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Many scholars have given the title “Az-Zahrāʾ” to Fāṭimah, the daughter of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ -may Allāh be pleased with her-. The first one known to refer to this title was Ibn Ḥibban Al-Busti in his Ṣaḥīḥ compilation. Others after him include Al-Khaṭīb Al-Baghdādī, Ibn ʿAbd Al-Barr, Ibn Al-Athīr, Ibn Ḥajar, and their likes.
According to them, the meaning of this title is “the radiant, white, and illuminated one.” A man is called “Azhar” and a woman is called “Zahrāʾ.”
Anas -may Allāh be pleased with him- said:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was the most radiant of color.
Al-Bukhārī 3547 and Muslim 2330
An-Nawawī -may Allāh have mercy on him- said:
“His statement (the most radiant of color) means – it is the bright white, and it is the best color.”
Al-Ḥāfiz -may Allāh have mercy on him- said:
“Meaning white with a hint of red.”
This is merely a description and praise. The scholars who gave Fāṭimah -may Allāh be pleased with her- this title meant that she resembled her father ﷺ in beauty and graceful appearance.
We do not know of any legislative evidence for this title, just as we do not know of any of the companions of the preferred generations who gave her -may Allāh be pleased with her- this title.
Shaykh Bakr Abū Zayd -may Allāh have mercy on him- said:
“Fāṭimah Az-Zahrāʾ: Az-Zahrāʾ is the woman with a radiant face, white and luminous. From this came the ḥadīth in Sūrah al-Baqarah and Sūrah Āl-ʿImrān: (az-Zahrāwān), meaning: the two luminous ones.
I have not come across any historical account of this title amongst the Ahlus-Sunnah.”
Muʿjam al-Manāhī al-Lafziyyah, p. 401
Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān -may Allāh preserve him- was asked:
Why was Fāṭimah -may Allah be pleased with her- given the title “Az-Zahrāʾ”? Is there a story behind this title?
He replied:
“By Allāh, I do not know anything about it, but this is praise. Az-Zahrāʾ means from the light and that she has light.”
As for what the Shīʿites claim about the reason for this, that her face would shine for the Commander of the Faithful, ʿAlī -may Allāh be pleased with him-, from the beginning of the day like the bright sun, at noon like the luminous moon, and at sunset like a brilliant star.
The same applies to their claim that she did not menstruate: this is false and baseless.
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