Welcoming a child ... You have a good example in your Prophet

`A'ishah bint Talhah narrated on the authority of `A'ishah, the Mother of believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) who said: "I did not see anyone who more resembled the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in manner of speaking that Fatimah. When she came to him, he would stand up for her, kissed her, made her welcome, and took her hand and make her sit in his place. When the Prophet came to her, she would stand up for him, kissed him, and took his hand. When she came to him in his death sickness after which he died, he told her a secret which made her to cry then told her something secretly and made her laugh. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) died, I asked her about that. She said to me: He told me that he is about to die, so I cried, then told me that I shall be the first of his family to join him after death, so I laughed."[1]

Lessons gained from the Hadith:

1- See how did the Prophet act when his daughter visited him and when she came to him at home. First, he stood up to make her sit in his place then approached to welcome her.

2- He would kiss her which means he would hold her head and kiss her cheek, mouth, head, or nose as was reported from him.

3- He would welcome her i.e., uttered warm words out of his joy to see her such as, welcome, hello, and so on. I have no doubt that welcome was accompanied by a smile on his face.

4- He took her hand nicely which was a praised and noble action which added happiness to the heart, increased comfort and love.

5- He made her sit in his place which means that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stepped aside and placed her out of love and honor to her. What a wonderful father and husband the Prophet (peace be upon him) was with his family!

2- Of the bases of the creed of Ahl-us-Sunnah (adherents to the Sunnah) is loving the people's family, and Fatimah is one of the Prophet's family, and giving them the status which Allah honored them, and we should not be blamed for loving them. They are the Prophet's family who is our beloved, but blame is only against excessiveness in loving him and placing him in a status equivalent to Allah or adding baseless innovations and myths to him.[2]

3- Permissibility to stand up for a guest, there is no harm in that.

4- Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) resembles the Prophet (peace be upon him) in way of speaking.

5-As for the saying of `A'ishah: "When she came to him," probably she was in his house and entered the room in which he was sitting or probably she came from her husband's room.

6- The high status of Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) and her great rank at her father.

7- Showing the intimacy and affection that prevailed in the Prophet's house.

8- As for her saying: "was," it indicates the continuity of the action and that Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) used to pay visits to him.

9- One of Islamic manners is keeping secrets.

10- Man contains feelings, senses, and emotions who is touched by the things he hears and sees around him, so his condition may change in a moment from crying to laughter and vice-versa.

11- There is no doubt that the death of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was the grievous calamity passed by the Muslim nation.

12- Showing the love of parents to their children and the love of children to their parents which natural.

13- Not to rush judging things.

14- The standing of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to his daughter was out of pity, mercy, love.[3]

15- There is no harm that a person tells a secret to someone during the presence of others. It was reported in Sahih Muslim that the Mothers of the Believers were present.[4]

16- There were two apparent miracles to the Prophet (peace be upon him) where the Prophet (peace be upon him) told that Fatimah shall live after him and she shall be the first of his family to join him.

17- When the Prophet (peace be upon him) told Fatimah that shall will be the first to join him, she became happy and laughed.

18- The Companions' preference to the Hereafter to the world and their happiness to go to it.[5]

19- Keenness to follow the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in rearing children where it contains great goodness.

20- Estimating a child helps in building his personality, trust, and an immune fort after the guidance of Allah for their firmness and not going astray.

21- When a child finds appreciation and love, he would love to stay at home. When the house is filled by love and intimacy, there is no way to search for love and intimacy outside home. Often, we hear the children's complaints about missing intimacy and love inside the house.

22- The Prophet's humbleness and kindness.

The Book of "twenty Hadiths from the Prophetic House".

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[1] Muslim 2450, Ibn Hibban 6953, with his own wordings. Shu`ayb Al Arna`ut said: "Its chain of narration is authentic."

[2] The official site of Sheikh Dr. Ibrahim Ad-Duwaysh, part of Friday Sermon entitled: The story of Fatimah As-Zahra' in 21/4/1430 AH. with paraphrasing.

[3] An article of Sheikh Akram Kassab entitled: Standing to people of knowledge and virtue - comparative jurisprudential study, IslamOn.net Website with paraphrasing.

[4] Muslim 2450.

[5] From 16 - 18 benefited from the explanation of Sahih Muslim of An-Nawawy 16/5.