Her Service in her Husband’s House and Request for a Maid

 
Shaikh Sadooq relates from Amirul Mo’meneen Imam Ali (a.s.) that once he said to a man from the clan of Bani Sa’ad that, should I relate to you regarding Fatemah (s.a.) while she was in my house ? Then he (a.s.) continued, inspite of being the most beloved person of the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.), she drew water  by means of a leather-bag such, that the mark of it’s strap was visible upon her chest. She swept the floor of the house to such anextent, that her clothes were covered with dust. And she blew the fire below the vessel (to cook food) to such an entent, that the colour of her dress changed. After seeing such toil and hardship, I told her, “You should go to the presence of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and ask for a maid who could help you in your house chores”. Fatemah (s.a.) went to the presence of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and saw some youth with him and returned back without uttering a word. The Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) realised that Fatemah (s.a.) had come to him with a request, but returned back without asking. The next morning the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) himself came to our house while we were sleeping. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.), as was his custom, saluted us thrice, and we perceived that if we did not answer him for the third time, he would return back. As was his custom that whenever he came, he would salute thrice as a request to enter, if he would receive no reply, he would return back. Thus I replied, “And peace be upon you O Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) ! Do command”. He entered therein and sat near our head and said,
 
“O Fatemah ! Yesterday you came to me, then ask what you desire”. Fatemah (s.a.) did not utter any word due to modesty, Ifeared that if I would not relate her desire to him, the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) would arise and  leave. Thus I lifted my head and said, “O Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) ! I would like to inform you that Fatemah draws water by means of a leather-bag such that the mark of it’s strap is visible upon her chest. She mills the flour to such an extent that her hands are full of blisters. She sweeps the floor of the house to such an extent, that her clothes are be covered with dust. And she blows the fire below the vessel (to cook food) to such an entent, that the colour of her dress has changed. I told her that she should come to your presence and request for a maid who could help her in her house-hold chores”. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) replied, “Do you desire that I should teach you that which is better than a maid ? And it is that when you retire for the day, recite thirty three times SubhanAllah, thirty three times Alhamdolillah and thirty four times Allaho Akbar”. Hearing this Fatemah (s.a.) lifted her head and said, “I submit and am pleased upon Allah (s.w.t.) and His Prophet (s.a.w.s.)”.
 
It is related in Manaqib from Abu Bakr Shirazi (a Scholar of the Ahlus Sunnah) that he says, that when Sayyedah Zahra (s.a.) related her state to the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and asked for a maid, he (s.a.w.s.) wept. Then he said, “O Fatemah ! I swear by the Lord Who has chosen me for truth ! There are present four hundred men in the Masjid without food or dress. If I had not feared lest your merit would be lessened, I would have fulfilled your desire. O Fatemah ! I do not wish that your own recompense & reward would part away from you and be passed on to your maid”.
 
It is related in the Tafseer of Sa’labi from Imam Muhammad al Baqir (a.s.), as also in Tafseer of Qushayri from Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari, that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) saw Sayyedah Fatemah (s.a.) wearing a woolen dress and milling the flour while feeding her child. Tears flowed from his eyes and he said, “O daughter ! Hasten towards the pleasantries of the Hereafter from the severities of this world”. Fatemah (s.a.) replied, “O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) ! Praise be to Allah (s.w.t.) upon His favours, and thanks to Him upon His gifts”.