The Necklace of Sayyida Fatima (a): A Lesson in True Charity

In the blessed city of Medina, during the time of the Holy Prophet (s), Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra (a) received a beautiful necklace as a gift. It was a rare luxury in her simple life, but she treasured it not for its beauty, but for the love with which it had been given to her.

One day, an old, weary man entered the mosque of the Prophet (s). His face was lined with hardship, his clothes tattered. He stood before the gathering and raised his trembling hands.

“O people of Medina,” he pleaded, “I am a traveller in need. I am hungry, and I have nothing to my name.”

The Prophet (s) looked around at his companions, waiting for someone to help. But before anyone could respond, a figure stood from the women’s section. It was Sayyida Fatima (a).

She had no gold, no wealth, and no savings—but she had her necklace. Without hesitation, she removed it and sent it to the Prophet (s), saying, “O Messenger of Allah, sell this and use the money to help the man.”

The Prophet (s) smiled and held the necklace up before his companions. “Who will buy this necklace, the gift of the daughter of your Prophet?”

From among the crowd, Ammar ibn Yasir, a loyal companion, stood up. “O Messenger of Allah, I will buy it,” he said eagerly. He paid a large sum for the necklace, knowing its true worth was not in gold, but in the blessing of its owner.

With the money, the poor man was given food, clothing, and shelter—his face now beaming with gratitude.

Ammar (r) took the necklace home, holding it as a treasure. But soon, he thought to himself, how can I keep something that belonged to the Lady of Light?

In an act of devotion, he freed a servant he had and gifted him the necklace, telling him, “Take this necklace and return it to Sayyida Fatima (a).”

When the servant arrived at her door and handed the necklace back, Fatima (a) smiled, realizing the beauty of what had just happened.

This simple necklace had:

✨ Fed the hungry

✨ Clothed the poor

✨ Helped a traveller

✨ Freed a slave

✨ And returned to its rightful owner, untouched by greed.

The story of the necklace of Sayyida Fatima (a) teaches us a timeless lesson in charity. True generosity is not measured by the material value of what we give, but by the sincerity of our intentions and the love we show others.

The Three Days of Hunger

It was the month of Ramadan in Medina, and the air was filled with the fragrance of freshly baked bread from the humble home of Imam Ali (a) and Sayyida Fatima (a). As the golden light of sunset signaled the time to break their fast, Imam Hasan (a) and Imam Hussain (a) eagerly sat down, their small hands reaching for the food they had longed for all day. The hunger they had felt since dawn made the meal even more precious.

Just as they were about to take their first bite, a faint knock echoed from the door. Sayyida Fatima (a) immediately rose and went to answer it. A poor beggar stood before her; his eyes full of desperation.

“O family of the Prophet,” he pleaded, “I am starving and have nothing to eat. Can you spare me some food?”

Imam Ali (a) looked at his family and smiled gently. Without hesitation, he motioned for his family to give everything they had. One by one, they handed their bread over to the beggar, leaving themselves with nothing but water. Despite their own hunger, they felt compassion for the man’s suffering.

That night, the family went to bed hungry, but their hearts were filled with contentment in their sacrifice for the sake of Allah.

The next day, they fasted again. As the sun set, signalling the time to break their fast, another knock came at the door. This time, it was an orphan, shivering from hunger. Sayyida Fatima (a) opened the door, and once again, the family gave up their food, placing their last meal in the hands of the orphan. They chose to remain hungry rather than turn someone away.

On the third night, after fasting throughout the day, the family prepared to eat, but another figure appeared at the door—a prisoner, frail and exhausted from captivity. His plea for food was met with the same selflessness. Imam Ali (a), Sayyida Fatima (a), Imam Hasan (a), and Imam Hussain (a) shared their remaining food with the prisoner, leaving nothing for themselves.

For three days, this noble family went without food, choosing sacrifice and compassion for others over their own comfort. Their devotion to Allah and care for others, even in their time of need, was a profound act of faith.

Allah, pleased with their selflessness, revealed Surah Al-Insan (76:8-9):

“They give food, despite their love for it, to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, (saying) ‘We feed you for the sake of Allah alone; we desire neither reward nor thanks from you.’”

On the fourth day, as their hunger became unbearable, Allah sent them heavenly sustenance as a divine reward. Their story became an eternal lesson: true fasting is not just abstaining from food, but practicing selflessness, compassion, and putting others before our own desires. The family of the Prophet’s example continues to inspire all who seek to live a life of generosity and humility.