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Fatimah was deeply annoyed
with 'A'ishah, since the women of Medina reported
to her the offending words of A'ishah.
Ibn Abi al-Hadid
Next to the remarks of Imam
'Ali about 'A'ishah's long-standing rancor towards
him, we now hear the words of Ibn Abi al-Hadid
about this matter. He says: When. I was studying
theology, I read out this sermon of the Imam in
the presence of my master, ash-Shaykh Abi Ya'qub
Yusuf, son of Isma'il al-Lama'ani (may God save
him), and asked him to explain the philosophy
behind Imam's utterance. He complied with my request
and gave an elaborate explanation, whose summary
I quote here. I cannot remember all his words,
so I must confine myself to this brief account.
A part of it comprises his own words, while the
rest is mine based on his own ideas. Shaykh Abu
Ya'qub says:
A
step-mother for Fatimah
The hostility between 'A'ishah and Fatimah began
when the Prophet married A'ishah upon Khadijah's
death, and she took her place. It was natural
for Fatimah to be dissatisfied at having a stepmother,
and also natural for a woman to be vexed at her
husband's affection for this daughter of his former
wife and for the second wife too.
Similarly a daughter dislikes her father's attention
to another woman who is a rival of her mother,
even though she is no longer alive. Even if Khadijah
were still alive and 'A'ishah entered the Prophet's
house, their quarrel would be more noisy and violent.
Now that she was dead, this hostility would be
transferred to and inherited by her daughter.
Moreover, it is said that the Prophet loved 'A'ishah
very much(81) and showed her favour. So the more
the Prophet showed affection to the new wife,
the more uneasy became Fatimah and was more deeply
hurt.
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