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Bismillāh.
إِنَّهَا لَإِحْدَى ٱلْكُبَرِ
Indeed they are one of the greatest [signs].
(Sūrat Muddathir No. 74, Āyat 35)
Scholars of tafsīr have offered various explanations for this verse. One interpretation, consistent with the apparent flow of the surrounding verses, takes it as a response to the accusation made earlier in verse 24. There, Allah ‘azza wajall quotes the words of one of the Prophet’s opponents, Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah, who derisively called the Qur’an “nothing but magic.” In reply, Allah declares that rather than being mere magic, the Qur’an itself is one of His greatest signs. According to this understanding, the feminine pronoun “hā” in “innahā” refers to the word āyāt (verses), meaning: “Indeed, they [the verses of the Qur’an] are among the greatest [signs of Allah].”
However, a narration from Imām al-Bāqir ʿalayhis-salām reveals a deeper layer of meaning. He says: “This verse refers to Fātimah.” [Bihār al-Anwār, v. 43, p. 23] Here, the feminine pronoun naturally corresponds to a feminine subject — “she.” Thus, the verse may also be translated as: “Indeed, she is one of the greatest.” This interpretation does not contradict the outward sense of the verse; rather, it uncovers a spiritual truth behind it — that Sayyidah Fātimah (a) herself is among the greatest individuals, one of the greatest signs of Allah subhānahu wataʿālā.
The exalted rank of Lady Fātimah (a) is no secret in Islam. Both Sunni and Shi’a traditions record numerous narrations testifying to her unparalleled virtue and nearness to Allah (swt). Her greatness lies not merely in lineage, but in her complete devotion to every role she was entrusted with — as a daughter, a wife, a mother, and a servant of her Lord.
As a daughter, she cared for the Prophet, sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-ālih, from a young age, standing by him through hardship and persecution. Her compassion and loyalty earned her the title “Umm Abīhā” — the mother of her father.
As a wife, she shared a life of simplicity and struggle with Imam ‘Alī (a). Though her husband was often away defending Islam, she bore the weight of domestic life with patience and faith. One narration recounts that Imam ‘Alī (a) once entered and found her lying on her back, Imam Husayn (a) asleep upon her chest, while the mill before her turned without any hand touching it. [Bihār al-Anwār, v. 43, p. 28] Aside from the miraculous nature of this story, it indicates how hard she was working to take care of her family. Near the end of her life, she said to Imām ʿAlī (a): “I have never disobeyed you since I have lived with you.” [Bihār al-Anwār, v. 43, p. 191]
As a mother, she raised four extraordinary children — Hasan, Husayn, Zaynab, and Umm Kulthūm — who left an eternal mark on Islamic history.
As a servant of Allah, she worshiped with such intensity that, as reported by a famous Sunni scholar Hasan al-Basrī, her feet would swell from standing in prayer.
And as a member of society, she stood fearlessly to defend truth and the rightful Imāmah of her husband, embodying courage, eloquence, and faith.
The life of Sayyidah Fātimah (a) is a radiant proof of what a human being — and specifically, what a woman — can attain in nearness to Allah. She harmonized spiritual depth with worldly responsibility, embodying submission to Allah.
May Allah, the Exalted, grant us the ability to know, love, and emulate Sayyidah Fātimah (a) — so that, through following her light, we may walk the path of those who are truly “among the greatest.”
Sources: Allāmah Tabātabā’ī, Al-Mīzān; Ayatullāh Sa’ādat Parwar, Jilveh-ye Nūr.
ALI 703: Quranic Arabic and Knowledge – Level 3
In this online course, specifically tailored for serious learners, we will simplify the Quranic language. To make it interesting, we will begin with a brief tafsir of short surahs. At this level, we will continue learning grammatical rules on nouns covered in Lesson 9 onwards in Qur’anic Language Made Easy by Hafiza Iffath Hasan.
Eligibility: All Muslims are welcome to join this course.
Schedule: 5 Wednesdays, November 19 to December 17, 2025
Timings: 4:00-5:10 pm in LA/Vancouver, 7:00pm – 8:10 pm in NY/Toronto
Instructor: Sh Hasanayn Kassamali
Fees: CAD $40.00
Registration: www.academyofislam.com/registrations/