Download - University of Salford Institutional Repository

One of them, at the instigation of the ring leader, throw the
entrials od a slaughtered animal over the Prophet as he was
prostrating himself. FAimah showed her filial loyalty and her
V
courage by removing the entrails and then angrily upbraiding the
men. Her strength of character is borne out by their ensuing
silence. The Prophet was able to complete his prostration and
prayer,
Fatimah was also eye-witness not only to insults but to an
0
attempt on his lifeo As he made Tawif around the Ka'abah, some
Qur+hi men tried to strangle him with his own clotheso When
Fatimah screamed for help, AbT Bakr rushed to the scene and managed
0
to free the Prophet, bringing the violence of the mob upon his own
head. ia-t, imah'was sensitive to the effect that such behaviour was
having on her father.
Perhaps the most difficult experience of her childhood was being
forced (with her family) to leave home and seek refuge in a place
called Shulab AbT TWlib. The Quraysh allowed no food or any
0
contact with Muhammad and all the Muslims severely limited their
food supplies.
Fatimah,
as one of the youngest,
had to suffer
with the rest. This boycott lasted for about three years. Such
events undoubtedly had a very profound and lasting effect on a child
of such tender age and served to shape her character and personalityq
for she had to develop resilience and patience.
When the siege or boycott was finally over, the family
returned to Mecca where the death of her mother, Khadija had a
devastating 'effect on her, not only because of her own need of
her mother's presence and love, but also because she could see
11 Ibid
149