The Virtues of Fatimah bint Muhammad

Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her), the daughter of the leader of mankind, Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), Al-Qurashiyyah Al-Hashimiyyah, is the mother of Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them). 

She was born shortly before the beginning of the Mission of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and she married `Ali ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) after the battle of Badr. 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) loved her and honoured her. She (may Allah be pleased with her) was patient, devoted to Islam, generous, chaste, devout and thankful to Allah. 

When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) died, she grieved and wept for him, and said, “O my father, to Jibril we tell the news of his death, O my father, he answered the call of his Lord, O my father, in Paradise is his eternal abode.” 

Fatimah’s speech most closely resembled that of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). 

`Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “I never saw anyone whose speech more closely resembled that of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) than Fatimah. When she entered upon him, he would stand up to greet her, kiss her and welcome her, and she would do the same for him.” 

Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) lived for six months after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). She was buried at night. Al-Waqidi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: this is the most correct view. He said, Al-`Abbas prayed (the funeral prayer) for her, and he, `Ali and Al-Fadl (may Allah be pleased with them) lowered her into her grave. 

Her sons were Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them) and her daughters were Umm Kulthum, who was wed by `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), and Zaynab who was wed by `Abdullah ibn Ja`far ibn Abu Talib. 

It was narrated from Masruq (may Allah have mercy on him) that `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “Fatimah came walking in the manner of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, `Welcome, O my daughter.’ Then he seated her to his right or to his left, then he said something privately to her and she wept. I said to her, `Why are you weeping?’ Then he said something privately to her and she smiled. I said, `I have never seen anything like that which I have seen today, of joy so close to grief.’ I asked her what he had said, and she said, `I would not disclose the secret of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).’ When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) passed away, I asked her and she said, `He told me, “Jibril used to review the Quran with me once every year, but this year he has reviewed it with me twice, so I know that my appointed time (of death) is approaching. And you will be the first of my family to join me.” So I wept. Then he said, “Would it not please you to be the leader of the women of Paradise or the women of the believers?” So I smiled.’” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, Al-Manaqib, 3353) 

Among the things that prove her virtue is that which was narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim from `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to pray at the Ka`bah, and Abu Jahl and his companions were sitting there. They said to one another, `Who will bring the intestines of the camel of so and so and put it on Muhammad’s back when he prostrates?’ So the most wretched of people went and brought it and waited until the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prostrated, then he put it on his back, between his shoulders. I was watching but I could not help him because I did not have any power. They started laughing and leaning against one another (because of their laughter), and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was prostrating and did not raise his head until Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) came and removed it from his back. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) raised his head, and said, `O Allah, deal with Quraysh,’ three times. They became worried when he prayed against them, because they used to believe that Du`as made in that land would be answered…” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 233 and Muslim, 3349) 

Also, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Fatimah is a part of me, and whoever angers her, angers me.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 3437 and Muslim, 4483) 

(See Nuzhat Al-Fudala’ Tahdhib Siyar A`lam Al-Nubala’, 1/116)

And Allah knows best. 

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