Look at the title of this unit and answer the questions.

Fatimah’s Childhood.

Fatimah (RAA) was the Prophet’s (SAAS) fourth and youngest daughter. Being the youngest, Fatimah was well loved. All her sisters used to dote on her, especially Zainab (RAA). Eventually, Zainab got married, followed by Ruqayyah (RAA), and finally, Um-Kulthum. Fatimah was upset when her sisters got married. She wanted them to stay home with her. She thought that marriage was not a good idea.

The Revelation.

After the first revelation, everything changed. Her father became very active. He talked to everyone about Allah (SWT), the One True God. Many people began to dislike him. Sometimes they shouted at him; sometimes they insulted him. When Fatimah saw all this, she was upset. She was very proud of her father.

On one occasion, Fatimah was with her father in Al-Bait Al-Haram. There were unbelievers everywhere. Muhammad (SAAS) was praying to Allah (SWT), A man called Uqba bin Abu Mu’ait approached the Prophet (SAAS) and watched him praying. Suddenly, he took out some intestines of a young camel from his bag and dropped them on Muhammad’s (SAAS) back. The Prophet (SAAS) continued to pray. Fatimah was very angry. She pushed the man away and screamed at him. Then she cleaned her father’s back.

Fatimah was with her father one day when he had a revelation. The Prophet (SAAS) was told to call his closest relatives to Islam. Muhammad (SAAS) began to speak. “Oh, Quraish, redeem yourself, for I cannot protect you before the wrath of Allah (SWT). Oh, Abdmanaf, redeem yourselves for Icannot protect you before the wrath of Allah (SWT). Oh, ‘Abbas bin Abdulmuttalib, redeem yourself for I cannot protect you before the wrath of Allah (SWT). Oh, Fatimah, ask for whatever you want of my fortune, but on Judgement Day you will be alone”.

The Faith of Fatimah.

Fatimah always had strong faith in Allah (SWT). Because of this, she suffered a lot. She suffered when the idolaters hurt her father. She suffered starvation and sickness during the Boycott. She suffered when her mother became ill. She suffered during the journey to Yathrib.

She travelled with her sister Um-Kulthum to Yathrib. Unfortunately, some idolaters saw them. They followed the two sisters (RAA). Finally, the idolaters attacked them. During the attack, the sisters fell off their camels, and the camels ran away. As a result, Fatimah and her sister had to walk. When they finally arrived in Yathrib, they were very tired and dirty.

Fatimah Gets Married.

Fatimah did not want to get married. She wanted to stay with her father. Eventually, Muhammad (SAAS) persuaded her to marry his cousin, Ali bin Abu Talib (KA W). Ali was not rich. He was a poor soldier. He had no dowry to give Fatimah when they got married. Instead, he gave her his armour from the Battle of Badr.

When Fatimah married Ali, the Prophet (SAAS) prayed to Allah (SWT). “May she be blessed and may all her children be blessed”. Allah (SWT) responded by giving Fatimah two sons, Hassan (RAA) and Hussein (RAA). These are the only direct male descendants of Muhammad (SAAS). Fatimah’s sisters never had any boys. Married life was not easy for Fatimah. She was poor and had to do everything herself – washing, cleaning, cooking, and so on.

No Help.

Fatimah was tired from working hard. She asked her husband for help. Her husband suggested that she ask her father for a female captive, but Fatimah did not want to ask her father for help. She got more and more tired. Eventually, she asked her father for help, but he refused her. Later, Muhammad (SAAS) visited the couple in their house. They were sleeping on their hard bed. It was very cold. He woke them and asked, “Would you like something better than you asked for?”

“Yes”, they replied.

The Prophet (SAAS) said, “All right. I’ll teach you something that Jibril taught me”. He then taught them how to recite some prayers to Allah (SWT). The Prophet’s (SAAS) Death. Soon after returning of Muslims to Makkah, the Prophet’s (SAAS) health began to get worse. One day, Fatimah heard that her father was in pain, so she rushed to his house. He was dying. When she looked at him, he smiled and called her over. He whispered something in her ear. She began to cry. After a short while, he whispered some more words. She smiled. A few moments later, the Seal of All Prophets passed away. Later, Muhammad’s (SAAS) wife, ‘A’ishah (RAA), asked Fatimah the reason of her crying. “Because he said he was dying”, Fatimah answered. “And why did you smile later?’ asked ‘A’ishah. Fatimah replied, “He said that I would die next”. Fatimah's Death.

Fatimah died only six months later. It was on 2 Ramadhan, 11 a.h. She woke up one morning and felt very weak. She called her good friend, Um Rafi’. Her friend helped her to bathe. Then she put on her best clothes. Um Rafi’ then helped her to lie down in the middle of the room. Her head pointed towards the Qibla. She was now ready to meet Allah (SWT), her father, and her mother. Slowly, she closed her eyes and fell asleep. She died in her sleep.