At present, many fabricated stories about the Ahl al-Bayt are widely circulated in Bangladesh. There are countless authentic (ṣaḥīḥ) hadiths concerning the virtues and status of the Ahl al-Bayt. To establish their honor, there is no need for popular but unfounded legends. Below, these issues are presented and examined one by one.
1. Were the Four Women of Paradise Present as Midwives at the Birth of Fatimah (RA)?
A popular narrative claims that at the time of the birth of Fatimah (RA), the beloved daughter of the Prophet ﷺ, four women from Paradise descended from heaven to assist her mother, Khadijah (RA), as midwives. These women are said to be Sarah, Asiyah, Maryam, and Kulthum. While this story is widely circulated, its authenticity is heavily debated when examined through the standards of hadith scholarship and Islamic historiography.
Below is a detailed and reliable analysis.
What Is the Popular Narrative?
In Shia sources such as Dalā’il al-Imāmah, Bihār al-Anwār, and Shia-oriented websites, the story is narrated as follows:
- When Khadijah (RA) was in labor with Fatimah (RA), she sought help from Quraysh women, but they refused to assist her because she was the wife of Muhammad ﷺ.
- At that moment, four beautiful women—described as women of Paradise—descended from the heavens:
- Asiyah bint Muzahim (the wife of Pharaoh),
- Maryam bint ‘Imran (the mother of ‘Isa, peace be upon him),
- Kulthum (the sister of Musa, peace be upon him) or Hawwa (Eve),
- Sarah (the wife of Ibrahim, peace be upon him), or another figure, according to variant reports.
- They helped Khadijah (RA) during childbirth, assisted in the delivery of Fatimah (RA), and washed her with water from Paradise.
Overall Evaluation
Shia perspective:
This narrative is accepted as true in Shia hadith and historical literature. It portrays the birth of Fatimah (RA) as miraculous and symbolic of her purity and exalted status.
Sunni perspective:
This specific story does not appear in reliable Sunni hadith collections (such as Bukhari, Muslim, or the works of Ibn Kathir). Sunni scholars generally regard it as weak or Shia-fabricated, since its chain of narration (isnād) is not verifiable.
However, both Sunnis and Shias agree—based on authentic hadiths—that four women are among the greatest women of Paradise: Khadijah (RA), Fatimah (RA), Maryam (AS), and Asiyah (AS) (reported in Musnad Ahmad, Tirmidhi, and others).
Historical context:
Fatimah (RA) was born in the 5th year after the beginning of Prophethood. Her birth is generally described in the same manner as the births of Khadijah’s other children. The story of miraculous assistance is largely Shia-centered.
Authenticity According to Hadith Sciences
This narration is primarily found in Shia hadith collections and in some Sunni historical or biographical works (for example, Dhakhā’ir al-‘Uqbā by Imam Muhibbuddin al-Tabari). However, according to major hadith scholars:
- Chain of narration: Extremely weak (ḍa‘īf) or rejected (munkar).
- Absence from ṣaḥīḥ collections: There is no mention of this miraculous event in Bukhari, Muslim, or any of the six major Sunni hadith books.
- Opinion of Ibn Kathir (RA):
In As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah and Al-Bidāyah wa’n-Nihāyah, Ibn Kathir describes the birth of Fatimah (RA) but does not mention the presence of women from Paradise. He states regarding such miraculous birth stories:
“Most of these reports are unsupported tales that cannot be accepted without verification.” - Imam al-Dhahabi (RA):
He classified such reports as “munkar (rejected) or having no basis at all.” - Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (RA):
He stated that exaggerated miraculous stories about the Ahl al-Bayt mostly originate from Shia sources and lack authentic foundations.
Imam al-Dhahabi also categorized such narratives as Isrā’īliyyāt or unverified historical tales.
Sunni Position and Why This Narrative Is Not Accepted
In Sunni sources, there is no mention of miraculous assistance at the birth of Fatimah (RA). Sunni scholars such as Ibn Kathir and Ibn Hisham describe her birth as a normal event, similar to that of Khadijah’s other children.
Why is it not accepted (Sunni view):
- In the Sunni creed, miraculous events are accepted only if proven by the Qur’an or authentic hadith.
- This story is considered Shia-fabricated, introduced to elevate the status of the Ahl al-Bayt beyond what is authentically established.
- Emotional storytelling vs. evidence-based belief: Many speakers or writers narrate this story out of emotion to highlight Fatimah’s virtue. However, her status is already extremely high—she is one of the leaders of the women of Paradise—so such unproven stories are unnecessary.
- Quraysh boycott: While tensions between Quraysh and Banu Hashim did exist, the claim that Quraysh women refused to assist during childbirth remains historically disputed.
The Correct Creedal Position
❌ This story cannot be accepted as a matter of belief or certainty.
✔️ Mentioning it as a historical tale is not sinful, but it should not be presented as a fact.
✔️ What we know with certainty is that Fatimah (RA) was the daughter of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and one of the leaders of the women of Paradise.
Final Word
This narration falls under the category of folklore or legendary historical tales. It is not considered a reliable part of the Islamic creed or authenticated history.
Since the claim that “four women of Paradise were present at the birth of Fatimah (RA)” is not authentically proven,
➡️ It should not be presented as a definite historical event or as a religious proof.