سید رضا مهدوی

The book Faḍāʼil Fāṭimah al-Zahrā by al-Ḥākim al-Nīshābūrī was composed amidst intense religious controversies and opposing discourses surrounding the status of the Ahl al-Bayt. The present study aims to examine how the position of Lady Fāṭimah al-Zahrā is represented in response to opposing discourses and analyzes the underlying ideological constructs embedded in the linguistic choices and narrations within this work. Utilizing Norman Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this research analyzes the text on three levels: Description, interpretation, and explanation. On the descriptive level, it explores the linguistic methods and word choices employed by al-Ḥākim al-Nīshābūrī to emphasize the virtues of Lady Fāṭimah al-Zahrā , with meticulous attention to detail. On the interpretive level, this study examines the social and political contexts of the author’s time and their impact on shaping the book’s discourse. At the explanatory level, it thoroughly analyzes power relations and the author’s endeavors to fortify the status of the Ahl al-Bayt while countering opposing discourses. The findings indicated that the selection and use of linguistic elements in this book were specifically designed to highlight the elevated status of Lady Fāṭimah al-Zahrā . Furthermore, the political, social, and cultural contexts of the Samanid and Buyid periods significantly shaped the composition of this work. This research sheds light on the intricate interplay between religious and political discourses in Islamic history and underscores the pivotal role of the Ahl al-Bayt within this framework.