Q 2: We heard a Hadith stating that people will enter paradise at a young age. However, it is always mentioned in Jumu`ah (Friday) Prayer that Fatimah, the daughter of our Prophet (peace be upon him), will lead women while Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them) will lead the youth to Paradise. If this Hadith is true, does it not contradict the Ayah (Qur'anic verse) in Surah Al `Imran that describes the status of Maryam? I believe that this Hadith was fabricated by the Shiites. What is your opinion, Your Eminence?

A: To show Maryam's status and her superiority over other women, Allah (Exalted be He) says: And (remember) when the angels said: "O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allâh has chosen you, purified you (from polytheism and disbelief), and chosen you above the women of the 'Alamîn (mankind and jinn) (of her lifetime)." In his book Al-Bidayah wa Al-Nihayah, Ibn Kathir (may Allah be merciful to him) said: The Ayah which reads: ...and chosen you above the women of the ‘Alamîn (mankind and jinn) (of her lifetime)." implies women of her lifetime as when He said to Musa (Moses): I have chosen you above men (Part No. 2; Page No. 470) and His Saying about the Children of Israel: And We chose them (the Children of Israel) above the ‘Alamîn (mankind and jinn) [during the time of Mûsâ (Moses)] with knowledge It is well known that Ibrahim (Abraham peace be upon him) is better than Musa (Moses peace be upon him), and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is better than both of them. Likewise, this Ummah (nation) is better than the previous nations. It is also more in number, better in knowledge and work than the Children of Israel and others.His Saying: ...and chosen you above the women of the ‘Alamîn (mankind and jinn) (of her lifetime)." might also imply women in general. Therefore, Maryam is the best of the women who were before and after her.There was reported in the Sunnah what supports the second view; that Maryam is the best of women until the Day of Resurrection, and not only women of her lifetime, except for Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her), the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). On the authority of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Sufficient for you among the women of the world, Maryam bint `Imran, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad and Asiyah, the wife of Fir`aun (Pharaoh). This Hadith was ranked as Sahih (authentic) by Al-Tirmidhy, Al-Hakim, and others. Al-Nasa'y recorded with a Sahih Sanad (authentic chain of narrators) on the authority of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that (Part No. 2; Page No. 471) the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: The best of the women of Paradise are Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad, Maryam bint `Imran, and Asiyah bint Muzahim the wife of Fir`aun (Pharaoh)." In his book Al-Bidayah wa Al-Nihayah, Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir said: Abu Al-Qasim Al-Baghawy reported that Wahb ibn Munabbih reported that Khalid ibn `Abdullah Al-Wasity narrated from Muhammad ibn `Amr from Abu Salamah on the authority of `Aishah that she asked Fatimah: "What made you cry and laugh when you drew to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)? She replied: The first time, he disclosed to me that he would not recover from his illness and I wept. Then he told me that I would be the first of his family to join him and he gave me glad tidings that I am the best of the women of Paradise except Maryam bint `Imran, so I laughed." The meaning of this Hadith is related in Sahih Al-Bukhari and the chain of narration is according to the conditions of narration set by Muslim. This Hadith means that Maryam and Fatimah are the best of the four mentioned women. It is recorded by Imam Ahmad that `Uthman ibn Muhammad related that Jarir related from Yazid ibn Abu Ziyad from `Abdul-Rahman ibn Abu Nu`m on the authority of Abu Sa`id that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Fatimah is the leader of the women of Paradise except for Maryam (Part No. 2; Page No. 472) bint `Imran. Its Sanad (chain of narrators) is Hasan (a Hadith whose chain of narration contains a narrator with weak exactitude, but is free from eccentricity or blemish). It is also ranked as Sahih (authentic) by Al-Tirmidhy, but they did not record it Isnad. There is another Hadith to the same effect which was narrated on the authority of `Aly ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) but it includes weakness in the chain of narration. This indicates that Maryam and Fatimah are the best of the four women. This might imply that Maryam is better than Fatimah or that both have the same rank. However, there is a Hadith that supports the first view. It is reported by Al-Hafizh Abu Al-Qasim ibn `Asakir that Abu Al-Hasan ibn Al-Farra' Abu Ghalib and Abu `Abdullah the two sons of Al-Banna : Abu Ja`far ibn Al-Maslamah reported that Abu Tahir Al-Mukhallis reported that Ahmad ibn Sulayman said that Al-Zubayr, Ibn Bakkar said that Muhammad ibn Al-Hasan said that `Abdul-`Aziz ibn Muhammad said that Musa ibn `Uqbah said that Kurayb reported on the authority of Ibn `Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The best of the women of Paradise are Maryam bint `Imran, then Fatimah, then Khadijah, then Asiyah, the wife of Fir`aun (Pharaoh)." In this Hadith, if the word "then" means "next", this points out one of the two possibilities indicated by exception; and it is to be given priority over the other wordings that included the coordinating conjunction "and" which neither implies nor negates sequential order. Allah knows best.This Hadith Marfu` (a Hadith narrated from the Prophet with a connected or disconnected chain of narration) was narrated by Abu Hatim Al-Razy from Dawud Al-Ja`fary from `Abdul-`Aziz ibn Muhammad, Al-Darawardy from Ibrahim ibn `Uqbah from Kurayb on the authority of Ibn `Abbas using the conjunction "and" and not with "then" (Part No. 2; Page No. 473) which implies sequential order. So, his Isnad and text was different. Allah knows best. To sum up, Maryam (peace be upon her) is the best of all women according to the general meaning of the Ayah, except for Fatimah the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). This might be because Maryam is better or that both enjoy the same status. May Allah grant us success.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.