Advice to Hadhrat Fatima (May Allah be well pleased with her)

 

Advice to Hadhrat Fatima (May Allah be well pleased with her)

 

It is not necessary that all Muslims should be poor.  Affluence per se also is not a bad thing for Muslims.  However the spiritual excellence of poverty outrivals the excellence of affluence.  For this reason the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) preferred poverty for Himself and for His family.  It is related in Shifa on the authority of Bukhari and Muslim that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would supplicate to that effect.

 

There is a Hadith in Kanz Ul ‘Ummaal, Kitaab Ul Akhlaaq, that once the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw Hadhrat Fatima (May Allah be well pleased with her) wearing some jewel on her wrist.  It displeased Him and He told her:  Do you like it that people should say that the daughter of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) wears a band of fire on her hand?  Then he ordered an attendant to take that jewel to a certain clan and bring …. bangles of ivory for her.

 

This Hadith is related in the Sihaah.

 

In Mustadarak of Hakim, it is related that there was no slave or maid in the house of Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him).  Hadhrat Fatima (May Allah be well pleased with her) would herself perform all the household work.  Her blessed hands had developed calluses by turning the millstone.

 

Once many slaves were brought to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Hadhrat ‘Ali advised Hadhrat Fatima (May Allah be well pleased with them) that all of them will be distributed to others.  If she asks for a slave or a maid, it will make things easier for her.

 

Thus, Hadhrat Fatima (May Allah be well pleased with her) went to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Instead of giving her a slave or a maid, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  I will tell you something better than this.  That is to recite after every Salaat and just before sleeping Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah and Allahu Akbar.

 

Just imagine!  For others the generosity of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was such that He would never refuse anything.  If there was nothing in the house, He would take a loan and fulfill the needs of the needy.  However, for His own dear daughter, instead of giving her slaves, she is asked to make remembrance of Allah Most High! 

 

[Excerpted from Maqasid Ul Islam, Vol. 5]