The essence of all knowledge and its practice is the zikr of Imam Husain AS: a single tear shed on his zikr opens the doors to eight jannat. Imam Husain’s AS revered maa saheba, Maulatana Fatema AS, whose zikr and shahadat are remembered on the 7th of Moharram, nourished Imam Hasan AS and Imam Husain AS with the ultimate knowledge and raised them with such divine wisdom that its light reflected clearly in both Imams AS daily lives. Maulatana Fatema’s AS teachings have fundamentally reshaped all mumineen.
Considering Maulatana Fatema’s AS legacy, Maula TUS centered today’s waaz mubarak on teachers — mothers, fathers, principals (moallim), professors, homemakers — and to all those who educate. Maula TUS expanded on eight qualities of teachers, connecting them to eight of Maulatana Fatema’s AS titles, epithets, names, and attributes.
Fatema
Maulatana Fatema’s AS name is derived from the Arabic root فطام, meaning to liberate one from hellfire. Maulatana Fatema AS alleviated Amirul Mumineen’s AS shi’a’s hardships by bestowing her shafaqat upon them, thus safeguarding them from hellfire. Similarly, teachers and educators should lower and remove barriers to their students’ learning. Effective and clear teaching requires educators to meet students at their level, while maintaining credibility and compassion. When asked whose handwriting was better — Imam Hasan AS or Imam Husain AS — Maulatana Fatema AS masterfully settled the matter, such that both Imams AS realized their penmanship was of equal caliber, without hurting either of their feelings. Responsible educators should approach teaching with humility and patience, and uplift their students in every way, even if it means having to repeat concepts multiple times over. In order to free mumineen from their hardships, Doat Mutlaqeen RA, without tiring, deliver guidance to mumineen over and over again.
Zahra
One of Maulatana Fatema’s AS epithet’s is zahra, which means roshan or illuminated. Every teacher must be mindful that they are enlightened and steadfast in themselves. They must align their actions with their teachings, so that students naturally follow their example. When Maulatana Fatema AS sought a khadim (servant) from Rasulullah SAW, he instead gave her a remedy, better than any khadim, by teaching her to recite the following after every farizat namaz: Allaho Akbar, Alhamdolillah, and Subhanallah 33 times each, followed by La Ilaha illallah once, totalling a 100. The Quran promises to multiply one good deed tenfold; if, after each namaz, you recite the aforementioned 100 tasbih, then each day, you will receive 5,000. Maulatana Fatema AS performed Tasbih e Fatema her whole life: and today we emulate her in our daily practice.
Batul
Batul, one of Maulatana Fatema’s most well-known names, means one who is chaste or pure. Likening this to teachers, Maula TUS expressed that educators must abstain from teaching that which displease Awliya Allah AS or is not in alignment with their practices and teachings. They must teach according to the nehej — established practice and customs — of Dawat. Teaching with Awliyaa Allah’s AS raza (divine permission) is paramount. To adhere with dawat ni nehj, educators must pray Bismillah and Wazifat al Shukr before beginning a lesson. They must have adab, pray the ibarat and ma’ana of a kitaab, and teach only ideas of ikhlaas. It is also the nehj of dawat to recount the maqtal on the day of Ashara before magrib.
Maryam al Kubra
Maulatuna Fatema AS was Maryam al Kubra. Allah Ta’ala states:
وإني سميتها مريم وإني أعيذها بك وذريتها من الشيطان الرجيم
And I have named her Maryam and I seek protection for her in you (Allah Ta’ala) and for her descendants from shaitaan, the expelled.
The Shaitan within each of us is the نفس امارةً بالسوء which every educator needs to seek protection against. In her final moments, Maulatana Fatema AS sought forgiveness from Amirul Mumineen AS even though she was among the masoom, “since the day I entered your home, I have not lied; yet I am human, and if a lie has transpired, then I seek your pardon.” It is up to an educator to refrain from making mistakes by choosing silence over providing an incorrect answer. If an error is made, they must admit and rectify it. Syedi Abdeali Imaduddin QS paused his sabaq to Syedna Abdulhusain Husamuddin RA if there was ever an unresolved question. The sabaq would continue only when the question was answered. Once, Syedi Imaduddin QS called Syedna Husamuddin RA in the middle of the night to furnish a reply to a query, stating that it was a debt he owed.
Syedat Nisaa al Aalameen
Among Maulatana Fatema’s AS most well-known titles is Syedat Nisaa al Aalameen, and also, Syedat Ahl al Jannat. Maulatana Fatema AS led a dignified and honorable life; similarly, both teachers and their students should espouse this quality. Educators should foster an environment that cultivates mutual respect and genuine interest in learning. Students should also be eager to learn from their teachers, and approach their education with humility. Ibrahim Nabi AS, initially acquired his education from many hudud, holding each of his benefactors in high esteem and regard.
Bad’at
Maultana Fatema AS was Rasulallah’s SAW ‘bad’at,’ or part, of him, perfectly capturing the beloved and affectionate relationship between a parent and child. A child is a part of their parent, and as such, parents treat and raise them with even more care and affection than they would themselves. Maulatana Fatema AS, when Maulana Ali, AS, Imam Hasan AS, Imam Husain AS, and she AS had been without food for three days, prayed not for relief of her own suffering, but beseeched Allah Ta’ala to not let them perish out of hunger. In response, Allah Ta’ala bequeathed a maidat from jannat. Maulatana Fatema AS put her children before her, and in doing so, instilled her revered qualities within them.
Teachers, parents and educators alike should strive to do the same, channeling every ounce of energy into uplifting their students. Maintaining an appropriate demeanor, and creating an open learning environment is important so that students feel able to ask questions and learn freely. Teachers should be careful not to be abrasive or dismissive, as it could have a negative impact on their students. Maula TUS recalled that during Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin’s RA sabaq, he would say that if there are any questions, please ask.
Qalbi
Rasulallah SAW said for Maulatana Fatema AS, “ هي قلبي (she is my heart).” The heart has a tireless role in the body; with each heartbeat, it pumps blood to every organ in order to sustain life and optimal function. Teachers should dedicate themselves whole-heartedly to their profession through rigorous and meticulous preparation, while, crucially, remaining modest — even though they have worked hard to teach, they are there to learn. Maula TUS stated that this underlying conviction has be seen in some of the most senior asateza in Al Jamea tus Saifiyyah, who always deeply express gratitude for the honor of teaching the knowledge of Aal e Mohammad, and the tawfiq they have been granted. This illustrates Rasulallah’s SAW hadtih, “The zakaat on knowledge is in disseminating it.” This hadith should be the driving force for each teacher.
Ruhi
Finally, Maulatana Fatema’s AS was to Rasulallah SAW, “ruhi illati bayna janbi (my ruh resides between my two sides).” Teachers should imbue gentleness and kindness, expressing love for both their students and the knowledge itself. The optimal method is to infuse their teaching with the mohabbat of Awliyaa Allah AS; doing so breathes life into every aspect of learning and knowledge. Maulatana Fatema’s AS actions after Rasulallah’s SAW passing were exemplary; donning a black burqa, she delivered a stunning proclamation before the people of Madina. Every aspect of her conduct — from her gait to her mannerisms and arguments — emulated and extolled Rasulallah SAW, deeply affecting Madina’s muslimeen.
In the gham of Imam Husain AS, Doat Mutlaqeen RA are mumineen’s most exemplary teachers. Our Doat RA narrate the zikr of Karbala as though they are physically present right there. Their actions and the manzar they present before us on Ashura are such that even those who are unable to shed one tear are compelled to do so. Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin’s every effort, especially during Ashara Mubaraka, is devoted towards bringing us toward the zikr of Imam Husain AS — by recounting the zikr of Ashura countless times, from different angles, and motivating us to do the same — so that we may become just like him TUS.