The house of Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her) seemed cold and sorrowful. The grief of losing the Prophet of Mercy still weighed heavily upon the hearts of the people of Medina.
The beloved daughter of the final Messenger of the Creator sat in a corner upon the ground, pressing her knees against her chest in sorrow and thinking of the sweet days that had passed—the days of friendship, unity, and harmony; the days of kindness and joy in Medina; the days when her pure-hearted father was still alive and breathing in that city.
She raised her head, looked around the house, and gazed at the places where the Prophet used to sit. Once again, she became lost in thought—thinking of the days when her father would come to her home with his companions, knock upon the door, and…
At that moment, a sound arose and broke the thread of her thoughts. She adjusted her covering, went to the door, and opened it. An elderly man was standing behind it. Upon seeing the chaste daughter of the Prophet, he lowered his head and said:
“Peace be upon you.”
Fatimah recognized the old man. She returned his greeting, welcomed him warmly, and said:
“Salman, you are being unfair to me. You visit me far too rarely.”
She then seated him in a place of honor.
The elderly companion of the Prophet kept his head bowed, gazing at the ground. Yet this soil was different from the other soil of Medina. Every grain of it seemed to contain the fragrance of Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) footsteps, bringing back memories of the vibrant days of the past—memories that brought tears to his eyes and drew sighs of longing from his heart.
The beloved daughter of the Prophet, realizing the sorrow and longing within Salman, said:
“Would you like to hear something that will make you happy?”
The elderly companion of the divine revelation eagerly replied:
“Yes. May my father and mother be sacrificed for you.”
The Lady of the Women of the Worlds said:
“Yesterday, I had closed the doors and was alone in my room. I was thinking to myself that after the passing of my noble father, even the angels had left us, and that the days of divine revelation and the descent of the angels upon this house had come to an end.
“I was immersed in these sorrowful thoughts when suddenly the door opened. Three noble and honored women entered the room. They greeted me and said:
‘O Lady of the Worlds, O unique one of your age, O exemplar of purity, we are maidens of Paradise. Our Lord has sent us to serve you. We had longed greatly to see you.’
“I asked the one who appeared to be the eldest:
‘What is your name?’
“She replied:
‘Maqdudah. God created me for Miqdad, so that I may be his companion in Paradise as well.’
“I asked another:
‘What is your name?’
“She said:
‘Salma. My Lord created me for Salman, so that I may accompany him in the flourishing gardens of Paradise.’
“Then I looked at the third and asked:
‘What are you called?’
“She replied:
‘Dhurrah. My name is Dhurrah. The Almighty Lord created me so that I may be the companion of Abu Dharr in the Hereafter.’
“Then they placed before me a vessel filled with dates from Paradise—fresh dates whiter than snow and more fragrant than pure musk and black amber.
“I took a little of them for you, because you are one of us and are counted among the People of the Household.”
She then rose and left the room.
The elderly companion of the Messenger of God was overwhelmed with joy. He had never imagined that he would one day be able to taste the fruit of Paradise before his death. He continuously praised his Lord and sent blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his pure family.
His mind was filled with questions, and his heart with anticipation.
What did a date from Paradise look like? Would its shape and size be as astonishing as its fragrance? How many fresh dates had the Lady of Purity set aside for me? …
At that moment, Fatimah returned. She placed before the devoted and elderly follower of the Family of Muhammad (peace be upon them) what she had saved for him and said:
“Salman, break your fast with these, and bring the pit back to me tomorrow.”
The pure-hearted companion of the Messenger of Light gazed for a moment at the gift of the Lady of Illumination. While expressing his gratitude in various ways, he took the dates, rose, bid farewell to the daughter of the Creator’s Messenger, and set off toward his home.
As always, he walked through the streets of Medina without speaking to anyone. Yet the streets and the people were not as they had been before. Wherever he walked, the enchanting fragrance of the heavenly fruit filled the air.
Passersby and street vendors stared at him in amazement. Some would say:
“Salman, you are spreading the fragrance of pure musk throughout the air. Are you carrying perfume with you?”
The elderly believer did not know what to say. He would merely offer a brief greeting and farewell, then hurry onward until he reached his home. There, away from the commotion of the world and its worldly people, he devoted himself to worship.
A short while later, evening arrived, and the heavenly call to prayer echoed throughout Medina.
Salman, who regarded tasting the heavenly fruit as a great blessing, performed his prayer, spread the cloth, and prepared to break his fast.
When he reached for one of the dates, the words of the Lady of the Worlds echoed within him:
“Salman, break your fast with these, and bring the pit back to me tomorrow.”
He took the gift of Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) and examined it carefully, intending to set the pit aside. But he found nothing.
How could a date have no pit?
Had someone tampered with it?
What would become of the instruction given by the infallible daughter of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him)?
These questions would not leave him. They remained with him throughout the night until dawn.
When part of the day had passed, he hurried to Fatimah’s house. He knocked upon the door and, as soon as he entered, immediately said:
“O daughter of the noblest Messenger of the Creator, the fresh date had no pit.”
Fatimah (peace be upon her) replied:
“That date is the fruit of a palm tree that God has planted for me in Paradise. Do you not know that the fruits of Paradise have no pits?”
She paused for a moment and then continued:
“Salman, the women of Paradise recite a prayer that my father taught me long ago, and I recite it every morning and evening. Through the blessing of this prayer, fever has never overcome my body.”
Salman listened attentively, and his face reflected his eagerness to hear the prayer.
In response to Salman’s heartfelt desire, the Lady of the Worlds recited the Prayer of the People of Paradise as follows:
Bismillāhir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm
Bismillāhin-Nūr, Bismillāhi Nūrin-Nūr, Bismillāhi Nūrun ‘alā Nūr, Bismillāhilladhī Huwa Mudabbirul-Umūr, Bismillāhilladhī Khalaqan-Nūra minan-Nūr. Al-Ḥamdu lillāhilladhī Khalaqan-Nūra minan-Nūr, wa Anzalan-Nūra ‘alat-Ṭūr, fī Kitābin Mastūr, fī Riqqin Manshūr, biqadarin Maqdūr, ‘alā Nabiyyin Maḥbūr. Al-Ḥamdu lillāhilladhī Huwa bil-‘Izzati Madhkūr, wa bil-Fakhri Mashhūr, wa ‘alas-Sarrā’i wad-Ḍarrā’i Mashkūr, wa Ṣallallāhu ‘alā Sayyidinā Muḥammadin wa Ālihit-Ṭāhirīn.
In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
In the name of God, who is Light. In the name of God, who is the Light of Light. In the name of God, who is Light upon Light. In the name of God, who governs all affairs. In the name of God, who created light from light.
Praise be to God, who created light from light, and sent down the light upon Mount Sinai, in a written Book, upon an unfolded parchment, according to a predetermined measure, upon an honored Prophet.
Praise be to God, who is remembered through might, renowned for glory, and praised and thanked in both prosperity and adversity.
And may God’s blessings be upon our master Muhammad and his purified family.
Salman memorized the prayer, praised God, bid farewell to the daughter of the Prophet of Mercy, and returned home.
From that day onward, the home of the devoted companion of the Family of the Messenger of God became a place to which the sick came seeking help. Afflicted people traveled there from every corner of Medina, learned the Prayer of the People of Paradise, and, through its blessing, found relief from their suffering.
He later said to one of his sincere friends:
“By God, I taught the prayer of Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her) to more than one thousand inhabitants of Mecca and Medina who were suffering from fever, and all of them regained their health through its blessing.” (1)
Footnote
1. This account was compiled using the following sources:
Madā’in al-Qasā’id wa al-Ma‘ājiz, Sayyid Ali Husayni Shams al-Din, vol. 2, pp. 13–14; Mafātīḥ al-Jinān, Shaykh Abbas Qummi, translated by Ahmad Tayyebi Shushtari, p. 156.
