and the four walls of their homes whilst learning from the sanctified life and character of Ummahat-ul-Mu’mineen (Mothers of the Believers) and the daughters of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, especially Sayyidatuna Fatimah-tuz-Zahra رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْھُن, as these are the noble personalities who, owing to the companionship of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, were an exemplification of modesty. In particular, the modesty of the beloved daughter of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, Sayyidatuna Fatimah-tuz-Zahra رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا, is highly admirable and to be followed. Let us listen to an account regarding her unparalleled modesty.

The Veil of Sayyidatuna Fatimah-tuz-Zahra رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا

After the apparent demise of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, Khatoon-e-Jannat, the Queen of Both Worlds, Sayyidatuna Fatimah-tuz-Zahra رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا was struck by sadness to such an extent that the smile on her lips even vanished! She was only seen smiling once before her demise.

This account is as follows: Sayyidatuna Fatimah-tuz-Zahra رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا was concerned that she had protected herself from the eyes of non-Mahram men all her life, and now, after her death, it might be that her shrouded body is seen by the people!

On one occasion, Sayyidatuna Asma Bint-e-Umays رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا said: ‘I saw in Abyssinia that the branches of a tree are tied on the funeral bier and made into a covering like a palanquin.’ Then she ordered for the branches of the date palm tree, tied them together, stretched a cloth over them and showed it to Sayyidatuna Fatimah-tuz-Zahra رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا. She was very happy and a smile appeared on her lips. This was the only smile that was seen from her after the apparent demise of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. (Jazb-ul-Quloob, p. 159)

سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه! The sky would have hardly seen such a unique sight of modesty. Despite the fact that after the demise of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, the grief of the loss prevailed throughout her life, but in spite of this, she رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا held firmly to the rope of modesty till her last breath. The only thing that worried her was that the glance of a non-Mahram man would fall on her shroud after her passing.