Note [édition originale] : These fulfil their vow, &
c.] It is related that
Hasan and
Hosein, Mohammed’s grandchildren, on a
certain time being both sick, the prophet, among others, visited them, and
they wished
Ali to make some vow to
God for the recovery of his sons:
whereupon
Ali, and
Fâtema, and
Fidda, their maid-servant, vowed a fast of
three days in case they did well; as it happened they did. This vow was
performed with so great strictness, that the first day, having no provisions
in the house,
Ali was obliged to borrow three measures of barley of one
Simeon, a
Jew, of
Khaibar, one measure of which
Fatema ground the same day,
and baked five cakes of the meal, and they were set before them to break their
fast with after sunset: but a poor man coming to them, they gave all their
bread to him, and passed the night without tasting anything except water. The
next day
Fâtema made another measure into bread, for the same purpose; but an
orphan begging some food, they chose to let him have it, and passed that night
as the first; and the third day they likewise gave their whole provision to a
famished captive. Upon this occasion
Gabriel descended with the chapter,
before us, and told
Mohammed that
God congratulated him on the virtues of his
family
1.