In the court of the Caliph, the heart rending crying of the daughter of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), bold and to the point talk with the head of the Islamic State, the wailing and groaning amidst the crowd of the companions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) reached nook and corner, crossing the boundaries of Medina, the city of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
Everywhere, the innocence of Fatema Zahra (a.s.) was being talked of. People wishing to verify the veracity of the incident were forced to take up the matter of caliphate and started pouring into the capital, for the purpose. The Government panicked, and felt that, if the crusade of Fatema (a.s.), defending her innocence is not checked in time, all the Government’s plan would go haywire. With this motive in mind, the government coaxed a few men and women to go to Hazrat Ali (a.s.) to register a complaint against the crying and wailing of Hazrat Fatema (a.s.), so that it could be discontinued. But it had a reverse effect. Although Fatema (a.s.) did not exhibit any apparent sign of resentment, but reacted to it by intensifying her campaign, against the victimisation of Ali (a.s.) and herself. Now she began taking Imam Hasan and Imam Husain (peace be on them) along with her, and would go to the entrance door of Medina to sit there under a cluster of brambles, and start wailing. Caravans, travelers, and passers-by would stop to inquire into the matter. Whosoever, entered the city would face her. Thus they would get a first hand information about the atrocities of the persons in power and also the oppressive nature of the Government.
Due to the relentless endeavours of Fatema Zahra (a.s.) the government was fully exposed and made to stand in the dock.
When Fatema (a.s.) stayed at home, and grieved, the people who put all sort of questions to the authorities, by taking exception to their behaviour and would criticise them severely. The questioner would ask Abu Bakr and his companions about the reason of the woeful condition of Hazrat Fatema (a.s.). There people would shrewdly and diplomatically give dubious and ambiguous answers to these questions and would add the element of doubt into the seriousness of the matter, thereby trying to conceal facts. They usually replied that Fatema (a.s.) is grieving because of the death of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), whom she loved more than any one else.
It was decided by the Government that she could go out of the city area of Medina, and wail and grieve at the entrance. She had no other go than to acquise.
Here, the passers-by used to put questions to her directly for knowing the reason of her woes and wailings.
She would then explain and apprise them with the gist of the matter in her fine and excellent eloquence. She explained in depth about the atrocities that were meted out to her by those at the helm of affairs, and also about the usurpation of “Fadak”. On hearing these facts, they would get worked up, concerned and excited.
When the Government came to know about this, and having sensed the volume of opposition to it, the authorities ordered that the cluster of those brambles be cleared and cut off under which Hazrat Zahra (a.s.) used to sit and narrate her woes. This was a well planned step taken by the Government to cut short her visits to the door of the city. But the daughter of the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) valor was unmatched and incomparable. So even this step of the Government could not stop her from going to the cluster of brambles. After this incident, Ali Bin Abi Talib (a.s.), constructed a shed there without any delay, so that is wife could go there and continue her crusade against the wrong doers. Here she could continue her demand for justice, and carry on her wailings. He extended his full co-operation to her as her crusade was sacred in nature. Her relentless endeavours have pin- pointed to us the method of positive action.
But alas! Her continuous wailings and endeavours and her dynamic zeal and verve, started telling on her health. Her wound started giving her excruciating pain and was increasing each day. Getting exhausted, her stamina of bearing the shock of the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) death was declining and under the strain of her struggles, she could sit no more. But still, she valiantly continued her struggle bearing a severe pain all the while till she could sustain no more.
Her crusades from the death bed
When Ummul Momeneen Hazrat Umme Salma, may God be pleased with her, came to see her and inquire about her health, she replied that she is greatly bereaved because the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), was out of sight and that the lawful right of the legal trustee has been denied to him and usurped. She became a recluse. On my honour and by God, I can say that they have disregarded my husband. His right to the leadership which was entrusted to him on the orders of God and proclaimed by the Messenger of God (s.a.w.a.) was not recognised willfully. Bearing all this malice in their hearts, they unleashed all sort of atrocities which were the machinations of those people whose relatives were killed in the wars of Badr and Ohad by Hazrat Ali (a.s.) at the will of God. Since then, there men were nursing a grudge against Ali (a.s.). Shamelessly, they have all entered into a conspiracy to deprive Hazrat Ali (a.s.) from becoming Leader, Imam and Wasi, inspite of having been proclaimed as such, personally by the Prophet (a.s.) on the divine command.
Disregarding this factual truth, they had shot an arrow of oppression and destruction from the bow of religion and faith on the pretext of safeguarding the interests of Islam.
When their arrow could not find its mark, they took it away from the bow of religion. They went a step further and did not hesitate to go to the limit of heartlessness and indulged in all sorts of evil acts in the name of religion and God.
This was, just to take revenge from Ali (a.s.) for killing their relatives in the wars of Badr and Ohad. When these people reached the august office of Caliphate, they distorted and threw to the wind, all norms, regulations and rules of religion that were strictly adhered to, by the Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
All the above matters were told privately and personally by Fatema Zahra (a.s.) to Umme Salma (may God be pleased with her) as they shared their views and beliefs. Umme Salma (may God be pleased with her) circulated these matters in a charter from the house, which was the centre of divine Revelation throughout the city.
When these matters from the most revered wife of the Prophet reached the masses, everyone was disturbed and there was air of dissension everywhere and it took the society by storm. This have found its place in the history and left a profound impact. But after her martyrdom, the series of struggles was snapped.
The Last Arrow from the quiver of Fatemi Crusades
The last Arrow that was shot by the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) daughter against the Government was so powerful that it laid the foundation of an internal opposition and a continuous revolution. That arrow is still airborne and is in search for the grave of Hazrat Fatema (a.s.) which is awaiting to be discovered since last fourteen centuries and is making all learned persons of our time look like a lot of ignorants.
If some institution comes forward and constitutes a panel or a forum to initiate fresh research into the early period of Islam to know the correct reason for not according recognition to the appointee of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), whom he (s.a.w.a.) himself had selected for Imamate and Caliphate (being his successor). This panel or forum also can dig out the details of atrocities that were meted out to Hazrat Zahra (a.s.).
Had not the grave of the Prophet’s (a.s.) daughter remained unknown, the Government machinery would have hidden and blotted her innocence. Due to her grave remaining unknown, they could not execute their nefarious plans for lack of opportunity and time.
This was the reason that all Imams and ladies of the family did not disclose the actual place of her burial although they all were knowing the grave of their most Holy and pious Mother Hazrat Zahra (a.s.).