the time of her marriage Fatima was fifteen or eighteen years old, or, according to other historical statements, twenty or twenty-four years. She gave birth to three sons and three daughters, namely, Hasan, Hosein, and Mohsan; Zeinab, Om Kolthum, and Rakaia, — of whom the third and the sixth died in their infancy. Zeinab was given in marriage to Abd Allah Ibn Jafar, and Om Kolthum to Omar Ibn Khattab; but they left no children. The only child of the Prophet whose issue survived, was Fatima. Once, when Aisha the faithful was asked who had been the best beloved of the Apostle of God, she answered, 'Amongst women, Fatima, and amongst men, her husband.'

Hadhifa el Yeman narrated: 'One day my mother scolded me on account of not having seen the Prophet for so long. I therefore went that morning to perform the prayers with him. After prayers he went to his room, and as I went after him, I observed some one walking before that Excellency and saying a few words into his ears, in a low voice. Mohammed asked me what I wanted; and on my answering, "O Apostle of God, I am come to crave pardon for my mother and myself," he said, "God has forgiven both thee and thy mother." Then he further questioned me, "Didst thou see that person who was walking before me?" and on my giving an affirmative answer, he continued, "This was an angel who had never before descended anywhere, but who now received permission from my Lord to come down: he, after saluting, told me that Fatima was to be the mistress of the ladies of Paradise, and Hasan and Hosein the Lords of the youths of Paradise."'

Uns Ibn Malik narrated that the Prophet once said, 'Of all the women of this world, the following are equal in rank: Mary, the daughter of Omran; Khadija, the daughter of Khuilid; Fatima, the daughter of Mohammed; and Pharaoh's wife Asia, the daughter of Mezahin.' It is also established that the Prophet said, 'Fatima is a piece of myself: whoever pains her, pains me; and whoever is angry with her, is angry with me.' According to another account he said, 'God is wroth with any one who bears anger to Fatima; and he is pleased with any one who takes pleasure in Fatima.'

One day the Lord of the world put the following question in an assembly of his companions, 'Tell me, what is the most proper thing for ladies to do?' But not one of those present could answer it. When Ali Ibn Abu Talib, on returning home, told this to his wife Fatima, she said, 'Why didst thou not answer, The best thing for ladies to do is, that neither they should see the faces of gentlemen, nor gentlemen their faces.' Then Ali returned to the Prophet

and gave him the answer which he had been taught by Fatima. Thereupon his Excellency remarked, 'Truly, Fatima is a piece of myself.'

On another day the Prophet, coming to Fatima's house, found her wearing a coarse garment of camel's hair, which brought tears to his eyes, and led him to say, 'O Fatima, patiently bear to-day this world's trouble and distress; for on the morrow of the resurrection the favours of Paradise shall be thine.'

Sheikh Nejm narrates in his commentary on the first Sura, that once the Prophet, in visiting Fatima, found her grieving and sad. On asking her the reason of this, she answered, 'O Apostle of God, I say it not by way of complaint, but as a mere statement of facts, that we have now been three days without any food in our house. Hasan and Hosein having exhausted their patience, cry out with hunger; and seeing them weep, tears come to my own eyes, and Ali likewise has wept. To-day, when I heard Hasan and Hosein say, "Are there any other children who have to suffer hunger as we have?" my strength failed me, and the world turned dark before my eyes. O dear father, what sayest thou? Is it a shame if any one prays to the Most High with boldness?' His Excellency answered, 'No, my daughter; the Most High loves the boldness of His servants.' Fatima arose, took an ablution, said the legal prayers, and then sighed, and supplicated thus, 'O God, thou knowest that women have not the strength of a prophet. If there is a secret between thee and my father, I have no strength for it: either give strength for these troubles, or remove them from me!' After having said this, she fainted. Then came Gabriel, saying, 'O Apostle of God, arise, and look after Fatima.' When the teacher of the world came, he found his daughter lying in a fainting fit. He raised her head up, and on recovering consciousness she sat up, with her head bashfully inclined. He exhorted her to remember that God is the dispenser of favours; and laying his blessed hand on her bosom, added, 'O God, keep her safe from hunger!' Fatima said, 'After that prayer I never felt the pangs of hunger again.'

Fatima the illustrious died on the third of Ramadan, 6 or 3 months, or 40 or 29, or 35 or 24 days, after the death of the Prophet, being 28 years of age. She was buried the same day, Ali, or, according to another account, Abbas, conducting the funeral service. It is reported that on the following day, Abu Bekr and Omar, and all the other noble companions, blamed Ali, saying, 'Why didst thou not inform us, so that we also might have been ennobled