They used to read it and quote it...

They used to read it and quote it, and it is known as “Mushaf Fatima,” the book of Fatima (sa), in addition to other books with which she, peace and blessings of Allah with her, was blessed. We shall read glimpses of all of these matters in this Part, paying a special attention to making a good selection and to being as brief as possible. Success comes from Allah, and so does guidance. When was al-Zahra’ (sa) Born?

The first that we come across, with regard to the biography of this truthful and purified one, is the date of her birth. Some people claim that she (sa) was born five years before the Prophetic mission. We say that this is incorrect. Accurate is what the followers of (as) know from their Imams[^2] (as); the people of the House know best what is therein. They are followed suit by many others. She (sa) was born five years after the inception of the Prophetic mission, i.e.

in the year when the migration to Ethiopia took place (615 A.D.), and she died at the age of 19 (in roughly 13 A.H. or 634 A.D.). This is narrated by our Imams (as) according to authentic narrations[^3].

Let us add to the above that this date can be reached or supported by the following: A number of historians have mentioned that the total number of the children of Khadija, may Allah shower her with His mercy and blessings, were born after the inception of the Prophetic mission, and that Fatima (sa) was their youngest.

There are many traditions narrated by a number of the Prophet’s companions, such as ‘A’isha, ‘’Umar ibn al-Khattab, Sa’d ibn Malik, Ibn ‘Abbas, and others, proving that Fatima’s seed came as the result of the fruit of Paradise which the Prophet S had eaten during the isra’ and mi’raj [^4], the event which we proven as having taken place during the early period of such mission[^5].

If there is anyone who argues about the premises of some of these narrations in his own way, there is no argument about the others even if the same method is applied.

If anyone claims that this narration cannot be authentic because al-Zahra’ (sa) was born five years before the inception of the Prophetic mission, he actually circumvents the outcome because these traditions, which we are discussing, have been narrated by various narrators, and this is the strongest evidence testifying to the fallacy of such a claim.

Al-Nisa’i has narrated saying that when Abu Bakr and ‘’Umar sought the hand of Fatima (sa) in marriage, the Prophet S rejected them saying that she was too young to marry[^6].