The Islamic Movement in Nigeria marks the birthday anniversary of the beloved daughter of the prophet of Islam and the mother of Hassan and Husain (AS).
In a ceremony that was attended by scores of Muslims from different parts of the country, the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria spoke on the virtues and lofty status of the great daughter of the prophet(AS).
The leader delivered a lecture which lasted for almost one hour to hundreds of audience. The well decorated venue, Fudiyyah Islamic Center, was full of people with the number of people outside it far greater than those inside.
Birthday Cake being cut by Sheikh
Sheikh giving a lecture on the History of Sayyidah Fatimah AS
The leader started by first congratulating the Muslim Ummah on the birthday anniversary of the mother of Aímmah(AS). Seeing the gathering outside the venue, Sheikh lamented that the venue was too small to accommodate the gathering and hoped that one day the occasion will be held in a bigger venue.
He spoke on the virtues of 20th of Jimada thani and birthday of Sayyidah Fatimah(AS). The 20th of Jimada thani is also the birthday of Imam Khomeini(QS) which people normally forget, he added. The birthday of Imam, he said, must also be remembered, because with his coming, the whole world became awaken and the path of Ahul Bayt(AS) spread to all nooks and corners of world to which today we are reaping the benefits. He pointed that coming of Imam is a gift to the world as the Mazhab of Ahlul Bayt(AS) was only known to very few in some corners of the world, but with the coming of the Imam the path of Ahlul Bayt(AS) became widespread.
Venue full of Muslims
Speaking on the virtues of sayyidah fatimah the leader of the Islamic Movement explained that one can find narrations about Islamic Knowledge from many sources but hardly one finds narration of Sayyidah Fatimah(AS). Many famous Sunni scholars asserted that the number of ahadeeth reported by Sayyidah Fatimah does not exceed eighteen or even less. Likewise the ahadeeth of her children, Hassan and Husain(AS). Sheikh added that he did not expressed this view to condemn them as many of them were also taught that way.
Birthday of Sayyidah Fatimah (AS) in Pictures
He pointed that Fatimah and her children are the Custodian of Islam. They got knowledge directly from the root and they are even part and parcel of Islam without which the system of Islam becomes incomplete.
He explained that the ahadeeth from Sayyidah being very few is not a surprise as all efforts were made to lower her position by her enemies. However, the holy prophet of Islam mentioned her lofty status so many times to the extent that those sayings about her status could not be wiped out.
The prophet declared that Fatimah is of him and whosoever angers her angers him.
With this, Sheikh explained, she has been set as a scale to know people of paradise and those who deserve the hell fire for their hatred to the beloved daughter. Moreover the hadeeth refers to those who hated her during her life time and of course those who will come in future and even the present ones.
Her lofty status with the prophet is very clear. He gave her special treatment to the extent that he held secret talks with her without any one knowing what transpired between her and her father. He added.
He lamented that despite all this lofty status with her father, her reports are very few, and some companions who embraced Islam six months or a year before the demise of the prophet have volumes of reports related to them.!! And this shows that something happened and he therefore urged people to really go into further research to find out truth and its adherents. Hiding her reports is a cheat or causing anger to Sayyidah, Sheikh added.
Celebrants in and outside the venue
Born five year after prophet hood, the beloved daughter is referred to as kauthar(the abundance) as revealed in the surah Kauthar in the holy Quran. The verse was revealed to the prophet who was mocked and ridiculed by unbelievers in Mecca when his male children dead. They said he would not have an inheritor. He was called abtar(one without posterity) by the Meccans unbelievers. Then the verse was revealed. Even though kauthar may be translated into different meanings, but going by the context of the verse and the situation in which it was revealed, Kauthar means Sayyidah Fatimah(AS). Sheikh added.
The surah clearly explained the enemy of the prophet as the one without posterity or a heir. And not long ago, Sayyidah fatimah was born and his children came through her. Now, they run into millions. He added
The House of Ahlul Bayt is given special status as Islam is kept and preserve in that house. It is the right path. Imam Assadiq(AS) explained that whoever claims that he/she loves the Ahlul bayt(AS), then he/she must not follow other ways than that of of Ahlul Bayt(AS). Sheikh elaborated
The leader gave references from many Sunni sources describing the lofty status of Fatimah(AS) and the necessity of following the path of Ahlul Bayt(AS).
He added that The message of Islam brought by the messenger will be incomplete without Imam Ali(AS) and Sayyidah Fatimah(AS).
On the position of a woman generally, the Leader of the Islamic Movement explains that the Jahiliyya period considered a woman as an asset which can be inherited, a view which still exist in some cultures.
For the fact that the Best of Creatures has been given a woman as only “son” through which he was inherited is a respect to women generally and as such the 20th of Jimada Thani should be regarded as the International Women Day. This is a glory to women. The leader pointed out.
Speaking on Sayyidah Fatimah is too big a task to be done is short period and as such he recommends further readings. There are so many books in circulation as well as computer discs and even the Internet through which people can get more information and materials about the beloved daughter of the prophet(AS). He added
A Birthday cake presented by Sisters Forum was cut by the leader to mark the birthday of Leader of all women, Sayyidah Fatimah(AS).
Three Pictures of Imam Khomeini were launched. Two pictures were respectively given to the highest bidders. The First picture was bought at the sum of N50,000.00 while the second one was bought at the price of 100,000.00. The third picture was sold in a way that almost every one contributed sum token amount and a total of about N46,000.00 was realised. This is another way of gathering money to finance some projects of the Movement.
A Ziyara supplication of Sayyidah Fatimah Salamullahi Alaiha was recited by Sheikh .He concluded by expressing his gratitude to Allah for his guidance upon ‘us’ to the path of Aímmah(AS) which salvation and felicity lie only in following them.