20 Lessons from the Life of Fatimah bint Muhammad

In this post: Lessons from the life of Fatimah pint Muhammad (the daughter of the Prophet PBUH) and Companions of the Prophet (PBUH) that we can teach our children.

Let’s talk about the lessons we can learn from the life of Sahabas and Sahibiya (Companions of Prophet Muhammad PBUH). This topic is to encourage our children and others in our community to take interest in learning lessons from the life of these great companions. 

Want to Raise Your Children through Positive Parenting Methods?

Our free Family Rules Chart will help you create a positive and peaceful home where children and adults treat each other with respect. Simply opt-in below to have it sent straight to your email inbox.

Let’s learn about Fatima Bint Muhammad R.A and lessons from her life, that we ourselves can take and also teach our children. Please scroll to the bottom of the post to find the list of similar articles…

Please Note: Some links in the article below may contain affiliate links. You can learn more about these type of links in our full disclosure.

The past few weeks since we chose this topic, my children have been helping me collect all the important details from the Life of Fatimah RA that they wanted to share with you all. 

I wanted to make a note here and remind you before we begin this topic, that there is a lot of Shia based links on the internet. Most of it contains false and contradictory information. Also some hate. It is our job as Muslims to follow the way of the Prophet and the Sunnah. For this reason, I am only quoting from authentic trusted resources and no external links are mentioned.

The books we referred are as follows:

• Daughters of the Prophet by Sr. Nafees Khan (Goodword Publications)
• Stories from the Quran by Sr. Nafees Khan (Goodword Publications)
• When the Moon Split by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri (Darrussalam Publications)

Notes and Lessons learning about the Life of Fatimah bint Muhammad RA

Here are some of the things my little girls asked me to share with you:

1. Fatimah bint Muhammad RA was the youngest daughter of the Prophet PBUH
2. She was the most beloved to her father and outlived all her siblings. 
3. She was born the day her father prevented bloodshed among the tribes of Quraysh. They were quarelling about who should put the Black Stone to it’s place while building the Kabah. It was agreed that whoever entered the Kabah first should be the one to decide. It is so happened that Muhammad (PBUH) was the first one to enter. 
4. She was 5 years old when her father was given the news of Prophet-hood thus making her the youngest Muslimah at the time.
5. She was named Fatimah after her grandmother and as she was very beautiful, she was lovingly called az Zahra. 
6. Fatimah RA resembled her father the most by her looks, speech, manner of walking and manners. She is also known as ‘Umm al Hasan al Hussein‘ (after her sons) and ‘Umm Abeeha‘ (because she took care of her father)
7. She was a brave and courageous girl who grew up witnessing from a very young age the cruelty and misbehavior of the Quraysh and hence turned out stronger to believe that she had to be courageous with her parents. My daughters quoted the incident of when Abu Jahl slapped her in the street without a reason so she went to Abu Sufyan, the leader of the Quraysh. He walked her back to where Abu Jahl was and directed Fatimah to slap him back just the way he had slapped her. (The lesson for our children to know that bullying of any sort – may they be children or adults is not okay. Children have a right to be treated with respect and they can stand up against adults too) 
8. She grew up in hardships during the Year of Sorrow, when her mother died and the Quraysh were cruel to her father. Even though she was just 10 years old at the time, she helped her father and family as much as she could in taking care of the home with Umm Kulthum.
9. When Ali Ibn Abi Talib (RA) asked Prophet Muhammad for his daughter’s hand in marriage, the prophet replied, ‘I will ask Fatima what she thinks of the proposal.‘ She was reminded of all the virtues of Ali to help her decide. (It is sad that even in today’s times many Muslim parents think it is their own decision to marry their daughter off!)
10. Her marriage was an example of how a Muslim marriage should be performed.
11. She lived near her father. Ali had chosen a house far away but Haritha ibn Nu’man Ansari offered his houses near al Masjid al Nabwi to the Prophet for his daughter. The household items that were bought by Umm Aiman for the bride were placed in this house and the new couple were taken to the new house.
12. She lived a life of poverty with her husband because Ali worked as a labourer in the fields and gardens sometimes just to earn a few dates. On many occasions they went to bed hungry.
13. Fatimah did not have fine clothes or a comfortable life. She worked very hard doing all her housework with patience.  When Ali suggested to her to ask for a maid from her father as many prisoners of the battle had arrived, her father suggested that she increase her supplications by reciting ‘SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah and Allahu Akbar’ thirty three times (Allahu Akbar was has been reported to be recited thirty four times). This came to be known as Tasbih Fatima. (The lesson for us and our children, increase your duas and prayers in hardships)
14. Fatimah had three sons (Al Hasan, Al Husayn and Muhsin) and three daughters (Ruqaiyyah, Zainab and Umm Kulthum). Muhsin and Ruqaiyyah died in childhood. Fatima was a doting mother. She made sure to give her children the same upbringing like that of her parents.  
15. The hardships that Fatimah endured with her family had bought them all to grow up as a close family. She missed her elder sisters when they passed away.
16. She was closest to her father and he showed great regard and respect for her. He was very affectionate with his daughter and gave her great importance. Whenever he left for a journey or returned it started from her home and he’d return to visit her first.
17. The lessons for us and our children from her relationship with her family is the importance of family culture. How to respect our parents and remember that even after we get married, our responsibility and love for them should continue to get stronger.
18. Once during a sermon, the Prophet said, “O Fatima, ask me for anything that belongs to me, but I cannot save you from the punishment of Allah. Save yourself from the fire of Hell.” He would always inspire her to be God fearing and pious.
19. Fatimah was an example of modesty and piety having come from the noblest of families. It was no doubt her upbringing in the noblest of families that made her character. She was a woman of strong faith who had extreme patience. She never complained in spite of her numerous trials and hardships but was always grateful to Allah. 
20. The Prophet PBUH said: “Fatimah will be the leader of the women of Paradise”. He also honored her with the title ‘Lady of Paradise‘. He had also once said: “The best of women in the world are four : Maryam (the mother of Isa), Asiya (the wife of the Pharoah), Khadija and Fatimah.“ 

Allahumma Sali Ala Sayiddnina Muhammad wa ala Aalihi Muhammad. (Oh Allah send blessing upon Muhammad and his family, Ameen)

Lessons from the Life of Companions of the Prophet

You can find more lessons from the life of Sahabas below by the other Muslimah bloggers.

1. The virtues of Asma bint Abu Bakr @dessertinthedesert1
2. Lessons from the Life of Fatima bint Muhammad @jeddahmom
3. Reflections from the Life of Usama bin Zaid @umm.afraz
4. Umm Ayman: The second mother of the Prophet @atfalnaeducation
5. Benefits from the life of Abdullah ibn Masood @level10muslimah.life.coaching
6. 6 Inspiring lessons from the life of Anas bin Malik by @knowledgedunes
7. Abdullah ibn Abbas – the Young Scholar @ilmaeducation
8. Nusayba Umm Ummarah – Life Lessons from Islam’s First Lady Soldier @the_odd_muslimah
9. Umm Sulaym @motheringthenest

Want to Raise Your Children through Positive Parenting Methods?

Our free Family Rules Chart will help you create a positive and peaceful home where children and adults treat each other with respect. Simply opt-in below to have it sent straight to your email inbox.