'Hazrat Zahra Stood up against Oppressors All through Her Life'
If one only reads about her life, how she stood up against the oppressors, being a strong lady to help people in need and to always being grateful for everything she had, even though tough sometimes she went hungry because she gave her food to the less fortunate.
This is according to Cecilia Hedstrom, American scholar and a recent convert to Shia Islam, who in an exclusive interivew with IQNA answered the following questions regarding the lofty character of the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) daughter (SA).
IQNA: Lady Fatima al-Zahra (SA) is known for her merits, noble traits, and accomplishments. She upheld the roles of being a considerate daughter, a devoted wife, an affectionate mother, and a concerned educator for the community of Muslim women. As her father, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), was the best exemplar for the human race, she was the ideal woman as she served as the perfect example for Muslim women. What’s your view on that?
Cecilia Hedstrom: I absolutely agree, in her short life she lived constantly under oppression by infidels however she never gave up on her belief and devotion to her father, her family, or to the most important to Allah.
She was strong and continued to follow Allah and always was kind to people in need and stood next to her husband in all the difficult situations, which they experienced together.
She gave birth to two strong leaders and two strong women, and taught them the value of being religious and have patience even in the worst of situations which her children suffered through and were martyred.
IQNA: Lady Fatima (SA) possessed special virtues which resulted in her elevation and distinguished her character in the eyes of many throughout history. How can such an elevated character be introduced as a perfect role model to the world particularly women?
Cecilia Hedstrom: If one only reads about her life, how she stood up against the oppressors, being a strong lady to help people in need and to always being grateful for everything she had, even though tough sometimes she went hungry because she gave her food to the less fortunate. She did not have an ounce of materialism in her body. This is a very import trait that all of us should learn from her.
IQNA: How can we promote the two important Islamic tenets Hijab and Ifaf (chastity) among women across the globe getting help from Lady Fatima’s (SA) attributes and merits?
Cecilia Hedstrom: We should promote that even though Lady Fatima wore hijab and lived a chaste life she still was independent and strong and was active within society.
There is a concept today all around the world that if one woman dresses in a provocative manner she climbs farther up on the career latter. These women who follow this belief that one must take off their hijab to be “modern” do not understand that they are actually only exploiting themselves. Just because one wears hijab does not automatically mean that one must become a housewife, one can perfectly well work and succeed in a workplace and at the same time follow a religious life, knowing one’s limits and still feel comfortable at a workplace.
IQNA: Another essential factor in elevating Lady Fatima’s (SA) prominence amongst Shias is the Prophet’s (PBUH) praise of her. How do you see this? Why did the Holy Prophet (PBUH) pay such compliment to her?
Cecilia Hedstrom: Lady Fatima has received her special place amongst Shia because first she deserves the position for her way of living, sacrificing it and. Always standing on the side of truth. The Holy Prophet gave many compliments to her because she never complained and always a comfort to her family members especially to her father and her husband Imam Ali when they were facing great challenges from the infidels.
IQNA: What approaches can be adopted in order to introduce the character of the beloved daughter of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to the world?
Cecilia Hedstrom: Writing about her, lecturing about her life, try to educate publishing companies which write school literature about religion to include a special section about Lady Fatima and her life and her character, publish documentaries and put them free on sites like YouTube, etc.
IQNA: Lady Fatima al-Zahra (SA) is known for her merits, noble traits, and accomplishments. She upheld the roles of being a considerate daughter, a devoted wife, an affectionate mother, and a concerned educator for the community of Muslim women. As her father, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), was the best exemplar for the human race, she was the ideal woman as she served as the perfect example for Muslim women. What’s your view on that?
Cecilia Hedstrom: I absolutely agree, in her short life she lived constantly under oppression by infidels however she never gave up on her belief and devotion to her father, her family, or to the most important to Allah.
She was strong and continued to follow Allah and always was kind to people in need and stood next to her husband in all the difficult situations, which they experienced together.
She gave birth to two strong leaders and two strong women, and taught them the value of being religious and have patience even in the worst of situations which her children suffered through and were martyred.
IQNA: Lady Fatima (SA) possessed special virtues which resulted in her elevation and distinguished her character in the eyes of many throughout history. How can such an elevated character be introduced as a perfect role model to the world particularly women?
Cecilia Hedstrom: If one only reads about her life, how she stood up against the oppressors, being a strong lady to help people in need and to always being grateful for everything she had, even though tough sometimes she went hungry because she gave her food to the less fortunate. She did not have an ounce of materialism in her body. This is a very import trait that all of us should learn from her.
IQNA: How can we promote the two important Islamic tenets Hijab and Ifaf (chastity) among women across the globe getting help from Lady Fatima’s (SA) attributes and merits?
Cecilia Hedstrom: We should promote that even though Lady Fatima wore hijab and lived a chaste life she still was independent and strong and was active within society.
There is a concept today all around the world that if one woman dresses in a provocative manner she climbs farther up on the career latter. These women who follow this belief that one must take off their hijab to be “modern” do not understand that they are actually only exploiting themselves. Just because one wears hijab does not automatically mean that one must become a housewife, one can perfectly well work and succeed in a workplace and at the same time follow a religious life, knowing one’s limits and still feel comfortable at a workplace.
IQNA: Another essential factor in elevating Lady Fatima’s (SA) prominence amongst Shias is the Prophet’s (PBUH) praise of her. How do you see this? Why did the Holy Prophet (PBUH) pay such compliment to her?
Cecilia Hedstrom: Lady Fatima has received her special place amongst Shia because first she deserves the position for her way of living, sacrificing it and. Always standing on the side of truth. The Holy Prophet gave many compliments to her because she never complained and always a comfort to her family members especially to her father and her husband Imam Ali when they were facing great challenges from the infidels.
IQNA: What approaches can be adopted in order to introduce the character of the beloved daughter of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to the world?
Cecilia Hedstrom: Writing about her, lecturing about her life, try to educate publishing companies which write school literature about religion to include a special section about Lady Fatima and her life and her character, publish documentaries and put them free on sites like YouTube, etc.
