The Sermon of Fadak

With commentary by Sayyid Muhammad Kazim Al-Qazwini

The Sermon of Fadak is one of the two famous sermons delivered by the daughter of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad ibn ʿAbdillah (s). Fatimah al-Zahra (‘a) was the daughter of Muhammad (s) from 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, took this land, claiming it belonged to the Muslims.

When this news reached Fatimah, she went to the Prophet’s masjid to face Abu Bakr and ask for her rights. At that time, the mosque was full of the Muhajirin and Ansar. Fatimah entered with a group of women surrounding her. A special place was kept for her, and she stood behind a curtain as she addressed Abu Bakr and all those present. When she had finished the first part of her sermon, Abu Bakr responded to what she had said. She then confuted his response using evidence from the Qurʾan.

Though this sermon is known as the Sermon of Fadak, it contains other discussions, such as the philosophy of worship, the state of Arabs before Islam, and the Qurʾan's importance.

Lady Fatimah Zahra (s) holds a revered position in 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.