Chief of the Prophets — Page 118
Chapter Seven 118 Muḥammad sa said, “The one who was given a daughter by God, and he did not bury her alive, and did not consider her a disgrace, and did not prefer a boy over her will enter into Paradise. ” There is another tradition that once Muḥammad sa said, “When you buy something (for your family), it is essential that you start distribution with your daughters, because your act of keeping your daughters happy is tantamount to fearing God, and consequently you will be saved from the fire of Hell. ” Besides these teachings, the life of Muḥammad sa is full of excellent examples where he showed us how to recognize the true status of daughters. It is narrated that when Muḥammad’s daughter, Fāṭimah ra , visited him, Muḥammad sa would stand in her respect, and hold her hand and kiss it, and make her sit in his place. When going on a journey, he would meet her last, and on his return, he would meet her first, so the time of separation was minimized. This was the excellent example of Muḥammad sa that he showed us in order to establish the appreciation and the status of women. Fāṭimah ra was very dear to Muḥammad sa because of her personal qualities. But in spite of this love and affection, when once a woman committed theft, and Muḥammad sa ruled to have her hand cut off as a punishment, a few people came from her tribe to intercede for her. Muḥammad sa said: If Fāṭimah, daughter of Muḥammad, were to commit theft, I would have her hand cut off. 1 This incident tells us that though he had a great love for his children, his love did not extend to an undue support of them. Rather, if the 1 Ibni Mājah (Book of Punishments), Muslim, Kitābul-Hadūd (Book of Punishments).