6/64. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1621 — Fatimah and the Prophet’s Secret
What was narrated concerning the sickness of the Messenger of Allah (SAW)
Hadith About Fatimah Keeping the Prophet’s Secret
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1621
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1621
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ زَكَرِيَّا، عَنْ فِرَاسٍ، عَنْ عَامِرٍ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتِ اجْتَمَعْنَ نِسَاءُ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَلَمْ تُغَادِرْ مِنْهُنَّ امْرَأَةٌ فَجَاءَتْ فَاطِمَةُ كَأَنَّ مِشْيَتَهَا مِشْيَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَ: " مَرْحَبًا بِابْنَتِي " . ثُمَّ أَجْلَسَهَا عَنْ شِمَالِهِ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ أَسَرَّ إِلَيْهَا حَدِيثًا فَبَكَتْ فَاطِمَةُ. ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ سَارَّهَا. فَضَحِكَتْ أَيْضًا فَقُلْتُ لَهَا: مَا يُبْكِيكِ؟ قَالَتْ: مَا كُنْتُ لأُفْشِيَ سِرَّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ . فَقُلْتُ: مَا رَأَيْتُ كَالْيَوْمِ فَرَحًا أَقْرَبَ مِنْ حُزْنٍ . فَقُلْتُ لَهَا حِينَ بَكَتْ: أَخَصَّكِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ بِحَدِيثٍ دُونَنَا ثُمَّ تَبْكِينَ؟ وَسَأَلْتُهَا عَمَّا قَالَ . فَقَالَتْ: مَا كُنْتُ لأُفْشِيَ سِرَّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم - . حَتَّى إِذَا قُبِضَ سَأَلْتُهَا عَمَّا قَالَ. فَقَالَتْ: إِنَّهُ كَانَ يُحَدِّثُنِي أَنَّ جِبْرَائِيلَ كَانَ يُعَارِضُهُ بِالْقُرْآنِ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ مَرَّةً وَأَنَّهُ عَارَضَهُ بِهِ الْعَامَ مَرَّتَيْنِ " وَلاَ أُرَانِي إِلاَّ قَدْ حَضَرَ أَجَلِي وَأَنَّكِ أَوَّلُ أَهْلِي لُحُوقًا بِي وَنِعْمَ السَّلَفُ أَنَا لَكِ " . فَبَكَيْتُ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ سَارَّنِي فَقَالَ: " أَلاَ تَرْضَيْنَ أَنْ تَكُونِي سَيِّدَةَ نِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ - أَوْ نِسَاءِ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ - " . فَضَحِكْتُ لِذَلِكَ .
A'isha Narrated from:
The wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) gathered together and not one of them lagged behind. Fatimah came, and her gait was like that of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He said, ‘Welcome to my daughter.’ Then he made her sit to his left, and he whispered something to her, and she smiled. I said to her: ‘What made you weep?’ She said: ‘I will not disclose the secret of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).’ I said: ‘I never saw joy so close to grief as I saw today.’ When she wept I said: ‘Did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) tell you some special words that were not for us, then you wept?’ And I asked her about what he had said. She said: ‘I will not disclose the secret of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).’ After he died I asked her what he had said, and she said: ‘He told me that Jibra’il used to review the Qur’an with him once each year, but he had reviewed it with him twice that year, (and he said:) “I do not think but that my time is near. You will be the first of my family to join me, and what a good predecessor I am for you.” So I wept. Then he whispered to me and said: “Will you not be pleased to be the leader of the women of this Ummah?” So I smiled.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1621In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 189English translation : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 1621
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1621
This Hadith about Fatimah highlights trust, family love, and the heavy news of the Prophet’s final illness. The main message is simple: Fatimah did not reveal the secret of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم while he was alive, even when ‘Aishah asked her more than once. After his death, she explained that Jibra’il had reviewed the Qur’an with him twice that year, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم understood that his time was near. Fatimah wept because she heard that she would soon lose her father. She smiled because he gave her glad news that she would be the leader of the women of this Ummah. The Hadith teaches care with private words and love for the family of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
What we learn from this hadith
- A trusted person does not expose a private conversation without permission.
- Sad news and happy news may come very close together in life.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم honored Fatimah with gentle words and glad tidings.
- The review of the Qur’an with Jibra’il is mentioned as a sign connected to his nearing death.
