Did The Prophet (Pbuh) Present The Land To Fatimah (sa) ?
The Prophet (pbuh) in his life time with the instructions from Allah the almighty presented this Land to Hazrath Fatimah (sa), as is found in the Commentary of the respected Sunni Scholar, Jalaluddin al-Suyuti. Here is the historical background for the Land of Fadak, and after that is the text for the Tafseer for the Verse 26 Chapter XVII.
Imam ‘Ali (as) was sent to Fadak, a Jewish town not far from Khaibar to take it. But, before the use of any force, the inhabitants tendered their submission, ceding half of their property to the prophet (pbuh). When the Angel Gabriel revealed to the Prophet the Divine Command as in the Verse 26 of Chapter XVII (17)
"And give unto one who is of Kin (to thee) that which is due”(17:26)
and the Prophet (pbuh) asked as to who was meant as "being of Kin". the Angel named Hazrath Fatimah (sa) and told the Prophet (pbuh) to give Fadak to her (as), as the Income from Fadak belonged wholly to him on account of its being ceded to him without the use of force. the Prophet (pbuh) accordingly bestowed upon Hazrath Fatimah (sa) his estate of Fadak for the subsistence of herself and her children.
With reference to the above Qur’anic Verse, many Sunni commentators have written that:
when the Verse was revealed, the Holy Prophet (Pbuh) asked the Angel Gabriel: "Who are the Kinsmen and what is their due?”The Angel Gibrael replied "Give Fadak to Fatimah for it is her due, and whatever is due to Allah and the Prophet (Pbuh) out of Fadak, that also belongs to her, so entrust to her also."
The above is narrated through al Bazzar, Abu Yala, Ibn Abi Hatim, Ibn Marduwayh and others from Abu Said al Khudri and through Ibn Marduwayh from Abdullah ibn al Abbas for the above verse.
Sunni references:
- Tafsir Durr al-Mansur, v4, p177
- Kanz al-Ummal, v2, p158
- Sawaiq al Muhriqah Chapter 15 p 21-22
- Rozatul Safaa vol 2 p 135
- Sharah e Muwaqif p 735
- Tareekh Ahmadi p45
- Ruh al ma’ani, vol 15 p 62
It leaves no room for us to believe that the Land of Fadak was not the personal belonging of Hazrath Fatimah (sa)!
Historians also write that
Certainly, Abu Bakar (ra) snatched Fadak from Fatimah (sa)
Sunni references:
- Sharah, vol 16 p 219
- Wafa al Wafa (as Samhudi), vol 3 p1000
- Sawaiq al Muhriqah, p 32
If anybody claims that the above story is no where to be found in the hadith books, I would like you to refer to these books, that are termed as authentic and reliable by the Sunni scholars that contains the very event that you have had mentioned.
- Commentary of the Qur’an by Fakhr al-Din al-Razi , v8, p125 (Under the Tafseer of Surah Hashr)
- Sawaiq al-Muhriqah by Ibn Hajar Haythmi, p21
Fatimah (sa) raised a voice when Fadak was stolen from her, protesting to Abu Bakar (ra), she said:
You have taken over possesion of Fadak although the Prophet had gifted it to me during his life time.
On this Abu Bakar (ra) asked her to produce witnesses of the gift. Consequently, Imam ‘Ali (as) and Umm Ayman gave evidence on her favor. Umm Ayman was the freed bond maid and the dry nurse for the Holy Prophet (pbuh), She was the mother of Usamah ibn Zayd ibn al Harith. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) usted to say Umm Ayman is my mother after my mother. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) also bore witness that she is among the people of paradise.
Sunni references:
- al Mustadrak, vol 4 p 63
- History of Tabari, vol 3 p 3460
- al Istiab, vol 4 p 1793
- Usud al Ghabah, vol 5 p 567
- Tabaqat, vol 8 p 192
- al Isabah, vol 4 p 432