join his supporters in action.”
Attracting supporters and garnering assistance for the Imam of our time is itself among the best methods of aiding him, especially if we can ask for this assistance through God’s grace.
Second phrase: “And those who defend him.” وَ الذَّابِّینَ عَنْهُ
The word dhab has an extensive meaning, ranging from worry, sorrow, action, melting, amazement, and more to being a defender. Therefore, the expression “those who defend him” (dhabbīn ‘anhu) closely resembles this: someone who is continuously in agitation, worry, and concern for the Imam, like a moth circling around him. It means they are constantly seeking to understand the Imam’s “needs,” “commands,” and “will” and strive to fulfill them.
Third phrase: “And those who hasten to fulfill his needs.” وَ الْمُسَارِعِينَ إِلَيْهِ فِي قَضَاءِ حَوَائِجِهِ
“And those who hasten to fulfill his needs” (al-musāri‘īn ilayhi fī qaḍā’i ḥawā’ijihi) refers to ensuring that the Imam’s needs are met as quickly as possible. Here, “needs” can be understood, in light of the subsequent phrase, to mean removing obstacles and preparing the necessary grounds for an action or matter. This is why, after this, we pray not only to be “among those who hasten to fulfill his needs” but also “among those who obey his commands.”
Fourth phrase: “And those who uphold his orders.” وَ الْمُمْتَثِلِينَ لِأَوَامِرِهِ»
Imtithāl means to obey or follow a command or path. It implies carrying out the Imam’s orders completely and at the highest level because one may fulfill a command but fail to implement it optimally, either due to negligence or ignorance, resulting in an imperfect execution.
Sentence Five: the defenders of his cause “وَ الْمُحَامِینَ عَنْهُ“
The next level is “وَ الْمُحَامِینَ عَنْهُ“ (). The term محام conveys both the meanings of steadfastness and resilience as well as a legal advocate or consultant. It also encompasses the idea of a defender. Sometimes, an executor of the Imam’s commands might not fully comprehend or grasp the wisdom behind them due to the limits of their understanding. Such a person may be filled with faith and carry out the commands of the Imam with utmost sincerity and devotion, without adding or subtracting anything. However, their lack of awareness regarding the wisdom behind these commands may prevent them from being able to completely defend them in debates, reasoning, or actions.
Sentence Six: those who are foremost in pursuing his will “وَ السَّابِقِینَ إِلَى إِرَادَتِهِ“
The next higher rank is “وَ السَّابِقِینَ إِلَى إِرَادَتِهِ“ (). At this stage, the seeker reaches a level where they rush towards what the Imam intends even before his will manifests as a command. The seeker is so attuned to the Imam’s will that they are aware of his intention and hasten towards it. Such an individual might be among the trusted agents or appointed leaders of the Imam.
Sentence Seven: those who are martyred before him “وَ الْمُسْتَشْهَدِینَ بَیْنَ یَدَیْه“
The highest rank on this path is martyrdom, specifically referred to as “وَ الْمُسْتَشْهَدِینَ بَیْنَ یَدَیْه“ (). Martyrdom itself has varying ranks. Someone who dies in pursuit of providing sustenance for their family is considered a martyr, as is someone martyred on the battlefield of Karbala. Even among the martyrs of Karbala, despite their unparalleled nobility, not all were of the same rank. In this phrase of the supplication, we ask Allah for the highest rank a creature can attain during the time of occultation and the reappearance of the Imam—martyrdom in the presence of the Imam (عج).
We must ask ourselves: What steps must we take to reach these ranks? Is action necessary, or is it sufficient to simply have faith? How can we defend the Imam of our time? Studying the life of Lady Fatimah teaches us the meaning of defending the Imam and how to support him. Furthermore, it shows us what actions are required to be ahead in seeking the Imam’s will.
The Practical Actions of Lady Fatimah (a.s)
Lady Fatimah performed several critical actions:
- Verbal Defense: Delivering Speeches
Examples include the Sermon of Fadak and her speech addressing the women of Medina.
In her sermon, Lady Fatimahreferred to the philosophy behind some Islamic rulings:- “Allah has made prayer an instrument for purifying you from pride.”
- “Allah has made fasting a means of strengthening your sincerity.”
- “Allah has made the connection between relatives a cause for increasing your numbers.”
- “Zakat purifies the soul and increases sustenance.”
- “Fasting fortifies sincerity.”
- “Hajj reinforces the religion.”
- “Jihad brings honor to Islam.”
- “Enjoining good benefits the community.”
- “Kindness to parents shields one from divine anger.”
- “Maintaining family ties increases lifespan and population growth.”
- “Qisas (retaliation in kind) prevents bloodshed.”
- “Prohibition of wine preserves purity.”
- “Prohibition of theft ensures integrity.”
- “Allah has forbidden shirk to preserve monotheism.”
Regarding the philosophy of Imamate, she stated:
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- “Allah has made our obedience the system of the community and our leadership a safeguard against division.”
To recognize the Ahl al-Bayt, she said:
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- “We are His means among creation; we are His chosen ones, the sanctuaries of His holiness, and His proof in the unseen.” نَحنُ وَسیلَتُهُ فی خَلقِهِ و نَحنُ خاصَّتُهُ و مَحَلُّ قُدسِهِ
- “Muhammad and Ali are the fathers of this nation; they rectify its crookedness and save it from eternal punishment if people obey them.” اَبَوا هذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٌ وَ عَلِیٌّ یُقیمانِ اَوَدَهُمْ وَیُنْقِذانِهِمْ مِنَ الْعَذابِ الدّائِمِ اِنْ اَطاعُوهُما وَیُبیحانِهِمُ النَّعیمَ الدّائِم اِنْ وافَقُوهُما
- Practical Defense: Visiting the Houses of the Muhajirun and Ansar
Lady Fatimah personally visited the homes of the Muhajirun and Ansar to advocate for the rightful leadership of Imam Ali - Political Defense Through Wills and Testaments:
- For example, the concealment of her grave and her explicit dissatisfaction with the first and second caliphs.
- In her will to Imam Ali she said:
“I do not wish for those who oppressed me and usurped my rights to attend my funeral. They are my enemies and the enemies of the Prophet. Do not allow them to pray over me and bury me at night when eyes are asleep and vision is veiled.”
“Do not let anyone who broke the covenant with Allah and His Prophet regarding the leadership of Ali (علیه السلام), oppressed me, took my inheritance, and tore apart my father’s document about Fadak participate in my funeral.” لاتُصَلّى عَلَیَّ اُمَّةٌ نَقَضَتْ عَهْدَاللّهِ وَ عَهْدَ ابى رَسُولِ اللّهِ فى امیرالْمُؤ منینَ عَلیّ، وَ ظَلَمُوا لى حَقىّ، وَاءخَذُوا إ رْثى ، وَخَرقُوا صَحیفَتى اللّتى كَتَبها لى ابى بِمُلْكِ فَدَك
This testament was a significant blow to the enemies of Imamate and a lasting condemnation of the unjust governments of the caliphs. It remains an enduring testament to Lady Fatimah’s opposition to their rule.
- Sacrificing Her Life for the Imam of Her Time:
Recite Dua Al-Ahd, live your life with remembrance of the Imam, and reflect on how your defense and support for the Imam of our time align with Lady Fatimah’s example.
On the Day of Judgment, if Lady Fatimah asks us, “What did you do for my son, the Mahdi?” what will we answer? We must at least take some steps akin to hers. Through Lady Fatimah’s defense of Imam Ali, Allah has shown us the way and taught us what we must do.
