1607 — Abū Ja‘far Ahmad ibn Yahyā al-Hulwānī narrated to us, saying: ‘Abd Allāh ibn Dāhir al-Rāzī narrated to us, saying: ‘Amr ibn Jamī‘ al-‘Abdī narrated to me, from ‘Amr ibn ‘Ubayd, from al-Hasan, from ‘Imrān ibn Husayn—who enjoyed standing and prestige with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him—who said:

I came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and greeted him. He said, “‘Imrān ibn Husayn, you enjoy standing and esteem with us. Would you care to visit Fātima?”

I replied, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah—may my father and mother be your ransom! What honor could be greater than this?”

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, arose, and I arose with him. When he reached Fātima’s door—may Allah be pleased with her—he said, “Peace be upon you, my dear daughter. May I come in?”

She replied, “Come in, O Messenger of Allah—may my father and mother be your ransom!”

He asked, “May I and the person with me enter?”

She asked, “Who is with you, O Messenger of Allah?”

He replied, “‘Imrān ibn Husayn al-Khuzā‘ī is with me.”

She said, “By Him who sent you with the truth, dear father, I have nothing on but this cloak of mine.”

He said, “My dear daughter, wrap it around yourself like this—or like this,” gesturing with his hand.

She said, “O Messenger of Allah—may my father and mother be your ransom! I have now covered my body, but what am I to do about my head?”

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, tossed her a worn wrap of his and said, “Here, my dear daughter, bind this around your head.”

She then admitted him. He entered, and I entered with him. He asked, “How are you this morning, my dear daughter?”

She replied, “By Allah, I awoke in pain, O Messenger of Allah—may my father and mother be your ransom! What has added to the pain I already suffer is that I have no food to eat. Hunger has ravaged me.”

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, wept, and I then wept with them. He said, “Rejoice, my dear daughter, ⦗2118⦘ take comfort, and do not despair. By Him who truly sent me as a prophet, I have not tasted food for three days. I am surely more honored by Allah—Majestic and Exalted is He—than you are. Had I wished my Lord to continue feeding me and giving me drink, He would have done so, but I chose the Hereafter over this world. My dear daughter, do not despair. By Him who truly sent me as a prophet, you are indeed the foremost woman among all the world’s women.”

She placed her hand upon her head and said, “If only I had died! Where, then, are Āsiya, Pharaoh’s wife; Mary, daughter of Imran; and Khadīja, daughter of Khuwaylid?”

He replied, “Āsiya is the foremost woman of her time; Mary is the foremost woman of her time; Khadīja is the foremost woman of her time; and you are the foremost woman of your time. You will dwell in houses of hollow pearl, in which there is neither harm nor weariness.”

She asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what are houses of hollow pearl?”

He replied, “They are made of hollow, tubular pearls, in which there is neither harm nor clamor.”

He then placed his hand upon her shoulder and said, “My dear daughter, be content with your cousin. By Him who truly sent me as a prophet, I have married you to a leader in this world and a leader in the Hereafter.”