open the doors so that others could come and share in the evening meal. However that night, the Prophet commanded me to stand guard at the door of the house, not allowing anyone in and said, ‘O son of Abu Talib! It is prohibited upon everyone other than me to consume this heavenly food.’” Fatima al-Zahra: The Spring of Inspiration Imam Ali continues to explain what was happening on that night and then said, “I sat at the door and watched as the Prophet entered the house alone. He uncovered the tray and saw one bunch of dates and one of grapes. He ate until he was satiated and also drank the water which was there. Thereafter, he extended his hands to wash them. The angel Jibraa’il poured the water, angel Mikaa’il washed the hands and the angel Israafil wiped his hands dry. Then they ascended to the heavens with the leftover food.” Witnessing this entire event transpire in his house, Imam Ali is then quoted as having said, “The Prophet stood up to perform the recommended prayers when the angel Jibraa’il reappeared and said, ‘The prayers are forbidden upon you right now! You should go to Khadijah immediately for God has promised Himself that tonight, He shall create a virtuous Hearing this, proceeded home to be with Lady Khadijah and later that night, their beloved daughter, Fatima al-Zahra was conceived. It may be difficult to fully understand the events leading up to her conception, and thus, all which we can say is that her creation was simply a sublime event and this was a scene set by God Himself which He directed and that He did not want there to be any ambiguity of her origin through His initiation of the separation between the Prophet and his Thus began the introduction of a heavenly light into the earthly realm – a woman who would go on to become the epitome of the fountain of paradise - al-kawthar - and would be the source of pride for the Prophet and his beloved wife, The unique event of the delivery and the outstanding support from the greatest women of humanity in delivering Fatima al-Zahra. TTTThhhheeee BBBBlllleeeesssssssseeeedddd BBBBiiiirrrrtttthhhh Just as the lead-up to the conception of Fatima al-Zahra was unparallelled in human history, her birth was also as unique, and is yet another indication of her great status. In a narration attributed to the 6th Imam, Jafar al-Sadiq, he speaks about the birth of Fatima al-Zahra and states that in the days following the marriage of Lady Khadijah to the Prophet, many of the Meccan women abandoned her – they felt she had made a mistake in marrying the “orphan of Abu Talib,” as he was sometimes known. After all, he was a man who had no wealth nor social standing – contrary to the affluence and elite status which Sayyida Khadijah enjoyed. Fatima al-Zahra: The Spring of Inspiration The 6th Imam goes on to say that with the women of Mecca dejecting her during her p