The Sermon of Fadak

The Sermon of Fadak is one of the two famous sermons delivered by Fatimah al-Zahra (‘a), the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (s). Fatimah was born to Muhammad (s) and his first wife, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. During his lifetime, the Prophet gifted a parcel of land full of date palms, called Fadak, to his beloved daughter. After his death, however, the first caliph, Abu Bakr ibn Abi Quhafah, seized this land, claiming it belonged to the Muslim community.

When Fatimah learned of this, she went to the Prophet’s mosque to confront Abu Bakr and demand her rights. The mosque was filled with Muhajirin and Ansar when Fatimah, accompanied by a group of women, entered. A special place was reserved for her, and she stood behind a curtain as she addressed Abu Bakr and the assembly. After completing the first part of her sermon, Abu Bakr responded, but Fatimah rebutted his arguments with evidence from the Qurʾan.

Though known as the Sermon of Fadak, this address covers various topics, including the philosophy of worship, the state of the Arabs before Islam, and the importance of the Qurʾan.

Lady Fatimah Zahra (s) holds a revered position in the realm of knowledge. Her sermon, delivered in the mosque of Madinah following the Prophet's demise, stands as a paragon of intellectual depth and artistic eloquence. Its intellectual richness and artistic beauty parallel the esteemed passages of Nahj al-Balagha. Addressing the congregation in the mosque of Madinah, Lady Fatimah Zahra (s) eloquently spoke extemporaneously, possibly for an hour, weaving together elegant phrases and profound meanings.” - Ayatullah Khamenei.

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