But the hellish and hateful Ghanfaz...

But the hellish and hateful Ghanfaz, on seeing this, slashed Fâtemeh’s arm with his whip so violently that her arm swelled at once… On the way to the mosque, a jewish man, upon seeing Hazraté Ali, greeted him most respectfully, and suddenly began to say the proper sentences [ The Shahadateyn ] so as to become a Muslim.

Somebody asked him curiously: ‘‘What made you believe the truth about Islam?’’ He answered promptly :” It was the innocence I perceived in Hazraté Ali’s being…” They took Hazraté Ali to the mosque and told him: ‘‘If you don’t swear your allegiance to the new caliph, we will behead you surely!’’ Hazraté Ali replied to them :” If you do this, not only have you undoubtedly murdered a servant of God, but also the brother of our Prophet…” Fâtemeh, after receiving such a terrible blow from her enemy, had fallen hardly on the groond and lost consciousness for a while.

But after some time, she opened her eyes and said : “ Fezzeh! Where is my lord, Ali? “ Her servant answered her sadly:” O milady! They took him to the mosque!” Fâtemeh took the hands of her two little sons Hassan and Hosseyn, and there she entered the mosque and began making a little speech, there and then. She said:” Leave my cousin and husband alone!

Otherwise I will discover my hair, to show my utter desperation and grief in this very place… I have put the very cloth that the Prophet used to wear, on my head, and then I will go to the grave of my Father and will complain against you all!

“ The fiery words of Fâtemeh, with the refusal of Hazraté Ali to swear his allegiance, and the arrival of the faithful friends of the Messenger of God in that moment, made the enemies retreat, and they were forced to let Hazraté Ali go his way… By what is written officially, this event took place exactly six days after the death of the Prophet… * * * Previous…