Fadak Sermon - I

Preface

Once upon a time, Allah created the best of His creations, those whom Allah created the entire existence for; they were Lady Fatima and her father, Lady Fatima and her husband, Lady Fatima and her sons (PBUT)... . No regular person like us, can ever truly comprehend and encompass, their actual value and status. Their heavenly words are the manifestation of their Divinely bestowed Knowledge; the difference between their words and the words of regular humans, is the same as the difference between them and regular humans. The Ahl-Ol-Bait (PBUT) are whom the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH&HP) -by Allah's command- has declared as inseparable from Qur'an, from the Word of Allah; the words of Mohammad and his Ahl-Ol-Bait (PBUT) are inseparable from the Word of Allah. They are the heart and soul of Qur'an; they have been keeping Qur'an alive throughout the ages, they have been the living Qur'an.

Qur'an indicates: And were every tree that is in the earth (made into) pens, and the sea (to supply it with ink), with seven more seas to increase it, the Word of Allah would not come to an end; surely, Allah is Might(Aziz), Wise. (Qur’an, Surah Loqmaan[31], verse 27); and at the same time, Qur'an states: …We have not neglected anything in the Book… . (Qur’an, Surah An’aam[6], verse 38); the words of Mohammad and his progeny (PBUT) are the heart of Qur’an, the only true interpretations, explanations and clarifications of the Word of Allah, for us who need their Divine Guidance. Every single word of the Ahl-Ol-Bait (PBUT) has an ocean of celestial meaning which we -with our dark glasses and very limited vision- only may see a little of its surface and they -with their Divinely bestowed Knowledge- can make manifest for us, its depth and secrets.

Abdul Fattaah Abdul Maqsood, a Sunni scholar, in his well known book, “A-Ssaqifato -Wal-Khalaafah”, states that, some people asked Ebne-Abbaas regarding his knowledge in comparison with that of Ali son of AbiTaaleb (PBUT), and he responded: a drop of water compared to a vast ocean.

We must say that no regular person, is even a drop next to the ocean of the Ahl-Ol-Bait (PBUT).

Here, we have attempted to translate into English, the everlasting "Fadak Sermon" of the Lady Fatima (PBUH); we humbly confess that we have not been able to do her celestial words justice; due to our limited knowledge and the limitations of the English language in comparison with Arabic; there are many words in Arabic -specially in Qur’anic and Hadith terminology- which have no proper equivalents in English or any other language, for that matter. While imploring Allah to bestow upon us His Light of Guidance, we should make the effort to study the words of the Ahl-Ol-Bait (PBUT) in Arabic along with other related Hadith and explanations.

Fadak was a very fertile property given to Lady Fatima by her father, the Prophet (PBUT); when the usurpers of Khalifate -those who intentionally disobeyed Allah and disregarded the Divinely bestowed Successorship of the Ahlul Bait- took Fadak, Lady Fatima (PBUH) went to the "Mosque of the Prophet" in Medina and delivered the everlasting "Fadak Sermon" in which she not only demanded her property back -which was the source of sustenance for many people she helped- but also attempted to awaken the asleep hearts of people who had conveniently -for worldly intentions- forgotten the Prophet's recommendations. The Lady's heart was broken from all that convenient disloyalty; her heart was not broken for herself, rather for the dark fate awaiting the forgetful people throughout the ages.

It is also noteworthy to mention that ladies in England did not receive their "Right to ownership" until the year 1870 A.D.; French ladies, until 1900 A.D.; Swiss ladies, until 1907 and Italians, until 1917; while Muslim ladies were bestowed their equal "Right to ownership" over 1400 years ago, and Lady Fatima (PBUH) stood up for that right. It is important to realize that, this was only one aspect of her profound act; she has also reminded humanity, the "Right to Successorship" of her husband Ali, and after Ali, of her sons (PBUT), so that they -as commanded by Allah- may Guide humanity, all the way to Eternity… .

And some Day, this long lasting usurpation will finally be over and that shall be when the final infallible member of the Ahl-Ol-Bait, the Anticipated Mahdi of Fatima (PBUT), shall Appear and the Truth will become manifest and perhaps then -with Mahdi's (PBUH) help and guidance- we will understand better, the profound Sermon of the Lady, too… .

Let us read together, the translation of the everlasting "Fadak Sermon" of Lady Fatima (PBUH):

Fadak Sermon

All Praises be to Allah for what He has bestowed;

and All Thanks be to Him for what He has inspired;

and All Commendations, for what He has offered from prevalent favors which He originated;

and abundant bounties which He has given and poured;

and perfect graces which He has granted.

(such bounties, graces,… that) Their number is much too plentiful to compute and measure;

and their extensions, too far to recompense;

and their extremities, too distant to realize and comprehend.

And He has encouraged them to seek more, by being grateful, for the continuity of those (bounties,…);

And has required Praise from His creations, for the bounteous giving of those;

And has repeated His recommendations for the likes of those.

To be continued… .