If you wish...

If you wish, the wedding can

take place tonight or tomorrow night, if Allah wills."

The Prophet said: "So prepare a house for Fatima." Ali then said: "The

only house I can acquire is Harithah Ibn al-Numan's."

The Prophet said: "Surely we are shy for Harithah Ibn al-Numan, for

we have taken the majority of his houses!"'

When Harithah heard about this, he proceeded towards the Prophet

and said: "Messenger of Allah, I and my property belong to Allah and

His Messenger. By Allah, there is nothing more beloved to me than

that which you take; it surely is more desirable to me (that you take it)

than if you leave it (for me)!!"

Consequently, Harithah, motivated by his strong faith and belief in

good deeds, granted Ali (A) one of his houses. Imam Ali (A) furnished

one of the rooms by spreading sand on the floor and erecting a pole

for hanging the water container. In addition to some gifts that were

given to him by some companions, he also purchased a jug and jar

and laid a piece of wood between two walls for hanging clothes, and

Exalted, is pleased with those who do so; for the social good it does-

such as bringing people together and implementing love and harmony

It is noteworthy that Lady Fatima Zahra (A) excelled in giving on the

path of Allah; she possessed generosity that no other woman can

Al-Asfouri wrote in his book Nuzhat al-Majalis v.2, p.226, on the

authority of Ibn al-Tawous: "The Prophet had a new dress made for

"I ask the household of Prophethood to give me an old dress." At first,

Fatima was going to give him her old dress, but then remembered the

Quranic verse: `By no means shall ye attain righteousness unless ye

give (freely) of that which ye love (prefer)'

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She then gave the poor man her new dress. Consequently, Gabriel

descended and said: "O Muhammad!