Quick Answer:
A name is typically given as a characteristic that defines the one that it is bestowed upon. From various traditions, it appears that the lady Fatimah (‘a) was given this name by God. From a grammatical perspective, the name Fatimah comes from the root word Faṭama which means to separate a child from its mother’s milk;
Detailed Answer:
A name is typically given as a characteristic that defines the one that it is bestowed upon. From various traditions, it appears that the lady Fatimah (‘a) was given this name by God. From a grammatical perspective, the name Fatimah comes from the root word Faṭama which means to separate a child from its mother’s milk; therefore, this term is used for all kinds of separation and disengagement. Now let us review some of the Islamic traditions on this subject:
1- A tradition narrated from the Prophet (ṣ) says: She was named Fatimah for God has saved her and her friends from the fire of hell.[1] This tradition seems to mean that Fatimah (‘a) was given this name from God and the meaning of the name is that God has promised her and those who love her that they will never enter the fire.
2- In another tradition narrated from Imam ‘Alī (‘a), he has narrated that the Prophet (ṣ) told Fāṭimah (‘a): Oh Fatimah , do you know why you have been named Fatimah ? Imam ‘Alī (‘a) said: Oh Prophet of God (ṣ), please tell us why she has been named Fatimah . The Prophet (ṣ) said: God the Almighty has saved her and her children from the fire of hell on the Day of Judgment.[2] It is self evident that the children that are mentioned here are those children who follow the ideology of their mother, not children like the son of Prophet Noah (‘a), who has been mentioned in the Quran with the following words: “O Noah! Indeed He is not of your family…”[3]
It is for this reason that in some of the traditions, the words Dhurrīyah and Muḥibbān have been mentioned together; it would naturally be a mistake to believe that the tradition is saying that if these children commit all sorts of sins and even become disbelievers in God, then they will be safe from the punishment of God on the Day of Judgment. Such a belief is not in line with any of the values of Islam and even the Prophet (ṣ) has been addressed in the Quran with the following words: “Certainly it has been revealed to you and to those [who have been] before you: ‘If you ascribe a partner to Allah your works shall fail and you shall surely be among the losers.”[4] Another verse in the Quran states: “Had he faked any sayings in Our name, We would have surely seized him by the right hand and
then cut off his aorta,”[5][6]
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