Fatima Bint Asad(ra) - She was a mother to the orphan Prophet ﷺ & later mother in law of Fatimah Bint Muhammad.
Who couldn’t help but love himﷺ as did his uncle Abu Talib and his wife Fatima bint Asad(ra).
𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎ﷺ 𝒂𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒖 𝑻𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒃 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝑨𝒔𝒂𝒅(𝒓𝒂). Muhammadﷺ was a polite boy, and fastidious in his personal cleanliness unlike other boys, dirty and tousled from rough play. They saw Muhammadﷺ as special from the moment he entered their home. Naturally Abu Talib would hold Muhammadﷺ up as a positive example and good influence, and Abu Talib liked for their children to eat together with Muhammadﷺ for when they did the food was sufficient.
So the Prophetﷺ grew up under the mantle of Abu Talib’s protection and in the folds of Fatima bint Asad’s(ra) loving care. Heﷺ loved Fatima(ra) and called her ‘mother.’ Of poor means, many times she went without in order to feed and clothe the Prophetﷺ. When Muhammadﷺ proclaimed his prophethood Fatima(ra) stood by him accepting the deen, comforting him through his trials with the Quraysh.
Later their relationship grew closer still when Fatima bint Asad(ra) was honoured by becoming mother in-law to the Prophet’sﷺ daughter Fatimah bint Muhammad (ra) on marriage to her son Ali ibn Abu Talib(ra).
Together the two women’s interactions set an example of a healthy relationship between in-laws. Built upon mutual compassion and respect, they eased each other’s burden and shared tasks according to their ability as evidenced by Ali(ra). It was narrated by him; “I said to my mother: Take care of bringing water and other errands for Fatimah, and she will take care of grinding flour and making dough for you.” [Majma az-Zawa’id]
Today relations between mother and daughter in-law can be strained mostly due to influence of un-Islamic practices. However it doesn’t have to be so as seen from the example of Ali(ra). A husband has to balance the needs of his mother with the needs of his wife without harm to either one. By carefully observing the rights of each family member, through wisdom and diplomacy, always following Islam as reference, it’s possible to find solutions to create cooperation, cordial relations and peace within families.
When Fatima bint Asad(ra) died, the Prophetﷺ gave his shirt to be used as part of her shroud, praying to Allah to forgive her and grant her the dress of Paradise.
𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 of 𝗦.𝗡.𝗝𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗶 ✍🏼 (𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗯𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, Islamic chapter books for kids📚)
