Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani’s speech on the high position of Fatimah al-Zahra (as)

In the name of God, the most compassionate, the most merciful

Say, "I give you just a single advice: that you rise up for Allah's sake, in twos, or individually, and then reflect: there is no madness in your companion.”[1]

I express my congratulations on the auspicious birth anniversary of Fatimah al-Zahra (as) to the Imam of the Age, may God hasten his reappearance.

It can be said that people, including Muslims, have not yet understood the position of Fatimah al-Zahra (as) and, according to our beliefs, they will not be able to do so even to the end of time. This is not a mere claim rather a reality, not an exaggeration but the truth.

In the eye of God, Fatimah al-Zahra (as) equals the Quran in terms of status. According to authentic hadiths the Prophet (s.a.w.a) said, “I leave among you two weighty things, the book of God and my household,”[2] and included Fatimah (as) among his household. This proves that her position was so high that the Prophet (s.a.w.a) considered her equal to the Quran.

Another famous hadith says, “If God had not created the Commander of the Faithful, there would not have been an equal to Fatimah on earth from Adam to the last human.”[3] This is a very surprising hadith since it says had the Commander of the Faithful not been created, there would not have been any one who could be equal to her.

Being equal in the above hadith is not being equal in a just few things, rather means being equal in position as well. That is, the attributes that Imam Ali (as) had, Fatimah (as) also possessed. For example, as regrading Imam Ali (as) we say, “Ali is with truth and truth is with Ali,”[4] in the same sense we can say, “Fatimah is with truth and truth is with Fatimah.” This is why we say her position was not and will not be understood.

She was so pure that God manifested in her. According to some hadiths, obedience to her is obligatory upon all creation, “Obedience to her was obligatory on all that God has created including the humans, the jinn, the birds, the beasts, the prophets and the angels.”[5]

We cannot even understand how the prophets, angels, humans, jinn, birds and beasts could obey her. One should reflect and seek help from the Lady herself so that one can get to know her to some extent.

Her virtues are not comparable with the tragedies that occurred to her. Though there is no doubt that great injustice was done to her and we should always remember that, it is necessary that we pay attention to her virtues as well and create an academic discipline dedicated to introducing her.

Late Salehi Khwansari, who delivered great revolutionary sermons in his lifetime, one day said to me, “If you could start a series of lectures to study and analyze the narrations that are about Fatimha al-Zahra (as), it would be great.” He was right. These traditions are so profound that could not be dealt with in ten sessions or even one or two years.

One of the great services the Shia scholars have done is that they, to some extent, understood her position and introduced her to humanity. In our time, the phrases Imam Khomeini had about Fatimah al-Zahra (as) are very unique. For example, he said, “I know no higher virtue than Gabriel coming to Fatimah al-Zahra (as) after the demise of the Prophet (s.a.w.a) and telling her what would happen in future.” He used to add, “If Fatimah (as) had not been so pure and high in spirituality Gabriel would not come to her.” Can you find such words about Fatimah al-Zahra (as) anywhere else or among the scholars of other Islamic sects?

As another example, a while ago, I listened to a lecture about Fatimah –al-Zahra (as) which had been delivered by the Supreme Leader before the Revolution. It was so nice and scholarly that I liked to listen to it again.

What honorific statements our respected maraji’ made about Fatimah al-Zahra (as)! The seminaries should contemplate on what they have said. We, the seminary students, should pay attention to how and to what extent they respected Fatimah (as). Some of them, at the age of 100, participated barefoot in the mourning ceremonies held for her to show their utmost respect and veneration for her. This is not a pretentious act, but shows how important the matter is.