 As-salamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh dear respected brothers and sisters. First of all I'd like to congratulate you on the auspicious birth anniversary of Hazat Ma'asuma alayhi as-salam on tonight's programme. We are once again joined by Dr. Saeed Amman Akshawani for our weekly show Live in London with Dr. Saeed Amman Akshawani. We'd like to take this opportunity on this auspicious day to also announce that Imam Hussein Media Group will be growing their projects with an Urdu channel InshaAllah which will be called Imam Hussein TV4 and further information will be released on this soon. Saeed, tonight's topic is the greatest woman in Islam. Now having researched into this topic looking into various narrations, one oft-narrated narration that keeps coming up within Sunni Anshir Ahadith is that Anas reports that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, The best women of mankind are four. Mariam, daughter of Imran, Asya, wife of Pharaoh, Khadija, daughter of Khalid, and Fatima, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah. Now I wonder, for the Prophet to reply with such an answer, someone must have asked him who are the greatest women within Islam. So what's the wisdom behind asking such a question? Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem and congratulations to the whole Muslim community on these nights, the first nights of the Qaada, which normally people honor the birth of Sayyeda Ma'asoma, alayhi salam. Yes, it's a poignant question because it's a narration, as you mentioned quite rightly, that's often heard in many of our congregations, that the four women of Paradise are these great women that have been mentioned. Sometimes a person wonders, why would the Holy Prophet, peace be upon his family, single out four women or say four women are greater than others? Because I've heard many times in our communities, people saying, why do we make a distinction who's greater than who? These are all great personalities who gave different sacrifices towards the growth of the religion of Islam, or in their different ways showed wonderful submission towards their Lord. So what's the point of us, for example, discussing or saying one's greater than the other, or as you said, the title of tonight's discussion, the greatest woman in Islam? I think if you look within the Holy Quran, you'll find that Allah SWT does not shy away from making it clear that there were many great prophets, but there's one who stands out from all of them. There are many great prophets, but they're not the same as the messengers. There are many great messengers, but they're not the same as the arch-messengers, the Ulul Azim. If you look in the Quran, the word Tafzil or Fadalna, Ba'zun Nabiyyina an ba'l, for example, Allah SWT says in the Quran, we have given honor and made to excel some prophets ahead of others. I don't think there's a single Muslim in the world who will deny that there are some prophets who are seen as being higher than others. And Allah SWT does not say anything except that there is a wisdom behind it. Otherwise, Allah SWT, why do you need to tell me that, for example, Ibrahim and Musa, Isa, Nooh and Rasulullah SAW, why do you need to tell me they're greater than everybody else? They're all great prophets. But Allah says no, Fadalna Ba'zun Nabiyyina an ba'l, that we have given excellence to some of our prophets ahead of others, some of our messengers ahead of others. Even the Holy Prophet, Muhammad SAW, is higher than the rest of the Ul Al-Azam. The rest of the Ul Al-Azam are all of the Muslim. But the Holy Prophet is Awwal al-Muslimeen. The first two have submitted to Allah SWT. Allah talks about the rest, he says, they are all of those who submitted. But the first two have submitted is the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his family. Likewise, we therefore find that even sometimes in our communities when there's a debate, who's greater? The prophets or the Imams, for example. You find some people saying, well, what's the need? Who cares if Imam Ali, for example, is greater than Nabi Nooh or he's not greater? What difference will it make? No, the trend in the Quran is that there are certain personalities who Allah SWT has decided, deserve a particular level of recognition and have received a certain level of grace that may be higher than others. I found some theologians, for example, saying that there are prophets of God in the Quran who may perform tarqa-aula. Many times you hear tarqa-aula is that a prophet may perform the recommended, the good, but not the recommended. But they say the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, would never, he'd always perform that which is recommended by Allah SWT. So therefore, when Allah SWT says that these four women in particular are seen as the greatest for an Islam, if someone says, what's the point of saying, you know, one's greater than the other? No, there is. Because foundations of belief are built around this. You imagine if Allah tells you of a certain lady who's the greatest, that means that that lady whoever angers her is far from the path of Allah SWT. That lady whoever causes grief for her is nowhere near the teachings of God. It's not just a matter of Rasulullah saying, you know what, the Sayyidat Nisa of the heavens are Asiya and Khadija and Maryam and Fatima and that's it. No, he's giving a message to his community. That Fatima al-Zahra al-Islam, for example, or Sayyidah Khadija, for example, whoever's at war with them is at war with me. So such a hadith is a very important hadith. It's not just a matter of a person glossing over it and that's why all the schools of Islam narrated. Not just us. You mentioned that Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, which between them have thousands of narrations, which between them are seen as canonical works in early Islam, make it clear that there aren't many women, but these four are the greatest. And then same way Allah made certain profits, excel above others. Likewise, Allah SWT made certain of the woman of this world, excel above others. So I noticed tonight obviously is the birth of Hazret-e-Matsoum, Allah SWT, and she is not on that list. Does that mean that list is only the four on that list of the greatest or are there other women within Islam who we can emulate to be more like or learn lessons from? Oh, the religion of Islam has produced and has seen some of the greatest women you'll ever find in the history of humanity. Because you don't make it in the list of Ibrahim, Nooh, Musa, Isa, and Muhammad SAW. It doesn't mean you're not a great prophet. Of course. It doesn't mean you weren't a luqman of your time or a talut. Talut is a king for his people. Luqman is a saint for his people in the sense of the wisdom that he has. Doesn't mean Asif bin Bar-Khiyyya, the wasi of Suleiman was not a great person. He's bringing a throne of the Queen of Shiba next to you. But those four excel, but that's not to deny that there weren't great women in this religion who may not have made the list of that four. But believe you me, the amount of devotion they had towards their Lord is something impeccable. I remember Sheikh al-Sadoq, may Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala bless his soul, has a work, the khisal. It's a renowned work. And within the khisal, there are certain genres of literature where some chapters are named after numbers. So if a chapter is named after seven, it means the seven, the hadiths of seven. Those who are the best in their patience are seven. Those who are, the following seven is what ensures you get into heaven. You know, so there's a particular chapter in Sadoq's khisal. I tell you, may Allah bless his soul. Gives this narration a sahih is not, extremely strong. Says that there are seven great women now. Your hadith that you bought up said the greatest. The greatest. This hadith mentions seven great women. When this hadith mentions the seven great women, I don't think many of the speakers in our community have even discussed or given biographies of these seven. Many would have discussed Sayyida Khadija, alaihi salam. Many would have discussed, for example, Maryam, alaihi salam. Many would have discussed Fatima Zahra, alaihi salam. But I don't think many would have discussed, for example, Asmaa mit Umais. You see, I'm gonna bring names of people Muslims will agree upon. I don't wanna bring names of people some Muslims will revere, others will differ, or people who cause headaches for every Muslim. So these seven Muslims, these seven great women, and notice something, ahlul bayt, alaihi salam, many times in their traditions, whenever they give a piece of advice to their followers, they don't say, and the men of our nation should be like this. For example, Rahimallahu man ahya amrana doesn't say that Allah has placed mercy on the men who revive our affair. No, Rahimallahu man, men here could be men or women. Correct? Ahlul bayt wanted to make clear for all of us that the women in our community and the men in our community, all of them, can achieve the highest of levels. Here in this tradition, Asmaa mit Umais is mentioned. Salamah is mentioned. I ask you, say it Jabir, Salamah was she? Was she the servant of Fatimah Zahra? It's a good try, and I want to ask you a question again because it's unfair for me to put you in such a position. But let's say someone like Salamah, the wife, let's say for example Salamah, the wife of Hamza bin Abdul-Muttale. I think of Fizze, sorry. Say the Filza is another great woman. Even I remember in that list, Sheikh al-Saluq mentions the mother of Khalid ibn al-Waleed as being seen as one of the greatest women. Yet no one has, for example, read her biography. Yes, Waleed ibn al-Mughira is a nightmare, but his wife, that's an interesting discussion. Why have the imams of Ahlul bayt mentioned? Asmaa mit Umais, we know. Salamah, we know. Maimuna, we know. There's another lady who's mentioned by the name of Hamidah. There's another lady from Ben Uthaqif who is known as the wife of a man by the name of Hajj. Not necessarily Hajj ibn Uthi, but another of the Hajj. Now, these women, and another one is Umfadul the wife of Abbas the uncle of Rasulullah. Now, when you're seeing these great women being mentioned, when we're saying that the four greatest women are Asya, Mariam, Khadija and Fatima, Alaym al-Salam, we're not discounting the other greats. We didn't mention Sayyid al-Zaynab, Alayh al-Salam. We didn't mention Sayyid al-Fidda, as you rightly mentioned. We didn't mention Sumayya, mother of Ammar bin Yasin. We didn't mention Umayman, for example. There are others that we didn't mention, such as Sousan, such as Tugtam, Narjis. We haven't even mentioned, for example, the ladies of the 10th of Muharram. Daylam, the wife of Zuhair ibn al-Qayn. Layla, the wife of Imam al-Hussain, Alayh al-Salam. Umis Haq, the daughter of Talha. All of these we haven't mentioned. Umul Baniin. Umul Baniin, the mother of Aba al-Fadlain. So I don't want to say that because we're mentioning these four, there weren't other greats. But like the Quran says, there were some messengers we made to excel above others. Likewise, there are some women who were made to excel above others in the eyes of Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala. So out of these four greatest women of mankind, are there, is there one in particular that Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, favors more so that the Prophet would have narrated, you are the chieftain of the women of heavens? Well, I would say if you're looking in her time, then Maryam, the mother of Jesus, was without a doubt. According to the Quran, in her time, say that Nisa al-Alamin. Because many times people say to me that when it says, Nisa al-Alamin, when it says this, many times people ask me that clearly it shows that Maryam, the mother of Jesus, is the greatest woman to have ever lived in the history of humanity, according to the religious perspective. Because Mary in the Quran is mentioned more than Mary is mentioned in the Bible. And Mary has a whole chapter after her in the Holy Quran. And in chapter 3 verse 42, the angels say, oh, Mary, God's chosen you, purified you, chosen you to also be the greatest of the woman of your time. Now here's the point. Maryam was the greatest woman of her time. No one can deny that. While she was living, there was no one greater. Hamza was the master of the martyrs when he was living. That doesn't mean that the accolade remains with them forever. There may be someone else, Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, chooses later on who takes that accolade. If I were to ask you, Hamza was Sayyid al-Shuhada, yes he was, when he died in the battle of Ahud. When Karbala happened, who became Sayyid al-Shuhada? Aba Abdullah al-Husayn, al-Salam. Maryam was the Sayyid al-Nisa al-Alamin when Fatima al-Zahra, al-Salam came. All the attributes Allah has given Maryam is given to Fatima, al-Salam. If the angel Jibra'il spoke to Maryam, he also spoke to Fatima. Both of them are, what are known, a muhadatha is the one who the angel has spoken to. Muaddath may be the male who an angel communicates with. Not with revelation, mind you. Yes, Rasulullah recieves revelation from an angel. If the Imams of Ahlul Bayt speak to an angel, that's not revelation. But they are muaddath and likewise, Fatima al-Zahra, Maryam, Allah when he says, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, and the angels make it clear, and Allah has tafaki wa ta-ha-raki, God has chosen you and purified you. Purification, he has mentioned, is quite a general purification. With Fatima al-Zahra, al-Salam, it's not that inna Allah has tafaki wa ta-ha-raki, inna ma yurid, there's a complete difference in the way Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala discusses this thorough purification of Al-Muhammad, that everything imaginable that we can ever think of in terms of impurity, Allah says don't even imagine it with Al-Muhammad, al-Salam. It wasn't just a case of, inna Allah astafa, Adam, yes. We've read that in the Quran. Inna Allah astafa, Nuh, we've read that in the Quran. Inna Allah astafa, Al-Ibraheem, we've read that in the Quran. With Ayat, it's taqheer. Inna ma yurid, Allah al-Yudh, wa ankum, al-Ritsahl, al-Bayt, wa ta-ha-rakum, taqheerah. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala has gone even to an extent, even the Arabic of the inna ma at the beginning to try and highlight that there's a particular point that is being given towards Al-Muhammad. There's a particular grace that's being given towards them and there's a thorough purification and that all impurities can never reach Al-Muhammad, salawatullah wa salamu alayhi maa. The discussion of the purity of Fataman, Ali, and Hassan al-Hussain with Rasulullah, salallahu alayhi wa sallam. It's completely different to the discussion of the purity of Fataman al-Zahra of Sayyidina Maryam, al-Salam. Fataman al-Zahra, there's a narration where Imam al-Saleq mentions that when Fataman al-Zahra, al-Salam, discusses her position as Sayyidina Sa'a al-Alamin, she asks, but Maryam was Sayyidina Sa'a al-Alamin and the reply that comes to her is, but you are Sayyidina Sa'a al-Alamin for the first and the last of all the women, this world and the hereafter. So we don't deny that Maryam, al-Salam had an impeccable position as per Sura 3, verse 42, in the famous eye of her being chosen by Allah. But when Fataman al-Zahra comes, you find that she is seen as being the highest of the figures, the greatest of the women. And this is attested to in all the schools of the religion of Islam. Subhanallah. So being such a great woman, having such a status, how was her relationship with her father, the Holy Prophet al-Salam in terms of obviously at the beginning of the message of Islam, he went through a lot of grievances, a lot of problems, wars, people mocking him, et cetera. How did she deal with that growing up, obviously losing her mother at a young age also? Well, if he's talking about Ummu Abi Ha, as he mentioned so many times, that she's the mother of her father, I don't think you can get an accolade as wonderful as that. But even more beautiful is for him to say that she's a part of you. It's not just, we're not talking just the physical part. This is the continuation of the Abrahamic light. Shia Imamology and authority is not simply discussing Arabic personage. Some people try and think that Tashayyuh is this discussion of a group of Arabic personalities or a family. No, the mystical divine covenant where God wanted the light of Abraham to continue in the loins of particular chosen people. Allah said in Allah, Saffa Adam, Anouk, and Ali Ibrahim, the family of Abraham were chosen, members of them, not those who perform zoln. La yanaalu ahdiya dhalameen. Rather, those who were the very embodiment of justice and dignity and mercy and the manifestation of God's attributes on earth, when Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says, Fatima ba'datun minni, it's like when he says, Hussainun minni wa anamun Hussain. It's not physical. There is actually a continuation of the message, the understanding of the Lord continues from Rasulullah to his daughter Fatima. The way to speak about the Lord continues from Rasulullah to his daughter Fatima. But when you're mentioning those early days, they're very difficult for Rasulullah when she's born, he's in the middle of the most difficult turbulent period of his life. And she has to witness unbelievable amounts of oppression against him. Famous ayah in the Quran, Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem, ar-ayta al-lady yanha, abdan idha salla. Have you seen the one who disrespects our servant while he's in his prayer? Abu Jahl, as the viewers all know. Abu Jahl used to throw feces on the head of Rasulullah, sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi. Who is it that used to clean that feces but Fatima? You find, for example, that when Um Jamil, the wife of Abu Lahab used to throw stones at Rasulullah, who would clean the injuries but Fatima? But I don't want Fatima to be known as great simply because she's the daughter of some and so or the wife of so and so or because she cleaned her dad's wounds and injuries. There are many girls who had to see their fathers oppressed. There are many out there who have defended their parents when their parents have been oppressed. There are many out there who's fathers have said, oh, if it's not for that daughter of mine, I would be no one. Many have received similar accolades, Seja, but I can't sit here and say that Fatima is amazing because of this because you and I both have heard our dads have in one way or the other praised our own sisters like this. But there are other traditions which highlight to you who Fatima is in terms of her closest to Allah, not whose daughter or whose wife she is. There are many, when they begin their lectures, when they talk about the greatest woman in Islamic history and that is Fatima Zahra, whenever they talk about her, they're like, Fatima Zahra is great because she is the wife of Imam Ali. Or do you know whose daughter she is? She's the daughter of Rasulullah. Yes, and that's great by default. That's not great because you've actually achieved anything. That's my default. You happen to be born in the right place, in the right time. Yeah, of course, even on the previous nights where you mentioned the hadith of Imam Sadaq Al-Islam, gathering his family around and saying to them, don't think that just because you're related to me or you share blood with me on the day of judgment, you're gonna get a free pass. So of course, even the ayah in the Quran, chapter 49, verse 13 of God only judges within piety. Also, of course, it's down to what you achieve for yourself. The real Fatima Zahra, Al-Islam, there are lines where the Holy Prophet highlights what position she has in the eyes of God. And there are lines where the Imams highlight. When the Holy Prophet, for example, says, Fatima Zapatumi, whoever angers her angers me. Ya Allah. That means that to anger Fatima is the same as angering Rasulullah. Angering Rasulullah is the same as angering who? Allah, Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala, do you agree? Of course. That means that the pleasure of Fatima is the pleasure of Allah. The anger of Fatima is the anger of Allah. Tell me how many people do Rasulullah, Sallallahu alayhi wa alayhi, in his lifetime ever saying, whoever angers them angers me. You can't find that tradition about five people, 50 people, 100 people. Al-Muhammad, you'll find those traditions about them. When you're looking at him saying something like, Fatima Zapatumi, whoever angers her angers me, that's the first indicator. When everybody comes to propose for her, when they want to get married. Rasulullah later talks about the idea that if it's not for Ali, there's no one who would be anywhere near Fatima. What's he saying there? He's saying that all those who have come to propose, they may believe in God and so on, but that's not enough for you to even come near Fatima Zahra alayhi wa sallam. Fatima is cognizance of her Lord. And the way her Lord has poured grace and showered his grace over her, there's only one man who she can ever marry. And that's probably the only man in Arabia at the time and the only creation alongside her dad who's greater than her. And that's Ali ibn Abi Talib, alaihi sallam. We recognize that Rasulullah and Imam Ali, are the two greatest creations of God. Fatima Zahra cannot be with anyone else. Others can come and propose all day long with the event of Mubahela. There are many women who are around. And the Quran tells the Holy Prophet, peace be upon his family in Surah 3 verse 61, The Quran says, those who dispute with you after the knowledge has come to them, tell them you bring your sons, we'll bring our sons. Bring your woman, we'll bring our sons. Tell me, with all of these women present, Rasulullah decides that take Fatima. Why Fatima? Because the best to represent the Prophet is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is because the best to represent the religion of Islam is Fatima Zahra, alaihi sallam. It's not because she's my daughter. The verse did not say bring your daughters, it said bring your woman. He could bring any of his wives. There's a number of wives who are alive at that time he could have bought. There are a number of wives of Sahaba of Rasulullah he could have bought. But he decides the best of the woman to represent. And all of this is captivated in that wonderful sermon that she gives which people refer to as Al-Khutbah Al-Fadakia, the Fedek Sermon. Fedek Sermon. You know what's special about the Fedek Sermon? Put everything aside. The way she describes God is unreal. It deserves 50 lectures, 100 lectures, just on the introduction. There's something about Imam Ali Nabi Talib and Fadima Zahra, alaihi sallam, which is unique and which is the bedrock of Shiazim and that is their understanding of their Lord is above any creation that was around them. And mind you, if you're raised by Rasulullah you'd expect that. But the way she talks at the beginning of that khutbah highlights what Fadima is. Not the daughter of Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa alaih or the wife of Ali in her own right. She is a very special figure. And that's why today, when millions come to remember Fadima Zahra, alaihi sallam, I'm saddened when I hear people saying, you know how great Fadima Zahra is? She's the daughter of Rasulullah. So what? What of Fadima Zahra? Sayings, have you ever heard her to explain the Quran? The woman used to go and learn the Quran from her. Even Samia Allahuliman Hamida, we all know it. After Ruku'ah, Samia Allahuliman Hamida, we all recite it. She used to give a tafsir. What is the meaning of those words, Samia Allahuliman Hamida? I didn't even think a lecture could be given about that word. But Subhanallah, and others used to come and they used to ask her questions because they believed, that's not just the daughter of so-and-so. That personality is the most perfect, holistic, rounded figure you'll find in her knowledge perfection, in terms of her manners, perfection. Her son tells her, mama, I hear you praying for the neighbors, the community. And she would reply with that line that we all use until today, Al-Jab, Thumma Daaq, your neighbors, and then your house. And even the way Imam Ali, alaihi salam talks about her highlights to you just what a special person she was. You know, a flower came from heaven, went to heaven, left its fragrance in my mind. You know, it's this really romantic, but unbelievable thing that Ali Ibn Al-Tab is destroyed when she dies. You know, she's given him four wonderful kids. But at the same time, he found a partner to open up to. At the same time, he found someone who was always there for him whenever he was facing the harshest moments, 63 wounds on his body. She doesn't come out and say, hey, you know what? I'm the daughter of so-and-so, I don't clean anyone and I will not help anything. No, no, she comes with the most beautiful, beautiful humility, like the rest of those ladies on the day of Ahud. So let's not narrow Fatima Zahrat down her greatness because she's the daughter or wife of someone. No, no, in her own right, that cognizance of the Lord, which her mother Khadija was impeccably showing when she was living. But in her own right, there is a uniqueness to it. Having such a status within Islam being known for herself rather than her lineage, her father, husband, et cetera, what lessons do you think our younger sisters could take from her life as an example from her modesty, from her teaching, from her socioeconomic works, from her sermons? Where would you recommend that a sister or even a brother listening now should go and start to try and better understand who she truly was and what she truly meant to the Muslim ummah? I think firstly, approachability. I think that's something missing in our communities today. And I think that Fatima Zahrat, everybody found that she was approachable. Now, someone might say, hold on, let's talk about her knowledge, let's talk about it. No, no, simple approachability. This is the daughter of the man seen as God's greatest creation and his final messenger. She could easily have stiff upper lip, arrogant, you can't come talk to me, I don't know you. Don't come talk to us if you're not at this level or you're not from this family or you know, we have chaps out there like them. Now, with Fatima Zahrat, there's an unbelievable approachability. When you look at the way people talk about someone, those who've lived with them, those who've seen them in their most difficult moments, you realize what they are. You look at the way say the filter talks about Fatima Zahrat, that she would tell me, filter, go rest, today's my day. Tell me today. I can't imagine someone from a massive, you know, well-known royal family out there. I can't imagine them saying to one of their servants, you know, they have many of these servants they bring from the far East, Philippines and Malaysia, Indonesia. Sometimes they bring from Bangladesh and you see them sometimes, you know, running after their fat kids. These guys can produce a football, not a child. It's a round ball that's walking on the earth and you see these poor, far Eastern servants picking them up, well, I can't pick up someone like that. I'll break my back sincerely and yet you'll see them picking up these. Now, being mistreated by the kids or recently they showed one king of one particular royal family in the Middle East who was beating everybody around him. You know, Arab Bedouin is a Bedouin. They remain a dog forever. But when you're looking at Fatima Zahra, for her, she is the royalty of this religion. But she tells someone like say the filter, don't worry. Today's my day. Believe you me. There are those out there who do magalists in the honor of Fatima Zahra. They'll have a seven at home. You can never, never will they imagine, listen, that you are gonna do it one day and I'll do another. No, impossible. Some don't even let them come near them and sit in their gatherings or eat on the same table. Fatima Zahra, alaihi salam, approachability is something wonderful because you can have all the knowledge in the world but not an approachable person. Abrasive, foul mouth. But when Fatima Zahra, alaihi salam, has all of that, you had to say the filter, asmaa bint omais, look at the way she, you know, glosses on the life of Fatima Zahra, alaihi salam and constantly in praise of her behavior and her humility. That lady who came to ask Fatima Zahra a question about Salam, and I've had these moments where someone says, can I just ask you one question say it and you're like, yeah, yeah, sure. About 25 minutes later, everybody's asked about 40, 50 questions and then someone says- I probably want to disguise myself. Come up to say it and I can answer it. So I think when that happens, that lady realizes that I've asked a few questions too many and she asks Fatima Zahra, I'm sorry that I've asked that many questions and then she replies with this unbelievable reply. She says that if someone said to you that if you carry something to the top of that mountain, they'll pay you this many DNR, for example. What did you do? I said, yeah. I said, Allah will reward me with a lot more thawab for answering these questions. In our communities today, sometimes when a revert joins our community, sometimes the approachability factor hurts them because they look around and they're wondering, you know what, I can't really see anyone who's looked at me in a way where they've said, you know what, come welcome, come sit with us. And we actually have groups in the Muslim community where if you want to be part of that group, they've got to first rubber stamp you before you can come and sit in their gatherings. And this happens with the brothers and the sisters. Both who claim to love Fatima Zahra, that you know what, I see someone new. I don't go up to them and say, how are you? What's your name? I've seen you before. Is there any way we can help you? And your approachability, she's unique. Secondly, speaking out against the injustice of her time, she could have remained silent. She's say that Nisa Al-Alamin, me and you have just discussed this, but she speaks louder than the other three. There's something unique. Say that Khadija spoke out against, but in her own unique, Say that Khadija very, you know, royal-like manner. And Maria, in her own way, tried to speak out against the arrogance of some of the clergy of her time. I see it was a one-on-one battle in reality with Pharaoh. Fatima Zahra, no, I'll take on the establishment. I'm not scared. Today, many of our adults, yeah. Young age as well, Fatima. Young age, 18 years old. A lot of people don't realize that they think maybe she was 50, 60, 70, 18 years old. At that young age? Today, many of our daughters, may Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala help them, our sisters, our mothers, they're living at a time where it's so difficult to keep your hijab in terms of your social modesty and in terms of your physical modesty, the khimar, the head covering. It's so difficult. It really is. For people like myself to come here and sit down and say, oh, you know what? All the sisters should be wearing their head coverings easy. It's not easy. It's difficult times. But it's at times like this where you hold on to Fatima because she saw a certain oppression take place where all of a sudden, the pre-Islamic Arabian culture of woman not inheriting was now back. It was back. The Arab Bedouins were now in power and she could easily stay quiet. But no, I'm not gonna stay quiet. I'm gonna speak out against injustice because if injustice anywhere as Luther King used to say, is a threat to justice everywhere. Injustice anywhere? Is a threat to justice everywhere. Is a threat to justice everywhere. She would not remain silent. And that brings the anger of those at that time. I'm not surprised when I read in Sahih al-Bukhari certain narrations which mentioned that she wanted a secret burial. She did not want certain people like her funeral because she saw that I spoke out against your oppression but what you did back to me is the biggest sign of hypocrisy. The other physical. So these two lessons, one a very Akhlaqi type lesson, another one a more social reform type standard that she said. I think these are two wonderful lessons that we can benefit from her. Insha'Allah. What is the reason that her burial site is hidden out of interest? Well, it's difficult political time after the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and his family dies. And I think anyone who out there tries to gloss over this and say everything was rosy, well, you know, it's their day of judgment. I don't wanna sit here and say that they're covering the facts but I find it amazing that in the books of all Muslims, it mentions who she died angry with, who she didn't want at her funeral and that she wanted a secret burial and you'll still find Muslims out there will say that you know what, nothing really happened. People have disagreements. What did I say early on the show? I said, the Quran said some messengers excel above others, some prophets above others. Why? The Quran doesn't need to say this. I also said that the moment the Quran is saying this, it's giving us an indication that our theologies are built around these principles. And that if the Prophet Muhammad himself peace be upon him and his family says, Fatima is a Fatumi whoever angers her angers me, these are all indicators. Do you know that there were people who knew that it was such a powerful indicator? They started fabricating nonsense that the Hadith Fatima is a Fatumi whoever angers her angers me is because Imam Ali angered Fatima al-Zahra al-Isra. That Imam Ali supposedly went to propose for Juweiriya, the daughter of Abu Jahl. And in so doing, what about the ayah and the anger of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi. And mind you, if you look at the chain of the narrators of that tradition, some of Ali ibn Abi Talib's greatest enemies are all subhanallah in one chain. But when Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi is saying Fatima is a Fatumi whoever angers her angers me, theology is built on this because he's no longer saying my daughter, now it's, and whoever angers me, angers Allah. So for someone to come and tell me, while Fatima being angry after Rasulullah died, wallah, sometimes you hear the following, listen to the following reasons. I've got to mention them on air. Sometimes you hear people saying, oh, she died because of depression. Listen, we've all had difficult times but I don't think it necessarily led to our deaths. And you're telling me, the part of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi who her angers angle of Allah dies of depression. Then there's others who are like, well, you know what, she wasn't a state of grief but nothing much further. No, no, there are clear traditions that there was an intention to attack the house of Fatima. Some say, but they didn't, did they, didn't they? The names of those involved speak for themselves. You've got to be someone who doesn't know the biographies for you to provide a defense for those who are involved because some of these guys came to Islam by slapping their sisters. Others of them have a track record of killing women. Others are from tribes such as Thaqif and Hawazin and Mahzoon. These are vicious animal tribes who produce some of the most barbaric people. So yeah, it's extremely sensitive issue. And some would ensure that it shouldn't be narrated because of its sensitivity and because of the bad light, it puts certain supposedly great personalities in. Of course. Thank you very much Seyedna. Inshallah, we'll be back after a short break where we'll be taking your questions. This could be questions on the topic we've discussed tonight, on the issues that we've already mentioned and discussed tonight also. All these could be general questions that you'd like me to put towards Seyed Amman Akshawani who is with us tonight. You can send in your questions via the WhatsApp number or call in live for the number provided on the screen or send in your messages through Facebook. Once again, we'd like to congratulate you on the auspicious birth of Seyed Amasoum, and we'd like to see you again after the break. As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Thank you for joining us once again for Live in London with Dr. Seyed Amman Akshawani, where tonight we're discussing and looking into the topic of The Greatest Woman in Islam. For the first half of the show for the viewers who missed it, we discussed four of The Greatest Woman in Islam as per our narrations within Shia and other sects books. And we looked into The Greatest Woman in the history of Islam, Fatima Tozahra As-salamu alaykum. For this part of the show, we'll be carrying on with this discussion as well as taking your calls via the number on the screen, which is 07 939 917 163. We look forward to hearing from you, inshallah. You can call in the studio and put your questions direct to Dr. Seyed Ammar himself. Alternatively, you can send in your questions with your name and your location via WhatsApp or send them in on Facebook via the comments or messages list. Seyed, now, we have a question that's come in during the break from brother Amireli from London. He's asking, what is Fatima's Masaf and who holds it? Yes, the Masaf of Fatima brings about a lot of controversy. Because people assume when they hear the word Masaf, they assume that it's the Quran of Fatima. And that couldn't be further from the truth. After Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa alayhi died as a form of consolation, a form of consoling Fatima to al-Zahra, because of that sadness that had enveloped her, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala would provide her through the dictations of the angel in the same way Maryam received from Jibra'il. Likewise, Fatima is a muhadath. And that this particular book, the Masaf of Fatima, is seen as being three times the length of the Holy Quran, three times the size of the Holy Quran. But it doesn't contain a single verse from the Holy Quran. Rather, it talks about events that are to happen at the present and at the future and different types of knowledge which is given to Ahlul Bayt, al-Aleem As-Salam. And the person who helps us describe with this is Imam Ali Ibn Amital, al-Aleem As-Salam. And this remains with Al-Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa alayhi wa alayhi. So the current holder would be Imam Mahdi, al-Aleem As-Salam. Sister Raqayyeh from Deyboun says, why does Hadith al-Kisar start with Hazat al-Zahra, and not the Prophet first, if he was the best of creation? Even if it starts with Hazat al-Zahra, it's not contradictory. You know, people try and say that, well, because Rasulullah is not the one where it says, Hum Muhammad, for example, and his daughter and his son-in-law and his grandchildren. Therefore, does it mean that Hazat al-Zahra is greater? Not at all, no. That section refers to Hazat al-Zahra and then her father. And then it refers to her husband and then to her sons. And here there is no contradiction in trying to mention that, oh, because it says Hum Fatima, that means Fatima is greater than anyone else, not at all. Rasulullah remains the greatest, Al-Aleem Nabi At-Taliba, after him. Okay, thank you, Sayyidina. Brother Irtiza from Pakistan, why has a woman been put subservient or secondary to men in a lot of aspects, e.g. the wife must obey her husband in laws of inheritance even in value of testimony. The world is moving towards equality, but Islam doesn't seem to support this idea. What would you respond to that? I wouldn't generalize and say that Islam doesn't support this idea or that Islam has not sought to look at how laws are to be applied in relation to the time and the space and the context in which they're revealed. Let me explain. A brother is mentioning about these particular laws in relation to women. When the religion of Islam comes towards the Arabs in that period, their treatment of the woman is barbaric. Some of them decide to bury their daughters alive. When they bury their daughters alive, it's because of three reasons, either because they are scared their daughters may run away with someone from a different tribe, or they think their daughters cannot help them in the battlefield, or they think their daughters will not be good business women. So some of them would come and bury their daughters alive. If you want, you can look in the Quran, Surah 16, verse 58 to 59. Well, you look at the famous eye of the Quran. The female baby will ask on the day of judgment, for what reason was I buried alive? Women, these girls were being buried alive, number one. Two, the brother saying Islam is not respecting the woman in terms of inheritance. For the woman to inherit, firstly, in some countries took years much later than the religion of Islam. In Arabia, women forget inheriting. They were inherited. Give me an example. My dad is married to my mom. My mom dies, he marries a second woman, yes? When he dies, I inherit her. I inherit my stepmother. That used to happen in Arabia. So you'd have to marry her? No, you inherit her. She's yours. The stepmother has no option. She becomes yours. Wow. What about mahram, na mahram, halal haram? Well, mahram and na mahram, halal haram, these are all Islamic laws. We're talking Jaheliyah. So when you're looking at this, you're finding that the woman, mahram, dowry, today the dowry is given in those days, father-in-law takes the dowry. Woman who are married, if their husband decides, you know what? I don't like this relationship. I'm just going to walk away. My dear brother, Irtiza, I think his name was. Irtiza from Pakistan. When you're telling me about the laws that Islam instituted, first look at the situation and the context of how these laws came. The first part of the answer is that Islam came to try and bring, wallah, I have read people who have written articles, proving that the greatest feminist in the history of the world was the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon his family. Now, because when they see the reforms that he instituted in a society that barbarically treated woman, I'm not going to say that those reforms were going to bring an ideal straight away. And I'm also going to throw the spanner in the works by saying that I think if the Prophet, peace be upon his family, looked at us today, he would ask us that I would have thought you people would have continued in looking at the rights of what we had established and worked harder on establishing it more. But that's not to say, that's not to say that Islam should be embarrassed by its record. Muslim countries have had presidents or prime ministers who are women. United States of America until today has not had a leader of the country who's a woman. Pakistan could turn around and say we have. Bangladesh could turn around and say we have. And most people view Pakistan as Bangladesh's third world countries. Tell you what, women got to the top. If the woman were so oppressed in early Islam, Aisha, the daughter of Abu Bakr, would not be able to lead an army of thousands of men to fight Ali Ibn Abi Talib at the Battle of the Camel. If women were confined to houses and women were ordered that all you can be is servants, all you do is cook and clean, how does Aisha have the ability? The wife of Muhammad, therefore, she is seen as being one who represents some of the vision of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon his family. She struts on her camel, sitting there relaxed with thousands of men around her and you say Islam is a religion that has not given rights. How many women are there? That when a religion is 25, 30 years of age, are able to lead that much men and be revered and respected so highly that even if she does do that and raises an army, you can't say a single word about it. And then when you bring in me other issues like inheritance, look at the context. And the idea of the breadwinner at that time was the man. Therefore, the inheritance would be higher because the man is the one who's seen as the breadwinner. The man is the one seen who has to spend the right of the woman is that she doesn't have to work a single day on her life. That's why her husband has to spend completely on her. If you're telling me about witnessing, the verse on witnessing is a verse in reference, for example, to an issue of a financial dispute or transaction. One witness comes to help the other. It's not an easy issue. So it's not just simple for a person to say everybody's moved on. No, everybody has not moved on. The United Kingdom and the United States only in the 20th century. Only in the 20th century were there movements to tell women, okay, maybe you can vote. And there are many women who lost their lives or who were mocked. And yet Islam many years back had women leading armies or women speaking out against oppression in their time. I'm not going to deny that the application of some of these laws is in the hands of sometimes a chauvinistic patriarchal male arrogant society. I can't deny that. I can't deny it. Nor can I deny the fact that a jurist who leads a religion who's seen his wife or his daughters live in a certain way, I find it difficult to see how they can appreciate that others may also be spiritually high without living in the same prototype that they live in or expect of. That's the debate in itself. That when a person provides you with laws in a particular religion, how much of their worldview has an effect on the law that they formulate? 0.01%? Even that's a lot. Of course. Say no, we have a caller on the line. As-salamu alaykum. Please could you state your name and location and your question to Dr. Sayyid Ammar. As-salamu alaykum, my name is Sayyid. I'm from Cricketwood. And my question for the Sayyid is this. We have a very long hadith on the member of the law that Surah As-salam said to Imam Ali, if it wasn't for me, Allah wouldn't have created you. And if it wasn't for you, Allah wouldn't have created me. And if it wasn't for Fatima the Zahra, he wouldn't create neither of us. But they said, please explain on this hadith. Thank you very much. This hadith I think is one of the narrations that highlights to us that divine mystical Abrahamic light that continued in the loins of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and the great Abu Talib alayhi sallam. It wasn't just a matter of Arabs who were becoming leaders of a religion. Rather it was part of a divine covenant. And Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala was also showing us that in reality these three, Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, Ali and Fatima are the greatest teachers that I have created if ever you want to understand my religion or my existence and the mercy that surrounds you. And believe me, Subhanallah, when you look at a sermon like Al-Khutbah al-Fadaki of Al-Zahra or a dua like the supplications of Ali, you'll find that if you want to know God, there is no one better than the triumvirate, the triumvirate of Muhammad, Ali and Fatima. So therefore when we read narrations like this or a narration like Imam al-Haskari's narration we are a hujjah on the people and Fatima is a hujjah on us. Such narrations highlight to us that the very depths of knowledge in this religion and the foundations of this religion lie with Rasulullah, with Fatima al-Zahra and with Naudat Imam Ali bin Abi Ali. Thank you very much Syedna. We have another question. This question is from sister Harjir from London. Regarding the verse in the Quran, Allah doesn't burden a soul except that which it can bear. Can it be applied to life's difficulties or only to the struggles that sometimes comes with performing religious actions in Islam such as prayer, fasting, hijab? I think even if you're looking at the acts of worship even them, Allah SWT has provided us with a means of still being able to perform them in moments of difficulty. I tell you even now if I'm on a plane and while I'm on that plane I'll be like well you know what I'm not going to pray on this plane because Allah doesn't burden a soul with that which it can handle and if I pray on this plane then you know some people might mock me if I stand up and go and stand near the bathroom and do it in the laws you find that ok stay sitting in your seat and face the direction that's in front of you for example if you don't know the direction of the qiblah so even in those situations where man sometimes begins to use that verse for their own selfishness selfishness sometimes that you know what Allah doesn't burden a soul that which it can handle therefore I'm not going to do this no Allah SWT has provided us with different avenues in which we are able to reach in which we are able to communicate to Him in which the religion came to bring ease and not hardship therefore sometimes also don't blame Allah SWT rather look at yourself Allah has set a principle SWT now I'm not going to burden a soul with that which it can handle therefore the situation that you're in first ask yourself how did you get into that situation don't blame me secondly how can you get yourself out of that situation you'll find the answers thirdly learn the lessons from that situation there's no way that Allah SWT would break that principle no way Allah SWT will never place on me a burden which I cannot handle it goes against the very foundations of justice thank you Sayyed this one is from Saudi Arabia from Sister Aliza my question is how shall Muslim women react or what shall they do when they find out their spouses are not sincere with them and mistreat their wives this has become a very common issue today and would like to know what Muslim women should do in order to save their marriage is getting divorced the only solution when such issues arise I think getting divorced is the final solution I think if there are issues between the husband and the wife always the people of wisdom should be brought into the issue if we're talking it's reached a very difficult stage at the beginning now you talk between yourself you talk between yourself you change the environment you're in maybe go on a holiday together spend time together many brothers and sisters do not realize that when they get married and there's kids right at the beginning of that marriage there's extreme difficulties physically and emotionally for especially the mother and the relationship and also there's now different responsibilities that have come about and now there is less time and things are not as rosy as that engagement period was therefore in this situation a person shouldn't just say well you know I'm getting frustrated with life that's it I want to get rid of this but rather maybe change environment maybe go to pastures new maybe change scenery and then one could go to the people of wisdom sit with them you know subhanallah sometimes however much we think we know when we speak to those who have wisdom be they younger than us or be they older than us they open for us an angle none of us can imagine especially those who have traveled the earth and have seen many different situations and many different stories therefore if you find for example that your husband let's say has been insincere don't hide it for a long time sit with them bring up the issue talk with each other in a respectful manner and let the person know your feelings and hear what their feelings are I'm not going to make an excuse for them but hear what they've got to say maybe on your side maybe on your side there are things which you didn't notice remember a believer is a mirror to their fellow believer and the two have to be mirrors to one another the husband may not realize that his behavior what it's doing to you and you may not realize that sometimes some of the decisions that you're making may also be bringing a certain disturbance to the relationship but don't straight away decide that we're just going to end this and also at the same time be careful whose advice that you take if you're going to take the advice of someone who's not necessarily seen as a person of wisdom or someone who themselves may have a certain jealousy they want to see you break up because they're jealous of you but they'll say you know what it's better that you break up because they hate the world they want you to also hate the world too be careful don't just listen to anyone out there there are people of wisdom who you can sit with and also if now after the people of wisdom haven't done or haven't reached a solution maybe a period of separation is healthy why straight away we should sign papers of divorce there are times when papers of divorce are needed let's be clear there are certain disgusting acts that can occur where there should be a break up Allah SWT has not said there's no divorce in Islam the worst of the halal but it's allowed but sometimes a period of separation makes the absence makes the heart grow fonder these are all things that should be taken on board because there are many who may have got divorce who regret their divorces and I think it's vital for us that maybe periods of separations where you see whether there's still something there Imam Ahmad al-Mumni even has traditions where he tells the men of the community that make 100 excuses for your wife now you look at traditions like that and you're wondering why is he saying something like that but then there are traditions which also say things like for example things along the lines of husband has the right to choose his wife's friends you see some of our sisters for example they say that we want to make sure that we quote all the traditions that suit us but then if there's a tradition that suits the brothers like no no I don't want to hear that tradition al-Baita al-Alim al-Salam have made it clear marriage is really a struggle when you hear people like the Imam saying the jihad of the wife not the battlefield it's having good manners with the husband it's a struggle because when you're showing the best of manners you're saying nothing reciprocated it's a struggle and there is no great personality but that they had tests in their marriage Imam al-Hassan never had a test in his marriage Imam al-Jawad did not have a test in his marriage Nabi Ibrahim did not have a test in his marriage Nabi Nuh did not have a test in his marriage many will have tests in their marriage and we'll have this discussion coming soon about marriage and divorce and Islam and so on but please my dear brothers and sisters the people of wisdom do not neglect them sometimes a word with a wise member of the community can go a long way yes yes thank you very much Seyed another one from brother in Tizar from Pakistan I think is a good question hence I'm using him twice he says Islam preaches us to stay united but at the same time we have to tell our generations that about the injustices caused by those revered by members of the other sects how do we draw the fine line between maintaining unity along with telling history to our younger generations unity unity is not that I hide what I believe in it's that I recognize that there are others who may have reached different conclusions to me I can still give lectures I remember there was a certain time in in the Iraqi community in London I remember when I was lecturing maybe about 12 years ago where people were saying that you know don't mention too much about Imam Ali and Ghadir and Jamal and Saqif and you know try let's talk more let's bring more unity I did used to wonder at the time that maybe they are right maybe we don't need to talk this much about our beliefs then I realized no you talk about your beliefs openly but you recognize that there may be others who differ with you there are others who have taken different theological paths to you there are others who drink from tap water while you drink from avian you got to appreciate that these things happen so secondly I think trying to maintain as much respect while you're talking about certain sensitive issues as difficult as it may be when you talk about these tragic moments in Islamic history but now for example in the UK myself other lecturers we've had our times where we've debated issues within our communities we've had our times where we've discussed many sensitive issues but I think it's very important with Islam under so much attack at the moment that the Muslims try and find ways of working together and that these theological issues can be discussed with respect and in different circles in the right time in the right place and with qualified people Sister Mina from London she's asking why is nothing ever spoken about the plight of the Prophet's daughter Sayyeda Ruqayye bint Rasoolallah about Sayyeda Ruqayye Sayyeda Ruqayye bint Rasoolallah is what she's asking about the plight of Ruqayye the daughter of Rasoolallah that's what I have on the screen Ruqayye the daughter of Rasoolallah I don't see why it would be a plight these you know these daughters were the plight that one may argue is that originally they were married to Abu Lahab's two sons Atba and Atayba and then later on Abu Lahab orders them to get divorced but in terms of plight that happened to them I don't know Ruqayye daughter of Imam al-Hussain we can certainly talk about plight but Ruqayye daughter of Rasoolallah she lives what any other Muslim lives there's not much in the way of plight thank you Sayyed Saif Ali from Mumbai is asking a bit of topic he's asking how can he increase his concentration while performing Salah not easy I'm no one to talk about that because it's not like I've achieved perfection in concentration and Salah there's always the odd time when you're thinking where am I going out or meeting do I have at the football match that I was watching it's not easy but there are certain things which I believe that I may have seen that have helped me in certain instances first and foremost trying to pray somewhere which is a bit quieter you know a room which is dedicated as a Salah room going to the mosque that has a major effect you're gonna start you know you're gonna pray standing next to the World Cup final on TV half your eyes are gonna be looking at the TV screen if you can have a room in the house which is dedicated to praying or you can find a quieter spot or you can go to the local mosque everyone's in a while and pray your prayers that's one thing secondly every meal requires starters Salah requires starters as well for example a person reading a bit of Quran before they begin doing some istighfar before they begin that can help thirdly not always reciting Qulhu Allahu Ahad or Anna Ataina ka Al-Qawthar after Surat Al-Fatiha try and change it up a bit try and read Surat Al-Naa Try and read Surat Al-Falaq Try and read for example Surat Al-Qad Try and read Surat Al-Muzammins Surat Al-Kafirun these have many rewards Surat Al-Baqarah you can read it into Surat Al-Baqarah certainly when you're when you're praying but try and change up the Surat insha'Allah that's something in Qunood not the same dua all the time many times you hear people recite the same dua Rab Anna Ataina or sometimes you know try and change it Allahumma Khunli Walika Allahumma Khunli Walika or Sujood change up the last part not always O Ya Walia Al-Aafia sometimes Allahumma Annias Al-Rahat Al-Mawt Al-Maghfirat Al-Mawt Al-Hafwa Al-Hasam Allah is enough for me Allah is enough for me Allah is enough for me Allahumma Rzukna Shafa'at Al-Husayn All of these try and change up the Salat why because automatically in your head you're thinking you know what today I'm doing a different Sura you're now devoted to Allah you're thinking about how to talk to Allah and more important than all the other advices I've given make sure you know the translation of what you're reciting there are many Muslims out there if you ask them what does the word Baalin mean غير المغضوم عليهم ولا باالين many don't know there are many if you ask them what's the difference between the two there are many when they get up from Ruku'a Allah is the one who praises him many don't say there are many who don't know the translation then you're just talking we're oscillating tongue movements are happening the hardest if you can to try and sit one day and learn the translation of what it is that you're saying to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala and see the difference it will make one advice that I got when I asked this question from a Grand Ayat Allah was which I think has helped me personally I'm your student but he said Salah like you said has starters also so he said right from where you do wudhu think why you're performing the wudhu when you wash your face say forgive the sins that I did with my eyes forgive the feet that have taken me to say and etc from that moment you get into the sort of position to pray and you're almost ready to greet your Lord so I find that that's always helped within Salah next question Sayyidna is from brother Zeeshan in the United States he's asking are religion it's okay to marry within cousins he's asking due to genetic problems with marrying cousins is it better to marry outside of the family or within the family well you look in the life of the Ahlul Bayt Aalim As-Salam and you'll find for example one of his marriages is with a cousin and that is Zaynab whereas another of his marriages for example is with someone like Sayyidna Khadija who's not a first cousin Imam Ali Ibn Al-Mital of Aalim As-Salam marries his second cousin whereas Sayyidna Zaynab marries her first cousin so it's not a rule that you have to marry your first cousin if you find that there's going to be a medical issue in the family if you are going to continue to marry cousins your dad married a cousin if you could see there's going to be a medical issue then you should not a sister has put a question since Imamat is so fundamental to our beliefs why is it not mentioned in the Qur'an in clear words why does the Qur'an they've written stayed silent or indirected on the topic of Imamat InshaAllah we have this discussion on Friday InshaAllah we tell the viewers on Friday join us for the discussion well we'll look at Imamat the discussion of Imamat, the meaning of Imamat how to explain Imamat of those who say well it's not in the Qur'an how could you have it as a core belief how do we understand authority and how do we understand the Risala of RasulAllah what is the Imamat of Ibraheem all of this we'll discuss on Friday InshaAllah Sayyid Ali from Northampton has kindly messaged saying since we're on the topic of Salah what are the benefits and what is Tasbihat al-Zahra well it seems that from the narrations the lady of light is looking for someone to help her in the house and that RasulAllah replies to her I'll give you something which is greater something which is more beneficial to you than any helper who will be with you at home and that is for you to 34 times say Allahu Akbar and 33 times say SubhanAllah and 33 times say Alhamdulillah and that whoever recites the SubhanAllah the plethora of traditions which talk about the merits of the Tasbihat al-Zahra one particular narration I can go on and on about the narrations but one particular narration which always struck me is that whoever finishes their Salah and straight away begins with the rosary bead the recital of the dhikr of the Tasbihat al-Zahra al-Salam Allah will not allow them to touch the fire of hell fire of hell will never touch them sometimes when we finish our Salah Allah my dear brothers and sisters all it takes is just to stay on the prayer mat one or two minutes extra it makes a whole difference to your day your year, your life and your hereafter your craft of course in your day you've mentioned 33 times Alhamdulillah Alhamd is a form of thanking Allah is a form of praising Allah and if Imam Salliq says if you want blessings to continue and remain in your life always say Alhamdulillah secondly at the same time don't just go Allah Akbar Allah Akbar Allah Akbar I've seen people honestly I've seen them it just sounds like a monotone you hear them straight after Salah Allah Akbar Allah Akbar you don't think you wonder what this person is saying no no Subhan Allah say it even you know in Salah when you recite you know you can't say it in one breath you have to cut it okay no no speak to Allah properly likewise when you say what spa what spa are you referring to Subhan Allah Subhan Allah and say it with full meaning it's like in Lailat Al Qadr when you see people and they're doing the tasbih no no say it to Allah like you mean it astaghfirullah the other benefit is that you say it in a way where you really are communicating to Allah so that's the history of it Imam al-Sadaq has unbelievable number of traditions about how this Salah is greater than this many raka'ahs and this tasbih is greater than this Salah then this many Salahs and this many raka'ahs there's many traditions out there say it now thank you very much for the discussion tonight with our respected brothers and sisters our viewers we would like to congratulate you on the auspicious birth of Hazreti Masoum Allah our next show inshallah will be on Friday evening 10pm London time where we will begin by discussing a chosen topic that will be revealed in tomorrow by a Facebook inshallah and for the second part of the show we'll be answering your general questions as always thank you for joining us inshallah we look forward to seeing you soon on Friday night please keep us in your doors