Tradition

كانَ عَلِىٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَحْتَطِبُ وَ يَسْتَقِى وَيَكْنِسُ وَ كانَتْ فاطِمَةُ تَطْحَنُ وَ تَعْجِنُ وَ تَخْبِزُ!

Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is narrated to have said: “Ali (‘a) would bring firewood from the desert, he would bring water, and he would clean, while Fatimah (‘a) would make flour, turn it into dough, and bake bread.”1

Brief Commentary

This tradition is a small window into the lives of Imam ‘Ali (‘a) and the Lady Fatimah (‘a) and how they would conduct their day to day affairs. They lived their lives with the utmost simplicity and without any excess or waste. Their lives were filled with happiness, affection, cooperation, and vitality. Work was not seen as something to be shied away from, while cooperation and understanding were seen as a foundation of life. Unfortunately, these are things which have been lost in modern day life and along with them, we have also lost much of our day to day peace and tranquility.

• 1. Safinat al-Bihar, vol. 2, p. 195, Al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 86, Man La Yahdhruhu Al-Faqih, vol. 3, p. 169, Wasa'il Al-Shi’a, vol. 17, p. 40.