Name & Personalityنام اور شخصیت

It is narrated from Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (pbuh) that Lady Fatima (pbuh) has nine names: Fatima, Siddiqah, Mubarakah, Tahirah, Zakiyyah, Radiyah, Mardiyyah, Muhaddathah, and Zahra. These names were given to her in accordance with different meanings and occasions. The harmony between the name and the named (ism and musamma) is worthy of deep reflection. Here, however, the discussion is limited to only two of these names Fatima and Muhaddathah.

This point is supported by many narrations. In Arabic lexicon, the word Fatm means to cut off or to separate, and Fatim and Fatima mean one who is cut off or separated. Imam ar-Reza (pbuh) narrates from the Prophet of Islam (pbuh) that the reason she was named Fatimah is that she and her Shi‘a have been separated from the fire of Hell. It is narrated from Imam Muḥammad al-Baqir (pbuh) that the reason for naming her Fatima is that she absorbed knowledge as a child absorbs milk, meaning that she is the very center and source of knowledge and wisdom. And it is narrated from Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (pbuh) that the reason she was named Fatima is that evil and wickedness have been completely separated from her sacred and exalted being.

One of her names is Muhaddathah. A muhaddath is a person with whom angels speak and who receives communication from them. Just as the Twelve Imams were muhaddath, Lady Fatima (pbuh) was also Muhaddathah. It is narrated from Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (pbuh) that the daughter of the Prophet, Fatima (pbuh), was Muhaddathah, but she was not a prophet. For this reason she is called Muhaddathah, because angels would descend from the heavens and converse with her, just as they conversed with Maryam, the daughter of Imran. The narrations clearly state that after the passing of the Prophet of Islam (pbuh), Allah, the Exalted, caused angels to become familiar with Lady Fatima (pbuh) in order to console and comfort her. Jibraeel (Gabriel) (pbuh) would come into her presence and inform her of events that would occur after the Prophet’s life. Imam Ali (pbuh) would record these matters in writing. These writings are known as the Mushaf of Fatima, which was passed down through the Imams and is now with Imam al-Mahdi (atfs).