Bibi Fatima's Name on Gold Coin of Tipu Sultan

 

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Tipu Sultan, Lion of Mysore,is perhaps the only ruler in India who issued gold coins as a mark of respect to Hazrat Fatima Zahra ,the beloved daughter of the Holy Prophet,Wife of Hazrat Ali and mother of Hasnain. The coin was called Siddiqa,one of the honorific titles of Khatun –E-Jannat. He also issued coins with names of Imams known as Abidi,Jafiri,Baqri ,Kazmi and Imami. Siddiqa was small in size as tpu had issued 4 Pagoda coin in the name of her father Prophet Muhammad(PBUH).Coin issued in her name was known as 2 Pagoda. However, it goes to the credit of Tipu for having shown great respect to Lady of paradise.Apart from him, none of Shia kingdoms of Deccan issued coin in her name.

These kingdoms however issued coins with the name of Hazrat Ali.Ali Adil Shah I of Bijapur (965 -988 A.H.) issued coin mentioning " Asad Allah al ghalib Ali Ibne Abi Talib " .Ibrahim Adil Shah II (988- 1037 AH)  had " Ghulaam-e-Murtaza Ali Ibrahim abla bali" Ali Adil Shah II (1068-1083 A.H.) had "Ghulaam-e-issued coins with Haider-o- Safdar Ali Adil Shah written.

Murtaza Nizaam Shah I of Ahmadnagar (973-997 A.H.) had Shia Shahada on his Gold Coins. Burhan Nizaam Shah II (1000-1003 A.H.).also did likewise.Another Nizamshahi ruler Murtaza(1009-1019 A.H.) had "Murtaza on epithets .murtaaza is one of the names of Hazrat Ali .

Qutb Shahs of Hyderabad (Golkonda) also focused on Hazrat Ali.Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah (957-988 A.H.) had "Fuloos-e- ja iz Ibrahim Quli Sa'aadatmand-e-Ali Golkonda"  on his coin., meaning  valid fuloos of Ibrahim Quli happy in the faith of Imam Ali ( A.S.).Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (988-1020 A.H.) had some small gold coins minted with " Fakhr- e-Ali.

Reference available on request.