Approaching two blessed moments in time, the glorious birth anniversary of the Lady of all ladies ever created, Hadrat Fatemah (PBUH), and, the magnificent birth anniversary of the only Amir and Commander of all Mo'menin and Believers, Hadrat Ali (PBUH), we wish to narrate a delightful true story regarding "Fadak", hoping for a smile, though momentarily, on their beloved Mahdi's (PBUT) beautiful face … . This story clearly reveals that the Wilayat of the AhlulBayt (PBUT) was the story behind Fadak! In fact, the Lady (PBUH), through demanding Fadak, was actually reminding the usurpers about the Allah-Bestowed Successorship of Ali (PBUH), a fact which was clearer than the day light for those usurpers. Ah! Alas! If Ali's (PBUH) Allah-Bestowed Right was not usurped, the human Path to Blissful Eternity would not have become so mirage-full!
Zarkha was the name of one of the very close and devoted companions of the Prophet Moosa -Moses- (PBUH). Hadrat Moosa (PBUH) used to repeat the beautiful name, signs, characteristics and … of the final Prophet, Muhammad (PBUH&HP), over and over [we cordially invite you to read all parts of the article: "Mohammad, the Promise of Torah" in this site: kindfather.com].
As Zarkha learned more about the Messenger of Allah and his beloved Progeny -those Ever-Anticipated ones since the beginning of creation-, an innate love was awakened in his loving heart. After the passing away of Hadrat Moosa (PBUH), Zarkha continued to worship Allah and to long for the Promised Progeny; it was for this pure love that he left his hometown toward the Promised land where the Last Prophet of Allah (PBUH&HP) were to appear, as prophesied by Moses (PBUH).
He reached a place close to where Medina is today, the Madaa'en-Ol-Hokama; the place was the grassland for the camels and livestock of the scholars of the city. He bored a well, settled there, and continued to worship Allah and cry and long for Mohammad and Ali (PBUT).
[Many different names and titles, with various pronunciations, for Hadrats Mohammad and Ali and the rest of the AhlulBayt (PBUT) were presented in the original Torah of Moosa (PBUH); for instance, Ali (PBUH) was called as Elia.]
From Zarkha's worship and tears, and from the miraculous greatness of the names of Muhammad and Ali (PBUT), a spring welled up, and with Zarkha's digging, the water multiplied, and thus that whole region turned to a habitable and abundantly prolific area. People moved in, and eight villages were built there.
Finally came the last days of Zarkha's life; so all his children and grand children gathered around him. He asked them to build an iron chest with a lock but no key. Then he wrote on a golden tablet, his will.
To all his offspring, he wrote that 1550 years after him, there would come a Prophet named Muhammad, the very last Prophet after whom there would be no other Prophet; his Successor would be his cousin, his son in law too; and the last Prophet's Successors after him would all be his children. Zarkha said that one of his offspring would believe in him, and they would witness a miracle from Elia, the Prophet's Successor; in a gathering, the Prophet's seal ring would fall in the well, and Elia, without entering the well, would take it out. Then Zarkha said that after that, Elia would ask for this iron chest, and the key for it, would be Elia's blessed touch! Zarkha ordained all his offspring that they should all, after observing this Sign and Miracle, believe in them, otherwise they would leave this world while disbelieving Allah and Moosa's Religion. Then Zarkha commanded his future descendants to give the eight villages to Elia; Zarkha clarified that he had devoted and consecrated the eight villages to the Successor of the Last Prophet of Allah, to Elia; i.e. Zarkha said to Elia: "Fadaak", "فداک"!
[Arabic and Hebrew, being from common roots, therefore are very similar, with many identical words; "Fadaa" "فدا" in both languages, means to consecrate and devote, and "k" "ک" means "you"; thus, "Fadaak" means "devoted to you". And with passage of time and extreme repetition of the phrase, "Fadaak" is now being pronounced as "Fadak" "فدک".]
Zarkha passed away; when Hadrat 'Eesa (PBUH) came, Zarkha's offspring neither found the predicted Signs in 'Eesa (PBUH), nor the timing matched the foretold time by their forefather, so they continued to anticipate the Final and Seal of all Prophets of Allah.
As Zarkha had said, 1550 years after him, came the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP); and after facing much hardship in Mecca, he (PBUH&HP) migrated from Mecca to Medina.
One day, one of Zarka's descendants -who resided in Medina- with one of his sons who was very intelligent, were standing by their door, when the Prophet and Ali (PBUT) passed them. The young man asked who they were, and when he was told their names, he fainted.
The Prophet (PBUH&HP) heard about the incident, so he returned and took the young man's head, whose face was shining, on his lap kindly; the family of the young man were touched by this warm gesture and they all circled around the Prophet. The young man regained consciousness and found himself on the Prophet's lap; he immediately embraced and kissed the Prophet's hands and bore witness to Allah, and to Muhammad and Ali (PBUT). But his family just watched and refused to believe; they insisted that the young man should give up Islam too.
The young man used to go to the Prophet (PBUH&HP) every day; one day he asked the Prophet to pray for his parents so that they might believe. The Prophet (PBUH&HP) said that he would invite them over and present Islam to them. But the young man said that their hearts were not with the Prophet, so the young man instead suggested that he would arrange for a gathering and would invite the Prophet with his companions over, but not to the house, rather to the garden -the garden which was originally cultivated by his forefather Zarkha-, because the companions were just too many to fit in the house.
The Prophet and the Amir-Ol-Mo'menin (PBUT) with the other Ashaab (companions) went to the garden on the specified day; the entire family of the young man were also present. Apparently as a custom for their guests, they presented a letter to the Prophet to sign with his seal ring. The Prophet (PBUH&HP) took out his ring to seal the letter, but the ring fell in the well! The Prophet called the Amirul-Mo'menin and said: "O' the solver of all problems! Bring my ring from the well." Hadrat Ali (PBUH) stood by the well and recited the Surah Faatehat-Ol-Ketaab, the water issued up suddenly, and the ring was on top of it! Hadrat Ali (PBUH) took the ring, kissed it and gave it back to the most beloved of Allah's creations, to Mohammad (PBUH&HP).
When Zarkha's offspring observed this scene, they suddenly remembered their forefather's will. They held their breaths and waited eagerly to see if Ali would ask for the chest. Hadrat Ali (PBUH) asked them to bring that which their forefather Zarkha had left for them!
They brought the locked iron chest for Ali (PBUH), and Hadrat Ali (PBUH) placed it in front of the Prophet (PBUH&HP). But the Prophet asked Ali (PBUT) to unlock the chest; the Amir-Ol-Mo'menin raise his hands towards heavens and recited a prayer, then touch the lock with his finger, and it was opened. Ali (PBUH) took out the beautiful golden tablet which had silver writings on it, and gave it to the Prophet (PBUH&HP). The Prophet looked at it, and again asked Ali (PBUT) to read it.
Hadrat Ali (PBUH) started to read the writing which was written by Zarkha in Hebrew: "1550 years after me … ." And this is how it was that the offspring of Zarkha believed, and gave the eight villages to Elia-Ali- (PBUH), and Ali gave it to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUT), and he (PBUH&HP) to his beloved daughter Fatemah (PBUH), and she, back to Ali (PBUT), and … .
(Zobdat-Ol-Aqaaren; Khazinat-Ol-Jawaaher fi Zeenat-El-Manaaber, vol. 2, p. 1085;…)
YES, THE STORY BEHIND FADAK IS YET ANOTHER CONFIRMATION OF THE SUCCESSORSHIP OF THE AMIR-OL-MO'MENIN AND THE AHL-OL-BAYT (PBUT)WHICH ALL THE COMPANIONS OF THE PROPHET HAD WITNESSED INCLUDING THOSE … .