The Gathering Under the Cloak

“Quoted from Lady Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet…

Such a narration and quotation of what has happened and the expression of history follows a specific style more customary in the method of expressing narratives and traditions of the Ahl Al-Bayt. When something is quoted, the narrator is initially mentioned to assure readers or listeners of the authenticity of the tradition, or so that the narrator can generally be known. Since it is the beloved Lady Fatima who is the narrator, this tradition is considered special.

He [Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari] said, “I heard Fatima stating…”

The fact that the name of Lady Fatima is the first name mentioned in the tradition - and is not narrated by Imam Ali, Hasan, or Husayn who are impeccable leaders of the Muslim nation - indicates her active presence in communicating the message. A young infallible woman who is approved by the ummah (Muslim community) has been chosen to narrate it.

“One day, my father, the Messenger of God, entered my house.”

The Messenger of Allah’s entrance into the house of his daughter and son-in-law reveals his deep regard for kinship. Indeed, kinship relations are highly valued in Islam, and the Prophet modeled this connection. Thus, with this narration, people are taught to respect those who are younger than they and to be humble and to visit them. Moreover, the Prophet’s entrance into his son-in-law’s house reveals his high regard for him and that we should not deem our own son-in-law a stranger.

The words ‘One day’ indicate that the Prophet’s visit was not on a special occasion. It was not on one of the great Eids or on a Friday. The Prophet’s visit to his daughter on a regular day teaches the addressee that performing regard for kinship does not necessarily involve awaiting an occasion to visit our beloved ones. Thus, it is praiseworthy to accustom ourselves to this good deed.

Then he said, “Peace be upon you, O Fatima.” I replied, “Peace be upon you.”

Several words of advice can be derived here:

1. When arriving to anyone’s home, we should humbly request peace for them, even if they are younger than us. Although a younger person is usually expected to initiate a salam to his or her elders, upon walking into a person’s home, the visitor is expected to greet the members of the house with a decent salam.

2. Whereas it is recommended for a person to initiate a greeting, it is mandatory for the addressee to reply. As mentioned in a narration, there are ten rewards for the person who initiates the greeting, and one reward for the person who replies.

3. The feeling of honouring the addressee through this salam brings about kindness and harmony amongst one another so much so that if there had once been a ground for resentment, it would be removed.

4. The salam is an introduction to intimate and amicable conversations.

5. The salam leads the addressee to respond sympathetically.[3]

He said, “I feel some fatigue in my body.”

When ill or tired, the home is the first place to take shelter in while it is even better to retreat to one’s child’s home. When going through a period of hardship, our refuge and shelter should be our homes, so that when there are problems, we can solve them among ourselves. In today’s world, retreating to indecent places where alcoholic beverages are served when one is tired, such as cabarets and bars, is commonplace. This unfortunate act has led to separating oneself from one’s family, resulting in destroying the warm familial atmosphere.

Then I said, “I seek refuge from God, O father, from fatigue.”

In reaction to such an expression of weakness, we usually say, “God forbid!” Lady Fatima’s reply to her great father is a decent way to handle this situation. She immediately deems the Almighty as the only refuge. It is as if she means to say, “I seek God’s refuge from the weakness which has occurred to you.” She remembers God first and utters His Name based on the declaration “I witness there is no god but the Unique God, Allah.”

From this we learn that Muslims have been advised to assign their commandments to God before anyone else. This reaction of Lady Fatima Zahra derives from the Qur’an:

“Soon you will remember what I tell you, and I entrust my affair to God. Indeed God is All-Seeing of His worshippers.” (40:44)

He said, “O Fatima, bring me a Yemeni cloak and cover me with it.”

After she prays for him, the Prophet respectfully requests his daughter to cover him with a cloak.

“And I looked at him and saw his face glittering, like the full moon on the night of its fullness and perfection.”

She describes the face of her father, revealing her utmost love for him and their intimate and mutual father-daughter relationship.

“No more than a while passed when my child, Hasan, entered.”

Here, Lady Fatima Zahra portrays the issue in a favorable and sweet manner that both explains the subject and attracts the listener eloquently. When Fatima wants to describe her son, she describes him using good words.

And he greeted me saying “Peace be upon you, mother”. I said, “Peace be upon you, O delight of my eye and fruit of my heart.”

Again, we see the respect displayed by a son to his mother. Moreover, when we consider the reply of Lady Fatima, we learn that it is so pleasing and passionate that it causes kindness and love to flow into the depth of man’s existence so that both sides brim with love and passion towards each other. Here, we see how a child should greet his mother, and in turn, how a mother lovingly responds.

The science of educational psychology and modern education reveals that respecting and honouring one’s children causes their personalities to develop, and growth of personality is a major factor in developing intelligence. Respecting children raises their self-esteem, which provides the ground and basis for their perception of life experiences. It is thus an especially valuable and powerful force in providing the grounds for children to resist future problems.[4]

Then he said, “O mother, I smell a pleasing scent as if it is the scent of my grandfather, the Messenger of God.”

The fragrance of the Holy Prophet affected his grandson so much that when he smelled this fragrance at home, he immediately finds that his grandfather is present. Though still too young, the child uses extreme respect to honour his grandfather, as he uses the expression ‘The Messenger of God.’

Then I said, “Yes, your grandfather is now under the cloak.” Then Hasan moved towards the cloak and said, “Peace be upon you O Holy grandfather, the Messenger of God. Would you please let me come sit with you under this cloak?”

When Imam Hasan walks towards his grandfather, he greets him with a salam and respectfully requests his permission to enter.

He said, “Peace be upon you O my child and the owner of my Pond. I have permitted you to enter.” Then he went under the cloak.

The reply to his salam and the acceptance of his request is accompanied with respect and honour, just like the salam and the request themselves followed with, ‘Peace be upon you’. We know that greeting with a salam is recommended in Islam, but replying to it is compulsory. Yet, it is recommended that the reply be performed much better than the initiated salam. As we see, the Holy Prophet both replies to his grandchild’s greeting and treats him kindly and generously when he adds, “O my child and the owner of my Pond. I have permitted you.”

Regarding some comments of the word ‘abundance’ in the holy Qur’an, the first verse of the chapter Abundance has been expressed by commentators that one of the streams and ponds in paradise is called Abundance from which the believers nourish themselves. As the Holy Prophet said in the narration of Thaqalayn, “The Holy Qur’an and my Family will not separate from each other until, on the Day of Resurrection, they will join me at the pond.”[5]

Not so long had passed when my child, Husayn, entered and said, “Peace be upon you, O my mother,” I answered, “Peace be upon you, O my son, delight of my eye and fruit of my heart.” He said, “O mother, I can smell a pleasing scent as if it is the scent of my grandfather, the Messenger of God.” I said, “Yes. Your grandfather and brother are under the cloak.” Then, Husayn approached it.

Imam Husayn, resembles his older brother in behaviour and speech as both were raised in the same household. The fragrance of the Holy Prophet is apparently so clear that the second child finds the presence of his grandfather at his arrival through the fragrance of the Messenger of God.

Lady Fatima reveals her just and equal treatment of her sons as she replies using the same wording as she used for Hasan.

And he said, “Peace be upon you, Oh my great grandfather. Oh he who has been authorized by God, would you please let me come under the cloak with you too?”

At his arrival, Imam Husayn greets the Holy Prophet as his brother did. Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn’s greeting are similar, yet Imam Hasan uses the expression, ‘the Prophet of God’ whereas Imam Husayn says, ‘O he who has been authorized by God.’

Then he said, “Peace be upon you my child, the intercessor of my nation. I have permitted you.” Then, he came under the cloak.

Prophet Muhammad’s reply to Imam Husayn’s greeting is similar to his reply to Imam Hasan. After giving his salam, once again he says ‘my child.’

When addressing a child by using expressions such as ‘my son,’ ‘my daughter,’ or ‘my child,’ a parent has expressed his utmost compassion and has attracted the attention of his child to the fact that he is adored by his or her parent(s).

After the greeting, the Holy Prophet permits him to come under the cloak. Instead of the reply, ‘O the owner of my Pond’ used for Imam Hasan, he says, ‘O the intercessor of my nation’ for Imam Husayn.

The science of educational psychology concludes that in order to instil confidence in our children, we should make an effort to express their good and prominent characteristics. We clearly and frequently observe this same point in the conduct of the Holy Prophet towards his two grandchildren, including this specific occasion.

At the same time, Abul Hasan Ali ibn Abu Talib Imam Ali (as) approached and said, “Peace by upon you, Oh the daughter of the Messenger of God.”

The entrance of Imam Ali to his house and his conduct towards his wife is important in that even his greeting is associated with perceptiveness when he says, “Peace be upon you O the daughter of the Messenger of God.” His greeting to his wife displays his utmost respect for her. He is also aware of and observes the fact that his wife is the daughter of the Holy Prophet. His love and respect for the Prophet is so much that he does not lose a single opportunity to respect her and mention her position.

Imam Ali, though a man of high status of holiness and dignity, precedes his wife in initiating his salam. Again, the emphasis initiating a greeting upon entering one’s home is implied.

Then I said, “Peace be upon you O father of Hasan and the Commander of Believers.”

Lady Fatima kindly replies in a manner that shows the respect they each have for one another. With such communication, extreme love and compassion will be established in the hearts of a couple and will remain forever.

Lady Fatima mentions two attributes: her husband’s fatherhood and his being the Commander of Believers. Such expressions uttered in a respectful form bring about high spirits and hope to Imam Ali (as). Moreover, this style of address by a wife to her husband who has just arrived to the home is a lesson for couples on how to communicate with one another.

Then he said “O Fatima.”

Though Lady Fatima has many titles such as Zahra (The Brilliant), Siddiqah (The Truthful), and Taherah (The Pure), her principal name in which her family and relatives use is Fatima, and Imam Ali addresses her as such.

“I smell a fragrance with you as though it is the fragrance of my brother and cousin, the Messenger of God.”

Imam Ali smells the fragrance of his father-in-law once he enters his home. From this we understand that:

1. The Holy Prophet had a unique fragrance and it was well-known among his relatives. This fragrance belonged exclusively to him.

2. The expression ‘with you’ is indicative of a type of intimacy and cordiality of the husband towards his wife. Imam Ali wants to express his satisfaction with the presence of the Holy Prophet in his house. Yet, he attributes it to Lady Fatima. Otherwise, he would not have used the expression ‘with you.’

3. Such a welcome to both the presence of the Prophet and presence of his fragrance is to be noted. It is indicative of Imam Ali’s joy and happiness.

4. Here, when he intends to mention his holy presence, he talks of him so highly and intimately, at the same time, endearing him without exaggeration when saying, ‘My brother, my cousin, the Messenger of God.’ Through this way of mentioning his father-in-law, he has communicated intimacy.

Then I said, “Yes, they are. He with your two children under the cloak.”

Lady Fatima says “your two children” instead of, “my two children.” The possessive adjective “your” used by Lady Fatima in characterizing the children is indicative of honouring and magnifying the husband by the wife, and prioritizing the husband over herself in her expression. If she had said “our children,” such intent would not have been expressed.

Then Ali turned to the cloak.

It is interesting that it seems that no other issue or subject is as important to Imam Ali as visiting the Holy Prophet. Instead of engaging himself in relaxing or eating, he turns his face to his father-in- law, approaches him, and gives him his full attention and respect as a dignified son-in-law is expected to.

And he said, “Peace be upon you O Messenger of God…

When Imam Ali faces the Holy Prophet, he precedes him in offering his salam. His greeting is indicative of the extreme satisfaction and happiness of a son-in-law’s approach to his father-in-law as well as revealing his extreme respect to his guest, especially in uttering the Prophet’s being ‘The Messenger of God.’

“Would you please let me be with you under the cloak?”

Although Imam Ali is the owner of the house, and routinely, it is the guest that asks the host for permission to take action, he maintains the conduct of respectfully and humbly acknowledging his impeccable guest.

He said, “Peace be upon you O my brother, my successor, my vicegerent, and the owner of my banner.”

In addition to replying to Imam Ali’s salam, he respects his own son-in-law by repetitively putting emphasis on Imam Ali’s successorship after himself, by mentioning four attributes of his son-in-law:

a) He first addresses Ali as his own brother. This attribute is indicative of the profound intimacy between him and the Imam.

b) He calls Imam Ali his ‘legatee.’

c) He mentions Imam Ali as his successor.

d) He calls Imam Ali ‘the owner of my banner.’

The three attributes of ‘legatee’, ‘successor’ and ‘owner of my banner’ expressed by the highest heavenly creature and the last Prophet cannot be an exaggeration. It can be by itself a perfect evidence of the truthfulness of Imam Ali. The above-stated attributes can be mentioned as all the characteristics required by a successor. Even if he did not mention them and if he merely addressed him as, for instance, “Dear Ali,” it would suffice. Yet, he states these attributes in order to express the extreme confidence he has in Imam Ali.

Meanwhile, this visit is a familial meeting. Yet, perhaps because the report of this visit is destined to be narrated in the form of this famous tradition, for peace of mind and cordial assurance, these attributes are remembered both in his reply to the Imam’s salam and at the beginning of this visit which is associated with the expression of satisfaction with visiting him.

“I have permitted you.” Ali thus went with them under the cloak.

The Prophet says, “I have permitted you.” This shows his appreciation of Imam Ali, since the permission is given without any hesitation. With the Prophet’s permission, Imam Ali comes under the cloak.

Then I came near the cloak.

Lady Fatima herself decides to come under the cloak after her family’s arrival. Prior to her husband’s arrival, she did not deem it decent to come under the cloak as she prioritizes him over herself. Let’s remember that Lady Fatima is herself the narrator of this tradition. Lady Fatima is the last person to have come under the cloak. One may say that the major host is Lady Fatima, for the arrival of the Prophet himself to this home was because she was present.

And I said, “Peace be upon you O my dear father, O Messenger of God. Would you please let me be with you under the cloak?”

Although there are others under the cloak, and this is Imam Ali’s house, Lady Fatima asks the Holy Prophet for permission. The guardianship of the Holy Prophet himself is prior to any other guardianship, even to the husband’s. She respects him with her decent words and asks for his permission prior to anyone else.

He said, “Peace be upon you O my daughter, O part of my flesh. I have permitted you.” I thus went with them under the cloak.

The point observed in this expression is the way the Holy Prophet replies to Lady Fatima in which one mere salam does not suffice him. He also shows his great respect for his daughter in this simple reply. For expressing intimacy, love and passion, he says, “O my daughter” and “O part of my flesh”. He does not use the exclamation “O” once. That is, not one “O” for both expressions. Yet, for any expression he uses to address Fatima Zahra, he applies one separate exclamation, “O”. Meanwhile, we know well that when somebody addresses his daughter like this, calling her part of the flesh of his body, he intends to express his extreme love and passion to her. More importantly, when he says, “I verily permitted you”, the adverb ‘verily’ is an emphasis on the permission, which is again indicative of intimacy, confidence and cordial assurance.

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[3] Methods of Increasing Self-Esteem in Children and Juveniles.

[4] The Methods of Increasing Self-Esteem in Children and Juveniles.

[5] The Interpretation of Light, Vol. 12, p. 611.