I have been attending a course called ‘Certificate in Islamic Literacy’, the course aims to cover a wide range of topics but at present we are studying the Seerah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.)
The teacher Sheikh Tanveer Hussain is a brilliant teacher who relates the Seerah in such a passionate and interesting way. Sheikh Tanveer has told us many stories throughout the course so far but one story has touched my heart.
This is the story of Faatimah (may Allah be please with her) and her father Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the relationship they had as a father and daughter. It was narrated that Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “I never saw anyone whose speech more closely resembled that of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) than Faatimah (AS). When she entered, he would stand up to greet her, kiss her and welcome her, and she would do the same for him.”
On one occasion when the Prophet (PBUH) was on his deathbed he seated Faatimah (AS) next to himself and whispered something in her ear. Faatimah (AS) started to weep, he then whispered something else in her ear and made her smile. After the death of the Prophet (PBUH) Aa’ishah (AS) asked Faatimah (AS) what the Prophet (PBUH) had said to her to make her both cry and smile, she told Aa’ishah (AS) that the Prophet (PBUH) had told her Jibreel used to review the Qur’aan with him once every year, but that year he had reviewed it with him twice, so he knew that his appointed time (of death) was approaching, he then told her she would be the first of his family to join him. When he saw her start to weep he whispered to her, “Would it not please you to be the leader of the women of Paradise or the women of the believers,” and this made her smile.
This story really made me think about Faatimah (AS) and how it must have been for her when she realized her father was going to die too, her mother had died previously as had all her siblings leaving just her and her father. Although she had her own family- her husband Ali and her children, realizing the her fathers life was coming to an end soon must have been a huge test within itself.
May Allah give us all the courage and sabr of Faatimah (AS).
