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Fatimah was the fifth child of the Prophet Muhammad (S) and Khadijah (R). She was born at a time when her noble father had begun to spend long periods in the solitude of mountains around Makkah, meditating and reflecting on the great mysteries of creation. When she was five years old, she along with her sisters heard that her father had become the Messenger of Allah.
One day, when she was not yet ten, she accompanied her father to the Masjid al-Haram. He stood in the place known as al-Hijir faced the Ka’bah, and began to pray. Fatimah stood at his side. A group of Quraysh, by no means well disposed to the Prophet (S), gathered about him. They included Abu Jahl Ibn Hisham, the Prophet’s uncle, Uqbah ibn Abi Mu’ayt, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, and Shaybah and Utbah, sons of Rabi’ah. Menacingly, the group went up to the Prophet and Abu Jahl, the ringleader, asked:“Which of you can bring the entrails of a slaughtered animal and throw it on Muhammad?”
Uqbah ibn Abi Muayt, one of the vilest of the lot, volunteered and hurried off. He returned with the obnoxious filth and threw it on the shoulders of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he was still prostrating.
Imagine the feelings of Fatimah as she her father being treated in this fashion. What could she, a girl of ten years old do? She went up to her father and removed the offensive matter and then stood firmly and angrily before the group of Quraysh thugs and lashed out against them. Not a single word did they say to her. The noble Prophet raised his head on completion of the prostration and went on to complete the Salat.
The young Fatimah witnessed senses of vicious opposition and harassment against her father and the early Muslims. She did not meekly stand aside but joined in the struggle in defense of her father and his noble mission. She was still a young girl and instead of the cheerful romping, the gaiety and liveliness which children of her age are and should normally be accustomed to, Fatimah had to witness and participate in such ordeals.
The persecution of the Prophet, his family and his followers continued and even became worse after the migration of the first Muslims to Abyssinia. In about the seventh year of his mission, the Prophet and his family were forced to leave their homes and seek refuge in a rugged little valley enclosed by hills on all sides. This valley could only be entered from Makkah by a narrow path.
To this arid valley, Muhammad and the clans of Banu Hashim and al-Muttalib were forced to retire with limited supplies of food. Fatimah was one of the youngest members of the clans just about twelve years old – and had to undergo months of hardship and suffering. The wailing of hungry children and women in the valley could be heard from Makkah. The Quraysh allowed no food and contact with the Muslims whose hardship was only relieved somewhat during the season of pilgrimage.
The boycott lasted for three years. When it was lifted, the Prophet had to face even more trials and difficulties. Khadijah, the faithful and loving died shortly afterwards. With her death, the Prophet and his family lost one of the greatest sources of comfort and strength, which had sustained them through the difficult period. The year in which the noble Khadijah, and later Abu Talib, died is known as the Year of Sadness. Fatimah, now a young lady, was greatly distressed by her mother’s death.
Although her older sister, Umm Kulthum, stayed in the same household, Fatimah realized that she now had a greater responsibility with the passing away of her mother. She felt that she had to give even greater support to her father. With loving tenderness, she devoted herself to looking after his needs. So concerned was she for his welfare.
The Prophet once said: “The best women in all the world are four: The Virgin Mary, Aasiyaa the wife of Pharaoh, Khadijah Mother of the Believers and Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad.” Fatimah thus acquired a place of love and esteem in the Prophet’s heart that was only occupied by his wife Khadijah.
Fatimah, may Allah be pleased with her, was given the title of “az-Zahraa” which means “the Resplendent One”. That was because of her beaming face, which seemed to radiate light. It is said that when she stood for Prayer, the mihrab would reflect the light of her countenance. She was also called “al-Batul” because of her deep attachment to Allah. Instead of spending her time in the company of women, much of her time would be spent in Salat, in reading the Qur’an and in other acts of ‘Ebaadah (Worship).
Fatimah had a strong resemblance to her father, the Messenger of Allah. Aishah the wife of the Prophet, said of her: “ I have not seen any one of Allah’s creation resemble the Messenger of Allah more in speech, conversation and manner of sitting than Fatimah, may Allah be pleased with her. When the Prophet (S)her approaching, he would welcome her and kiss her, take her by the hand and sit her down in the place where he was sitting.” She would do the same when the Prophet (S) came to her. She would welcome him with joy and kiss him.
Fatimah’s fine manners and gentle speech were part of her lovely and endearing personality. She was especially kind to poor and indigent folk and would often give the food she had to those in need even if she herself remained hungry. She had no craving for the ornaments of this world nor the luxury and comforts of life. She lived simply, although on occasion as we shall see circumstances seemed to be too much and too difficult for her.
She inherited from her father a persuasive eloquence that was rooted in wisdom. When she spoke, people would often be moved to tears. She had the ability and the sincerity to stir the emotions, move people to tears and fill their hearts with praise and gratitude to Allah for His grace and His inestimable bounties. She migrated to Madinah a few weeks after the Prophet did ,where she lived with her father in the simple dwelling he had built adjoining the mosque.
In the second year after the Hijrah, she received proposals of marriage through her father, two of which were turned down. Then Ali, the son of Abu Talib, plucked up courage and went to the Prophet to ask for her hand in marriage. In the presence of the Prophet, however, Ali became over-awed and tongue-tied. He stared at the ground and could not say anything. The Prophet then asked: “Why have you come? Do you need something?” Ali still could not speak and then the Prophet suggested: “Perhaps you have come to propose marriage to Fatimah.”
“Yes,” replied Ali.
At this, according to one report, the Prophet said simply: “Marhaban wa ahlan – Welcome into the family,” and this was taken by Ali and a group of Ansar who were waiting outside for him as indicating the Prophet’s approval. Another report indicated that the Prophet approved and went on to ask Ali if he had anything to give as mahr. Ali replied that he didn’t. The Prophet reminded him that he had a shield, which could be sold.
Ali sold the shield to Uthman for four hundred dirhams and as he was hurrying back to the Prophet to hand over the sum as mahr, Uthman stopped him and said:“I am returning your shield to you as a present from me on your marriage to Fatimah.” Fatimah and Ali were thus married most probably at the beginning of the second year after the Hijrah. She was about nineteen years old at the time and Ali was about twenty-one. The Prophet himself performed the marriage ceremony. At the Walimah (wedding banquet) the guests were served with dates, figs and hais (a mixture of dates and butterfat). A leading member of the Ansar donated a ram and others made offerings of grain.
Fatimah left the home of her beloved father for the first time to begin life with her husband. The Prophet was clearly anxious on her account and sent Barakah with her should she be in need of any help. And no doubt Barakah was a source of comfort and solaceto her.
Fatimah’s life with Ali was as simple and frugal as it was in her father’s household. In fact, so far as material comforts were concerned, it was a life of hardships and deprivation. Throughout their life together, Ali remained poor because he did not set great store by material wealth. Fatimah was the only one of her sisters who was not married to a wealthy man.
In fact, it could be said that Fatimah’s life with Ali was even more rigorous than life in her father’s home. At least before marriage there were always a number of ready helping hands in the Prophet’s household. But now she had to cope virtually on her own. To relieve extreme poverty, Ali worked as a drawer and carrier of water and she as a grinder of corn. One day she said to Ali: “I have ground until my hands are blistered.”
“I have drawn water until I have pains in my chest,” said Ali and went on to suggest to Fatimah: “Allah has given your father some captives of war, so go and ask him to give you a servant.”
Reluctantly, she went to the Prophet who said: “What has brought you here, my little daughter?” “ I came to give you greetings of peace,” she said, for in awe of him she could not bring herself to ask what she had intended. “What did you do?” Asked Ali when she returned alone “I was ashamed to ask him,” she said. So the two of them went together but the Prophet felt they were less in need than others. “I will not give to you,” he said, “and let the Ahl as-Suffah (poor Muslims who stayed in the mosque) be tormented with hunger. I have not enough for their keep…”
Ali and Fatimah returned home feeling somewhat dejected but that night, after they had gone to bed, they heard the voice of the Prophet asking permission to enter. Welcoming him, they both rose to their feet, but he told them: “Stay where you are,” and sat down beside them. “Shall I not tell you of something better than that which you asked of me?” He asked and when they said yes he said: “Words which Jibril (Gabriel) taught me, that you should say “Subhaan Allah-Glory be to Allah” ten times after every Prayer, and ten times “Al hamdulillah – Praise be to Allah,” and ten times “Allahu Akbar – Allah is Great.” And that when you go to bed you should say them thirty-three times each.”
Ali used to say in later years: “ I have never once failed to say them since the Messenger of Allah taught them to us.”
There are many reports of the hard and difficult times, which Fatimah had to face. Often there was no food in her house. Once the Prophet was hungry. He went to one after another of his wives’ apartments but there was no food. He then went to Fatimah’s house and she had no food either.
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