The Knowledge and Excellence of J.Fizza (ra) – The Maid of Hazrat Fatemah (sa)

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Abul Qasim al-Qushayri relates in his book from some other people that, “Fidhdhah, the maid of Sayyidah Zahra, lost her way in the desert while going for the hajj. A man named ‘Abdullah Mubarak, who was also left behind says, ‘I saw a woman alone in the desert. I was riding upon a camel and went towards her, and whatever I asked her, she replied to me in the words of the Qur’an.’ Their conversation was as follows:

‘Abdullah: Who are you?

Fidhdhah: And say: Peace (be upon you), for they shall soon know. (Suratul Zukhruf (43):89)

I saluted her and asked:

‘Abdullah: What are your doing here?

Fidhdhah: And whomsoever Allah guides, then for him none shall beguile. (Suratul Zumur (39):37).

I realized that she had lost her way.

‘Abdullah: Are you from among the Jinn or the human beings?

Fizzah: O children of Adam, put on your adornment. (Suratul A’raf (7):31).

I perceived that she was a human.

‘Abdullah: From where do you come?

Fidhdhah: Who are called to from a place far away. (Suratul Fussilat (41):44)

I realized that she had come from a far off place.

‘Abdullah: Where do you intend to go?

Fidhdhah: And for Allah, is incumbent upon mankind, the pilgrimage to the House. (Surat Ale ‘Imran (3):97)

I perceived that she was intending to go to Makkah.

‘Abdullah: Since when did you part away from your caravan?

Fidhdhah: And indeed created We the heavens and the earth and what is between them in six days. (Surat Qaf (50):38)

I realized that she had been separated from her caravan for the past six days.

‘Abdullah: Do you want food?

Fidhdhah: We made them not (such) bodies not eating (requiring) food. (Suratul Anbiya (21):8)

I realized that she wanted some food to eat.

‘Abdullah: Hasten and walk fast.

Fidhdhah: Allah does not impose upon any soul but to the etent of the (individuals) ability. (Suratul Baqarah (2):286)

I perceived that she was tired and could not travel further.

‘Abdullah: Mount upon the camel behind my back.

Fidhdhah: Had there been in (the heavens and the earth) (other) deities except Allah, they both would have been in disorder. (Suratul Anbiya (21):22)

I realised that she was embarrassed to sit behind me and thus I made her ride alone and I walked. When she mounted, she said:

Fidhdhah: Glory be to Him Who subjected this unto us. (Suratul Zukhruf (43):13)

When we reached a caravan I asked,

‘Abdullah: Is there anyone in that caravan from among your relatives?

Fidhdhah: O Dawud! Verily We have appointed you a vicegerent in the Earth. (Surah Sad (38):26) And Muhammad is not but an Apostle. (Surah Ale ‘Imran (3):144) O Yahya! Hold thou the book fast. (Surah Maryam (19):12) O Musa! Verily I am Allah. (Suratul Qasas (28):30)

I realized that in this caravan there were men by the names of Dawud, Muhammad, Yahya and Musa who were related to her, thus I called out their names. Four youth came out of the caravan and went towards her, I asked her,

‘Abdullah: Who are these men in relation to you?

Fidhdhah: Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. (Suratul Kahf (18):45)

I understood that they were her sons. When they came to her, she said to them:

Fidhdhah: O my father! Employ him, verily the best of those whom you can employ is the strong (man), the trusted (one). (Suratul Qasas (28):26)

I realized that she wanted them to give me some recompense. They gave me some wealth. Then she said:

Fidhdhah: And verily Allah gives manifold increase to whosoever He wills. (Suratul Baqarah (2):261)

I realized that she wanted them to give me more, thus they gave me more wealth. I asked them as to who she was and they said that she was Fidhdhah, the maid of Sayyidah Zahra. It had been twenty years that she spoke nothing but the Qur’an.”

House of Sorrows Translation of Baytul AhzanShaikh Abbas Al – Qummi