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It is difficult to define the extent of the Prophet's
love for Fatima (A) for she occupied a special place in his heart like
no other person did. The Prophet's love for Fatima was mixed with respect
and exaltation; and in addition to being motivated by the father/daughter
relationship, this love was granted to her for the special talents and
noble traits Fatima enjoyed. Perhaps we can go to the extent of saying
that the Prophet was commanded to love and respect Fatima (A), a
matter that led him to speak openly about her greatness and talents and
her nearness to Allah-and His Messenger-on every possible occasion.
This reality is supported by the fact that the Prophet
(S) did not pay this much attention to any of his other daughters.
Thus, it can again be concluded that his love and respect for Fatima was
motivated by some reason other than fatherhood. In addition to Fatima's
noble traits and special talents, the Prophet (S) knew what
was going to happen to her after his death and the great miseries and sorrows,
which she would be inflicted with by some so-called Muslims, after his
departure to the Heavens. So the Prophet intended to make clear to his
Ummah the greatness and excellence of Fatima so as to clarify the falsity
of those who would oppose Fatima in the future.
The following are various reports that illustrate
the love and respect the Prophet (S) held for Lady Fatima (A)
1. Bihar v. 10-Imam Sadiq (A) reported that Fatima
(A) said:
"When the following verse was revealed:
'Deem not Summons of the Apostle among yourselves like the summons of one of you to another,' (24: 63)
'I feared to call the Messenger of Allah, `Father'; so I began calling him Messeenger of Allah. He ignored me two or three times and finally said:
'Fatima, this verse was not revealed about you
or your family, nor does it include your progeny; for you are from me and
I am from you. Rather, this verse was revealed regarding the vain and crude
Quraishans who are arrogant and spendthrifts. Call me Father; it surely
is better for the heart and more satisfying to the Lord.'"
2. Aisha Bint Talha quoted Aisha as saying:
"I have not seen anyone more similar to the Messenger
in speech and dialogue than Fatima. Whenever she entered the house, he
would greet her, kiss her hands and ask her to sit near him. Likewise,
when he entered the house, she would greet him, kiss his hands and etc....."
3. Bazl al-Harawi said to al-Hussain Ibn Roah:
"How many daughters did the Messenger of Allah
have?"
Ibn Roah said: "Four"
Bazl then asked: "Who was the best of them?"
He said: "Fatima"
Bazl said: "Why was she the best while she was
the youngest and least company to the Prophet of Allah (S)?"
Ibn Roah then said: "(She was the best) because she possessed two special characteristics:
1. She inherited the Messenger of Allah.
2. The Prophet's progeny are her children. Besides,
Allah gifted her with these traits because He knew her sincere adherence
and pure intention (to worship Him)."
4. Khawarizmi wrote in his book Maqtal al-Hussain that Huthiefa said:
"The Messenger of Allah used to kiss Fatima all
over her face before he went to sleep ...."
5. Ibn Umar said:
"Once the Prophet (S) kissed Fatima's head and
said: `May your father be your sacrifice; stay as you are ...."
6. According to Dhakhear al-Uqbi, Aisha said:
"Once the Messenger of Allah kissed Fatima's throat so I said, Messenger of Allah! You have done something which you have not done before!"
The Prophet answered: "Aisha, whenever I long for
Paradise, I kiss Fatima's throat."
7. Qandouzi reported that Aisha said:
"Whenever the Prophet returned from a trip, he would kiss Fatima's throat and say:
"From her, I do smell the fragrance of Paradise."
Furthermore, the following narrations have been reported
by both Shiite and Sunni scholars:
1. The Messenger of Allah said:
"The best of women of Paradise are: Khadija Bint
Khowailid, Fatima Bint Muhammad, Asia Bint Muzahim (Pharaoh's wife) and
Maryam Bint Imran."
2. He also said:
"The best of the women of the world are four: Maryam
Bint Imran, Asia Bint Muzahim, Khadija Bint Khowailid, and Fatima Bint
Muhammad."
(These two narrations have been reported in Musnad
Ahmad v.2, p.293)
3. The Prophet (S) also said:
"Among the women of world, the following are among (the best): Maryam Bint Imran, Khadija Bint Khowailid, Fatima Bint Muhammad, and Asiya-Pharaoh's wife."
(Al-Esti'ab and al-Isabah)
These three narrations name the four best women but
do not specify the best of them. However, there are many authentic narrations,
which clearly state that Fatima was the best of all women, including these
honorable ladies. In fact, this is an undisputable fact, which both Shiite
and Sunni scholars unanimously agree. Among the sayings of Sunni scholars
who reported narrations to this effect are:
1. Masrouq reports that Aisha told him:
"We, the Prophet's wives, were gathered around him when Fatima walked towards us; by Allah her walk is exactly the same as that of the Messenger of Allah when he saw her, he greeted her by saying: `Welcome my daughter.' He then asked her to sit to his right or left. He then whispered something to her that caused her to cry; when he saw her sadness, he whispered something else to her which caused her to laugh. (When I saw this) I said to her: `The Messenger of Allah bestowed you with a special secret, yet you cry?'
When the Prophet left I exclaimed: "What did he whisper to you?"
Fatima answered: `I would not announce the secret of the Messenger of Allah!'
After the Prophet's death, I said to her: `I insist on you-by my right over you-to tell me (what he told you)!'
She said: 'Yes, I will tell you now. The first
time he whispered to me, he told me that Gabriel used to review the Quran
with him once a year, but this year he reviewed it twice. So, he said,
I think the time of my departure is near. Therefore, fear Allah and be
patient, for I will be a good (person) to proceed you.' Fatima added: `so
I cried, as you saw. When he noticed my sadness, he once again said to
me: 'Fatima, is it not satisfying to you to be theMistress of believing
women (or the Mistress of the women of my Ummah)?"
1. Baghawi in his book Masabeh As-Sunna writes that the Prophet said to Fatima:
"Is it not satisfying to you to be the Mistress
of the women of the world?"
2. Hakim Nishabouri reported in his book Mustadrakthat he said to Fatima:
"Is it not satisfying to you to be the Mistress
of the women of the world, this Ummah and believing women?"
Although there is a large number of narrations, which
state that Fatima (A) was the Mistress of all women. Ahmad Ibn Hanbal mentions
at the end of the first narration that he also informed Fatima (A) that
she was the first one to follow him after his death.
3. Bukhari reported in v.5, p.21 and 29 of his Sahih
that Allah's Messenger said:
"Fatima is part of me, he who harms her harms me."
This narration has been reported with a variety of words which all have the same meaning; it has been reported by more than fifty narrators. For instance, Abu al-Faraj wrote in his Al-Aghani v.8, p.307:
"When Abdullah Ibn Al-Hassan was still young, he visited Umar Ibn Abdul Aziz who sat him in an honorable place, paid much attention to him and fulfilled his wishes. Ibn Abdul Aziz then pinched the boy's stomach and said: "Remember this when it is time for intercedence."
When Abdullah Ibn Al-Hassan left, Umar's family blamed him for doing so with a young boy. But Umar said:
'A trustworthy man informed me that the Messenger of Allah said: "Surely Fatima is part of me, pleases me that which pleases her. "
Umar then added: 'and I know that had Fatima been alive, what I did with her descendant (Abdullah), would have pleased her.'
His Family then said: "But why did you pinch his stomach and say what you said to him?"
Umar Ibn Abdul Aziz then said: "There is not a
man from Bani Hashim who does not have the right of intercedence; and I
hope to be included among those through this boy."
Samhoudi comments on this narration by saying:
"This proves that anyone who hates or harms a descendant
of Fatima, makes himself subject to harming the Prophet On the contrary,
if someone pleases them, he also pleases the Prophet."
Moreover, Sahaili added: "This narration
leads us to the conclusion that he who curses her (Fatima), becomes an
infidel; and he who praises her, praises her father."
4. Bihar v.10: Imam Ja'far Ibn Muhammad (A) and Jabir Ibn Abdullah al-Ansari said:
"Once the Prophet saw Fatima wearing a cloak of camel skin while grinding (grain) with her hands; and holding her child. Tears came from the Prophet's eyes and he said:
'Daughter! bear with the hardships of this world
and later you will enjoy the blessings of the Hereafter.'
Fatima replied: `Messenger of Allah, praise be
to Allah for His benefactions and thanks be to Him for his gifts.' (It
was then that) Allah revealed:
"And soon will the Guardian-Lord give thee (that wherewith)
thou shalt be well pleased."
In conclusion, it can be derived from the above narrations
that Fatima Zahra (A) was the nearest of all to Allah's Messenger
The love, affection and harmony that they shared was unique. Thus, we realize
that it was not strange that he taught Fatima the best deeds and guided
her to the noblest traits and best conduct.