Both Sunni and Shia historians have recorded that the Prophet (S.A.W.W) loved no one else as dearly as he did Hazrat Fatima.
Tabari, the popular Sunni historian, reports that once Imam Ali (A.S) asked the Prophet (S.A.W.W), “Oh Messenger of Allah! Who in your family is most dear to you?”
“Fatima, my daughter”, he replied.
The famous Sunni scholar Imam Bukhari says the Prophet (S.A.W.W) used to say, “Fatima is part of me. Whoever harms her harms me.”
Aisha is also reported to have said, “I have never seen anyone more similar to the Prophet (S.A.W.W) than Fatima (S.A) in speech and in manners. Whenever she entered the house, he would stand to greet her, kiss her hands and ask her to sit next to him…”. Sheikh Kundusi says, in his Yanad Al Muwaddah. On the authority of Aisha that:
“Whenever the Prophet (S.A.W.W) returned from a trip he would kiss Fatima (S.A) and say, Trom her do I smi ‘I the sweet smell of Paradise’.”
The famous Sunni scholar Hakim says in his book Mustadraq that the Prophet (S.A.W.W) said to Hazrat Fatima (A.S) “Are you not satisfied that you are the leader of the women of the world, the ‘Ummah’ and believing women?”. The same author quotes Buraida saying:
“The most beloved to the Messenger of Allah from among women is Fatima (S.A) and from among men is AH.”
Did the Prophet (S.A.W.W) show so much love, respect and honour to Hazrat Fatima (S.A) only because she was his daughter?
Hazrat Fatima (S.A) was honoured so highly by the Prophet not just because she was his daughter but more so because Allah had given her special qualities which required the Prophet (S.A.W.W) to give her a special attention.
It was also very necessary for Muslims to know of Hazrat Fatima’s special position in the presence of Allah. The only person who could tell Muslims do so was the Prophet (S.A.W.W). And the Prophet (S.A.W.W) did so very well as has been explained by the examples given above.
Source:
A Brief Biography of Hazrat Fatima (A.S.), [Pg. 39-40].
By: M.M. Dungersi Ph.D.
