CHAPTER 37
FATIMA (AS) IN THE VERSE
OF MUBAHALA
Allah, the Exalted said:
"If anyone disputes in this matter with thee, now after (full) knowledge hath come to thee, say: Come! Let us gather together; our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves. Then let us invoke the curse of God on those who lie! III:61
This event is famous and is known to all Muslims. Islamic scholars are united on the fact the it was revealed in regard to the Christian delegation who came from Najran to dispute the issue of Isa Ibn Maryam (AS) with the Prophet (P.B.U.H). In v.6 of Bihar, Imam Ali (AS) mentioned the event in the following manner:
A delegation of Najrani Christians led by three prominent men, Al-Aqib, Muhsen, and the Archbishop; these men along with two prominent jews came to the Prophet (P.B.U.H). They intended to argue with him; the archbishop started:
Abu Al-Qasim, who was Musa's father?"
The Prophet answered "Imran."
The archbishop then said Who was Yusif's father
The Prophet: "Yaqoub."
The archbishop continued: "May I be your sacrifice; who is your father?"
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The prophet answered: "Abdullah Ibn Abd Al-Muttalib."
Then the archbishop asked: "Who id Isa's (Jesus) father?"
The Prophet waited a moment while Gabriel revealed the following to him: "(Say) he was the spirit of Allah and His Word.
The archbishop then asked: "Can he be a spirit without having a body?"
Again a revelation was sent to the Prophet (P.B.U.H), the revelation is as follows:
The similitude of Isa before Allah si as that of Adam; he created him from dust, then said to him: 'Be And he was."
When the archbishop heard this, he jumped in objection to the Prophet saying that Isa (AS) was created from dust, and said;
"Muhammad, We don't find this to be in the Torah, the Bible, or in the Zabour. You are the first one to say this."
This was the moment that the verse of Mubahala was revealed.
After the delegation had heard the verse, they said:
"Assign for us a solemn meeting (in which every side supplicates to Allah to curse the other side if they are followers of falsehood)".
The Prophet's answer to this was: "Tomorrow morning, if Allah wills."
The next morning, the Prophet finished his morning prayers and ordered Ali to follow him and Fatima, in turn, holding Al-Hassan and Al-Hussain to follow Ali.
The Prophet (P.B.U.H) then told them:
"When I supplicate you should say: Amen."
When the delegation saw the holy family and that the Prophet (P.B.U.H) had spread a mat for himself and family, they said to each other:
"By Allah, he is a true Prophet: and if he curses us, surely Allah will answer his prayers and destroy us. The only thing that can save us, is to ask him to relive us from this meeting."
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Razi, in his interpretation of the Holy Quran states:
The Archbishop said: "O Christians, I surely see faces of men, who if they were to ask Allah to move a mountain, He would surely do it. Do not hold this meeting, or you shall be destroyed and no Christian will remain on Earth until the Day of Resurrection."
The delegation proceeded towards the Messenger and said: "Abu Al-Qasim, relieve us (from this) solemn meeting."
The Prophet said: "Indeed I will; but the One who sent me with righteousness is my witness that had I cursed you, Allah would not have left a Christian on the face of the earth."
This has been a summary of the story. What matters to us here, is Allah's saying in the verse:
"Our women and your women."
All Muslims have agreed that the Prophet (P.B.U.H) took Ali with him to represent "ourselves," Al-Hassan and Al-Hussain to represent "our son's," and Fatima Zahra to represent "Our Women", It is also a given fact that he (P.B.U.H) did not accompany other woman including his wives, his aunts, or any other Muslim women.
This proves that there was not a woman as excellent, great, holy, and chaste as Fatima was. The Prophet called Fatima alone to join him, because she was the only woman capable of fulfilling the qualifications of the verse.
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CHAPTER 38
FATIMA IN SURAH
AL-INSAN (LXXVI)
Allah the Exalted has said:
"Verily the Good shall drink of a Cup (of wine) mixed with Kafur.
A fountain where the Devotees of God do drink, making it flow in unstinted abundance.
They perform (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil far and wide.
And they feed, for the love of God, the indigent, the orphan and the captive.
Saying 'We feed you for the sake of God alone; no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks.'
We only fear a Day of distressful wrath from the side of our Lord.
But God will deliver them from the evil of that day, and will shed over them a light of Beauty and a (blissful) joy.
And because they were patient and constant, He will reward them with a Garden and (garment of) silk. Reciting in the (Garden).on raised thrones, they will see there neither the sun's (excessive heat) nor (the moon's) excessive cold. And the shades of the (Garden will come low over them, and the bunches (of fruit), there, will have low in humility.
And amongst them will passed round vessels of silver and
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goblets of crystal;
Crystal-clear, made od silver;
They will determine the measure thereof (According to their wishes)
And they will be given to drink her of a Cup (of wine) mixed with Zanjabil
A fountain there, Called Salsabil.
And around about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness); if thou seest them, thou wouldst think them scattered Pearls. And when thou lookest, It is there thou wit see a Bliss and a Realm Magnificent.
Upon them will be green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade, and they will be adorned with Bracelets of silver: and their Lord will give to them to drink of a Wine pure and Holy.
Verily this is a Reward for you, and your Endeavor is accepted and recognized." LXXVI;5-22
These verses were revealed after Ali, Fatima, Hassan, and Husain (AS) gave charity to needy people; this story is stated in the book Al-Kashaf by Zamakhshari; it goes as follows:
"Ibn Abbas said:
'Once Al-Hassan and Al-Husain were ill, the Messenger of All and a group went to visit them. The visitors suggested to Imam Ali to make a vow to Allah: if He were to relieve them, he would perform some good action, therefore, Imam Ali together with Fatima ad their servant Fedhdhah vowed to Allah that they would fast for three days if He would relive Hassan and Husain.
When Allah had relieved them Imam Ali (AS) borrowed three (3) aswu (a cubic measure) of barley from a Jew known as Shimon. Fatima ground one (1) as's (singular of aswu) of the barley and baked five loaves of bread for her family's meal at sunset. As sunset approached, a needy man knocked on the door and said: 'Assalamu Alaikum, Family of Muhammad. I am a needy man from among the Muslims, feed me, may Allah feed you from the food of Paradise. The
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holy family preferred the needy man over themselves and spent the night with nothing in their stomachs save water.
They fasted the second day, and again at sunset, when they were waiting for their food, as orphan asked for help and they again preferred him over themselves. The third evening a captive (prisoner of war) asked them for help and they repeated their preference for the needy above themselves.
The following morning Imam Ali (AS) took Al-Hassan and Husain to the Messenger of Allah who said the following when he saw them shaking like little chicks from hunger:
'It displleases us to see you in this condition.'
Then he went with them, for he wanted to see Fatima. When they arrived, Fatima (AS) was in the Mehrab (prayer place). and her condition was such that if further displeased the Prophet (P.B.U.H). At this time, Gabriel descended and said:
Take this chapter Muhammad; Allah surely congratulates you for having this family."
It is worthy to state that the Good ones mentioned here are Ali. Fatima Hassan and Husain; who deserve Paradise because of their act of feeding the needy, the orphan, and the captive.
Another point to keep in ming here, is that despite the detailed description of Paradise given in the verses, Allah, the Exalted, does not mention the huris. This understood to be in honor and exaltation of Fatima (AS), the wife of Imam Ali, and the mother of Hassan and Husain (AS).
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CHAPTER 39
FATIMA'S MODESTY AND
SPENDING IN THE PATH OF ALLAH
Fatima was known to be very modest and humble. Because as man's desire of the Hereafter increases his worldly lusts decrease; and when someone realize the greatness and seriousness of the Day of Judgement, the worldly life becomes of little value to him. Besides as man's reasoning and ability advances, his desire for lusts greatly decreases.
Have you not seen that children play, have fun, become sad and fight over worthless objects: but as they grow up and their senses mature, they refrain from such actions because they consider them to be degrading to their personalities and contradiction to the rules of observing dignified conduct.
This is the case of righteous worshippers of Allah who look down to the ephemeral things of this world, and their hearts cannot be attached to its vanities. They do not like this world deeds and further worship Allah, the Exalted. They collect money to spend it in the way of Allah, feed the hungry, clothe and support the need and deprived. These were also the fundamentals of modesty on which Lady Fatima Zahra (AS) spended. She deeply understood this worldly life, and realized the extent of the Hereafter. It is not amazing to learn that Fatima (AS) was satisfied with the minimum requirements of life; she chose for herself the nobel trait of
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preferring others over herself and aiding them, as well as resenting sumptuous extravagant living. It is a small wonder, indeed, for Fatima was the daughter of the most modest whose religious and social life required him to live in modesty; and Fatima was the first person expected to follow the steps of her father, the modest Messenger.
Fatima's marital life was also surrounded by modesty and satisfaction. her husband Ali (AS) was a devout follower of the Prophet of Islam, and there was not a man known who was more modest than Ali (AS). Imam Ali (AS) was the man who used to speak to the silver and gold in the treasury by saying:
"O you yellow and white someone else save me!
It has been reported that once a beduin approached Imam Ali (AS) for help. The Imam then ordered his agent to give the beduin a grant of one thousand dinars, the later exclaimed:
Gold or silver dinars?
Imam Ali (AS) replied: "They are both just stones to me, so give the beduin that which is more beneficial to him."
Here we relate several narrations which speak of Fatima's modesty and generosity:
1. The author of the book Bisharat Al-Moustafa was quoted by Al-Bihar v.10 to have written:
Imam Sadiq (AS) quoted jabir Ibn Abdullah Al-Ansari as saying:
"One day when we had finished the Asr prayer with the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) an old Arab immigrant man, who was wearing worn-out cloths and was barely able walk because of his old age and weakness came by. The Prophet (P.B.U.H,) asked the old man about his affair; the old man answered:
'Prophet of Allah (P.B.U.H) I am starving, so feed me, I am naked, so clothe me, and poor, so help me.'
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The Prophet then said: 'Surely I find nothing to give you. Yet he who guides to goodness is equal to him who performs it. So go to the house of she who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love her. The one who prefers Allah over herself' I mean Fatima.'
Fatima's house was near the Prophet's house. He (P.B.U.H) asked Bilal to lead the man to her house. When the old man reached the house, he cried out:
'Peace be upon you, O household of Prophethood, the (dwellers of the Places where) angels frequently visit, where Gabriel the holy spirit descends to bring what the Lord of the Worlds reveals.
Fatima said: Peace be upon you; who are you?
The old Beduin answered: 'I am an old Arab man, I have immigrated to your father, The Master of mankind, from a distant place. Daughter of Muhammad, I am in need of clothing and hungry, so console me may Allah bless you.
When this occurred, the Prophet, Ali, and Fatima had not eaten for three days. Yet, Fatima gave him a tanned ram skin told which was used as Al-Hassan and Al-Husain's bed. Then Fatima told the poor man: Take this, may Allah substitute it for you by a better gift by selling it.
The old man replied: Daughter of Muhammad, I complain to you of hunger and you give me a ram's skin? How can I eat with this?
When Fatima heard what the old man had to say, she gave him the necklace which was given to her by Fatima Bint Hamza Ibn Abd Al-Muttalib.
The old man took the necklace and went to the Mosque to meet the Prophet who was sitting in the presence of his companions. He went to the Prophet and said: 'Messenger of Allah, Fatima Bint Muhammad gave me this necklace and said: Sell it, for Allah will grant you a solution to your problem.'
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When the Prophet heard what the man had to say, he cried and said: 'Indeed, Allah will grant you a solution, for Fatima Bint Muhammad, the Mistress of all women gave you this necklace.
Meanwhile Ammar Ibn Yasir (may Allah bless his soul) said:
Messenger of Allah, do I have your permission to buy this necklace?
The Prophet answered: Buy it Ammar, surely if all mankind and Ginn participate in buying it Allah will not torture them in Hellfire.
Ammar said: How much do you want for it?
The old Beduin said: 'A meal of bread and meat, a Yemeni shirt to cover my private parts and to perform my prayers in front of my Lord, and a dinar so I can return to my family.
Ammar, who had just sold his share of looty from the battle of Khaibar, told the man: I will give you twenty (20) dinars, two hundred (200) dirhams, a Yemeni shirt, my horse to take you home, and your need of wheat bread and meat.'
The old then said: 'What a generous man you are!!'
When Ammar had fulfilled his promise to the old man, the later came back to the Prophet (P.B.U.H), who said: 'Are you satisfied and clothed?'
The old man said: 'Yes, and I have become rich; may my father and mother be your sacrifice.'
The prophet then said: 'So reward Fatima for her kindness.'
The old man supplicated: 'O Allah, surely You are our God whenever we ask You;
'We have no other God to worship besides you;
'You are the Who grants us beneficent in all conditions;
'O Allah, grant Fatima that which no eye has evers seen, and has ever heard ... .'
During that time, Ammar had perfumed the necklace with musk,
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wrapped it in a Yemeni shirt, and gave it to one of his slaves by the name of Sahm, who he had brought with the money that he had received for selling his share of the Khaibarian looty. He told Sahm: 'Take this necklace and give it to the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) and tell him that I give you to him also.'
When Sahm had delivered the message, the Prophet said: 'Take the necklace to Fatima the message, she (AS) took the necklace and told the slave that he was free. Upon hearing Fatima, Sahm laughed, so Fatima asked him about the reason which made him laugh. He answered, 'I smiled when I thought of the abundance of goodness put in this necklace; if fed a hungry man, clothed a naked man,satisfied a poor man, freed slave and came back to its original owner."
2. Al-Majlisi, quoting Fural Ibn Ibrahim's interpretation of The Holy Quran in his book Al-Bihar, said:
"Abu Saeed Al-Khudri said: One morning Ali Ibn Abu Talib woke up very hungry and said:
'Fatima, do you have anything to feed us?'
She answered; 'No, by Him who honored father with prophethood, and honored you with successorship, we have nothing edible this morning, and we haven't had any food for two days save that which I have preferred to give you and our two children, Hassan and Hussain.'
Ali (AS) said: 'Fatima ! Why didn't you tell me, so I could bring some food for you?'
Fatima answered: 'Abu Al-Hassan, I surely become ashamed before my God to ask you to do something you can not do.'
At this, Ali Ibn Abu Talib left Fatima, with full of trust that Allah would help him. He borrowed a dinar, and while he was holding the dinar and trying to buy some food for his family, he came upon Miqdad Ibn Al-Aswad.
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The sun had burnt Al-Miqdad's face and feet on that exceptionally hot day. When Ali (AS) saw him, he exclaimed surprisingly:
'Miqdad, what brings you out of your home at this hour?'
Miqdad answered: 'Abu Al-Hassan, ask me not about what I have left behind in the house.'
Ali said: 'My brother, I cannot leave you without knowing your problem.'
Miqdad then said: 'Abu Al-Hassan, for Allah's sake and your sake leave me alone, and do not ask about my condition!!'
Imam Ali said: 'My brother you should not hide your condition from me.'
Miqdad replied; 'Abu Al-Hassan now that you insist, by Him who honored Muhammad with Prophethood and honored you with successorship, nothing forced me out of my house save poverty. I left my children starving; when I heard their cries, there remained no place for me on earth-I have come out of my house in depression; this is my story.'
Imam Ali (AS) cried when heard the story; he cried until his heard was wet from tears and said:
'By Allah, that which forced you out of your house and also forced me out of my house; I borrowed a dinar, but I prefer you to have it.'
When Imam Ali (AS) had given the dinar to Miqdad, he went to the mosque and performed his Dhuhr (noon), Asr (afternoon) and Magrib (evening) prayers. When the Messenger of Allah had completed his prayers, he signaled Ali, who was in the first line, to follow him. Ali (AS) obediently followed him out of the Mosque and after the Prophet greeted him said:
'Abu Al-Hassan, do you have some food for dinar so that I can accompany you?
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Imam Ali was too shy to answer the Messenger, but the Prophet of Allah (P.B.U.H) had detailed knowledge about the dinar and what had happened to it; for Allah, the Exalted, had revealed to His Prophet to have dinner at Ali's house that night. When Ali did not answer, the Prophet said:
'Abu Al-Hassan, why don't you say no, so I may leave you; or yes, so I may accompany you?'
Imam Ali said 'Accompany me!!!'
The Prophet then took Ali's hand and proceeded toward Fatima's house. when they arrived, Fatima was just finishing her prayers and there was a pan on fire behind her. When she heard the Prophet coming -who was the dearest person to her-she greeted him and he wiped his hand on her head and said:
How is your evening my daughter?
She answered: Fine!'
He (P.B.U.H) then said: 'Give us some dinar,may Allah bless you and surely He has.'
Fatima (AS) placed the pan in front of the Prophet and Ali Ibn Abu Talib.
At that moment, the Messenger of Allah put his had on Ali's shoulder and said:
'Ali, this is a substitute for your dinar. This is a reward from Allah for the dinar, surely Allah grants whoever He wills without limit. '
The Prophet cried and said:
'Praise be to Allah, Who insisted on rewarding you in this world, too, and made you-Ali-like Zakariya and Fatima like Maryam Bint, for whenever Zakariya entered the Mehrab, he found Maryam with her subsistence.
3.It is quoted in V.10 of Bihar that Imam Hussain (AS) quoted Imam Hassan (AS) as saying.
"Once, on a Friday night, I watched my mother, Fatima, pray all
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night long. She kept making Roku' and prostrating until down. I heard her supplicate for the believers by name; but she did not supplicate for herself, so I asked:
'Mother, why don't you supplicate for yourself as you supplicate for others?'
She answered: 'Son! 'Son! Prefer your neighbor over yourself."
4.Al-Hassan Al-Basri said:
"There was not a woman in this Ummah more submitting (to Allah) then Fatima. She used to pray until her feet became swollen."
5.Al-Bihar:
The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) said:
"As for my daughter Fatima, she is the mistress of all women; from the beginning of history until the end. She is part of me; she is the light of my eye and the fruit of my heart.
Fatima is my spirit which I hold in me; she is a human huri, Whenever she keeps up prayer in her Mehrab before the Lord, her light illuminates to the angels in Heaven just as a star to mankind on Earth. So Allah, Exalted is His name, says to the angels:
'My angels, look at my servant, Fatima, who is the mistress of all my female servants, keeping up prayers before Me. He limbs shake from fear of Me and she worships Me wholeheartedly. Bear witness that I have safeguarded her shiites (followers) from Hellfire ... .'"
6.Idat Ad-Da'i:
"Fatima (AS) used to breath quickly while praying, for fear of Allah.
Speaking about Fatima's worship is endless; especially her supplication to Allah, the Exalted, for she realized the deep meaning of worship and supplication to Allah, and came to enjoy keeping up prayer before the Al-mighty. Yet, this is no strange matter, because it is in regard to her father that the Quran says:
'Ta Ha
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We have not sent down the Quran to thee to be (an occasion) for thy distress.'
Because the Prophet (P.B.U.H) would pray for long hours, Allah, the Exalted, revealed this verse to him as relief and comfort."
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CHAPTER 40
FATIMA'S GLORIFICATION
OF ALLAH
It is reported in Bihar that Ali (AS) said to a man from Bani Sa'eed:
"Should I speak to you about Fatima and I?
She was my spouse who was the most beloved to the Prophet. Once, she carried water using a water skin until it scared her chest, she ground (grain) using a hand mill until blisters appeared on her hands, she swept the floor until her clothes became dusty and lit the fire under the cooking pot until her clothes became mud colored from the smoke. Fatima was inflicted by great pain as a result of this, so I said to her;
'Why don't you ask your father for a servant to relieve you from these jobs?'
When fatima (AS) went to the Prophet, she found that he had company, and was too shy to talk to him, so she left the house. But the Prophet (P.B.U.H) knew that she had come for something."
Imam Ali (AS) continued:
"The next morning, the Prophet (P.B.U.H) came to the house while we were still under our quilt and said:
'Assalamu Alaikum!'
Yet because we were ashamed (of being under the quilt), we preferred to remain silent. The Prophet once again said:
'Assalamu Alaikum!'
Once again we remained silent. Then for the third time the
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Prophet said: 'Assalamu Alaikum!' Now we feared that he would depart, for it was the prophet's habit to say Assalamu Alaikum three times and then wait for permission to enter or leave. So I said: 'Wa Alaik As-Salam, Messenger of Allah. Come in.'
He (P.B.U.H) sat near our heads and said: 'Fatima, what was your need when you came to Muhammad yesterday?'
Imam Ali added: "I was afraid that she (Fatima) would not tell him, so I pulled my head from under the cover and said:
"I will inform you, Messenger of Allah!
Surely she carried water using a water skin until his chest was scarred, she ground (grain) using a hand mill until blisters appeared on her hands, she swept the floor until her clothes became dusty and lit the fire under the cooling pot until her clothes were mud colored from the smoke. So I said to her: 'Why don't ask your father for a servant to relieve you from these jobs?"
The Prophet (P.B.U.H) upon hearing this, said:
'Shall I teach you something that is better for you than a servant? When you lay down to sleep, glorify Allah thirty three (33) times and praise Him thirty -three (33) times, and say Allahu Akbar thirty-four (34) times:
So Fatima (A.S) pulled the quilt from over her head and said three times:
'I am pleased with (that which) Allah and His Messenger (gave us)."
It has also been reported in Da'eem Al-Islam Ali (AS) said:
"Once a persian monarch gave the prophet (P.B.U.H) some slaves as a gift. I told Fatima to go the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) and ask him for a servant. When she did, he (P.B.U.H) replied:
'Fatima, I will give you that which is better for you than a servant
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and the world with everything in it. After every prayer say: Allahu Akbar thirty four (34) times, Alhamdulillah thirty three (33) times and Subhan Allah thirty three (33) times; then conclude that with La IlahaIlla Allah. Surely this is better for you than which you wanted and the world and its belongings.
Thus, Fatima adhered to his glorification after every prayer; and it came to be known as Tasbih Fatima.
Abu Haroun, surely we command our children to adhere to Tasbih Fatima' the same way we command them to perform prayers. So perform the tasbih, for whoever adheres to it shall never be miserable."
In reference to Fatima's beads, it was reported in Makarim Al-Akhlaq that it was made of woven wool threads which had knots by the number of Takbir (Allah Akbar), until when Hamza Ibn Abdal Muttalib (AS) was martyred, she made them from the mud of his grave. Since the martyrdom of Imam Husain (AS), People have been using the mud surrounding his tomb for making beads for the great blessing which lie in it.
Imam Sadiq (AS) said:
"Beads should be made with blue thread and thirty four (34) beads, which was the way Fatima's beads were made after Hamza's martyrdom."
There are various narrations which were reported about "Tasbih Fatima's) importance and order. Yet, the most famous order on which our jurisprundents agree, is to start with Allahu Akbar, then Subhan Allah, and end with Al-Hamdu Le-Allah.
When we review the aforementioned narrations, it becomes clear that Lady Fatima (AS) performed her housework by herself, despite her honor and nobility, and that Ali (AS) help her to do the housework.
It has been reported in Bihar that Imam Ali (AS) said;
"Once, the Messenger of Allah came to us while Fatima was
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sitting near the pot and I was cleaning some lentils; when the Prophet saw us he said:
'Abu Al-Hassan"
I said: 'At your service! O Messenger of Allah"
He said: Listen to me, for I say not save that which is the word of Lord: There is not a man who helps his wife in her housework, save that with very hair on his body a whole year of worship during which he fasted the days and kept up the nights is counted for him ... .'"
