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, 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, Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) to go to her father and request him for a slave that will assist her in carrying out these chores.
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, ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) informed him that Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) had come to visit him while he was away.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) proceeded to the home of 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 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) nudged her and told her to reply, “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, ‘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)
Lessons:
1. For any administration to run smoothly and function efficiently, there has to be fixed responsibilities and tasks allocated to different members, since ‘everyone trying to do everything’ will definitely result in chaos. Similarly, for the home to be effective in fulfilling its critical role of being a source of comfort and solace for the household members and of bringing up and nurturing upright individuals, the husband and wife will have to fulfill their roles. These roles cannot be decided by the spouses, rather they will be exactly the same roles that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had fixed for his daughter and son-in-law.
2. Taking care of the home and carrying out domestic chores is not below the dignity of a woman. Despite the greatness, honour and dignity of Sayyidah Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), she patiently endured the great difficulties in fulfilling her responsibility. In fact, if a woman does this with the correct intention, she will be greatly rewarded for it as well.
3. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) always shifted the attention of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) from material possessions to aspects relating to the Hereafter. Hence, instead of giving his daughter a slave, he granted her a special gift which was far better and much more beneficial for her. Such was the level of her disinterest in the world and focus on the Hereafter, that she immediately expressed great happiness and pleasure at this.
4. If a person recites this tasbeeh every night, then together with the great rewards that he will earn, he will find his tasks easier to accomplish and he will not feel overburdened by his work, although he may still experience tiredness. (Fat-hul Baari)
5. A great quality of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) was that they would hold very firmly to the teachings of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) for the rest of their lives and would never leave it out. Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was so punctual on reciting this tasbeeh, that he did not even leave it out on the night of the very severe battle of Siffeen, in which he was the commander of the army.
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