Statements of the Supreme Leader on the Occasion of the Birth of Lady Fatima (PBUH)

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

With all our being and from the depths of our hearts and souls, we thank Almighty God for once again granting us the opportunity to celebrate this great day with you, the nightingales of the garden of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) and the eulogists of the family of purity and chastity, and to purify our hearts and souls in remembrance of Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her). We also thank you, dear ones, for sweetening our celebration and truly making this day a festive occasion with your warm and sincere devotion, especially the brothers who recited and sang, illuminating the gathering in memory of the pure and radiant star of the Prophet's family.

Regarding Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her), whatever we say is insufficient, and we truly do not know what to say or think. The dimensions of this celestial being, this pure spirit, and this essence of prophecy and Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist are so vast and incomprehensible to us that we are genuinely bewildered. You know that contemporaneity is one of the factors that prevent the correct understanding of personalities. The shining stars of humanity have often not been recognized by their contemporaries during their lifetimes, except for a few distinguished ones who were prophets and saints, and even then, only by a limited number. However, Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her) was such that during her time, not only her father, husband, children, and close followers, but even those who perhaps did not have a warm relationship with her, praised her. If you look at the books written about Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her) by Sunni narrators, you will find many narrations praising the pure and truthful lady from the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) or recounting the Prophet's behavior towards her. Many of these narrations come from those who were among such people, like some of the Prophet's wives and others. This famous hadith from Aisha states: 'By God, I have not seen anyone more similar to the Messenger of God in demeanor, appearance, brightness, and behavior than Fatima.' 'And when she entered upon the Messenger of God, he would stand up for her and eagerly go towards her.' This is the meaning of the expression 'he stood up for her.' It was not that when Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her) entered the room, the Prophet would only stand up for her. He would rise and go towards her. In some of these narrations, from the same narrator, it is mentioned: 'He would kiss her and seat her in his place.' This is the status of Fatima Zahra. What can one say about this daughter? What can one say about this magnificent being?

My dear ones! The greatness of Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her) is evident in her conduct. One issue is what understanding we have of Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her)? This is one matter. Ultimately, the friends of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) have tried throughout time, as much as they could, to gain knowledge of the right of the Prophet's daughter, Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her). It is not as if one should think that just as in our time, this noble lady is so dear in hearts and sweet in eyes, it has always been this way. Today, thanks be to God, it is the era of Islam, the era of the rule of the Quran, the era of the rule of Ali and the rule of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), and what is in hearts is expressed. The oldest Islamic university in the Islamic world, dating back to the third and fourth centuries, is named after Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her). The famous university 'Al-Azhar' in Egypt is named after Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her). In the past, universities were established in the name of Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her). Even the Fatimid caliphs who ruled Egypt were Shia. For centuries, Shia have tried to gain knowledge of the right of this noble lady. This is one issue. Another issue is that we must learn the way from all the stars; 'And by the stars they are guided' (Quran 16:16). A wise person is like this. One must use the star. The star is in the sky and shines. There is a vast world there. Is this star just what you and I see? Some stars in the sky, which twinkle like a point, are galaxies. Sometimes a star is larger than the Milky Way galaxy, which contains billions of stars! - God's power has no limit or measure - yet you and I see it as a small, shining star. Well, what is the purpose of these words? The purpose is that a wise person whom God has given eyes should use this star for something in life. The Quran says: 'And by the stars they are guided.'

My dear ones! This shining star of creation is not just what appears to our eyes. Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her) is much higher than these words. We only see a brightness, but it is much greater than these words. But what use do you and I make of it? Is it enough to know that she is Zahra? I read in a narration that the brightness of Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her) causes the eyes of the angels of the highest heavens to be dazzled: 'Her light shines for the angels of the heavens.' What use do we make of this brightness? We must find the path to God and the path of servitude, which is the straight path that Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her) traversed and reached those high ranks. If you see that God has made her essence exalted, it is because He knew that this being would pass the test well in the material world and the world of humanity; 'God tested you before He created you and found you patient.' This is the issue. Even if God Almighty shows special favor to that essence, part of it is because He knows how she will pass the test; otherwise, many had good essence. Did everyone manage to succeed? This part of Fatima Zahra's (peace be upon her) life is what we need for our salvation. A hadith from Shia sources states that the Prophet said to Fatima (peace be upon her): 'O Fatima, I cannot avail you anything before God.' That is, my dear! O my Fatima! I cannot make you needless of anything before God. That is, you must think of yourself, and she thought of herself from childhood until the end of her short life. See how she lived! Before marriage, when she was a little girl, she did such a service to her great father that she was given the title 'Mother of her Father.' At that time, the Prophet of mercy and light, the creator of a new world, and the great leader and commander of that global revolution - a revolution that must last forever - was raising the flag of Islam. It is not without reason that she is called 'Mother of her Father!' Naming her with this title is due to her service, work, struggle, and effort. Whether during the Meccan period, during the time of Sha'b Abi Talib with all its hardships, or when her mother Khadija passed away and left the Prophet alone, she was by her father's side and a comfort to him. The Prophet's heart was broken in a short time by the two events of Khadija's death and Abu Talib's death. These two personalities left the Prophet in a short time, and the Prophet felt lonely. Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her) stood tall in those days and with her small hands wiped the dust of sorrow from the Prophet's face. 'Mother of her Father'; a comfort to the Prophet. This title originated from those days.

See what a vast sea of personality and struggle this is! Then came the era of Islam. Then came the marriage to Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him); the same Ali ibn Abi Talib who is the complete example of a devoted Basiji of the revolution. It is Basij week; Basiji means this. It means all his being is dedicated to Islam. He is dedicated to what the Prophet wants and what pleases God. The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) did not leave anything for himself. In those ten years - the ten years of the Prophet's life - the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) did everything for the advancement of Islam. This is why you see that they said Fatima Zahra and the Commander of the Faithful and their children remained hungry, the reason is this. Otherwise, if this young man was thinking of business, he could have been better than any businessman. This is the same Ali who later in his old age dug wells; wells from which water gushed like the neck of a camel. Then, without even washing his hands and face from the dust of work, he would sit and write the endowment deed of the well! He did many such deeds. How many palm groves did he cultivate? Why should the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) remain hungry in his youth? It is narrated that Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her) went to the Prophet. She had endured so much hunger that the Prophet saw the pallor of hunger on her face; the Prophet's heart ached, and he prayed for his daughter. All the efforts of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) were in the path of God and for the advancement of Islam. He did not work for himself. This is the complete example of a Basiji.

I say to the dear active Basijis of this Alawi and Fatimid country: Take the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) as your model, for the best and greatest model for Muslim Basijis all over the world is Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him). At that time, Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her) chose this young man who had given everything in the path of God from among all the suitors, who was always on the battlefields. It is no joke! The daughter of the great leader of Islam and the powerful ruler of the time; she had so many suitors; among these suitors, there were wealthy ones, and there were also those with status. But God had chosen Ali for Fatima, and Fatima was pleased with and satisfied with God's choice. Then, she lived with the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) in such a way that he was completely satisfied with her. The words that this noble lady said to the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) in the last days of her life testify to this meaning. I do not want to read those sorrowful words on this festive day. She was patient; she raised those children; she defended the right of Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist with all her might; she endured that torment and torture in its path, and then she embraced that great martyrdom with open arms. This is Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her).

My dear ones! You who are the nightingales of the Fatimid garden and the eulogists of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) and the reciters of 'Indeed, God desires to remove impurity from you, O people of the household, and to purify you thoroughly' (Quran 33:33), emphasize these points as much as you can. Especially use the poems of some very good poets. Today, truly good and beautiful poetry and songs were recited and performed. The themes of the poems were also very good and flawless. Fill these poems and the poems you recite for the people with these constructive, directional, and guiding themes as much as you can. It is not enough to repeatedly say this star is shining. Although this brightness we see is a ray of that indescribable brightness. We must find guidance from this ray of that shining star.

I say that, thanks be to God, the hearts of our youth are illuminated and enlightened with the remembrance of Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her). I feel this. One feels that in the last fifteen years, the surge of love for Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her) in the hearts of this faithful, revolutionary, sincere, and Hezbollah nation has increased greatly. The name of that noble lady and devotion to her was present on the battlefields, during the war, during peace and reconstruction, and, thanks be to God, in readiness to confront the enemies. This devotion is a good and valuable devotion, and this spirit of jihad in the path of God, in whatever form it may take, is what Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her) loves. This is good news for the Basiji youth of the country who both love Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her) and act according to her wishes and follow her path, which is the path of God and servitude. 'And that you worship Me; this is a straight path' (Quran 36:61).

O Lord! By Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, do not separate our hands from the skirt of Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her) in this world and the hereafter. Guide our hearts with the light of the pure Zahra.

O Lord! Increase our love for her in our hearts day by day. Let us die with love for the family of the Prophet and be resurrected with love for the family of the Prophet on the Day of Judgment.

O Lord! By Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, resolve all the people's problems by adhering to Islam and Islamic and divine laws, and from this gathering, bestow kindness, mercy, and light upon the soul of our great Imam and the noble martyrs of Islam.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings