This meant that Fatimah (A.S.) held the prime place in the relationships between the Prophet (S.A.W.) and other people, including his wives.

In the same book, al-Mustadrak, al-Hakim also narrated: 'The Prophet (S.A.W.), when he used to travel, the last person he would see was Fatimah.'

Thus her image would stay in his mind, and the kindness and emotion, with which she used to embrace him, would stay with him in his travel and his memory, to comfort him.

Al-Hakim added: 'And when he returned from a journey, the first person he would see would be Fatimah.'

Historians have said that the Prophet (S.A.W.) did not accept that Fatimah (A.S.) became separated from him even after her marriage and, therefore, did not accept that she lived in a house far away from him, so she lived in the house next to his so that he could enter into her house directly from his.

In al-Isti'ab we read: ''Ayshah was asked: who was the most beloved person to the Messenger of Allah? She replied: Fatimah. I asked: and amongst men? She said: her husband...'

This is an important witness by 'Ayshah for Fatimah and Ali (A.S.).

There are many stories from her life which tell how she used to study her father's thoughts to know what he liked and disliked, what opened up his heart and what closed it. An example of this was when he (S.A.W.) came back from a journey and entered her house, looked around a little, then left. Quickly she knew that something bothered the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.). She thought about it and realized that on the door of her house was a curtain and that she had two bracelets in her hands; she took the curtain down and took off the bracelets and sent them with her sons and said: 'Say greetings to my father and say to him: we have not introduced anything after you except this, it is for you to do with them what you like.'

When the Prophet (S.A.W.) heard this, his expression relaxed. He was moved by this generous, wonderful, spiritual gesture by his daughter, and this thoughtful response, and gave these things to the poor, saying: 'She did this! May her father be sacrificed for her! May her father be sacrificed for her! May her father be sacrificed for her! What have the family of Muhammad (S.A.W.) to do with life: they have been created for the hereafter!'

This is what every girl with a mission should learn, when her father is a man of missionary affiliations and responsibilities; as too should every woman with someone who has a missionary dimension in his life: she should learn not to get too engrossed with her own affairs, but to open herself up to the responsibilities of her father, husband, brother or son so as to join with him in the dynamic movement of responsibility, and not to add to the burdens to his responsibility. For we see many great men, past and present, become burdened by the people who are around them: while when they think in a missionary manner, those around them think only of themselves.

To be continued ...