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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Fatimah al-Ma`sumah (as): a role model for men and women Chapter 3: The Role Model The Truthful It was narrated that 'Aisha said: 'I have not seen any one more truthful than her - Fatimah - but only her father.'[^1] The value of this hadith is that it has been narrated by 'Aisha, who seems to have spoken after a study of the Islamic society.

It is worth noting that 'Aisha did not say in her description of Fatimah (as) that she was 'the truthful', but the most truthful. This expression, when given to a person, means that they are very sensitive to truthfulness, and that they would make absolutely sure that any word they utter contains no false suggestions, and certainly no lies.

'Aisha saw Fatimah as (as) the most truthful, and one who represented truth in speech and attitude, like her father the Messenger of Allah (sawa) who manifested truth so that his folk knew him - even before the start of his Message - as 'the truthful, the trustworthy'. Fatimah (as) acquired this attribute from her father (sawa) and excelled in it until she became the most truthful after him.

Fatimah (as) has been, and still is, a role model of truthfulness, and wants us to turn life into truth, so that every one of us might be the most truthful with himself and the most truthful among his people, not like the many who live their lives in continuous lying - lying in religion through all kinds of deviations, and in politics with all its traitors and arrogant powers, and in social reality where lying may promote selfish interests.

The Worshipper If we look at what history books have told us about Fatimah (as), we find that her worship was unrivalled. Here are some examples: 1- It is told that al-Hasan al-Basri said: 'There was no one in this nation who worshipped more than Fatimah: she used to pray until her feet became swollen.'[^2] 2- Even more emphatic was her son, Imam al-Hasan (as), who said: 'I saw my mother Fatimah (as) standing up in her mihrab [prayer niche] every Friday night.

She bowed and prostrated herself until dawn, and I heard her praying for the believers, naming them...!' [^3] Fatimah was burdened with her household problems, pregnancies and children, and with her Islamic responsibilities in the social arena - but in spite of all that, and the weakness of her body, she would worship Allah until her feet became swollen, and found the time to stay awake and pray all night, praising Allah.