Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Umm al-Mu’minin, Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that we, the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), were gathered with him, and not a single one was absent. Lady Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) came walking towards him, and her manner of walking was exactly like that of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). When he saw her, he welcomed her, saying: “My daughter! Welcome.” Then he seated her to his right or left side. He whispered something to her, and she began to weep intensely. When he saw her distress and grief, he whispered to her a second time, and this time she began to laugh. Among the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), I said to her: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) confided something to you, yet you began to weep. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) got up and left, I asked her: What did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) whisper to you? She said: I cannot disclose the secret of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). When he passed away, I said to Lady Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her): I ask you by my right over you, now you must tell me. She said: Alright, now I will tell you. She informed me that in the first whisper, he said to me: “Jibreel used to review the Qur’an with me once every year, but this year he did so twice. It seems that the time of my death is near. So fear Allah and be patient, for I am the best predecessor for you.” Hearing this, I began to weep, as you saw. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw my anxiety and distress, he said: “Fatimah! Would you not be pleased if you are made the leader of the believing women (in Paradise) or the women of this Ummah?” Upon hearing this, I laughed, as you saw.