A Great Gift to His Dear Daughter – Tasbeeh (Fatimah رضي الله عنها)

When the queen of Jannah and the most beloved daughter of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Sayyidah Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), went to live with her husband, Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), her respected father, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), outlined the tasks and distributed their responsibilities. He assigned all affairs outside the home to Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and made Sayyidah Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) responsible of taking care of the home. (Musannaf Ibni Abi Shaibah #29677)
Complying with this instruction, Sayyidah Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) would diligently carry out the household chores by herself without the assistance of a servant. The difficulty she underwent was such that her hands became rough on account of her grinding the grain with the hand-mill, she had marks on her neck due to fetching the water and carrying it from the well, her clothes became dusty because of sweeping the house and her face began to change (in colour) as a result of (the heat of the fire when) baking bread.
Therefore, on one occasion, when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) received some captives, Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked Sayyidah Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) to go to her father and request him for a slave that will assist her in carrying out these chores.
Sayyidah Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) thus went to the home of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to request him for a slave. However, on reaching there, she found that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was not at home, but was rather busy speaking to some people elsewhere. When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) returned home, Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) informed him that Sayyidah Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) had come to visit him while he was away.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) proceeded to the home of Sayyidah Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) and reached there whilst they were preparing to sleep. They had already lay down and placed a sheet over themselves, which was so small that it could not cover them completely. If they placed it vertically, their sides would be uncovered and if they spread it horizontally, their head and feet would be exposed. As Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) entered, they immediately began waking up. However, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) instructed them to remain lying down and he instead came and sat close to them.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then asked Sayyidah Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), “I have been informed that you had come, so (tell me) what do you need?” Sayyidah Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was overcome with shyness and did not reply. Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thus responded, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), I shall inform you.” He then explained the difficulties that she was undergoing in carrying out the domestic chores and said, “So, when the slaves had come to you, I told her to approach you and request a slave from you who will assist her in the difficulty she is enduring.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked Sayyidah Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), “So, is that which you came to request (i.e. a slave) more beloved to you or something which is better than it (which I will inform you about)?” Sayyidah Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anhua) was probably still overcome with shyness and could not reply. Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) therefore nudged her and told her to reply saying, “That which is better is more beloved to me.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thereafter addressed his beloved daughter in the following words, “O Faatimah! Fear Allah, fulfill the obligations of your Rabb and do the work of your family.” In another narration he mentioned, “Be patient O Faatimah! Undoubtedly, the best of women is the one who benefits her family.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then taught them to recite 33 times “subhaanallah”, 33 times “alhamdulillaah” and 34 times “Allahu Akbar” when retiring to bed, and he informed them that this was better for them than getting a servant. On receiving this ‘gift’ from her respected father, Sayyidah Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) responded, “I am happy with Allah and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).”
When narrating this incident many years later, Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) mentioned that he never left out reciting these words since that time. Someone then asked him, “Not even on the night of Siffeen (which was a very severe battle)?” Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “Not even on the night of Siffeen.”
(Saheeh Bukhaari #6318, Sunan Abi Dawood #2988 and Fat-hul Baari)
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