قالَ الإِمامُ جَعْفَرُ ابْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الصّادِقُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ): مَنْ قَرَأَ الْقُرآنَ فَهُوَ غَنِيّ وَ لا فَقْرَ بَعْدَهُ وَ إِلاّ ما بِهِ غِنىً.
 
Imam Ja’far ibne Muhammad as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “One who recites the Qur’an will be free from need (of everyone), and thereafter will not be in need of anything.  But as for the one (who does not recite the Qur’an), nothing at all will make him needless (and he will always be in need of others).”Thawabul A’mal, Page 230
 

 Saying of Imam Ali(A.S)

قالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيُّ ابْنُ أَبِي طالِبٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ): أَلْـبَيْتُ الَّذِي يُقْرَأُ فِيهِ الْقُرآنَ وَ يُذْكَرُ اللّهُ عَزَّوَّجَلَّ فِيهِ تَكْـثُرُ بَرَكَتَهُ وَ تَحْضُرُهُ الْمَلائِكَةُ وَ تَهْجُرُهُ الشَّياطِينَ وَ يُضِيءُ لأَهْلِ السَّمآءِ كَما تُضِيءُ الْكَواكِبَ لأَهْلِ الأَرْضِ.

Amirul Mo’minin ‘Ali ibne Abi Talib (peace be upon him) has said: “The house in which the Qur’an is recited and Allah, The Noble and Grand, is rememberedwill receive numerous Divine blessings (barakah), the Angels will be present, and the Satans will be distanced from there. In addition, that house will shimmer for the people of the sky, just like the stars shimmer for the people on the Earth.”
Usulul Kafi, Volume 2, Page 610

قالَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ (صَلَّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ): مُعَلَّمُ الْقُرآنِ يَسْتَغْـفِرُ لَـهُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَتَّـى الْحُوتَ فِي الْبَحْرِ.
 
The Messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) has said: “Everything in existence prays for the forgiveness of the person who teaches the Qur’an - even the fish in the sea.”  (Usulul Kafi, Volume 3, Page 301)

قالَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ (صَلَّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ): خِـيارُكُمْ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرآنَ وَ عَلَّمَهُ إِلـى غَيْرِهِ.
 
The Messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) has said: “The best of those amongst you is the one who learns the Qur’an and then teaches it to others.”
 
Al-Amali of Shaykh at-Tusi, Volume 1, Page 5

قالَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ (صَلَّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ): خِـيارُكُمْ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرآنَ وَ عَلَّمَهُ إِلـى غَيْرِهِ.
 
The Messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) has said: “The best of those amongst you is the one who learns the Qur’an and then teaches it to others.”
 
Al-Amali of Shaykh at-Tusi, Volume 1, Page 5

قالَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ (صَلَّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ): قـارِيَ الْقُرآنِ وَ الْمُسْـتَمِعُ إِلَـيْهِ فِي الأَجْرِ سَواء.
 
The Messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) has said: “The one who recites the Qur’an and the one who listens to it have an equal share in the reward.”
 
Mustadrakul Wasa’il, Volume 1, Page 293

The Blessed Birth of Fātīmah al-Siddīqah (S)
By: Sheikh Hamed Soltanian (New Zealand)

Though her earthly existence began on the 20th of the Islamic month of Jamādī al-Thānī, five years after the advent of the prophetic mission of her father, her soul was created before the creation of the heavens and earths.[1] It is narrated from Salmān al-Fārsī that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his progeny, stated, “O Salmān! Allah created me from the purity of his light.[2] He then commanded me and I obeyed. After that, He created `Alī’s light from my light, so then He called him and he obeyed. He then created Fātīmah from my light and `Alī’s. He called her and she obeyed. He created Hasan and Husayn from my light and that of `Alī and Fātīmah. He called them and they obeyed. Allah named us with five names from his own names. Hence, Allah is Mahmūd (laudable) and I am Muhammad (praiseworthy), Allah is A`lā (most high) and this is `Alī (high or eminent), Allah is Fātir (Creator and establisher from nothing) and this is Fātīmah,[3] For Allah is Ihsān (beneficence) and this is Hasan (good and virtuous), Allah is Muhsin (one whom good comes from) and this is Husayn (doer of good). Then, from the light of Husayn, He created the nine Imāms (divinely appointed leaders). He called them and they obeyed. This (i.e., the creation of the Ahlul Bayt) was before the creation of the heavens and earths, air (or atmosphere) and water and angels and human beings. We were bestowed with knowledge from God and were lights that praised him, we heard and were obedient.[4]
Why should anyone find it strange that these pure souls were created before the rest of creation when creation can not exist without God’s divine proofs? The qudsī narration states:[5]
If it was not because of your existence I would not have created the heavens (and the world of creation) and if it was not for the (continuation of religion through the) imamate (leadership) and wilāyah (vicegerency) of `Alī, I would not have created you and if it was not for (protecting and establishing the divine message and the continuance of imamate and vicegerency through) Fātīmah, I would not have created you and `Alī.[6]
The miracle of Fātīmah, the daughter of Muhammad and Khadījah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon them and their progeny, began in the womb. Khadījah was the favourite wife of Prophet Muhammad (s) and the first Muslim woman. She and Imam `Alī (s) were the first two people who believed in the message of Islam.[7] The Messenger (s) did not marry anyone else while he was married to her and did not like being away from her.
On the night of ascension, Allah gifted an apple to his messenger that was so magnificent in its colour and fragrance that the angels were astonished. Allah commanded the Prophet to consume it and when he split the apple a light shined forth. At that time archangel Gabriel stated: eat Messenger of Allah (s) for this guided light is Fātīmah, who will be brought forth from your back.[8]
On the tenth of the Islamic month of Sha`bān, archangel Gabriel came to the Messenger of Allah (s) and brought God’s commandment that he should stay away from Khadījah (as) for forty days. Prophet Muhammad (s) obeyed and stayed in the house of his aunt, Fātīmah bint Asad, the wife of Abu Talib. Each night the Messenger (s) would receive food, dates and grapes from heaven and would cleanse his hands with heavenly water and towel. On the night of the fortieth, Prophet Muhammad (s) received commandment from God, “go to Khadījah’s house for God has promised that tonight He will bring forth from your back an offspring who is pure and virtuous.”
The Prophet (s) obeyed and went to Khadījah’s house. It was at this moment that Fātīmah, al-Zahrā (the shining example of virtue), was conceived by the Mother of the Believers, Khadījah.[9]
When in the womb, Fātīmah (s) would be a console to her mother speaking to her and even being a guide for her. It is narrated from the sixth Imam, al-Sādiq(s) that when Khadījah (as) married the messenger of God (s), the women of Mecca no longer associated with her. They would not even greet her and prevented other women from meeting her. Khadījah (as) became afraid and saddened (because of the situation that had occurred) and was afraid for the life of the Messenger (s). When she conceived Fātīmah (s), Fātīmah transformed her loneliness (and distress) into comfort and companionship. She would speak with her mother from within the womb and would encourage her to be patient and forbearing. Khadījah (s) had not discussed the matter with the Messenger (s) until one day the Messenger(s) entered and saw that lady (Khadījah) was speaking to someone while no one was around. He asked, “O Khadījah! Who do you speak with?”
Khadījah (s) in response pointed towards Fātīmah (s) whom she was carrying and said, “the child within me, she speaks to me and is my companion”.
The Messenger (s) stated, “Gabriel informed me that this child will be a girl. She and her offspring are pure and successful and God will continue my progeny through her.[10] It is from her that the Imams (leaders) of religion will be born and God, almighty, will place them (i.e., the Imams) as his inheritors on earth after revelation has ceased.”
(Hence,) Fātīmah (as) was Khadījah’s (as) companion until she was born. (When she felt the pangs of labour,) she sent someone to the women of Quraysh and the sons of Banī Hāshim so that they would come (to her aid). The person came back bringing message from them saying, “You did not listen to us and became the wife of the orphan, Muhammad ibn Abdullah, a man who is poor and with no assets. Therefore, we too will not listen to you and not come!”
By hearing this Khadījah (as) became grieved, but at that moment she saw four tall women with olive complexions standing in front of her and became frightened. One of the women spoke and said, “Do not be afraid. We have been sent by the Lord and have come to your aid. I am Sarah, (Prophet) Abraham’s (as) spouse. This is Asīyah the daughter of Muzāhim, your friend and your husband’s spouse in heaven. The third is Mary, the daughter of Imrān and the fourth (woman) is Kulthūm, the sister of (Prophet) Moses (as). God has sent us so that during the birth (of your daughter) we are with you and assistance for you.”
After the conversation (between the women of paradise), they gathered around Khadījah until Fātīmah was born completely pure and clean. When born, a light shined forth from Fātīmah that not only lit the houses of Mecca but the entire (world from) east and the west. From among the Hūr al-`Ayn, ten individuals came to Khadījah’s house, each carrying two vessels containing water from Kawthar.[11] The woman who was in front of Khadījah took Fātīmah and bathed her in Kawthar water. She brought out white garments, the colour of which was purer than milk and more fragrant than ambergris. She wrapped Fātīmah in one cloth and made a head covering with another and then spoke to her. Fātīmah’s first words were, “I bear witness that verily, there is no god but Allah and my father is the messenger of Allah, the master of all prophets, that `Alī is the master of the vicegerents (of Prophets) and that my children are the masters of the progenies (of God’s prophets).”
She then sent peace (and salutations) on the women and called each one by their name. Those women celebrated and the heavenly Hūr al-`Ayn became happy and gave each other good tidings. The inhabitants of the heaven also gave glad tidings of the birth of the mistress of the women of the worlds.[12] At that moment a bright light appeared in the sky. Its brightness was incomparable to anything before it. The women turned to Khadījah and said, “Take this girl who is pure and will purify and is filled with blessings. God has blessed her and her offspring.”
Khadījah (s) took the child in her hands and was filled with delight. She placed Fātīmah’s (s) mouth to her chest.[13] Thus, was Fātīmah al-Siddīqah (the truthful) born into this world.
In reports from the Ahlul Bayt (s), two main reasons have been given for why the chaste daughter of Prophet Muhammad (s) was called ‘Fātīmah’. It is narrated in al-Kāfī of al-Kulaynī from Imam Bāqir (s) that, “When Fātīmah was born, God revealed to an angel so that through that angel the name Fātīmah was recited on Muhammad’s (s) tongue and then it was stated, ‘I have weaned you away from milk with knowledge and have disallowed menstruation for you.”[14]
Imam Bāqir (as) then stated, “By God, she was weaned away from milk with knowledge and God removed her from menstruating from the day of the covenant.”[15]
In another report from Imam Bāqir (s), it has been narrated that Fātīmah (s) will stop at the door of hell in the hereafter. On the forehead of every person it will be written either ‘a believer’ or ‘an infidel’. It will be commanded (by God) to those followers and devotees (of Fātīmah and Ahlul Bayt) who have committed many sins to go towards hell. Fātīmah (as) will read the word devotee (muhib) between his or her eyes and will ask Allah, “My God and master! You have named me Fātīmah and through me have reserved salvation for those who are my devotees and followers and those who are my offspring and children. Your promise is just and you never break your promise (as it is a sign of imperfection and therefore impossible for you).”
God will respond by saying, “You are telling the truth Fātīmah. I have named you Fātīmah and through you will give salvation and protection from hell fire to your devotees who have accepted your vicegerency, love your offspring and accepted their vicegerency. My promise is just and I do not go back on my promise and the reason I told this servant of mine to go towards the (hell) fire was so that you intercede on his or her behalf and that I accept your intercession and show the status you have with me to the angels and the prophets and messengers. Whoever (you see from among the people) that the word believer is written between his or her two eyes, take their hand and enter them into heaven.”[16]