By Allah...

By Allah, I will not speak to the two of you until I meet my Lord and complain to Him about you and what you have done to me and against me.”

Abu Bakr started wailing and crying, “How I wish my mother had not given birth to me!” ‘Umar said, “It is surprising that people made you their leader while you are a senile old man! You are upset by the anger of a woman and pleased by her happiness? And what of the one who angers a woman?” Then they stood up and left. In the book Bayt al-Ahzan [it is narrated]: When they left, Fatimah said to Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), “Have I done what you wished?” He said, “Yes.” “Will you now do what I ask of you?” “Yes,” he said. “Then I implore you, by Allah, not to allow them to pray at my funeral or stand over my grave.”

I say: There was no need for this bitter weeping which “almost led to his soul departing from his body” – as mentioned in the narration of Ibn Qutaybah – and Abu Bakr did not have to lament and wail. All he had to do to placate al-Sayyida Fatimah was to return what was rightfully hers, give back her lands and apologize for his actions. However, the man wished to remain stubborn in his stance and was not ready to back down yet he wanted Fatimah al-Zahra to be pleased with him! I do not think any person or any law would accept this, and I doubt that any religion, faith, conscience or logic would advocate this, except the logic of aggression and pressure, and the logic of force and authority. However, al-Sayyida Fatimah was stronger in spirit and did not give in to this logic or fall for this ploy. A question may come to mind here, and that is: what made Abu Bakr soften his position and humble himself in this manner? And what made al-Zahra remain firm in her position? Al-Jahiz has answered this question and his answer is sufficient for us. He says in his Rasa’il:

… If they say: How can you claim that he oppressed her while every time her anger increased, his attitude became mellower and he exhibited more empathy? When she said to him, “By Allah, I will never speak to you again,” he replied, “By Allah, I will never abandon you.” Then she would say, “By Allah, I will pray to Allah against you,” and he would reply, “By Allah, I will pray to Allah for you.” In addition to this, he tolerated her harsh words against him in his court, in the presence of the Quraysh and the , despite the requirement of respect and reverence, and where she ought to have shown deference.