The Remarkable Incident of Lady Fatima (RA) and Imam Ali (RA) Donating a Necklace: According to the Qur’an and Hadith

In the history of Islam, the lives of Hazrat Ali (RA) and Hazrat Fatima (RA) are shining examples of sacrifice, God-consciousness, and compassion. Every act of theirs was solely for the pleasure of Allah. One of the most powerful incidents illustrating this is when they remained hungry for three consecutive days, yet donated their only food — and even a necklace — to those in need. This extraordinary event was so significant that Allah Himself revealed verses in the Holy Qur’an about it.

Background of the Incident

While living in Madinah, Hazrat Ali (RA), Lady Fatima (RA), and their two sons — Imam Hasan (RA) and Imam Husayn (RA) — made a vow (mannat) that if a certain need was fulfilled, they would fast for three days.

They kept that vow and began fasting.

On the first day at iftar, a poor man (miskeen) knocked at their door.

On the second day, it was an orphan (yateem).

On the third day, it was a prisoner (aseer).

Each day, they gave away all of their food — which was just a small amount of bread and water — to these people, and themselves broke their fasts only with water.

The Necklace Donation

One narration mentions that on the third day, Jabir bin Abdullah al-Ansari (RA) said, After Asr prayer, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) sat facing the Qibla, surrounded by companions. An elderly Arab came to him and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I am hungry — please feed me. I am without clothing — please clothe me. I am poor — please support me.”

The Prophet (PBUH) replied, “I have nothing to give you right now. But go to Fatima’s house, for she loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love her. She gives in charity for the sake of Allah.” The Prophet (PBUH) instructed Bilal (RA) to take the man to Lady Fatima’s house.

The Elderly Man at Lady Fatima’s Door

The old man reached her door and said, “Peace be upon you.” Fatima (RA) responded, “And peace be upon you. Who are you?” He replied, “I am a poor Arab. I am hungry and without clothes. Please have mercy on me.” At that time, Fatima (RA) and Ali (RA) had not eaten for three days. Lady Fatima (RA) first brought a bed cover made from animal skin, which was used for Hasan and Husayn (RA), and said, “Take this. May Allah grant you something better in return.”

But the old man replied, “O daughter of Muhammad! I asked for food, and you are giving me animal skin — what shall I do with this?” Hearing this, Lady Fatima (RA) then took off the necklace that was gifted to her by Hamza’s daughter, and said, “Take this necklace and sell it. Surely Allah will bless you through it.”

Selling the Necklace: The Miracle Unfolds

The old man took the necklace to Masjid al-Nabawi and told the Prophet (PBUH) that Fatima had given it to him. The Prophet’s (PBUH) eyes welled up with tears and he said, “How could Allah not fulfill your need through something that the Leader of all women, Fatima, gave you?” The Prophet (PBUH) then said, “If all jinn and mankind participated in buying this necklace, Allah would save them from the fire of Hell.” Then Ammar bin Yasir (RA) approached and asked the old man, “How much will you sell it for?” The man replied: “Enough to buy some bread and meat to fill my stomach, a garment to cover my body for prayer, and a few dinars to give to my family.”

Ammar offered, “In exchange for the necklace, I will give you 20 dinars, 200 dirhams, a Yemeni garment, and a camel to take you home.” The man joyfully accepted and brought the items to the Prophet (PBUH), who asked if his needs were now met. He replied, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah, they have been fulfilled. May my parents be sacrificed for you.”

The Man’s Du'a for Lady Fatima

The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Now make du’a for Fatima for her kindness.” The man raised his hands and prayed: “O Allah! You are my Lord. I worship none but You. O Sustainer! Grant Fatima (RA) such rewards that no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no mind has ever imagined.”

The Prophet (PBUH) said “Ameen” and turned to his companions: “Verily, Allah has already given her such rewards in this world. I am her father, and there is no one like me on this earth. Ali is her husband, and if there were no Ali, there would be no equal for her. Allah has given her Hasan and Husayn, the leaders of the youth of Paradise.”

The Qur’anic Revelation

This incident was so noble that Surah Al-Insan (Surah 76) was revealed in its honor. Allah says: “And they give food — despite their love for it — to the needy, the orphan, and the captive. Saying: We feed you only for the sake of Allah. We do not seek reward or thanks from you.” (Surah Al-Insan, 76:8-9)

Key Lessons from This Incident

1. Ultimate Sacrifice : Even after three days of hunger, they gave away all they had — including a personal gift — without hesitation.

2. Sincerity for Allah Alone : They said: “We are doing this for the sake of Allah alone.” No show, no pride, no expectation of return.

3. The Necklace as a Symbol of True Faith : Lady Fatima (RA)'s necklace was more than an ornament — it was a symbol of her pure heart and deep trust in Allah.

Hadith References

Imam Fakhruddin ar-Razi, in his tafsir, states: “These verses were revealed specifically about Ahlul Bayt — Fatima, Ali, Hasan, and Husayn.”

In another hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) wept and said:“For the family who fasted for three days and still gave away their food, Jannah is guaranteed.”

Conclusion

This story teaches us the true meaning of ikhlas (sincerity) and reliance on Allah. It highlights the unmatched character of Ahlul Bayt and sets a timeless example for believers. True charity is not when we give out of excess — but when we give while we are in need, solely for the sake of Allah.