As Fatimah lay on her deathbed, she willed to Imam ‘Ali that he should conceal the events of her life and not inform anyone about her illness, and Imam ‘Ali accepted her requests.
‘Ali looked after Fatimah alone and Asma b. Umays (wife of Abu Bakr) would help him in secret to look after her so that the will of Fatimah (to conceal her illness) may be fulfilled. The Prophet of Allah had informed (her) about this illness, just like he told her about the oppression that she would face.
When the illness of Fatimah increased, Allah sent Sayyidah Maryam to look after her and accompany her.
Abu Bakr and ‘Umar came to know about the illness of Fatimah and they came to the door of the house on the pretext of visiting her. They asked permission to enter, however Fatimah refused to let them in.
‘Umar met Imam ‘Ali and told him, “Indeed Abu Bakr is an old man with a soft heart, he is the one who accompanied the Prophet in the cave and is among his companions. I came here many times with him and asked permission to enter however Fatimah refused to see us. If you deem it right, take permission for us from Fatimah so that we may come and visit her.” ‘Ali replied, “Alright I shall seek permission.”
Imam ‘Ali then came to Fatimah and said, “O daughter of the Prophet of Allah! You know that these two men have requested to come to your presence many times and you refused them. They have requested me to ask you to permit them to visit you.”
Fatimah replied, “By Allah! I shall not permit them, nor even utter a word with them until I meet my father the Prophet of Allah and I will complain to him regarding how they dealt with me.”
‘Ali said, “I have assured them that I shall seek permission.”
Fatimah said, “If you have assured them, then the house is your house, and women should obey their husbands, I will not disobey you in anything – you may permit whomsoever you desire.”
Imam ‘Ali came out and permitted Abu Bakr and ‘Umar to enter therein. They came in and when their saw her, they greeted her however Fatimah did not reply their greeting. She turned her face away from them and they came and faced her, but again she turned her face away from them and this was repeated several times.
Then she told ‘Ali, “Cover me (my face) with (another layer) of clothing” and she told the women present there, “Turn away my face”, and when her face was turned away (from them), they again came facing her and requested her to be pleased with them and forgive their past mistakes. Fatimah said, “I ask you in the Name of Allah! Do you remember the day my father the Prophet of Allah had asked you to come to visit him at midnight regarding what would come forth for ‘Ali?” They replied in the affirmative. Fatimah continued, “I ask you in the Name of Allah, did you not hear the Prophet say that Fatimah is from me and I am from her, the one who hurts her hurts me, and the one who hurts me hurts Allah and that the one who hurts her after my death is the same as one who hurt her when I am alive, and the one who hurts her during my lifetime is the same as one who hurt her after my death?” They replied in the affirmative.
Then she continued: “Praise and thanks to Allah”, then she directed her focus towards Allah and said, “O Lord! I hold you witness, and O those who are present here you too bear witness that these two men have hurt me in my life and during the time of my death. I swear by Allah! I will never speak to them even to the extent of a word until I meet my Lord, and I will complain to Allah regarding the oppressions that befell me at their (Abu Bakr and ‘Umar’s) hands.”
According to another tradition, Fatimah lifted her hands towards the heavens and said, “O Lord! These two men have hurt me, I complain in Your audience and that of Your Prophet regarding them. By Allah! I will never be pleased with you (two) until I meet my father the Prophet of Allah and inform him regarding your actions, then He may judge between me and you.”
Hearing this, Abu Bakr cried, “Woe be to me! Oh the punishment of Allah! I wish my mother had not given birth to me!” ‘Umar rebuked him, “I wonder how men chose you as their guide! You are an old and feeble man that turns restless upon the rage of a woman and rejoices at the pleasure of a woman, so what happens if one displeases a woman?” Then they stood up and left. Fatimah then told Imam ‘Ali, “Now did I fulfil your desire?” Imam ‘Ali replied in the affirmative after which Fatimah said, “Now if I desire anything from you, will you do it?” Again he replied in the affirmative and so Fatimah continued, “I request you in the Name of Allah, do something that these two men may not pray upon me (after my death) and not even stand near my grave.”
House of Sorrows Translation of Baytul AhzanShaikh Abbas Al – Qummi