In this final instalment of our ongoing series about the daughters of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), we take a look at the life of his youngest daughter: Hz Fatima bint Muhammad (RA).
Hz Fatima bint Muhammad (RA) was the youngest daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Hz Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (RA). She was born five years before Allah bestowed her father with prophethood.
Narrated Al-Miswar bin Makhrama (RA): [1]
Allah’s Apostle (PBUH) said, “Fatima is a part of me, and he who makes her angry, makes me angry.”
Hz Fatima (RA) spent her early years under the loving and tender care of her parents. Even as a young girl, she was very courageous. One day, she accompanied Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to al-Masjid al-Haram. As he began to pray, a group of some people from Quraysh gathered there, and threw filth on him. Hz Fatima (RA) stood there and shielded her father from the attacks of evil men like Abu Jahl, Uqbah and Shaybah.
Abdullah bin Masud (RA) narrated: [2]
When the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was lying prostrate in prayer and around him were some people from the Quraysh, Uqbah bin Abu Mu’ait brought the foetus of a she-camel and threw it on the back of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). He did not raise his head until Fatima arrived, removed it from his back and cured him who had done that (ugly act).
Hz Fatima (RA) was well-known for her compassionate and kind nature. She was generous and always willing to help the poor and needy; she would often give her food away, even if it meant going hungry herself.
At the age of eighteen, Hz Fatima (RA) was married to Hz Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA), in Medina. Their marriage was a very happy one, albeit the couple spent most of their life in extreme poverty.
Hz Fatima (RA) and Hz Ali (RA) had two sons, Hasan (RA) and Hussain (RA); and two daughters, Zainab (RA) and Umm Kulthum (RA).
Despite being busy with family life, Hz Fatima (RA) still managed to find time for the Ummah. She even played a key role in the Battles of Uhud and Trench, such as tending to the wounded and preparing food.
Narrated by Sahl, when he was asked about the wound of the Prophet on the day of the Battle of Uhud: [3]
The face of the Prophet (PBUH) was wounded and one of his front teeth was broken, and the helmet over his head was smashed. Fatima washed off the blood while Ali held water. When she saw that bleeding was increasing continuously, she burnt a mat (of date-palm leaves) till it turned into ashes which she put over the wound and thus the bleeding ceased.
Towards the later part of his life, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) fell seriously ill. His final days were spent in the apartment of his wife, Hz Aisha (RA). Once, when Hz Fatima (RA) visited him, he smiled at her cheerfully. He then took her hand, drew her near to himself and told her something in confidence.
Narrated Hz Aisha (RA): [4]
The Prophet (PBUH) in his fatal illness, called his daughter Fatima and told her a secret because of which she started weeping. Then he called her and told her another secret, and she started laughing. When I asked her about that, she replied, “The Prophet (PBUH) told me that he would die in his fatal illness, and so I wept, but then he secretly told me that from amongst his family, I would be the first to join him, and so I laughed.”
Hz Fatima (RA) passed away in the year 11 AH (632 CE), barely few months after Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) left this world.
References
- Sahih Bukhari Volume 5, Book 57, Number 61
- Sahih Muslim Book 19, Hadith 4422
- Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Hadith 159
- Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 56, Hadith 820
Wish to read more? Why not check out the other parts of this series?
- Hz Zainab (RA)
- Hz Ruqayyah (RA)
- Hz Umm Kulthum (RA)
- Hz Fatima (RA)
