Islamiyat · May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Question 5

Write about the life of the Prophet’s daughter, Fatima.

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Candidates may include some of the following information. All other relevant information must be credited.

Fatima was the Prophet Muhammad’s youngest daughter, born a few years before prophethood. She was upset over the treatment her father faced by the Quraysh in Makka; when he was persecuted and the Quraysh threw animal entrails on him, she lifted it off and cleaned him.

She was married to ‘Ali and had two sons and two daughters (Hassan, Hussain, Zaynab and Umm Kulthum). She suffered hardships after her marriage and did all the work at home herself, for example, grinding flour and carrying water from the well. When she asked the Prophet (pbuh) for a share in the spoils of war after one of the battles, thinking she may be able to get a maid to help at home, he said, I shall give you something better and told her to say Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar before going to sleep. One of her nicknames was Az-Zahra, the resplendent one. Aisha said that she was the one who resembled the Prophet (pbuh) the most.

The Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said, "Fatima is a part of me and whoever offends her offends me." The Prophet (pbuh) showed his affection for her and would visit her before he left on a journey and upon returning. When the Prophet (pbuh) was ill, she was upset that he was dying but happy when he told her she would be joining him soon.

She was the only daughter to outlive the Prophet (pbuh) and passed away five months after her father at the age of 29.

What can be learned from her life about the relationship between parents and children?

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Candidates may include some of the following information. All other relevant information must be credited.

The bond between the Prophet (pbuh) and Fatima shows that mutual love and respect needs to be nurtured between parents and children.

Parents should love all their children, male and female, and treat them well. The way the Prophet (pbuh) showed love and respect for his daughter and the way Fatima always stood by her father hold great lessons for Muslims.