SOME IDEAS ON THE REFERENCES OF LEGENDARY TYPOLOGY OF THE HOLY FĀṬİMAIN SHĪ‘Ī THOUGHT SYSTEM

Abstract

Historically Fāṭima the daughter of Muhammad b. ‘Abd Allāh, theProphet of Islam, by his first wife, Khadīja b. Khuwaylid has an ontologicaland eschatological meaning in Shī‘ī thought. It is important to reveal the natureof this situation and to analyze the analogy with the Sacred Mary. Figure ofFāṭima is very different in the Shī‘ī thought system. There is a system ofthinking that transcends historical data. An image of the Sacred Fāṭima, whichhas an active role in both existential and eternal dimension, is envisaged in thisthought. This conception played a role in the institutionalization of the ImāmīShī‘ī theory within the Shī‘ī tradition. Fāṭima’s charisma was organized in asimilar way to the Saint Mary’s. This charisma has aspects of the hereaftersuch as intercession and mediation. This charisma also has worldly indicatorsof healing. Sacred Fāṭima and Mary are evaluated in a similar “ordeal” event.This analogy shows itself in various nomenclature, virginity, fertility, chastity,intercession, healing and fertility, becoming a celestial being, coming to theworld as a divine being subjects. Finally on one hand Fāṭima figure is shapedas a spiritual source in a historical structure, on the other hand, as in the notionof Virgin Mary, it took an iconographic form in the Shī‘ī thought. Thus Fāṭimais conceived as an intercessor of wisdom, close to the mediatory concept in Christianity in the Shī‘ī thought system. Sacred Fāṭima was accepted as asource of healing and fertility. Especially this figure is impressed by SacredMary as much as she is influenced by “The Umayiyesi-Umay Ana Figure”in the Altaic area. As a result of this icon appeared in the form of “Hamsa:Hand of Fāṭima” in Shī‘ī public. This paper examines how the importantand respected Fāṭima is judged to be a reference point for certain beliefs andacceptances in historical and religious perspectives. This paper also examineshow Fāṭima has been transformed into a cult entity in Shī‘ī thought. As aresult of this transformation, Fāṭima’s image is used as a reference in the Shī‘īliterature in formation of upper concepts such as Imāmī Shī‘ī sm, custody andintercession.