Virtues of the Ahlul Bayt

It was about Fatimah RA that Nabi ﷺ said:
فإنما ابنتي بضعة مني يريبني ما رابها و يؤذيني ما آذاها
Certainly, my daughter is a part of me. What displeases her displeases me and what hurts her hurts me. [Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al Nikah]

Famous personalities from the Ahlul Bayt: Fatimah رضي ألله عنها
Today we will take a look at the piety and hardwork of this Noble lady.

Household Chores
Household chores are necessary in marital life. Until these are not carried out properly, the affairs of the house do not run smoothly.
قضى رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم على ابنته فاطمة بخدمة البيت و قضى على على (رضى الله عنه) بما كان خارجا من البيت من خدمة
Rasulullah ﷺ decided that his daughter Fatimah RA will handle internal household chores while ‘Ali RA will handle external household chores. [Hilyat al Awliyaʾ vol. 6 pg. 104 narration 340]

Requesting for a Slave for Household Chores
When Fatimah RA began living with her husband, she would complete the household chores all by herself as was just mentioned. It was the beginning stages of Islam. Sometimes, slaves and slave girls would come after conquests and would be distributed among the Muslims. Once, some slaves came into the possession of Rasulullah ﷺ, and ‘Ali RA advised Fatimah RA to go to Rasulullah ﷺ and request for a slave who could assist in her household chores; thus absolving her of the burden. Thus, Fatimah RA went to Rasulullah, but there were some other people by him talking to him. Fatimah RA thus returned and was unable to make her request. After some time, Rasulullah went to her house and ‘Ali RA was also present.

Rasulullah ﷺ asked Fatimah RA her reason for coming to him. Out of modesty, Fatimah RA remained silent. Ali RA took up the courage to tell Rasulullah ﷺ and explained, “Fatimah does all the house work herself. She grinds the mill which has caused calluses on her hands. She carries water bags of water which have left marks on her body. Some slaves have come to you so I advised her to request for a slave so that she can be saved from these burdens.” In reply, Rasulullah ﷺ advised his daughter to do her house work herself. He then told her that when she intends sleeping at night, she should recite سبحان الله 33 times, الحمد لله 33 times and الله اكبر 34 times which equal to a 100. These are better for you than a slave. Fatimah replied, “I am pleased with Allah and His Rasul.” [Bukhari, Abu Dawood]

There is a great lesson for women in this incident. The households which were lofty in Islam, their women folk lived with simplicity. They would do housework themselves and are deserving of great rewards.

The Poverty Stricken Life of this Woman of Jannat and her Insufficient Clothes
Incidents of her poverty stricken life have been documented by many authors. An incident regarding the simple dress of Fatimah RA is reported by Anas RA, that Rasulullah ﷺ brought a slave – which he had gifted to Fatimah RA. She was wearing a piece of cloth (which was small) that if she had to cover her head, her feet would be exposed and if she covered her feet, her head would be exposed. When Rasulullah ﷺ saw her plight he consoled her saying, “Do not worry. It is only your father and your slave.” [Sunan Abi Dawood vol. 2 pg. 213]

We learn from this that the clothes of Fatimah RA at home were barely sufficient. There were no formalities in clothing. Whatever was available was worn.

Abstention from Decorations
Rasulullah ﷺ was averse to worldly adornment and embellishment. There were no ornaments or decorations in the house of Rasulullah ﷺ and he did not approve of decorations for his blessed children as well.

Safinah RA reports that a man visited Ali RA. Ali RA prepared some food for him. Fatimah RA suggested, “Should we not invite Rasulullah ﷺ to eat with us?” Thus, they invited him. He came and placed his hands on the door frame. He saw a decorated cloth hanging on one side of the house upon which he returned. Fatimah RA says, “I followed him and asked, O Rasulullah, what made you return?” He replied, “It is not appropriate for me or for a Nabi to enter a decorated house.” [Narrated by Ahmed and Ibn Majah]

We learn from this that worldly glitter and glimmer had no value in the eyes of Rasulullah ﷺ, but instead there was aversion to it.

Service in the Battle of Uhud
The Battle of Uhud is one of the famous battles fought in Islam. It was a fearsome offensive attack of the kuffar upon the Muslims wherein the Muslim warriors fought bravely and the Muslim women participated by serving in this arduous battle. In this very battle, the blessed tooth of Rasulullah ﷺ was injured, Ali RA brought water and Fatimah RA began cleaning the wound of Rasulullah ﷺ. Fatimah RA was cleaning the wound while Ali RA was pouring water from a shield. When Fatimah RA saw that the water was only increasing the flow of blood, she took a piece of straw mat, burnt it and applied it to the wound which caused the flow of blood to cease. [Bukhari vol. 2 pg. 584]