Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) married Sayyidah Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), he sent with her a woolen sheet, a leather pillow stuffed with palm fibers, two hand mills, a water skin, and two pitchers. One day, Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said to Sayyidah Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her): “My chest has started to ache from bringing water from outside. Allah has sent some captives to your father, so go and ask him for a servant.” She replied, “By Allah! My condition is such that my hands have become calloused from turning the millstone so much.” Thus, Sayyidah Fatimah went to the service of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). He asked, “Daughter! What brings you here?” She replied, “I have only come to greet you,” and felt shy to ask for anything. Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) asked, “What happened?” She replied, “Out of shyness, I could not ask him for anything.” Then both of us went to his service. This time, Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Messenger of Allah! By Allah! My chest has started to ache from bringing water from outside,” and Sayyidah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “My hands have become calloused from turning the millstone. Now Allah has sent captives to you and made you financially comfortable, so please grant us a servant.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “By Allah! I cannot give you a servant while the people of Suffah are in such a state that their stomachs are twisting from hunger, and I do not have enough to spend on them. As for these captives, I will sell them and spend the proceeds on the people of Suffah.” Hearing this, both of them returned. Later, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to them at a time when they had already entered their sheet, and the condition of the sheet was such that if it covered their heads, their feet would be exposed, and if they covered their feet, their heads would be exposed. When they tried to sit up, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “No matter, remain in your place.” Then he said, “Shall I not tell you something better than what you asked for?” Both said, “Certainly, certainly.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “They are some words which Jibril (peace be upon him) taught me.” He said, “After every prayer, say Subhan Allah ten times, Alhamdulillah ten times, and Allahu Akbar ten times, and when you go to bed, say Subhan Allah thirty-three times, Alhamdulillah thirty-three times, and Allahu Akbar thirty-four times.” Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) says, “Since the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) taught me these words, I have never abandoned them.” Upon hearing this, Abdullah bin Kawa’ asked Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), “Did you not abandon them even on the night of the Battle of Siffin?” Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, “O people of Iraq! May Allah destroy you. No, not even on the night of Siffin did I abandon this practice.”