Mother Earth from a Global
Perspective to an
  Islamic one

Fatimah (a.s.)  as a Form of Deity

By : Zeinab Mehanna
University of Sharjah
2008
Graz-Austria

Outline

1- Definitions of “Mother Earth
2- Symbols / Arts
3- Deity/ Mother Earth
4- Greek Mythology
5- In Other Cultures
6- In Modern Ecological Theory : Popular Culture
7- In the Islamic  Culture
 a- Female Deity : Fatimah Al-Zahra  ( a.s
                b- Names
8- References

Definitions of Mother Earth

1- A goddess or female spirit representing the earth as the giver of life; a fertility goddess
2- A woman combining maternal and sensual qualities
3- The earth conceived of as the female principle of fertility 
4- THE PRIMAL SEED: Legendary Mother of the Earth, she rose from the Primal Seed and was the giver of all life, responsible for the renewal of life, the seasons, all that occurred in nature. Every culture refers to the earth as female, a womb, the Great Mother
5- Etymologically Gaia is a compound word of two elements. Ge, meaning "Earth" , Aia is a derivative of an Indo-European stem meaning "Grandmother". The full etymology of Gaia would, therefore, appear to have been "Grandmother Earth

Symbols / Arts

1. The Primal seed - Birth, the origin of all life, symbolic as the embryo of life in the womb
2. The Earth Mother - The mistress of all the elements
3. Navel - All seeing eye of the world center
4. Umbilical cord - Binds man to the web past, present, future life
5. Two tree roots joining - The union of heaven an earth
6. Soil - Mother Earth
7. Clouds - Fertility, rain
8. Serpent - Renewal of life through shedding of skin
9. Crescent moon - Goddess symbol always
10. Sun - Represents early Goddess
11. Concentric circles - Great Mother symbol
12. Day and night - The Great Mother avoiding chaos

Deity / Mother Goddess

1- What do we mean when we identify a female deity as a mother goddess
2- Does mother mean in the sense, a mother who nurtures and protects the young? Is she the goddess of childbirth? Is she a creator goddess or the earth goddess (usually known as Earth Mother)? Does it mean that she is fertility goddess or was she the goddess of nature
3- What does it mean by "fertility

Greek Mythology

1- Gaia is believed  to be the original deity behind the Oracle at Delphi. She passed her powers on to, depending on the source, Poseidon, Apollo or Themis
2- Oaths sworn in the name of Gaia, in ancient Greece, were considered the most binding of all
3- In classical art Gaia was represented in one of two ways. In Athenian vase painting she was shown as a matronly woman only half risen from the earth, often in the act of handing the baby Erichthonius (a future king of Athens) to Athena to foster. Later in mosaic representations she appears as a woman reclining upon the earth surrounded by a host of Carpi, infant gods of the fruits of the earth
4- Gaia is the titan of earth

In other Cultures

1- The idea that the fertile earth itself is female, nurturing mankind, was not limited to the Greco-Roman world. These traditions themselves were greatly influenced by earlier cultures in the Central area of the ancient Middle East
2- In Sumerian mythology Tiamat influenced Biblical notions of The Deeps in Genesis 1. The title "The mother of life" was later given to the Akkadian Goddess Kubau, and hence to Hurrian Hepa, emerging as Hebrew Eve (Heva) and Phygian Kubala (Cybele
3- In Indian religions, the Mother of all creation is called "Gayatri", a surprisingly close form of Gaia
4- Only in Egyptian Mythology is the reverse true - Geb is the Earth Father while Nut is the Sky Mother

In Modern Ecological Theory and Popular Culture  ( 1

1- The mythological name was revived in 1969 by James Lovelock, in Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth; his Gaia hypothesis was supported by Lynn Margulis. The hypothesis proposes that living organisms and inorganic material are part of a dynamic system that shapes the Earth's biosphere, and maintains the Earth as a fit environment for life. In some Gaia theory approaches the Earth itself is viewed as an organism with self-regulatory functions
2- Gaia is the name 'The Golden One' in Ayn Rand's novel, Anthem, takes after they leave the city
3- Gaia was the spirit in the Captain Planet cartoon who guided the planeteers
4- Gaia, portrayed as a giant Titan, the embodiment of earth and nature, is a major character in the video game God of War II, in which it is revealed that Gaia was the narrator of the first God of War, though she took no active role in it

In Modern Ecological Theory and Popular Culture  (2

1- In the computer game 'Age of Mythology: The Titans' one of the Atlantean major gods is Gaia. In the last level you control Gaia to defeat Kronos
2- Gaia is a main character in the Incarnations of Immortality book series by Piers Anthony, although is spelt 'Gaea' in the books
3- In the Playstation video game Final Fantasy IX, Gaia was one of the two conflicting planets that were central to the plot
4- In Marvel, Gaia is the mother of the gods. She is also the mother of Thor
5- Gaia is the name of a song by progressive metal band Vanishing Point
'Defenders Of Gaia' is a song by symphonic metal band Rhapsody Of Fire, that appeared as a b-side of their album Triumph or Agony

Mother Earth in Islam

1- Fatima Al Zahra ( a.s.) : birth , daughter , wife,  mother of all “imams” , mother of all suffering, the immaculate and the sinless
2- The Prophet (s) said, “When I long for the fragrance of Paradise I smell the neck of Fatima
3- The Prophet (s) said, “Of all the women in the Universe, four would suffice: Mary, Asiya, Khadija, and Fatima
4- Prophet (s) said, “I am not pleased unless Fatima is pleased
5- The Prophet (s) said, “Fatima is part of me, and whoever pleases her, pleases me
6- The Prophet (s) said, “Fatima is the joy of my heart, and her sons are the fruit of my soul
7- The Prophet (s) said, “All the children of a woman are attributed to their father, but not the sons of Fatima
8- The Prophet (s) said, “Fatima is a maiden of Paradise in human form, she does not receive any kind of menses

Names of Lady Fatimah (a.s.) “1

Mother
1. Iftikhar-e-Hawwa (Pride of Lady Eve First Women
2. Umm-ul-Aaima (Mother of Imams
3. Umm-ul-Abeeha (Mother of her Father
4. Umm-ul-Kitab (Mother of the Book) : Quran
5. Umm-ul-Masaib (Mother of Sufferings
6. Umm-ul-Sibtain (Mother of Sibtain i.e. Hasan ibn Ali & Husayn ibn Ali
7. Shajra-e-Tayyiba (Lady with Clean Genealogical Tree

Names of Lady Fatimah (a.s.) “2 -a

Diety
1. Sayyeda-Tun-Nisa-el-Alameen (Leader of all women of the Universe
2. Aalia (Lady of High Rank
3. Aamila (Doer, An Active Lady
4. Afzal al-Nisa (The most supreme of the women
5. Zahra (The Lady of light
6. Tehama (Pillar, Prop
7. Timur (Ladies Man
8. Shahzadi-e-Kaunain (Princess of the Universe
9. Qaima (The Everlasting
10. Khatoon-e-Junat (The Lady of Paradise
11. Masooma (Infallible

Names of Lady Fatimah (a.s.) “2-b

1. Malik-e-Tatheer (Owner of Tatheer (purity
2. Mardhiah (The one who pleases God
3. Aadila (Lady who Judges right
4. Aalia (Lady of High Rank
5. Afzal al-Nisa (The most supreme of the women
6. Basita (Given of Prosperity
7. Batina (Intrinsic
8. Batool (The pure one
9. Daniya (Liberal Lady
10. Durra An-noor (Path of light
11. Fateha (Soorah Alhamd of Qur'an
12. Maryam-e-Kubra (Greater Mary
13. Wali-e-Khuda (friend of God

Names of Lady Fatimah (a.s.) “3-a

Other Devine Names
1. Aalima (The Intelligent Lady
2. Adil (Beloved
3. Azhra (The chaste
4. Aziza (Respected Lady
5. Basita (Given of Prosperity
6. Batina (Intrinsic
7. Batool (The pure one
8. Daniya (Liberal Lady) Habiba (Beloved
9. Hakima (Philosopher

Names of Lady Fatimah (a.s.) “3-b

1. Jaleela (Great Woman
2. Jamila (Beautiful Woman
3. Mastora (The Lady
4. Mubarakah (The blessed
5. Sajida (Worshipper, Adorer
6. Saleeha (Virtuous
7. Saleema (Perfect
8. Tahira (The Virtuous
9. Taqqya (Pious Lady
10. Hazira (Ready, Present
11. Hissan (Comely & Beautiful
12. Halima (Gentle Lady

References (1

1. Muntakhab Kenz Al-Omal, v. 5, p. 97; Nur Al-Absar, p. 51; Manaqib Al-Imam Ali of Ibn Al-Maghazali, p. 360
2. -Sahihain, v. 3, the Chapter on the Virtues of Fatima, p. 171; Seir Alam Al-Nabala’, v. 2, p. 126; Al-Bidaya wa Al-Nihaya, v. 2, p. 59; The Virtues of Al-Imam Ali of Ibn Al-Maghazali, p. 363
3. Al-Jami^ Al-Sagheer, v. 1, #4112, p. 469; Al-Isaba fi Tamayyuz Al-Sahaba, v. 4, p. 378; Al-Bidaya wa Al-Nihaya, v. 2, p. 60; Dakha’ir Al-Uqubi, p. 44

References ( 2

1. Kenz Al-Omal, v. 13, p. 101; Al-Sawaiq Al-Muhariqa, p. 187 & 188; Is^af Al-Raghibeen quoted in the margin of Nur Al-Absar, p. 144
2. Sahih Al-Bukhari, v. 3, Kitab Al-Fadha’il, Chapter on the Virtues of Fatima, p. 1374; Mustadrak Al-Sahihain, v. 3, Chapter on the Virtues of Fatima, p. 164; Sunan Al-Tirmidhi, v. 3, p. 266; Kenz Al-Omal, v. 13, p. 193; Muntakhab Kenz Al-Omal, v. 5, p. 97; Al-Jami^ Al-Sagheer, v. 2, no. 564, p. 5760; Seir Alam Al-Nubala’, v. 2, p. 123; Al-Sawaiq Al-Muhariqa, p. 187 & 191; Khasai’s Al-Imam Ali of Nisa’i, p. 118; Yanabi^ Al-Mawadda, v. 2, p. 79; Al-Jawhera Fi Nasab Ali Wa Aalihi, p. 17; Al-Bidaya wa Al-Nihaya, v. 2, p. 60
3. Al-Sawaiq Al-Muhariqa, p. 160; Is^af Al-Raghibeen, p. 188; Kenz Al-Omal, v. 13, p. 94; Muntakhab Kenz Al-Omal, v. 5, p. 97

References (3

1. http://www.timelessmyths.com/classical/mother.html#Background
2. http://www.answers.com/topic/gaia
3. http://www.paleothea.com/Basic.html
4. http://www.wic.org/artwork/emother.htm

Thank You