'A'isha reported that all the wives of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) had gathered (in her apartment) during the days of his (Prophet's) last illness and no woman was left behind that Fatima, who walked after the style of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) , came there. He welcomed her by saying: You are welcome, my daughter, and made her sit on his right side or on his left side, and then talked something secretly to her and Fitima wept. Then he talked something secretly to her and she laughed. I said to her: What makes you weep? She said; I am not going to divulge the secret of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . I ('A'isha) said: I have not seen (anything happening) like today, the happiness being more close to grief (as I see today) when she wept. I said to her: Has Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) singled you out for saying something leaving us aside? She then wept and I asked her what he said, and she said: I am not going to divulge the secrets of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . And when he died I again asked her and she said that he (the Holy Prophet) told her: Gabriel (ؑ) used to recite the Qur'an to me once a year and for this year it was twice and so I perceived that my death had drawn near, and that I ('A'isha) would be the first amongst the members of his family who would meet him (in the Hereafter). He shall be my good forerunner and it made me weep. He again talked to me secretly (saying): Arn't you pleased that you should be the sovereign amongst the believing women or the head of women of this Umma? And this made me laugh.
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:
Whispering was prohibited so that the third person present would not develop suspicion. If there is no likelihood of this danger in the gathering, then whispering is also permissible, as is mentioned regarding the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) whispering to Fatimah al-Zahra (radi Allahu anha).
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 6285
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
In one narration, it is mentioned that when the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) whispered to Fatimah (radi Allahu anha) for the second time, he said:
“You will be the first of my household to join me.”
At this, she laughed.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Maghazi, Hadith: 4433)
From this hadith, Imam al-Bukhari (rahimahullah) has established both parts of the chapter heading.
Firstly, that it is permissible to whisper (confide) in the presence of a group, and secondly, that a secret should be kept hidden during one’s lifetime, but after the person passes away, there is no harm in disclosing it.
Both of these points are established from this hadith.
And Allah knows best.
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 6285
Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:
In other narrations, it is mentioned that first the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said that his passing was near, upon which Fatimah (radi Allahu anha) began to weep. Then he said that she would be the first to join him, so she began to smile. This hadith establishes the great virtue of Fatimah al-Zahra (radi Allahu anha).
Indeed, she is the beloved daughter and the light of the eyes of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), and for this reason, she is the most deserving of every virtue.
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 3624