Introduction

Man in his endeavours towards perfection is in need of excellent exemplars and perfect role models whose lives are worthy of emulation. The Prophets and Messengers of Allah (AS) are indeed exemplars and the perfect role models to the humanity. For this ‘Ummah’, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was sent as the last but the best of all the Apostles of Allah (AS) with a comprehensive and universal message of Islam. He (SAW) according to the Quran is indeed a blessing and a perfect role model to the entire universe[1].

For the fulfilment of the purpose of this appointment, Allah categorically made his obedience mandatory on the entire humanity and this indeed is considered as a pillar of faith. After his Divine appointment, some polytheists rejected his claim to prophethood on the basis that he (SAW) was a mortal like them, and they were complaining on while an Angel could not be sent to them as an Apostle. However, in response to this wrong notion and false pretense, Allah says:

"قُلْ لَوْ كانَ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَلائِكَةٌ يَمْشُونَ مُطْمَئِنِّينَ لَنَزَّلْنا عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ السَّماءِ مَلَكاً رَسُولاً”

"Say: Had there been in the earth Angels walking about as settlers, We would certainly have sent down to them from the heaven an Angel as an apostle” [2]

Meanwhile, in an attempt to shed more light on the verse, a Quran exegetist wrote:

"…That is to say the leader should always be the like of his followers; human for human beings and Angel for the Angels. The reason for this similarity is clear because on one hand, the most important aspect of the leader’s (i.e. the Prophet) message has to do with its practical aspects. And being an exemplar and role model could only be possible if both (i.e. leader and followers) have the same instincts, passions and the same physical and psychological characteristics. The pure Angels which neither have sexual lust nor the need for shelter, clothing, food and other human instincts can never be role models for human beings. ...On the other hands, a leader (i.e. the Prophet) must be able to understand the pains, needs and the desires of his subject and likewise be ready to respond to them accordingly…”[3]

Interestingly, it can be inferred from the above verse of the glorious Quran that sending of the Angels-who are special creatures of Allah with different physical and physiological compositions- as Apostles of God to mankind would have made the aims of the Prophethood unrealizable due to the unique peculiarities of the Angels but which are not found in man.

However, on the contrary, the noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW), who is a mortal just like his subjects was made by Allah as an excellent exemplar and a perfect role model for the entire humanity.

In that regards, Allah (SWT) says:

" لَقَدْ كانَ لَكُمْ في‏ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كانَ يَرْجُوا اللَّهَ وَ الْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَ ذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثيرا"

"Certainly you have in the Apostle of Allah an excellent exemplar, for him who hopes in Allah and the latter day and remembers Allah much” [4]

Therefore, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is indeed an excellent exemplar and a perfect role model for all the Muslims in particular and the entire humanity in general irrespective of their colours, ages, genders, social status and the geographical locations.

The Most-Outstanding Women

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) came with a universal message of Islam. This message was a comprehensive one in the sense that it dealt with the needs of every category and class of the human society. More importantly, Islam dealt with the needs of women throughout history and assigned perfect exemplars for them. Without any doubt, women are created with some biological and psychological compositions different from men. Thus, they cannot perfectly emulate the noble Prophet (SAW) in some regards that are peculiar to them alone. Therefore, there is need for a woman (or women) that would be excellent exemplars and perfect role models to the womenfolk.

In that regards, Anas son of Malik reported the holy Prophet (SAW) to have said:

"حَسْبُكَ مِنْ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ أَرْبَع‏ مَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ وَ وَ آسِيَةُ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ وَ خَدِيجَةُ بِنْتُ خُوَيْلِدٍ وَ فَاطِمَةُ بِنْتُ مُحَمَّدٍ "

"The outstanding women of the worlds are four: Maryam daughter of Imran, Asiyah wife

of Pharaoh, Khadijah daughter of Khuwaylid and Fatimah daughter of Muhammad”[5]

In another version of the hadith, Aisha said to Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (AS):

"أَلاَ أُبَشِّرُكِ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ (ص) يَقُولُ: سَيِّدَاتُ نِسَاءِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ أَرْبَعٌ مَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ وَ فَاطِمَةُ بِنْتُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ خَدِيجَةُ بِنْتُ خُوَيْلِدٍ وَ آسِيَةُ "

Alas! May I informed you that I heard the Messenger of God (SAW) saying: "The leaders of the women of Paradise are four: Maryam daughter of Imran, Fatimah daughter of Muhammad, Khadijah daughter of Khuwaylid and Asiyah” [6]

Similarly, in another version of the tradition, the noble Prophet (SAW) said:

"افضَلُ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ أَرْبَعٌ مَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ وَ خَدِيجَةُ بِنْتُ خُوَيْلِدٍ وَ فَاطِمَةُ بِنْتُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آسِيَةُ بِنْتُ مُزَاحِمٍ "

"The best women of the World are four: Maryam daughter of Imran, Khadijah daughter of Khuwaylid, Fatimah daughter of Muhammad and Asiyah daughter of Muzahim” [7].

Therefore, in view of these prophetic traditions and other related ones, it can be inferred that the outstanding women who are doyennes and excellent exemplars for the entire womenfolk are four, namely: Hazrat Asiyah; the wife of Pharaoh, Hazrat Maryam; the mother of Prophet Isa (AS), Hazrat Khadijah and Hazrat Fatimah Zahra; the devoted wife and the beloved daughter of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) respectively.

Meanwhile, there is no doubt to the fact that these distinguished women had the highest level of piety and excellent moral virtues. They were indeed the doyennes of women of their respective times and likewise the leaders of women of Paradise. However, on thorough analysis of their personalities and biographies individually, one found out that not all them could be excellent exemplars and perfect role models for the Muslim women due to the following reasons:

First, Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (AS) is the only woman amongst the fourteen infallible members of the Prophet’s Household whom has been thoroughly cleansed from every form of uncleanliness and sin[8] and whose their affection and loyalty are compulsory on the Muslims[9] in the Quran. Likewise, she was the only lady who represented the Muslim women (i.e. "our women”) during the event of malediction (Mubahilah)[10].

Second, Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (AS) whom Allah and His noble Prophet (SAW) love and whose satisfaction and anger are tantamount to Allah and Prophet’s satisfaction and anger[11] is the only woman amongst these distinguished ladies whose life could be emulated by women in its entirety. She is indeed a perfect symbol of the various dimensions of womanhood. For instance, Hazrat Maryam (AS) was a chaste woman praised in the Quran for her purity and chastity right from childhood and she was a mother but without a spouse. That is to say, Hazrat Maryam (AS) according to reliable historical accounts of her life was never a wife to any man. However, she gave birth to Prophet Isa (AS) via a miraculous way. Similarly, Hazrat Asiyah (AS) was also a virtuous woman, eulogized in the Quran for her unique faith and steadfastness. But detail accounts of her childhood is not known and likewise she was never a mother. In the same vein, Hazrat Khadijah (AS) was a devoted and humble woman, extremely eulogized by the noble Prophet (SAW) for her faith and unparalleled sacrifices to Islam. She was a humble wife and devoted mother but her childhood stage and her life before Islam in its entirety could not be a perfect exemplar to the womenfolk.

Thus, women are left with none but Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (AS); who was born, rose, and had died in the realm of Islam. She was nurtured in the house of prophethood and married to the best creature after the noble Prophet; Ali son of Abu Talib (AS). She was the mother of Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Husain (AS); the Prophet’s grandsons and the leaders of the youth of Paradise. Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (AS) is the perfect and highest example in piety, purity, sanctity, worship, asceticism and morals. She is indeed a perfect role model of how a daughter, wife and mother should act while keeping their decency and pure character. Likewise, she also showed us the Muslim women’s roles in the social field within the limits of religion and virtues.

Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (AS) was an obedient daughter, she so much loved her parents and likewise she won their love and respects to such an extent that the Holy Prophet (SAW) used to rise, whenever she came to him and regarded her as a ‘mother of her father’. In the same vein, she was a humble and hard-working wife; who was a respectful and obedient spouse to her husband to such an extent that Hazrat Ali (AS) once described her as a partner in progress and in the obedience of Allah (SWT); and she had never anger or disobey his husband. In addition, as a fulfilled mother, Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (AS) cared for and brought up wonderful children; who have left their unique marks in history and which time will not be able to erase or forget.

The noble Prophet (SAW) who says nothing out of whims and caprices said thus on inquiry on the status and the lofty position of Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (AS):

…”وَ إِنَّهَا لَسَيِّدَةُ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ،‏ فَقِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَهِيَ سَيِّدَةُ نِسَاءِ عَالَمِهَا؟ فَقَالَ (ص): ذَاكَ لِمَرْيَمَ بِنْتِ عِمْرَانَ، فَأَمَّا ابْنَتِي فَاطِمَةُ فَهِيَ سَيِّدَةُ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ‏ مِنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَالْآخِرِین... "

"…Verily, she is the leader of the women of the Universe. The Prophet was asked: O Messenger of God! Is she the leader of the women of her time? And he (SAW) replied: That was the case with Maryam daughter of Imran, but as for my daughter; Fatimah, she is the leader of women of the world; the first and the last…”[12]

In addition, Prophet (SAW) on his deathbed said to Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (AS):

"یَا فَاطِمَةُ أَلَا تَرْضَيْنَ أَنْ تَكُونِي سَيِّدَةُ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ‏ وَ سَيِّدَةُ نِسَاءِ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ وَ سَيِّدَةُ نِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ "

"O Fatimah! Are you not pleased that you are the leader of women of the worlds, the leader of women of this community (Ummah) and the leader of the wives of the believers?” [13]

Therefore, Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (AS) despite her short life span on earth, she remains the only complete and most perfect role model for the Muslim women and the world’s most outstanding woman.

Conclusion

In conclusion, based on these sound logical reasoning and the textual evidences from Quran and the prophetic traditions, it can be said authoritatively that Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (AS) is the world’s most outstanding lady and the only perfect role model for the entire womenfolk because she is a perfect representation of the various dimensions of womanhood. She (AS) is indeed a perfect and exemplary role model of an obedient daughter when dealing with her parents; a perfect and exemplary model of a wife when dealing with her husband and a perfect and exemplary model of a mother when raising and relating with her children.