Why Was Fatimah (PBUH) Named Fatimah?

Imam Ali (a.s) said:

“سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ (ص) یَقُولُ: إِنِّی سَمَّیتُ فَاطِمَةَ لِأَنَّهَا فُطِمَتْ وَ ذُرِّیتُهَا مِنَ النَّارِ، مَنْ لَقِی اللَّهَ مِنْهُمْ بِالتَّوْحِیدِ وَ الْإِیمَانِ بِمَا جِئْتُ بِهِ”

“I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) say, ‘I named Fatimah because she and her offspring have been protected (futimat) from the Hellfire, provided they meet Allah with monotheism and faith in what I brought.'”

Reflections:

1. The Right of Choosing a Good Name:

One of the primary duties of parents towards their children is to choose a beautiful name for them. This is emphasized repeatedly in the sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) and the Infallibles (AS). The right to a good name is mentioned alongside other essential rights like education and marriage.

The prophet said to Imam Ali (a.s):

“یا عَلِی حَقُ الْوَلَدِ عَلَی وَالِدِهِ أَنْ یحْسِنَ اسْمَهُ وَ أَدَبَهُ وَ یضَعَهُ مَوْضِعاً صَالِحاً”

“O Ali, a child’s right upon their parent is that they give them a good name, teach them proper manners, and place them in a virtuous position.”

Imam Ali (a.s) said:

“وَ حَقُ الْوَلَدِ عَلَی الْوَالِدِ أَنْ یحَسِّنَ اسْمَهُ وَ یحَسِّنَ أَدَبَهُ وَ یعَلِّمَهُ الْقُرْآنَ”

“The right of the child upon their parent is to give them a good name, teach them good etiquette, and educate them in the Qur’an.”

2. The Meaning of the Word “Fatimah”

In Arabic, “فَطَمَ” (futima) means “to sever” or “to cut off.” For instance, a child who is weaned off milk is called “فَطِیم” (futīm). It is also used to describe breaking a habit, signifying distancing oneself from it. Linguistically, “Fatimah” implies separation or detachment. But the question arises: What is she separated from? The explanations given by the Infallibles (AS) shed light on this:

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said:

“هَلْ تَدْرِي لِمَ سُمِّيَتْ فَاطِمَةُ فَاطِمَةَ؟ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِمَ سُمِّيَتْ فَاطِمَةُ؟ قَالَ: لِأَنَّهَا فُطِمَتْ مِنَ الشَّرِّ”

“Imam Sadiq (AS) said to Yunus, ‘Do you know why Fatimah is called Fatimah?’ He replied, ‘You tell me.’ The Imam said, ‘Because she is severed from evil.’”

In other narrations:

“وَ إِنَّمَا سُمِّيتْ فَاطِمَةُ لِأَنَّ الْخَلْقَ فُطِمُوا عَنْ مَعْرِفَتِهَا”

“And in some narrations, it is stated, ‘She was named Fatimah because creation has been severed from comprehending her true essence.'”

3. Other Names of Fatimah (SA)

Fatimah (SA) has other names, each representing a dimension of her exalted character and virtues.

Jabir Asked Imam Sadiq (AS) About the Reason Lady Fatimah (SA) Was Named Al-Zahra:

“لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَهَا مِنْ نُورِ عَظَمَتِهِ فَلَمَّا أَشْرَقَتْ أَضَاءَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَ الْأَرْضُ بِنُورِهَا وَ غَشِیتْ أَبْصَارُ الْمَلَائِکةِ وَ خَرَّتِ الْمَلَائِکةُ لِلَّهِ سَاجِدِینَ وَ قَالُوا إِلَهَنَا وَ سَیدَنَا مَا لِهَذَا النُّورِ فَأَوْحَی اللَّهُ إِلَیهِمْ هَذَا نُورٌ مِنْ نُورِی أَسْکنْتُهُ فِی سَمَائِی خَلَقْتُهُ مِنْ عَظَمَتِی أُخْرِجُهُ مِنْ صُلْبِ نَبِی مِنْ أَنْبِیائِی أُفَضِّلُهُ عَلَی جَمِیعِ الْأَنْبِیاءِ وَ أُخْرِجُ مِنْ ذَلِک النُّورِ أَئِمَّةً یقُومُونَ بِأَمْرِی یهدُونَ إِلَی حَقِّی وَ أَجْعَلُهُمْ خُلَفَائِی فِی أَرْضِی بَعْدَ انْقِضَاءِ وَحْیی”

“Jabir asked Imam Sadiq (AS) why Fatimah (SA) was called al-Zahra. The Imam replied, ‘Because Allah, the Almighty, created her from the light of His greatness. When she shone, the heavens and the earth illuminated with her light, and the eyes of the angels were overwhelmed by it. The angels fell prostrate before Allah and said, ‘O our Lord and Master! What is this light?’ Allah revealed to them, ‘This is a light from My light that I placed in My heavens, created from My greatness. I will bring it forth from the loins of a Prophet of Mine, whom I will favor over all Prophets. From this light, I will derive Imams who will guide to My truth and serve as My representatives on Earth after the conclusion of My revelation.’”

Why Was Fatimah (SA) Given Certain Names?

In a narration, Imam Sadiq (AS) explains why Lady Fatimah (SA) was called al-Zahra:

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said:

“لِأَنَّهَا کانَتْ إِذَا قَامَتْ فِی مِحْرَابِهَا زَهَرَ نُورُهَا لِأَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ کمَا تَزْهَرُ نُورُ الْکَوَاکِبِ لِأَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ”

“Because when she stood in her prayer niche, her light shone to the inhabitants of the heavens, just as the stars shine to the inhabitants of the earth.”

Her Nine Names Given by Allah

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said:

“لِفَاطِمَةَ تِسْعَةُ أَسْمَاءٍ عِنْدَاللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: فَاطِمَةُ وَ الصِّدِّیقَةُ وَ الْمُبَارَکةُ وَ الطَّاهِرَةُ وَ الزَّکِیةُ وَ الرَّضِیةُ وَ الْمَرْضِیةُ وَ الْمُحَدَّثَةُ وَ الزَّهْرَاءُ“

“Fatimah has nine names before Allah, the Almighty: Fatimah, al-Siddiqa (the truthful), al-Mubarakah (the blessed), al-Tahirah (the pure), al-Zakiyyah (the virtuous), al-Radiyyah (the content), al-Mardiyyah (the one pleasing to Allah), al-Muhaddathah (the one spoken to by angels), and al-Zahra (the radiant).

The Title “al-Muhaddathah”

Imam Sadiq (AS) further elaborates on why she was called al-Muhaddathah:

“إِنَّمَا سُمِّیتْ فَاطِمَةُ مُحَدَّثَةً لِأَنَّ الْمَلَائِکةَ کانَتْ تَهْبِطُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَتُنَادِیهَا کمَا تُنَادِی مَرْیمَ بِنْتَ عِمْرَانَ فَتَقُولُ: یا فَاطِمَةُ اللَّهُ اصْطَفَاک وَ طَهَّرَک وَ اصْطَفَاک عَلَی نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِینَ. یا فَاطِمَةُ اقْنُتِی لِرَبِّک وَ اسْجُدِی وَ ارْکعِی مَعَ الرَّاکعِینَ. فَتُحَدِّثُهُمْ وَ یحَدِّثُونَهَا. فَقَالَتْ لَهُمْ ذَاتَ لَیلَةٍ: أَ لَیسَتِ الْمُفَضَّلَةُ عَلَی نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِینَ مَرْیمَ بِنْتَ عِمْرَانَ؟ فَقَالُوا: إِنَّ مَرْیمَ کانَتْ سَیدَةَ نِسَاءِ عَالَمِهَا وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ جَعَلَک سَیدَةَ نِسَاءِ عَالَمِک وَ عَالَمِهَا وَ سَیدَةَ نِسَاءِ الْأَوَّلِینَ وَ الْآخِرِینَ“

“Fatimah was called al-Muhaddathah because the angels would descend from the heavens and call upon her, just as they called upon Mary, daughter of Imran. They would say: ‘O Fatimah, Allah has chosen you, purified you, and chosen you above the women of all worlds. O Fatimah, be devout to your Lord, prostrate, and bow with those who bow.’ She would converse with them, and they would speak with her. One night, she asked them, ‘Is Mary not the best woman of the world?’ They replied, ‘Mary was the leader of the women of her era, but Allah has made you the leader of the women of your era, her era, and all the women of the past and future.’”

The Lineage of Prophets and Their Unique Characteristics

The offspring of Prophets have special qualities, as mentioned in the Quran:

Allah (SWT) said:

“وَ وَهَبْنا لَهُ إِسْحاقَ وَ یعْقُوبَ کلاًّ هَدَینا وَ نُوحاً هَدَینا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَ مِنْ ذُرِّیتِهِ داوُدَ وَ سُلَیمانَ وَ أَیوبَ وَ یوسُفَ وَ مُوسی وَ هارُونَ وَ کذلِک نَجْزِی الْمُحْسِنینَ” (الأنعام: 84)

“And We gifted him Isaac and Jacob; each We guided, and We guided Noah before them; and from his descendants, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron. Thus do We reward the doers of good.”

Allah (SWT) said:

“أُولئِک الَّذینَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَیهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِیینَ مِنْ ذُرِّیةِ آدَمَ وَ مِمَّنْ حَمَلْنا مَعَ نُوحٍ وَ مِنْ ذُرِّیةِ إِبْراهیمَ وَ إِسْرائیلَ وَ مِمَّنْ هَدَینا وَ اجْتَبَینا إِذا تُتْلی عَلَیهِمْ آیاتُ الرَّحْمنِ خَرُّوا سُجَّداً وَ بُکیا” (مریم: 58)

“Those were the ones upon whom Allah bestowed His favor, from among the Prophets of the descendants of Adam, and those We carried with Noah, and of the descendants of Abraham and Israel, and of those We guided and chose. When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell down in prostration and weeping.”

Who Are the Descendants of Fatimah (SA) That Are Protected from Hellfire?

This question requires an understanding of both the spiritual and physical lineage of Fatimah (SA), and the hadith literature suggests that those who adhere to the principles of Tawhid and the teachings brought by the Prophet (PBUH) fall under this protection.

The Descendants of Lady Fatimah (SA)

What is certain and undeniable is that the direct descendants of Lady Fatimah (SA) include her immediate children: Imam Hasan (AS), Imam Husayn (AS), Lady Zaynab, and Umm Kulthum. Through Quranic and hadith evidence, this lineage also encompasses the Infallible Imams (AS), who are explicitly purified of all sin and impurity as mentioned in the Quran:

“إِنَّما یریدُ اللَّهُ لِیذْهِبَ عَنْکمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَیتِ وَ یطَهِّرَکمْ تَطْهیراً” (الأحزاب: 33)

“Indeed, Allah desires to remove all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and purify you thoroughly.”

The Misuse of This Honor by Some Claimants

Zayd, the brother of Imam Reza (AS), engaged in inappropriate and immoral behavior while claiming he was protected from Hellfire because he was a descendant of Lady Fatimah (SA). Imam Reza (AS) responded to him as follows:

“یا زَیدُ أَ غَرَّک قَوْلُ بَقَّالِی الْکوفَةِ إِنَّ فَاطِمَةَ أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَحَرَّمَ اللَّهُ ذُرِّیتَهَا عَلَی النَّارِ وَ اللَّهِ مَا ذَلِک إِلَّا لِلْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَینِ وَ وُلْدِ بَطْنِهَا خَاصَّةً فَأَمَّا أَنْ یکونَ مُوسَی بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ (ع) یطِیعُ اللَّهَ وَ یصُومُ نَهَارَهُ وَ یقُومُ لَیلَهُ وَ تَعْصِیهُ أَنْتَ ثُمَّ تَجِیئَانِ یوْمَ الْقِیامَةِ سَوَاءً لَأَنْتَ أَعَزُّ عَلَی اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنْهُ. إِنَّ عَلِی بْنَ الْحُسَینِ (ع) کانَ یقُولُ لِمُحْسِنِنَا کفْلَانِ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ وَ لِمُسِیئِنَا ضِعْفَانِ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ.”

“O Zayd, have you been deceived by the words of the grocers in Kufa that ‘Fatimah preserved her chastity, so Allah made her descendants forbidden from Hellfire’? By Allah, this only applies to Hassan, Hussain, and her children exclusively. Can Musa ibn Ja‘far (AS) obey Allah, fast during the day, and pray at night, while you disobey Him, and yet you both are treated the same on the Day of Judgment? Are you more honored by Allah than him? Ali ibn Hussain (AS) used to say, ‘Our virtuous ones will be rewarded twice, and our wrongdoers will be punished doubly.’”

Clarifying the Hadith About Lady Fatimah’s Purity

Hammad ibn Uthman asked Imam Sadiq (AS) about the statement of the Prophet (PBUH) that Lady Fatimah (SA) preserved her chastity, and Allah made her offspring forbidden from Hellfire. Imam Sadiq (AS) replied:

“الْمُعْتَقُونَ مِنَ النَّارِ هُمْ وُلْدُ بَطْنِهَا الْحَسَنُ وَ الْحُسَینُ وَ زَینَبُ وَ أُمُّ کلْثُومٍ.”

“Those protected from Hellfire are her immediate children: Hasan, Husayn, Zaynab, and Umm Kulthum.”

The Blessings of Fatimah’s Lineage

The lineage of the Prophet (PBUH) continued exclusively through his only daughter, Fatimah (SA). Undoubtedly, this blessed lineage is among the most fruitful in history, playing an unparalleled role in preserving and elevating Islam. As of 2013 (1392 AH), over six million Sayyids—all descendants of Fatimah (SA)—reside in Iran alone. Countless others live in other parts of the world. This phenomenon, where an extraordinary number of illustrious and noble individuals arise from one daughter, is nothing short of a divine miracle.

Allah (SWT) said:

“إِنَّا أَعْطَینَاک الْکوْثَرَ * فَصَلّ‌ِ لِرَبِّک وَ انحَرْ * إِنَّ شَانِئَک هُوَ الْأَبْترَ” (الکوثر: 1-3)

“Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar (abundance). So pray to your Lord and sacrifice. Indeed, your enemy is the one cut off.”

Emphasis on Naming Daughters Fatimah

In the sayings and practices of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS), there is a strong emphasis on naming daughters Fatimah. Jurists have even deemed it recommended (mustahabb). Alongside this recommendation, believers are reminded to show special respect to daughters named Fatimah and regard them with distinction.

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said:

“أَمَّا إِذَا سَمَّیتَهَا فَاطِمَةَ فَلَا تَسُبَّهَا وَ لَا تَلْعَنْهَا وَ لَا تَضْرِبْهَا!”

“If you name your daughter Fatimah, then do not curse her, do not insult her, and do not strike her!”