# Fatima

> daughter of Muhammad (c. 605–632)

**Wikidata**: [Q180123](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q180123)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatima)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/fatima

## Summary

Fatima bint Muhammad (c. 605–632 CE), also known as Fatima Zahra, was the youngest daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his first wife Khadija bint Khuwaylid. She is a central figure in Islamic tradition, revered by both Sunni and Shia Muslims as one of the Fourteen Infallibles and a member of the Ahl al-Bayt (the family of Muhammad). Fatima is considered the matriarch of the Fatimid Caliphate and the ancestor of the Twelve Imams in Twelver Shia Islam.

## Biography

- **Born:** 27 July 604 CE, 605 CE, or 606 CE (various historical sources cite different years)
- **Died:** 14 December 632 CE or 633 CE
- **Nationality:** Q12490507 (citizenship associated with early Islamic community)
- **Family:** Daughter of Muhammad and Khadija bint Khuwaylid; wife of Ali ibn Abi Talib; mother of Hasan, Husayn, and Zaynab
- **Part of:** Ahl al-Bayt (family of Muhammad), companions of the Prophet
- **Contains/Subsidiaries:** Ahl al-Kisa (the five purified ones: Muhammad, Fatima, Ali, Hasan, and Husayn), The Fourteen Infallibles
- **Related Entities:** Rashidun Caliphate (632–661), Fatimid Caliphate (909–1171), Fatimids dynasty
- **Occupation:** Q49757 (associated with being a companion of the Prophet)
- **Instance Of:** Q5 (human)

## Contributions

As a historical and religious figure from the 7th century, Fatima's contributions are primarily spiritual and familial rather than institutional:

- **Matriarchal Lineage:** Established the genealogical line through her sons Hasan and Husayn that would produce the Twelve Imams of Twelver Shia Islam
- **Foundational Figure for Fatimid Caliphate:** The Fatimid dynasty (909–1171) claimed descent through her lineage, establishing a major Islamic caliphate
- **Ahl al-Bayt Membership:** Belongs to the family of Muhammad, central to Islamic religious tradition and reverence
- **Ahl al-Kisa:** One of the five members of the "People of the Cloak" (Ahl al-Kisa), a concept in Islamic tradition denoting spiritual purity

## FAQs

**Who was Fatima in Islamic tradition?**

Fatima was the youngest daughter of Prophet Muhammad and his first wife Khadija. She is known as Fatima Zahra (the radiant) and is revered as a spiritual and moral exemplar in Islam.

**What is Fatima's significance in Shia Islam?**

In Shia Islam, Fatima is considered one of the Fourteen Infallibles and the mother of the Imamate lineage through her son Husayn, whose descendants became the Twelve Imams.

**How many children did Fatima have?**

Fatima married Ali ibn Abi Talib and bore several children, including Hasan, Husayn, and Zaynab. Most sources indicate that only Hasan and Husayn survived to adulthood.

**What is the Ahl al-Bayt?**

The Ahl al-Bayt ("People of the House") refers to the family of Muhammad, consisting of Fatima, her husband Ali, and their descendants. They hold a special place in Islamic reverence.

**What is the connection between Fatima and the Fatimid Caliphate?**

The Fatimid Caliphate (909–1171), a Shia Islamic dynasty, claimed direct descent from Fatima through the Imams, giving the dynasty its name and religious legitimacy.

## Why They Matter

Fatima's importance in Islamic history cannot be overstated, as she represents the continuation of Muhammad's lineage through both Sunni and Shia traditions. Her position as the "Mother of the Imams" in Shia Islam established the genealogical basis for the religious leadership that would define Shia Islam for centuries. The Fatimid Caliphate, which ruled parts of North Africa and the Middle East for over 250 years, explicitly derived its legitimacy from being descendants of Fatima. Her status as one of the Fourteen Infallibles in Twelver Shia Islam—alongside Muhammad and the Twelve Imams—indicates her perceived spiritual perfection and intercessory power. Without Fatima, the religious and political history of Islam would have taken a fundamentally different trajectory, particularly regarding the succession after Muhammad and the development of Shia religious leadership.

## Notable For

- Daughter and only surviving child of Prophet Muhammad at his death
- One of the Fourteen Infallibles in Twelver Shia Islam
- Member of Ahl al-Kisa (the five purified ones)
- Matriarch of the line of the Twelve Imams
- Namesake of the Fatimid Caliphate dynasty
- Known by multiple honorific titles including "Zahra" (the radiant one)
- Central figure in both Sunni and Shia Islamic tradition

## Body

### Early Life

Fatima bint Muhammad was born around 605-606 CE in Mecca to Muhammad and his first wife Khadija bint Khuwaylid. She was the youngest of several children born to the couple, though most of her siblings predeceased Muhammad. According to Islamic tradition, Fatima was the only daughter of Muhammad to survive until his death in 632 CE. Her childhood coincided with the early years of Muhammad's prophetic mission, and she witnessed the persecution of early Muslims in Mecca.

### Family and Marriage

Fatima married her cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib, the son of Abu Talib, sometime around 622-623 CE, after the Hijra (migration) to Medina. The marriage produced several children, most notably Hasan and Husayn, who would become central figures in Islamic history. She also bore a daughter named Zaynab and possibly other children. The family lived in modest circumstances in Medina, and historical accounts suggest Fatima actively participated in household duties despite her elevated status as the Prophet's daughter.

### Role in Early Islamic Community

As a member of the Ahl al-Bayt (family of Muhammad), Fatima held a special position in the early Muslim community. She is mentioned in various hadith collections as a revered figure whom Muslims would visit for blessings. The concept of Ahl al-Kisa—the five purified ones including Muhammad, Fatima, Ali, Hasan, and Husayn—emerged in Islamic tradition to denote those who received special spiritual purification. Fatima's status as a companion of the Prophet (sahabiya) places her among the earliest Muslims who directly interacted with Muhammad.

### Death and Legacy

Fatima reportedly died in December 632 or 633 CE, approximately six months after the death of her father Muhammad. The exact circumstances of her death are debated among historians, with some sources suggesting she became ill and passed away, while others indicate she was distressed by events following Muhammad's death, particularly regarding the question of succession. She was buried in the Baqi' cemetery in Medina. Her death marked the end of the direct lineal descendants of Muhammad through the line of Khadija.

### Influence on Later Islamic History

The significance of Fatima extended far beyond her lifetime, particularly through her descendants. Her son Husayn's martyrdom at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE became a defining event in Shia Islam, and the Imamate tradition traces its religious authority through her lineage. The Fatimid Caliphate, established in 909 CE, explicitly claimed descent from Fatima and ruled for over two centuries, leaving lasting contributions to Islamic architecture, learning, and culture. The continued veneration of Fatima in both Sunni and Shia traditions—through mosques, shrines, literature, and religious observances—demonstrates her enduring spiritual significance across the Islamic world.

### Historical Documentation and Identification

Fatima has been extensively documented across multiple historical, religious, and scholarly sources. Her various names and identifiers include: Fatima Zahra, Fatimah bint Muhammad, Bint Muhammad, and the honorific titles associated with her status as the Prophet's daughter. The extensive list of cross-references in databases such as Wikidata, Library of Congress, and various national library systems reflects her importance as a historical figure. Her story has been preserved through hadith literature, biographical accounts (sira), and genealogical records that document her pivotal role in Islamic history and religious tradition.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Fatima bint Muhammad
3. Source
4. BnF authorities
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. Lingua Libre
7. [Brève biographie de Fatima](http://www.moncelon.fr/biofatima.htm)
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. CERL Thesaurus
10. BabelNet
11. Quora
12. LIBRIS. 2012
13. [Source](https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/fatima)
14. HMML Authority File
15. Catalogo of the National Library of India