Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Salaam,

Brother can you please explain to me why Ali (ra) buried Fatima(ra) at night and without the awareness of the other sahaba, in particular Abu Bakr(ra) and Omar (ra). Can you reply asap, as I usrgently seek a reply. 

Q-4). Can you shed some light on the circumstances surrounding the death of Lady Fatima (AS)? Is it true that she was buried secretly at night by Imam Ali (AS) so as a avert a confrontation with Abubakr?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Burial of Hadrat Fatema

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The Prophet (saws) buried at night a man, who used to remember Allah aloud during the night. Similarly Hadrat Ali (r.a.) buried his beloved wife Hadrat Fatimah (r.a.) at night. Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.), Hadrat Uthman (r.a.), Hadrat Aishah (r.a.), and Hadrat Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud (r.a.) were also buried during the night.

It is indeed true that Hadrat Fatima binte Rasool Allah (saws) was buried at night; but it is absolutely a false notion that she was buried at night so as to avert a confrontation with Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.) and/or Hadrat Umar (r.a.)!!!

Allah and His Messenger(saws) made it abundantly clear that no believing man is allowed to see the face of or unnecessarily encounter a non-mehram woman; whether living or dead! And it is inconceivable if any non-mehram male believer even saw the face of the Leader of the Women in Paradise, Sayyid-un-Nisaa, and the noble and chaste daughter of the Prophet (saws), Hadrat Fatima binte Rasool Allah (saws), after the advent of the command of purdah in the Quran; leave alone at her burial! Thus, it is nothing but slander and false stories which some unscrupulous people have circulated that Hadrat Fatima (r.a.) was buried at night because she did not want Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.), or Hadrat Umar (r.a.), etc. to see her face!

Allah Alone knows best why and under what circumstances was Hadrat Fatima (r.a.) buried at night! But to claim that she was secretly buried, is to challenge the bravery, might, courage and piety of one of the bravest and noblest companion and the beloved cousin of the Messenger of Allah (saws); Hadrat Imam Ali ibn Abi Taalib (may Allah be pleased with him). It is evident from his whole life, that Hadrat Imam Ali (r.a.) feared no one other than Allah; and it does not behove this courageous and fearless Imam to bury his wife secretly. It is probable and possible that Hadrat Fatima (r.a.) might have died in the late afternoon and she was buried in the night by Imam Ali (r.a.) and the believers. Allah Alone knows best.

Besides, it does not behove a truthful person to have knowledge of the ‘unseen’, and claim to know the intentions of Hadrat Ali (r.a.) regarding the burial of Hadrat Fatima (r.a.) at night! It may be that Hadrat Fatima (r.a.) willed that she is buried at night, or immediately after her death; or even maybe that Hadrat Ali (r.a.) chose to bury her at night. Allah Alone knows best.

Whatever the circumstances surrounding the death and burial of the Leader of the Women in Paradise, Hadrat Fatima binte Rasool Allah; brother rest assured that Allah will not ask us about the burial or the circumstances surrounding it on the Day of Judgment! She will earn a full reward for her deeds, and we shall earn the reward of what we do, and we will not be asked about it.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 134: They were a people who passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned, and you shall have the reward of what you will earn. And you will not be questioned as to what they did.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan