(Faatimah bintu ‘Abdil Malik [rahimahallah] – Part One)

If we comb through the annals of history, we will undoubtedly discover hundreds if not thousands of women who hailed from royal families and led lives of utter leisure and luxury. Despite the abundance of royal women who lived through the ages, history is perhaps unable to produce a single woman to date who can compare to Faatimah bintu ‘Abdil Malik (rahimahallah).

Faatimah bintu ‘Abdil Malik (rahimahallah) was not merely from a royal family. Rather, she was completely surrounded by the kings of the time.

  • Her grandfather was Marwaan bin Hakam who ruled the Islamic World for nine months and eighteen days before passing away in 65 A.H.
  • Her father was ‘Abdul Malik, the son of Marwaan, who ruled over the Muslim Empire from 65 A.H. until his demise in 86 A.H.
  • Her brother, Waleed, succeeded her father as ruler until his demise in 96 A.H.
  • Her second brother, Sulaimaan, succeeded Waleed as ruler until he passed away in 99 A.H.
  • Her third brother, Yazeed bin ‘Abdil Malik, ruled the Islamic World from 101 A.H. until he passed away in 105 A.H.
  • Her fourth brother, Hishaam, was the tenth Umayyad Ruler of the Islamic Empire and passed away in 125 A.H.

Finally – and most importantly – her husband was none other than ‘Umar bin ‘Abdil ‘Azeez (rahimahullah), the khaleefah of the Muslims from 99 A.H. until 101 A.H.

The luxurious lifestyle which ‘Umar bin ‘Abdil ‘Azeez and Faatimah bintu ‘Abdil Malik (rahimahumallah) initially lead and the abundant wealth which they enjoyed can perhaps be gauged from the waleemah they held. ‘Umaarah bin Ghaziyyah (rahimahullah) was present on the occasion and mentioned that instead of burning oil in the lamps, they burnt ghaaliyah (an expensive perfume made from ambergris and musk)!

The greatest merit to her credit, however, is the incredible transformation and metamorphosis which her life underwent after her husband, ‘Umar bin ‘Abdil ‘Azeez (rahimahullah), became the khaleefah. She and her husband completely divorced the world and its luxuries and devoted themselves to labouring for the Aakhirah.

(Taareekhul Khulafaa, Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah and Taareekh Ibni ‘Asaakir vol. 70, pg. 29)

Insha-Allah, in the next few parts, incidents from her life will be discussed.