Her relationship with the Prophet (sawa) Ibn 'Abdul Barr...
Her relationship with the Prophet (sawa) Ibn 'Abdul Barr, in al-Istee'ab , narrated - and we would like very much to use it, as it was a Sunni source which represents a neutral source, so that the Shi'ah could not be accused of talking out of emotion - that 'Aisha said: 'I had not seen any one who was more resembling the Messenger of Allah in his speech, conduct and manners as Fatimah; when she used to enter (his house) he would stand up for her, take her hand and kiss it and make her sit in his sitting place; and when he used to enter (her house) she would stand up for him, take his hand and kiss it and make him sit in her sitting place'.[^1] When we study this text, we can conclude two things: first, the unity and complete merging between Fatimah's personality and her father's, as the person most closely resembling him.
This is reflected even in his walking, as seen in many narrations, such as 'Fatimah came and her walk did not fail the walking of the Messenger of Allah (sawa)'; second, the depth of the spiritual relationship between the Prophet (sawa) and Fatimah (as), a relationship which the Prophet (sawa) had with Fatimah (as) alone.
Another narration by al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak states: 'The Messenger of Allah used, when he came back from a battle or journey, to come to the mosque and pray two Rak’ats to thank Allah, then would enter to (the house of) Fatimah, then he would come to his wives'.[^2] This meant that Fatimah (as) held the prime place in the relationships between the Prophet (sawa) and other people, including his wives.
In the same book, al-Mustadrak , al-Hakim also narrated: 'The Prophet (sawa), when he used to travel, the last person he would see was Fatimah.' Thus her image would stay in his mind, and the kindness and emotion, with which she used to embrace him, would stay with him in his travel and his memory, to comfort him.
Al-Hakim added: 'And when he returned from a journey, the first person he would see would be Fatimah.' ^3 Historians have said that the Prophet (sawa) did not accept that Fatimah (as) became separated from him even after her marriage and, therefore, did not accept that she lived in a house far away from him, so she lived in the house next to his so that he could enter into her house directly from his.[^4] In al-Isti'ab we read: ''Aisha was asked: who was the most beloved person to the Messenger of Allah?