Contrary to this...

Contrary to this, the Sunni scholars have stated: Ma'refat As-Sahabah by Abu Nu'eym: "Fatima was the youngest of Allah's Messenger's daughters. She was born while Quraish was building Kaaba." Maqatil At-Talibin by Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani: "Fatima's birth took place before revelation, during the time that Quraish was building Kaaba." Ibn al-Athir in al-Muhktar Fi Manaqib al-Akhiar. Tabari in Dhakhaer al-Uqbi. Suyuti in Ath-Thughour al-Basimah.

Perhaps more research would reveal that the Sunnis adopted this viewpoint in most of their books. After briefly examining the above-mentioned narrations, and in view of the fact that neither Ascension [to heaven], nor, the Revelation took place before the beginning of Prophethood, it becomes clear that Lady Fatima az-Zahra's birth was after revelation. Therefore, the falsity of the traditions, which claim that she was born five years prior to the first revelation, becomes obvious.

There are two motives which can be cited for those who made such false claims: The first is to refute the prophetic traditions which reveal the story of heavenly food, and that Fatima was born from sperm produced from an apple that came from paradise. The second is to prove that Fatima Zahra was unattractive to the point that she became eighteen years old before anyone asked to marry her.

(More light will be shed on this subject when we elaborate on Fatima's marriage.) Nevertheless, Tabari in Dhakhaer al-Uqbi, Asfuri Shafe'i in Nuzhat al-Majalis and Qanduzi in Yanabea al-Mawaddah narrated that Khadija (as) said: "... Then, when (Fatima's) delivery came near, I sent for the Quraishan midwives who refused to help me because of Muhammad (S). During childbirth, four ladies whose beauty, and brilliance were indescribable entered the house'.

One of them said: "I am your Mother Eve" The second said: "I am Umm Kulthum, Musa's sister" The third said: "I am Mariam, and we have come to help you." Here is the same narration but in a different manner: 'When Khadija was about to deliver, she sent for the Quraishan women to help her give birth to her child. They refused and said: 'We will not help you; for you became Muhammad's wife.' In the meantime, four women entered the house; their beauty and brilliance cannot be described.

One of them said: 'I am your Mother Eve.' The second said: `I am Asiya Bint Muzahim.' The third said: 'I am Kulthum, Musa's sister.' The fourth said: "I am Mariam Bint Imran, (Isa's mother). We have come to deliver your child.