The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 315
VII - Commencement of War with the Tribes of Najd and the Jews, the Marriage of Ḥaḍrat Fāṭimah and Ḥafṣah, and a Few Miscellaneous Incidents 315 and not for the purpose of strengthening them. As such, the response which the Holy Prophet sa gave to his wives upon their asking for wealth is a testimony to this very fact. Furthermore, it also demonstrates that not only did the Holy Prophet sa desire to devote his own attention towards God and his office of Prophethood, rather, even with respect to his wives, his heart desired that their relationship with him should also be wholly for the sake of the hereafter. Therefore, the polygamy of the Holy Prophet sa was in the interest of religion, nation and country. In these circumstances, most definitely, this was a great sacrifice of individual gain made by the Holy Prophet sa. By creating a state of immense hardship and difficulty in his domestic life, the Holy Prophet sa made it easier for himself to fulfil those responsibilities which fell upon him in his capacity as a law-giver, religious reformer and leader. Therefore, this action of the Holy Prophet sa is deserving of the gratitude of every such person, who in the likeness of wild beasts, does not only care for his own carnal desires and individual or personal gain; rather, considers the reformation and progress of moral, spiritual, national and collective life as being his prime objective. At the time of her marriage, Ḥaḍrat Ḥafṣah ra was approximately twenty-one years of age. After Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra , since she was the daughter of an individual who was the most eminent from among the Companions, she holds a special rank among the Azwāj-e-Muṭahharāt. 1 She also possessed a close relationship with Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra , and except for the odd disagreement, which is nothing out of the ordinary in such relationships, both of them lived together very lovingly. Ḥaḍrat Ḥafṣah ra knew how to read and write. As such, there is a narration in the Aḥādīth 2 that she learned to write from a lady Companion named Shifā’ bint ‘Abdillāh ra. She passed away in 45 A. H. , when she was more or less, sixty-three years of age. Birth of Imām Ḥasan - Ramaḍān 3 A. H. In the events of 2 A. H. , the marriage of Ḥaḍrat ‘Alī ra and Ḥaḍrat Fāṭimah ra was mentioned. In Ramaḍān 3 A. H. , i. e. , approximately 10 months after their marriage, they were blessed with a child. The Holy Prophet sa named him Ḥasan ra. This is the very same Ḥasan ra , who received the appellation of ‘Imām Ḥasan (May the Mercy of God be upon him)’ among the Muslims. In his physical appearance, Ḥasan ra greatly resembled the Holy Prophet sa. Just as the 1 Wives of the Holy Prophet sa [Publishers] 2 Sunanu Abī Dāwūd, Kitābuṭ-Ṭibb, Bābu Mā Jā’a Fir-Ruqā, Ḥadīth No. 3887