Mukhtasar Muslim

‘Mother of the Believers, Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) says that all the pure wives (may Allah be pleased with them) of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) were with him (during his illness), there was no wife who was not present, when suddenly Sayyida Fatimah al-Zahra (may Allah be pleased with her) came, and she walked exactly as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to walk. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw her, he said, “Welcome,” and said, “Welcome, my daughter.” Then he made her sit on his right or left side, and whispered something in her ear, so she wept greatly. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw her in this state, he again whispered something in her ear, so she laughed. I said to her, “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has especially confided something to you, yet you weep.” When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stood up, I asked her, “What did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say to you?” She replied, “I am not one to disclose the secret of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).” When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, I made her swear by the right I had over her and said, “Tell me what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to you.” She said, “Now, indeed, I will tell you. The first time, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) whispered in my ear that Jibreel (peace be upon him) used to review the Qur’an with me once every year or twice, and this year he reviewed it twice, and I think that my (time to depart from this world) is near. So fear Allah and be patient, for I am the best forerunner for you. Hearing this, I began to weep as you saw. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw me weeping, he again whispered to me and said, ‘O Fatimah! Are you not pleased that you will be the leader of the women of the believers or the women of this Ummah?’ Hearing this, I laughed as you saw.”