Commemoration of 9th of Rabi‘ al-Awwal: From Betrayal of Saqifa Leaders to Fulfillment of Sayyida Fatimah’s Prayer

Commemoration of 9th of Rabi‘ al-Awwal: From Betrayal of Saqifa Leaders to Fulfillment of Sayyida Fatimah’s Prayer
———————————————

The 9th of Rabi‘ al-Awwal holds special significance for Shia Muslims, marking the death of Umar ibn al-Khattab, a figure seen as central to the early deviations in Islamic leadership. According to Shia belief, this day represents the fulfillment of the prayer of Sayyida Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her) against him.

Historical accounts highlight Umar’s key roles in obstructing the Holy Prophet’s (peace be upon him and his family) written will during the event known as “Black Thursday” and orchestrating the succession process at Saqifah, which bypassed the rightful leadership of Imam Ali (peace be upon him). These actions are viewed as pivotal moments that led to the usurpation of the caliphate and the marginalization of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).

The consequences of these early betrayals are considered far-reaching in Shia theology, including the attack on Sayyida Fatimah’s household, her martyrdom, the enforced seclusion of Imam Ali (peace be upon him), and the subsequent martyrdom of the Imams, culminating in the tragedy of Karbala. Scholars assert that the foundations of later tyrannies—from the Umayyads and Abbasids to contemporary extremist groups—stem from the same path of deviation initiated during Umar’s era.

Shia sources recount that Imam Ali acknowledged the usurpation but remained silent to preserve the core of Islam, while Lady Fatimah’s prayers against the perpetrators are believed to have been fulfilled with Umar’s death on this day. For Shia believers, the 9th of Rabi‘al-Awwal is thus both a historical commemoration and a moment of spiritual vindication.