The Thirteenth Narration: Fatimah complained to me about (her hands becoming calloused due to milling) the flour. I said to her, “Why don’t you go to your father and request a slave from him.”….

The Twelfth Narration: ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu gathered the people in the public square and said, “I entreat in the name of Allah every person who heard Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam saying what he said on the day of Ghadir Khum.”…..
February 19, 2019
The Fourteenth Narration: Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam came to the home of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha one day. ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was sleeping and she was laying down with her sons next to her…..
February 19, 2019

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The Thirteenth Narration

‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu says:

شكت لي فاطمة من الطحين، فقلت: لو أتيت أباك فسألتيه خادما، قال: فأتت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فلم تصادفه، فرجعت مكانها، فلما جاء أخبر، فأتانا، وعلينا قطيفة إذا لبسناها طولا، خرجت منها جنوبنا، وإذا لبسناها عرضا، خرجت منها أقدامنا ورءوسنا، قال: يا فاطمة، أخبرت أنك جئت، فهل كانت لك حاجة؟، قالت: لا، قلت: بلى، شكت إلي من الطحين، فقلت: لو أتيت أباك فسألتيه خادما، فقال: «أفلا أدلكما على ما هو خير لكما من خادم؟ إذا أخذتما مضاجعكما تقولان ثلاثا وثلاثين، وثلاثا وثلاثين، وأربعا وثلاثين، تسبيحة، وتحميدة، وتكبيرة

Fatimah complained to me about (her hands becoming calloused due to milling) the flour. I said to her, “Why don’t you go to your father and request a slave from him.”

She came to Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam but did not find him upon which she returned. When Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam came back he was informed (that Fatimah had come looking for him). He came to us whilst we were covered with a sheet which exposed our sides if put vertically and exposed our feet and head if put horizontally.

He said, “O Fatimah, I have been told that you came to see me. Did you need something?”

She said, “No.”

I said, “But yes, she complained to me about (her hands becoming calloused due to milling) the flour upon which I said to her Why don’t you go to your father and request a slave from him.”

He said, “Shall I not show you that which is better for you than a salve? When you go to bed at night say Subhan Allah 33 times, Alhamdu li Allah 33 times, and Allah Akbar 34 times.”[1]

 

The narration of Sahih Muslim has the following addition:

 

قال علي ما تركته منذ سمعته من النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قيل له ولا ليلة صفين قال ولا ليلة صفين

‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu says, “I have never left this practice since I heard it from Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.”

It was asked of him, “Not even the night of Siffin?”

He replied, “Not even the night of Siffin.”[2]

 

Commentary and Lessons Learnt from this Narration:

  1. The poverty and chaste nature of the Ahlul Bayt.

 

  1. It is the responsibility of the women to see to the affairs of the house. If this wasn’t the case Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam would have acceded to her request and not shown her that which would help her in fulfilling her household duties.

 

  1. If the Queen of Paradise would do the household chores, other women are tasked with the same to a greater extent.

 

  1. If the Ahlul Bayt are in need of something, they should seek assistance from pious amongst them. They should not resort to asking others for help.

 

  1. The patience displayed by the Ahlul Bayt in this narration serves as a role model for their descendants.

 

  1. This dhikr prescribed to them is better than a slave as mentioned in the hadith. Ibn al Qayyim writes quoting Ibn Taymiyyah:

 

بلغنا أنه من حافظ على هذه الكلمات لم يأخذه إعياء فيما يعانيه من شغل ومن غير

Those that are punctual in reciting this do not tire in their occupation and work.[3]

 

The narration is a reflection of this statement as servants bar their masters from fatigue by doing their work throughout the day. This dhikr is even better than a servant who is at hand and at call day and night. The principle of attaining strength through dhikr can be found in the Qur’an. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

 

وَيَا قَوْمِ اسْتَغْفِرُوْا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوْا إِلَيْهِ يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا وَيَزِدْكُمْ قُوَّةً إِلَىٰ قُوَّتِكُمْ وَلَا تَتَوَلَّوْا مُجْرِمِيْنَ

And O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in showers and increase you in strength [added] to your strength. And do not turn away, [being] criminals.”[4]

 

  1. Refraining from seeking assistance from the creation creates a special bond with Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala. One then continues to rely solely on his Creator whilst attaining so much more than one would have from people.

 

  1. Whoever remembers Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala in times of ease, Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala will remember him in times of difficulty.

 

  1. The protection afforded by Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala to his Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and the Ahlul Bayt in this world is an extension of their virtue.

 

  1. The Ahlul Bayt are famed for giving preference to others over themselves even when they are in dire need. The narrations show that Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam sold the slaves whom Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anhu had come to seek out and spent that money on the Ahl al Suffah who were going through tough times.

 

  1. The Ahlul Bayt should advise their children with that which would benefit them to a greater extent in the hereafter even if that goes against his and their hopes and desires.

 

  1. The desirability of seeing to the needs and necessities of the Ahlul Bayt together with comforting them in the best possible manner.

 

  1. The Sunnah is to show humility to the Ahlul Bayt and visit them at their homes.

 

  1. At times the select of the Ahlul Bayt may aspire for something of this world whilst Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala may not wish for it to materialise.

 

NEXT⇒  The Fourteenth Narration


[1] Sahih ibn Hibban, Hadith: 6922.

[2] Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2727.

[3] Al Wabil al Sayyib min al Kalim al Tayyib, pg. 97.

[4] Surah Hud: 52.

BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents

 

The Thirteenth Narration

‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu says:

شكت لي فاطمة من الطحين، فقلت: لو أتيت أباك فسألتيه خادما، قال: فأتت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فلم تصادفه، فرجعت مكانها، فلما جاء أخبر، فأتانا، وعلينا قطيفة إذا لبسناها طولا، خرجت منها جنوبنا، وإذا لبسناها عرضا، خرجت منها أقدامنا ورءوسنا، قال: يا فاطمة، أخبرت أنك جئت، فهل كانت لك حاجة؟، قالت: لا، قلت: بلى، شكت إلي من الطحين، فقلت: لو أتيت أباك فسألتيه خادما، فقال: «أفلا أدلكما على ما هو خير لكما من خادم؟ إذا أخذتما مضاجعكما تقولان ثلاثا وثلاثين، وثلاثا وثلاثين، وأربعا وثلاثين، تسبيحة، وتحميدة، وتكبيرة

Fatimah complained to me about (her hands becoming calloused due to milling) the flour. I said to her, “Why don’t you go to your father and request a slave from him.”

She came to Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam but did not find him upon which she returned. When Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam came back he was informed (that Fatimah had come looking for him). He came to us whilst we were covered with a sheet which exposed our sides if put vertically and exposed our feet and head if put horizontally.

He said, “O Fatimah, I have been told that you came to see me. Did you need something?”

She said, “No.”

I said, “But yes, she complained to me about (her hands becoming calloused due to milling) the flour upon which I said to her Why don’t you go to your father and request a slave from him.”

He said, “Shall I not show you that which is better for you than a salve? When you go to bed at night say Subhan Allah 33 times, Alhamdu li Allah 33 times, and Allah Akbar 34 times.”[1]

 

The narration of Sahih Muslim has the following addition:

 

قال علي ما تركته منذ سمعته من النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قيل له ولا ليلة صفين قال ولا ليلة صفين

‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu says, “I have never left this practice since I heard it from Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.”

It was asked of him, “Not even the night of Siffin?”

He replied, “Not even the night of Siffin.”[2]

 

Commentary and Lessons Learnt from this Narration:

  1. The poverty and chaste nature of the Ahlul Bayt.

 

  1. It is the responsibility of the women to see to the affairs of the house. If this wasn’t the case Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam would have acceded to her request and not shown her that which would help her in fulfilling her household duties.

 

  1. If the Queen of Paradise would do the household chores, other women are tasked with the same to a greater extent.

 

  1. If the Ahlul Bayt are in need of something, they should seek assistance from pious amongst them. They should not resort to asking others for help.

 

  1. The patience displayed by the Ahlul Bayt in this narration serves as a role model for their descendants.

 

  1. This dhikr prescribed to them is better than a slave as mentioned in the hadith. Ibn al Qayyim writes quoting Ibn Taymiyyah:

 

بلغنا أنه من حافظ على هذه الكلمات لم يأخذه إعياء فيما يعانيه من شغل ومن غير

Those that are punctual in reciting this do not tire in their occupation and work.[3]

 

The narration is a reflection of this statement as servants bar their masters from fatigue by doing their work throughout the day. This dhikr is even better than a servant who is at hand and at call day and night. The principle of attaining strength through dhikr can be found in the Qur’an. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

 

وَيَا قَوْمِ اسْتَغْفِرُوْا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوْا إِلَيْهِ يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا وَيَزِدْكُمْ قُوَّةً إِلَىٰ قُوَّتِكُمْ وَلَا تَتَوَلَّوْا مُجْرِمِيْنَ

And O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in showers and increase you in strength [added] to your strength. And do not turn away, [being] criminals.”[4]

 

  1. Refraining from seeking assistance from the creation creates a special bond with Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala. One then continues to rely solely on his Creator whilst attaining so much more than one would have from people.

 

  1. Whoever remembers Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala in times of ease, Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala will remember him in times of difficulty.

 

  1. The protection afforded by Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala to his Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and the Ahlul Bayt in this world is an extension of their virtue.

 

  1. The Ahlul Bayt are famed for giving preference to others over themselves even when they are in dire need. The narrations show that Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam sold the slaves whom Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anhu had come to seek out and spent that money on the Ahl al Suffah who were going through tough times.

 

  1. The Ahlul Bayt should advise their children with that which would benefit them to a greater extent in the hereafter even if that goes against his and their hopes and desires.

 

  1. The desirability of seeing to the needs and necessities of the Ahlul Bayt together with comforting them in the best possible manner.

 

  1. The Sunnah is to show humility to the Ahlul Bayt and visit them at their homes.

 

  1. At times the select of the Ahlul Bayt may aspire for something of this world whilst Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala may not wish for it to materialise.

 

NEXT⇒  The Fourteenth Narration


[1] Sahih ibn Hibban, Hadith: 6922.

[2] Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2727.

[3] Al Wabil al Sayyib min al Kalim al Tayyib, pg. 97.

[4] Surah Hud: 52.