The following traditions are reported from the Holy Prophet (saww) regarding Fatima (a.s.):<\/p>\n
\u201cFatima is part of me, whoever annoys her, annoys me\u201d. (Al-Bukhari)
\n\u201cFatima is part of me, whoever offends her, offends me\u201d. (Al-Tirmidhi)
\nThe love of the Holy Prophet (saww) for his one and only beloved daughter was unprecedented. At a time when ignorant Arabs considered a female child as source of disgrace and a burden upon her family \u2013 the Messenger of Allah (SWT) accorded her with highest degree of respect and showered his undying love over her.
\n\u2018Aayesha, the wife of the Holy Prophet (saww) has been reported saying: \u201cNever have I seen any one resembling the Messenger of Allah (saww) in his way of standing and sitting more than Fatima-may Allah grant her more honour. When she came in to see him, he would rise to his feet, take her hand, kiss her and seat her where he was seated\u2026\u201d (Fadhail al-Khamsah)
\nImam Ja\u2019ffar al-Sadiq (a.s.) has reported that Fatima (a.s.) had said, \u201cWhen the verse: \u2018Do not make the addressing of the Messenger among you like your addressing one another\u2019 was revealed, I feared to call the Messenger of Allah: \u2018Father\u2019; So I began calling him Messenger of Allah. He (saww) ignored me two or three times, and finally said, \u2018Fatima! This verse was not revealed for you or your family, nor does it include your progeny\u2026Call me Father; It is surely better for the heart and more satisfying for your Lord\u2019.\u201d (Tabari)
\nHe (saww) also called her Umm Abeeha, which means \u2018the mother of her father\u2019. (Fatima, the Gracious)<\/p>\n
A Lesson from Her Noble Life<\/strong><\/span> Modesty in the context of relationship between men and women:<\/strong><\/span> Modesty of Sayyida Fatima (A.S.)<\/strong><\/span>
\nOne of the most important lessons we learn from the noble life of Sayyida Fatima (a.s.) is that of \u2018Al-Hayaa\u2019 which means: \u201cBashfulness, Sense of Shame or Modesty\u201d.
\nThis is the quality, which Islam desires to see in all Muslims \u2013 men and women alike.
\nThe Holy Prophet (saww) has said, \u201cVerily every religion has its conduct and verily the conduct of Islam is Modesty\u201d. (Kanzul-\u2018Ummaal)
\nHe (saww) also said, \u201cModesty and Faith are companions attached to each other. If one of them goes away, the other also follows.\u201d (Bihar al-Anwaar)<\/p>\n
\nThe Holy Quran has praised the modesty and bashfulness of the daughters of Prophet Shua\u2019yb (a.s.).
\n[After escaping from Egypt, Prophet Musa (a.s.) came to Madyan. Because of wandering in the desert for almost a week, he (a.s.) had become weak and hungry.
\nIn Madyan, Prophet Musa (a.s.) came by a well where he saw some shepherds drawing water from it for their flocks while two girls waited with their flocks for their turn. The shepherds were selfish and did not care for the two girls.
\nThe two girls were Safura and Safra, the daughters of Prophet Shua\u2019yb (a.s.) who had grown very old. Because of their modesty and personal nobility, they could not thrust themselves in to the crowd of males.
\nProphet Musa (a.s.) could not tolerate the highhandedness so he went to the girls to help, as they stood quiet and helpless. He (a.s.) first asked the shepherds to help the girls, but when they refused, Prophet Musa (a.s.) himself, with his robust figure and strong arms, drew the huge bowl from the well alone which the shepherds used to pull out jointly and then gave water to the flocks of the girls.
\nThe girls left only to come back with invitation from their old father for Musa (a.s.) to visit him. In praising the approach of one of the girls, the Holy Quran says:
\n\u201cThen one of the two women came to him walking bashfully.\u201d (28:25)
\nOnce they were in the house of Prophet Shua\u2019yb (a.s.), one of his daughters suggested that he should employ Musa (a.s.) since he was strong and trustworthy. Prophet Shua\u2019yb (a.s.) said, \u201cI know that he is strong but how do you know that he is also trustworthy?\u201d
\nThereupon, the daughter revealed,
\n\u201cO Father! When we invited Musa to come to you, he insisted that we should walk behind him, and point the way by throwing small stone before him. He said he did not belong to the people who cast their eyes upon the backs of women.\u201d] (S V Mir Ahmad Ali)
\nFrom the above incident, the point worth noting is that although both exhibited Modesty: the daughter of Prophet Shua\u2019yb (a.s.) and Prophet Musa (a.s.), the Quran is precisely talking about the daughter. This shows that although both should observe Modesty, men and women, Islam does expect women to be ahead of men in this quality.
\nMuslims have been instructed to lower their eyes and guard their private parts. In addition to this, the women must also not display their adornment to men and must cover themselves in a manner that secures their modesty.
\n\u201cSay (O Muhammad) to the believing men to lower their eyes and guard their private parts. That is purer for them, Verily Allah is aware of what they do.
\nAnd say to the believing women to lower their eyes, and guard their private parts, and not display their adornment..\u201d (24:30-31)
\nThe Holy Prophet (saww) has said, \u201cModesty is to lower the eyes.\u201d (Meezan al-Hikmah)<\/p>\n
\nImam Ja\u2019ffar al-Sadiq (a.s.) is reported to have said,
\n\u201cAli and Fatima sought the judgement of the Holy Prophet (saww) about their work. He (saww) decided that Fatima (a.s.)\u2019s work has to be inside the house and \u2018Ali (a.s.)\u2019s outside. Fatima (a.s.) commented on her father\u2019s judgement:
\n\u2018None but Allah knows how much I was pleased when the Messenger of Allah spared me from the difficulty of dealing with men\u201d. (Wasail al-Shia\u2019h)
\nThe Holy Prophet (saww) once asked Fatima (a.s.): \u201cWhat is the thing which is regarded as a blessing for a woman?\u201d She (a.s.) replied, \u201cShe must not see a (Non Mahram) man, and a (Non Mahram) man should also not see her\u201d. (Bayt al-Ahzaan)<\/p>\n