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Fatima, may Allah be pleased with her

Her Birth
She is Fatima the fourth and youngest daughter of the noble Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Her mother was Khadija, mother of the believers. She is the best of women in her age, the mother of AlHassan and Al-Housein the leaders of the youth in paradise, may Allah be pleased with them.

She was born shortly before prophet hood. She is the only daughter of the noble prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who died after him. She was famous by her great resemblance to the prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, called her "Mother of her father".

Her struggle
Since her early childhood, Fatima, may Allah be pleased with her, witnessed the struggle of Muslims for their religion. She saw the hardships that her father, peace and blessings be upon him, endured for the sake of Islam.

One day she was with her father, peace and blessings be upon him, in A-Haram. While he was praying, a group of men from Quraish surrounded him and a man called Ukba Ibn Maeet threw the intestines of a camel on the back of the prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, did not raise his head until his young daughter removed them from his back. She prayed that Allah would take her father's revenge from the one who did that.

At that moment, the noble Prophet raised his head and prayed that Allah would punish Abu Jahl Ibn Hashim, Utba Ibn Rabea, Shayba Ibn Rabia, Ukba Ibn Abi Maeet and Uby Ibn khalaf. People were scared by his prayer and so they left him alone. Years passed and those men were all killed in the battle of Badr.

The Prophet's love to her
When the noble verse "And warn your nearest relations" (Alshuaraa - 215), Prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings be upon him, warned his relatives that unless they embrace Islam, he would not be able to save them from Allah's punishment. He called upon a member from each house of his relatives to warn them. He called upon Banu Manaf , Alasbas Ibn Abd Elmutalib (his uncle), He called upon Safia bint Abd ElMutalib (his aunt) and from his own household he called upon Fatima, his beloved daughter. The names he chose were those whom he mostly loved in each house to clarify that he can not save even his dearest relatives from Allah's punishment unless they embrace Islam.

In the translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 56, Number 728: Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions - Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "O Bani 'Abd Munaf! Buy yourselves from Allah; O Bani 'Abdul-Muttalib! Buy yourselves from Allah; O mother of Az-Zubair bin Al-Awwam, the aunt of Allah's Apostle, and O Fatima bint Muhammad! Buy yourselves from Allah, for I cannot defend you before Allah. You (both) can ask me from my property as much as you like. "

In a very well known Hadith the noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said Volume 5, Book 57, Number 61: Companions of the Prophet, Narrated Al-Miswar bin Makhrama:
Allah's Apostle said, "Fatima is a part of me, and he who makes her angry, makes me angry."

He also said the best of women are four : Maryam Bint Emran (Jesus' Mother), Asya (The wife of Pharaoh), Khadija (the Prophet's wife) and Fatima (The Prophet's daughter from his wife khadija).

When people advised Ali Ibn Abu Talib (Fatima's husband) to marry the muslim daughter of Abu Jahl (one of Islam's greatest enemies), Fatima got angry, she went to her noble father to tell him that she refused this marriage. The noble Prophet told Ali that he could not marry the other woman unless he divorced his daughter. He said that she was part of him and what makes her angry makes him angry as well. And so Ali, may Allah be leased with him, refused this marriage and promised his noble wife that he would never do anything that would hurt her feelings.

Allah's Apostle said, "Fatima is from me, and I am afraid she will be subjected to trials in her religion (because of jealousy)."

Also on while the Prophet was dying, he saw the state his daughter was in he told her 'O Fatima! Will you not be pleased that you will be chief of all the believing women (or chief of the women of this nation i.e. my followers?")
Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Narrated by 'Aisha, Volume 8, Book 74, Number 301

Her struggle
When Quraish boycotted Muslims to besiege them politically, economically and socially she stood by Muslims in Abu Talib's valley. She stayed with her parents in the Abu-Talib's valley. When she returned from this ordeal, her noble mother Khadija, may Allah be pleased with her, died.

Later, her noble father, peace and blessings be upon him, emigrated to Medina while she stayed in Mecca with her sister Um Kulthum until her father sent a man to lead them to Medina safely.

After the death of her mother Khadija, she looked after her father the Prophet of Islam so devoutly that Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, used to call her "Umm- Abiha", i.e. the mother her father. This was the hardest time for the family because in the same year Abu Talib who was the protector of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, from the animosity of the Quraish also died in the same year as Khadija. Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, married Umm-e-Salama, an old widow after the death of Khadija to have someone to look after the household chores.

When Umm-Salama was requested to tutor the child, may Allah be pleased with her, the wise woman replied "How can I tutor one who is the personification of high virtues and purity. It is I who should learn from her."

Her childhood, therefore, was passed in a very chaste and modest environment. It was then that she saw her revered father preaching Islam in the most hostile atmosphere. The hostility of the Quraish after the death of Abu Talib and Khadija was the strongest. Fatima saw and dressed the wounds sustained by her father due to the stones thrown on him by the non-believers. She might have heard and seen that certain wretched women hurled rubbish on her noble father. She might have learnt of the plans made to put an end to her father's life. But from all these things Fatima was neither frightened nor disheartened. She comforted her father, tended to his wounds even at that tender age.

The entire family was blanketed with clouds of sorrowful gas a result of the almost daily humiliation and mockery to which her most revered father was subjected.

Once the Prophet was offering the prayer in the shade of the Ka'ba. Abu Jahl and some Quraishi men sent somebody to bring the abdominal contents of a shecamel which had been slaughtered somewhere in Mecca, and when he brought them, they put them over the Prophet Then Fatima (i.e. the Prophet's daughter) came and threw them away from him, and he said, "O Allah! Destroy (the pagans of) Quraish; O Allah! Destroy Quraish; O Allah Destroy Quraish," naming especially Abu Jahl bin Hisham, 'Utba bin Rabi'a, Shaiba bin Rabi'a, Al Walid bin 'Utba, Ubai bin Khalaf and 'Uqba bin Abi Mitt. (The narrator, 'Abdullah added, "I saw them all killed and thrown in the Badr well).
In the translation of Sahih Bukhari, Book 52: Fighting for the Cause of Allah (Jihaad), Narrated by Abdullah

Fatima, may Allah be pleased with her, was beside her noble father during the battle of Uhud. She was helping the wounded. When the helmet of the Prophet was smashed on his head and blood covered his face and one of his front teeth got broken, 'Ali brought the water in his shield and Fatima the Prophet's daughter) washed him. But when she saw that the bleeding increased more by the water, she took a mat, burnt it, and placed the ashes on the wound of the Prophet and so the blood stopped oozing out.

Her marriage
After the first Mosque was constructed in Medina, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, next turned his attention to cementing the ties of mutual brotherhood amongst the Muslims of Madinah, Al-Ansar (the Helpers) and Al-Muhajirun (the Emigrants). It was indeed unique in the history of the world. A gathering of 90 men, half of whom Emigrants and the others Helpers assembled in the house of Anas bin Malik where the Prophet [pbuh] gave the spirit of brotherhood his official blessing.

When either of the two persons who had been paired as brothers, passed away, his property was inherited by his brother-in-faith. This practice continued till the following verse was revealed at the time of the battle of Badr, and the regular rule of inheritance was allowed to take its usual course:
"But kindred by blood are nearer to one another regarding inheritance." - [8:75]

During this pairing between the Helpers and the Emigrants, the noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, paired himself and Ali Ibn Abi Talib (the cousin who the noble prophet himself brought up) as brothers.

One day a slave girl told Ali, may Allah be pleased with him that people came to ask the noble Prophet for the hand of his daughter. Ali asked her : was she engaged ?
She answered : No, then she suggested that he would propose to the Prophet's daughter. Ali said that he had nothing to offer as a dowry for the bride. She encouraged him and assured him that the noble prophet would not refuse him as a son in law.

Encouraged by her words, he went to the noble prophet asking to marry his daughter. When he entered the Prophet's house he was embarrassed and could not speak.

The Prophet asked him what his need was, but his shyness prevented him from speaking. At that time the noble prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, asked him if he came to ask him to marry fatima, may Allah be pleased with her. Ali replied : yes

The noble prophet asked him if he had anything as a dowry for the bride (which is one of the women's undisputed rights in Islam). Ali replied that he had nothing. The prophet asked him what he did with the shield that he had. Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, sold the shield and married the noble Fatima, may Allah be pleased with her.

Narrated 'Ali
I got an old she-camel as my share from the booty, and the Prophet had given me another from Al-Khumus. And when I intended to marry Fatima (daughter of the Prophet), I arranged that a goldsmith from the tribe of Bani Qainuqa' would accompany me in order to bring Idhkhir and then sell it to the goldsmiths and use its price for my marriage banquet.
In the Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 34, Number 302: Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Book 34: Sales and Trade

In the house of Ali, may Allah be pleased with him
Fatima's life after the marriage was abstinent, rough because Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, was poor despite his rank in Quraish.

As an example of her life is the story narrated by Ali, may Allah be please with him Narrated 'Ali:
Fatima complained of what she suffered from the hand mill and from grinding, when she got the news that some slave girls of the booty had been brought to Allah's Apostle. She went to him to ask for a maid-servant, but she could not find him, and told 'Aisha of her need. When the Prophet came, Aisha informed him of that.

The Prophet came to our house when we had gone to our beds. (On seeing the Prophet) we were going to get up, but he said, 'Keep at your places,' I felt the coolness of the Prophet's feet on my chest.
Then he said, "Shall I tell you a thing which is better than what you asked me for? When you go to your beds, say: 'Allahu Akbar (i.e. Allah is Greater)' for 34 times, and 'Alhamdu Lillah (i.e. all the praises are for Allah)' for 33 times, and Subhan Allah (i.e. Glorified be Allah) for 33 times. This is better for you than what you have requested."
Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Book 53: One-fifth of Booty to the Cause of Allah (Khumus)

Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, used to help her in the house duties. They both loved each other. The financial difficulties they had was never a cause of unhappiness. Ali was an ascetic and Fatima was the helping wife.

Of course, like any married couple, they had there differences which was soon resolved by there mutual love and the advices of the noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

Sahl bin Sa'd Narrated :
Allah's Apostle went to Fatima's house but did not find 'Ali there. So he asked, "Where is your cousin?" She replied, "There was something between us and he got angry with me and went out. He did not sleep (mid-day nap) in the house." Allah's Apostle asked a person to look for him. That person came and said, "O Allah's Apostle! He (Ali) is sleeping in the mosque." Allah's Apostle went there and 'Ali was lying. His upper body cover had fallen down to one side of his body and he was covered with dust. Allah's Apostle started cleaning the dust from him saying: "Get up! O Aba Turab. Get up! O Aba Turab (literally means: O father of dust).
Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Book 8: Prayers (Salat), Number 432

This title, Aba Turab (Father of dust) was the most loved title to Ali, may Allah be pleased with him.

It was also narrated that they once had an argument, the noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, went to resolve this argument. When he was going to their house, sadness covered his face. When he succeeded in resolving the argument, he left their house with happiness covering his face. Some of the companions asked him about this he said : "Why not, I have reconciled my most beloved two"

Birth of Al-Hassan and Al-Hussein, may Allah be pleased with them
When Fatima, may Allah be pleased with her, gave birth to her first son, AlHassan, may Allah be pleased with him, she had Um Ruman and Mother of the believers Umm Salama with her. They wrapped the child in a piece of cloth and gave him to his grand father, peace and blessings be upon him, where he prayed to Allah to save him from satan

In the seventh day, the noble prophet asked Fatima and Ali, may allah be pleased with them, what name did they decide for the child, they said Harb (which means war and which was a known name at that time). The noble Prophet chose the name Alhassan (meaning the good). The parents agreed to the name chosen by the prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The prophet distributed the meat of a sheep on poor muslims. Doing this became an important sunnah in Islam called AlAkeeka (i. e. sacrifice slaughtered on the seventh day of the child's birth).

About a year later, Fatima, may Allah be pleased with her, gave birth to her second son, Al-Hussein, may Allah be pleased with him. She became the mother of the leaders of the youth in paradise. Allah says
"Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness from you, O people of the House! and to purify you a (thorough) purifying." - (al-Ahzab – 34)

The birth of Zaynab, may Allah be pleased with her
In the fifth year after Hijra, fatima, may Allah be pleased with her, gave birth to her daughter, Zaynab. She was named by her grand father, peace and blessings be upon him, after his daughter Zaynab who was dead.

She had another daughter 2 years later, the noble prophet called her Umm kulthum (after his deceased daughter) but she died 2 years later.

The death of prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him
When Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was in his death bed, fatima, may allah be pleased with her, entered the room and stayed beside her father, peace and blessings be upon him. The noble prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, told her something secretly so she cried, then he told her something so she smiled.

Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, asked her what the Prophet told her but she refused to say. When The noble prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, died she said that he told her that Gabriel used to review with him the Quran once every year. He added, 'But this year he reviewed it with me twice, and therefore I think that my time of death has approached. So, be afraid of Allah, and be patient, for I am the best predecessor for you (in the Hereafter).' " Fatima added, "So I wept as you ('Aisha) witnessed. And when the Prophet saw me in this sorrowful state, he confided the second secret to me saying, 'O Fatima! Will you not be pleased that you will be chief of all the believing women (or chief of the women of this nation i.e. my followers?")
Narrated by Aisha in: Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Book 8: Volume 8, Book 74, Number 301

Her dispute with Abu Bakr
After the Prophet's death, Fatima, may Allah be pleased with her, asked for her inheritance. Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, told her that her heard the noble prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saying that Allah's Prophets are not to be inherited and their belongings are for charity (from the Sahih). A similar hadith was narrated by Abu Hiraira in Sahih Bukhari.

In the translation of Sahih Bukhari, Book 51: Wills and Testaments (Wasaayaa), Volume 4, Book 51, Number 37: Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "My heirs will not inherit a Dinar or a Dirham (i.e. money), for whatever I leave (excluding the adequate support of my wives and the wages of my employees) is given in charity."

Fatima, may Allah be pleased with her was angry and refused to talk to Abu-Bakr.

Later, when se was sick, Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, came to visit her. He asked for permission to see her. Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, asked her and she accepted. Abu Bakr spoke to her until the dispute was completely resolved.

Her Death
On Monday the second of Ramadan 11 years after Hijra, she felt that she was dying. She embraced her family members, took a bath, dressed new clothes that she did not wear before because of her grief after her father's death and called for Umm Rafe (a slave woman that her father freed) and asked her to put her bed in the middle of the house. She layed on her bed in the direction of Qibla, then she slept. She died 6 months only after her father, peace and blessings be upon him.

Before her death, she asked her husband, may Allah be pleased with him, to marry the daughter of her sister Zaynab.