Seerah / Madinah
Fatima asks for a servant
- Date
- Madinan period · date unknown
- Location
- Madinah
- People
- Fatima (RA), 'Ali (RA)
'Ali (RA) narrates in Sahih al-Bukhari that Fatima (RA), tired from the hand-mill, asked her father for a servant; he came to them at night and taught them tasbih, tahmid and takbir before sleep as better than a servant.
As it was narrated
The story, in the words of those who were there
Read slowly. These are the Companions' own words, from the verified hadith collections.
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنِ الْحَكَمِ، سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ أَبِي لَيْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيٌّ، أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ، عَلَيْهَا السَّلاَمُ شَكَتْ مَا تَلْقَى مِنْ أَثَرِ الرَّحَا، فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَبْىٌ، فَانْطَلَقَتْ فَلَمْ تَجِدْهُ، فَوَجَدَتْ عَائِشَةَ، فَأَخْبَرَتْهَا، فَلَمَّا جَاءَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَخْبَرَتْهُ عَائِشَةُ بِمَجِي…
Narrated `Ali:Fatima complained of the suffering caused to her by the hand mill. Some Captives were brought to the Prophet, so she came to him but did not find him at home. `Aisha was present there to whom she told (of her desire for a servant). When the Prophet (ﷺ) came, Aisha informed him about Fatima's visit. `Ali added "So the Prophet (ﷺ) came to us, while we had gone to our bed. I wanted to get up but the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Remain at your place". Then he sat down between us till I found the coolness of his feet on my chest. Then he said, "Shall I teach you a thing which is better than what you have asked me? When you go to bed, say, 'Allahu-Akbar' thirty-four times, and 'Subhan Allah th…
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي يَزِيدَ، سَمِعَ مُجَاهِدًا، سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ أَبِي لَيْلَى، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ ـ عَلَيْهَا السَّلاَمُ ـ أَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَسْأَلُهُ خَادِمًا فَقَالَ " أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكِ مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكِ مِنْهُ، تُسَبِّحِينَ اللَّهَ عِنْدَ مَنَامِكِ ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِ…
Narrated `Ali bin Abi Talib:Fatima came to the Prophet (ﷺ) asking for a servant. He said, "May I inform you of something better than that? When you go to bed, recite "Subhan Allah' thirty three times, 'Al hamduli l-lah' thirty three times, and 'Allahu Akbar' thirty four times. `Ali added, 'I have never failed to recite it ever since." Somebody asked, "Even on the night of the battle of Siffin?" He said, "Even on the night of the battle of Siffin
Lessons
- Even the Prophet's ﷺ own family carried hardship.
- Remembrance of Allah gives a strength that help alone cannot.
Lessons are editorial reflections drawn from the event and its sources.
Pause for a moment
Which moment of your own life does this remind you of? Sit with it for a minute, then send salawat on the one who lived it ﷺ.
Send salawat ﷺBibliography
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3705, 5362 ('Ali) · primary source
- Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq al-Makhtum (further reading)