Quick Answer:
From the verses of the Quran and the traditions, we can come to the conclusion that the Lady Fatimah ('a) was from the infallibles.
Detailed Answer:
From the verses of the Quran and the traditions, we can come to the conclusion that the Lady Fatimah (‘a) was from the infallibles. The Quran mentions in the following verse: “Indeed Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification.”[1] This verse explicitly states that the Ahl al-Bayt are infallible and without any sin. The reason behind this is that the term ‘Rijs’ refers to the general nature of all sins and so this verse clearly is stating that the Ahl al-Bayt are without any sin at all, irregardless of the type or kind; they are thus immune to all deviation and sinful behavior possible and this is the definition of infallibility itself.
Some people may ask as to the context of this verse’s revelation and the answer is that according to the sources of even the Ahl al-Sunnah, this verse was revealed in regards to Fatimah, ‘Ali, Hasan, and Husayn. We will briefly review some of these traditions below:
1- In the book Durr al-Manthūr, it has been narrated that: Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet (ṣ) said: The Prophet (ṣ) was in my home when Fatimah Zahra came to visit. She came with ‘Ali while she was holding the hands of her two sons, Hasan and Husayn. The Prophet (ṣ) held Hasan and Husayn in his embrace. Then ‘Ali sat on his right side, while Fatimah sat on his left. Gabriel then descended and the verse of Taṭhīr was revealed to the Prophet (ṣ).
At this time, the Prophet (ṣ) took the cloak that he would cover himself with at nights and covered everyone who was present there with it. He then brought out his hands and supplicated in regards to his Ahl al-Bayt. When I heard this supplication, I (Umm Salamah) wished that I could j o i n them and partake in the blessing of this event. When I lifted up the cloak in order to enter, the Prophet (ṣ) pulled it back. So I asked him: Oh Prophet of God (ṣ), am I not part of your Ahl al-Bayt? He responded: You are a good wife and from the wives of the prophet.[2]
2- Bayhaqī has narrated from Umm Salamah that she said: The verse of Taṭhīr was revealed in my house when the five people of the cloak were present; these five were Fatimah, ‘Ali, Hasan, and Husayn. The Prophet (ṣ) put his cloak over them and then said: Oh God, these are my Ahl al-Bayt (my household). Oh my Lord, keep away all uncleanliness and pollution from them and purify them.[3]
3- In Mustadrak ‘Alā al-Ṣaḥīḥayn it has been mentioned that the Prophet (ṣ) said: Call them to me. Ṣafīyah said: Who oh Prophet of Islam (ṣ)? He said: My Ahl al-Bayt: Fatimah, ‘Ali, Hasan, and Husayn. When they arrived, the Prophet (ṣ) placed his cloak over all of them, and he raised his hands towards the heavens and said: Oh God, these are my Ahl al-Bayt and he then sent a Ṣalawāt. During this time, God revealed the following verse: “Indeed Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification.”[4] [5]
4- The book of Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim has narrated the following from Zayd ibn Arqam: We asked the Prophet (ṣ) whether his wives were also part of his Ahl al-Bayt? He answered: No. By God, a wife can live with her husband for a period of time and then the husband divorces her and she returns back to her people.[6] According to this verse, Fatimah (‘a) is one of these five individuals (of the Ahl al-Bayt) and so she has been purified from all uncleanliness and corruption; anyone who has been purified by God from all corruption is infallible and sinless.
In addition to this, Fatimah (‘a) was conceived from the pure food of paradise that her father ate when he went on his Mi’rāj; she was also born with the help of four women sent by God and she spoke to them during the time of her delivery. During her life, she was also given various titles by the Prophet (ṣ) such as ‘The Master of the Women of the World’[7] and Umm Abīhā,[8] as well as tens of other titles; all of these are pieces of evidence that show her infallibility and greatness.
No feedback yet