Surely...

Surely, it is very painful for me to be separated from you and to lose you; but it is an inevitable destination. By Allah (SWT), you have renewed the sorrow I have just encountered with the death of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (s.a.w.a); surely, your death and departure will be a great calamity, but to Allah, we belong, and to Him is our return.” (1) What a painful, bitter and sad calamity.

Surely this is a calamity for which there is no console and a disaster for which there is no compensation. Then they both cried and Imam Ali (a.s) embraced her head and said: “Instruct me to do anything you wish; you certainly will find me devoted and I will execute everything that you command me to do. I shall also put your matters over mine.” Her Last Will Fatima Zahra (a.s) said: “May Allah (SWT) reward you with the best of goodness.

Cousin, firstly I ask you to marry anybody you like after my death, but you must marry my niece Umamah; surely, she will be to my children as I was. Besides, men cannot do without women. She loves my children and Husain is very much attached to her. Let Fizza remain with you even after her marriage if she so desires, she was more than a mere servant to me.

I loved her like my daughter.” She (a.s) then added: “I ask you not to let anyone who did injustice to me to witness my funeral, for they certainly are enemies of mine, and the enemy of Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (s.a.w.a). Also don’t give them the chance to pray over me, nor to any of their followers. I want you to wash me at night, put the shroud on me, perform the prayer upon my body, and bury me at night when eyes are rested and sight is put to sleep.

And after my burial, sit beside my grave and recite Noble Qur’an for me. Let not my death dishearten you, you have to serve Islam and humanity for a long time to come. Let not my sufferings embitter your life, promise me cousin, my dear husband.” Imam Ali (a.s) said: “Yes, Fatima, I promise” “Cousin, my dear husband”, she continued, “I know how you love my children but be careful of Husain. He loves me dearly and will miss me sadly, be a mother unto him.

Till my recent illness, he used to sleep on my chest, he is already missing it.” Imam Ali (a.s) was caressing the broken hand, his hot and big tears dropped on her hand. She looked up and said, “Do not weep cousin, my dear husband; I know with a rough outward appearance what a tender heart you possess. You already have borne too much and will have to bear more.