Their parents decided to fast the next day to fulfil their...

Their parents decided to fast the next day to fulfil their nazr and when the children came to know of this they also decided to fast. Their maid Bibi Fizza, who loved the children very much also decided to fast. On the first day of the fasting, Bibi Fatimah prepared 5 loaves of bread to break their fast with. In the evening when the time for Salaat set in they all prayed then sat down to break their fast. Just as they were about to eat their loaves of bread there was a knock on the door.

There stood a poor man asking for something to eat. All of them, one by one gave their loaf of bread to the beggar. And had just water instead. The next day all of them again fasted. Again they were to break their fast with a loaf of bread each which had been baked that morning. And again as they were about to eat their loaf there was a knock on the door. This time it was an orphan asking for food.

Although they themselves were two days hungry they all happily gave their loaf of bread to the orphan and again slept without any food. On the third day of their fast as they sat down to break their fast, a prisoner knocked at the door asking for food. Although by now the family were very hungry as they had not eaten for three days, they again gave away their loaves. Sura Ad-Dahr in the Holy Qur'an was revealed in praise of the sacrifice made by this family. Moral: Nazr is very powerful.

Always think of others before yourself. It is not how much you give to others that is important but the intention with which you give: i.e. "Qurbatan Ilallah" which means to get closer to Allah. Bibi Fatima az-Zahra (A) used to work very hard in her house. Her father our Holy Prophet, (S) could see how hard she worked. So one day he told her that he was going to give her something that would be better than a helper or anything else in the world. Do you know what he gave her? He gave her Tasbeeh.

He told her that after every Salaat she should say: Allahu Akbar - 34 times Alhamdulillah - 33 times Subhanallah - 33 times This is what we call the Tasbeeh of Bibi Fatima az-Zahra (A) The Salaat is like a beautiful flower and the Tasbeeh of Bibi Fatima (A) gives that beautiful flower a beautiful smell. So after every Salaat we should say the Tasbeeh of Bibi Fatima az-Zahra (A) because we want our Salaat to be like a beautiful flower with a beautiful smell.

Once an old poor man came to the house of Bibi Fatima (A) and asked her for help.