CHAPTER 5
The Leader of the Ummah – Fatima (May Allah be pleased with her)
The sound of the sweeping broom echoed in the humble abode of Fatima and Ali. (May Allah be pleased with them)
Fatima was the daughter of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) and Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was her husband.
She glanced at her two young boys, Hasan and Hussain (May Allah be pleased with them) cooing softly as they lay on a mat nearby. She tried to ignore the blisters on her palms and the feeling of emptiness in her stomach.
“Oh, I wish I did not feel so weak,” “I could sweep the floor much faster had I eaten something,” She thought to herself. “Oh what will I feed Ali and the boys?” “If I had some wheat I could have ground it in the mil,” Lamented Fatima, not for once thinking about her aching body and blistered palms.
Instead, she heard her father, Prophet Muhammd’s (peace be upon him) voice resonate in her mind.
“O Fatima! Bear calmly the bitterness of this world for the bliss of the Hereafter tomorrow,” He had advised wisely.
This was not the first time Fatima (May Allah be pleased with her) and her family had to deal with hunger and extreme hardship.
Despite the lack of food and luxuries, Fatima and her family were a source of joy for Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
He (peace be upon him) loved his daughter Fatima, his son in law Ali and his grandsons Hassan and Hussain dearly. (May Allah be pleased with them).
Their stomachs would be empty but their hearts were filled with special love. Fatima’s home would be illuminated by the smile of her father and the giggles of her innocent sons, who would play together.
Once Anas bin Malik came to Fatima’s house and was stunned to see the sight that his eyes beheld.
The Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was on his fours, and atop his blessed back were Hassan and Hussain! (May Allah be pleased with them)
“What a great mount you have, O Hassan and O Hussain!” Exclaimed Anas, mesmerised by the sheer simplicity and beauty of a grandfather’s love.
They prayed to Allah for their health and recovery. They made a promise. “We will fast for three days. Oh Allah, Please grant our sons relief from the illness that has befallen them.” They vowed sincerely.
And by Allah’s will, Hassan and Hussain (May Allah be pleased with them) recovered from their illness.
“And what great riders they are, O Anas!” Replied the Holy Prophet. (Peace be upon him) His words dripping with raw love for his beloved Fatima’s sons.(May Allah be pleased with them)
It so happened, some time later, that these two lovable apples of Muhammd’s (Peace be upon him) eyes, Hasan and Hussain (May Allah be pleased with them) fell sick.
Fatima and Ali (May Allah be pleased with them) were overcome with worry.
Their prayers were answered. Now it was time to fulfil their promise. So both Ali and Fatima (May Allah be pleased with them) geared up to keep their first fast.
Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) borrowed some barley from a Jew. Fatima (May Allah be pleased with her) divided the barley into three parts to prepare meals for three days.
On the first day when the family was about to open their fast, they heard a knock on the door. “Who could that be?” thought Ali (May Allah be pleased with him)
A beggar stood at their door, “Peace be upon you, O familly of Muhammad! I am one of the poorest of Muslims. So can you please feed me? May Allah feed you in Paradise!” He begged desperately.
“What do we do, Fatimah?” A needy person is at the door.” Ali whispered to Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with them).
And without a moment’s hesitation, she replied. “We give him the food.” The family of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) slept without a morsel of food in their stomachs.
All they had after a day’s fast was some water. Despite this, they did not forget their promise, and kept the second fast the next day.
Fatima (May Allah be pleased with her) turned the stone in the mill, grinding the barley patiently.
At sunset, when it was time to break the fast, who should come knocking at this generous family’s house?
This time it was a child looking at them with beseeching eyes. “O blessed family of the Prophet (Peace be upon him). Please help me, I am starving! Pleaded the orphan child earnestly.
Ali and Fatima (May Allah be pleased with them) knew exactly what to do. Without a frown of frustration on their faces, without a sigh of complaint, they gladly handed over the food to the needy child.
And for themselves, they broke their fast with water once again. It was the third consecutive day and the final fast of the promise. The starvation of the past two days did nothing to deter them from keeping their oath.
On the third day, the stone in the mill continued to grind the barley. It was unaware that the hands that were turning it were as weak as a spider’s web.
Yet, the meal was prepared and it was time for the third sunset.
Once again a restless knock was heard at the time of breaking the promised fast.
“Is there anybody who can give some food to a prisoner? A bite of food has not gone down my throat! Help me please,” He wailed in distress.
Fatima and Ali (May Allah be pleased with them), for the third time, decided to ignore their own hunger to fill someone else’s stomach.
The food was handed over to the captive without second thoughts, keeping only water for themselves. Fatima (May Allah be pleased with her) spread out her prayer mat, engaging in worship of her Lord.
Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) grabbed the hands of Hassan and Hussain (May allah be pleased with them) and departed to meet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Weakness and hunger caused them to stumble in their steps. It did not take Muhammad (Peace be upon him) a second glance to guess the reason behind their feeble conditions.
And so, Mohammad (Peace be upon him) helped to arrange food for them.
CONCLUSION
The Infinite Reward
Such was Fatima (May Allah be pleased with her). No riches of the world could be given to her as a suitable reward for her selflessness.
No gold or silver could outshine the beautiful radiance of her character. It is only apt that Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Messenger of Allah and her father, gave her the glad tidings on his deathbed.
“Are you not pleased to be the leader of the women of the world?” “Are you not pleased to be the first of the people of my house to join me?”
Actions of people like Fatima (May Allah be pleased with her) are described in the Holy Quran. Where Allah promises a reward no worldly reward can match.
They [are those who] fulfil [their] vows and fear a Day whose evil will be widespread. And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, Indeed, We fear from our Lord a Day austere and distressful.”
So Allah will protect them from the evil of that Day and give them radiance and happiness and will reward them for what they patiently endured [with] a garden [in Paradise] and silk [garments].
End of Part 2
Written By:
Mahrukh Nida Ahsan
References:
The Sealed Nectar - Safiur Rahman Al Mubarakpuri
When the Moon Split - Safiur Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri
Our Liege Lady Fatima The Resplendent - Al Habib Muhammad Ibn Abd ar Rahman as Saqlain al Husayni
100 Stories of Hazrat Fatima - Maulana Muhammad Uvais Sarwar