Book of Fatimah
Book written for Fatimah according to Shi'te tradition
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The Book of Fatimah (Arabic: مُصْحَف فَاطِمَة, romanized: Muṣḥaf Fāṭimah) is a lost Shia hadith collection attributed to Fatimah, the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. As with Mary, there are Islamic reports that angels spoke to Fatimah on multiple occasions.[1][2][3] The Shia view of the Book of Fatimah recounts the conversations of Jibril with Fatimah, to console her after Muhammad's death, making them similar to Hadith Qudsi in rank.[4] The narrations were then said to have been preserved by Ali, all the way up until al-Mahdi, who is currently in possession of it.
| Book of Fatimahمُصْحَف فَاطِمَة | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Religion | Islam, Shia |
| Language | Classical Arabic |
Fatimah is one of the most revered female figures in Shia Islam. The Quranic praise for Mary in verse Q3:42 is often echoed for Fatimah in view of a Sahih Hadith that lists Fatimah, Khadija, Asiya the wife of Fir’awn and Mary, mother of Jesus, as the most outstanding women of all time.[5][1]
According the Shia view, the Book of Fatimah has been preserved by the descendants of Fatimah, namely, the Shia Imams, and is now held by the last Shia Imam, Mahdi, whose advent is awaited by the Shia and Sunni alike, even though the two sects hold different views about Mahdi.[6]
Content
The Book of Fatimah is specifically described as a text of heavenly origin (kalām min kalām allāh) dictated to Fatimah via Jibril. Yet the traditionialists emphasize that this book, occasionally described as being three times the size of the Quran, includes not even one letter (ḥarf) like it. According to Ja'far al-Sadiq, the Muṣḥaf Fāṭima (Book of Fatimah) does not contain information about legal matters, but only about future events. In one version, the future events described pertain to what will happen to Fatimah's descendants after her death.[7]
The Book of Fatimah is distinct from another document known as Ṣaḥīfat al-Zahrāʾ (Fatimah’s scroll) which contained the names of the Twelve Imams, and unlike other holy texts, is cited in its entirety in a number of early Shiʿi sources.[7]
Hidden Words
Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahai Faith, wrote Kalimat-i-Maknunih (Hidden Words) around 1857 CE. Bahá'u'lláh originally named his manuscript The Book of Fatimah.[8] Bahais believe that The Hidden Words is the symbolic fulfilment of the Islamic prophecy.[9]