Shaykh as-Saduq relates from Amirul Mo’minin Imam ‘Ali that once he said to a man from the clan of Bani Sa’ad, “Should I relate to you regarding Fatimah when she was in my house?” Then he continued, “Inspite of being the most beloved person to the Prophet of Allah, she drew water herself by means of a leather-bag, such that the mark of it’s strap was visible upon her chest; she swept the floor of the house to such an extent that her clothes were covered with dust; and she blew the fire below the vessel (to cook food) to such an extent that the colour of her dress changed.” After seeing such toil and hardship, I told her, “You should go to the Prophet and ask for a maid who can help you in your household chores.”
Fatimah went to the Prophet but saw some youth with him and returned back without uttering a word. The Prophet of Allah realized that Fatimah had come to him with a request, but had returned back without asking him. Thus the next morning, the Prophet of Allah himself came to our house while we were sleeping. The Prophet, as was his custom, saluted us three times and we thought that if we did not answer him on the third time, then he would return back home as his custom was that whenever he came over, he would greet us three times requesting to enter and if he did not receive a reply, he would return back. Thus I replied, “And peace be upon you, O Prophet of Allah! Do command.” He entered therein and sat near our head and said, “O Fatimah! Yesterday you came to me – ask what you desire.” Fatimah did not utter a word due to her modesty and I feared that if I would not convey her desire to him, the Prophet would get up and leave.
Thus I lifted my head and said, “O Prophet of Allah! I would like to inform you that Fatimah draws water by means of a leather-bag such that the mark of its strap is visible upon her chest; she mills the flour to such an extent that her hands are full of blisters; she sweeps the floor of the house to such an extent, that her clothes are covered with dust; and she blows the fire below the vessel (to cook food) to such an extent that the colour of her dress has changed. I told her that she should come to you and request a maid who can help her in our household chores.”
The Prophet replied, “Do you want me to teach you that which is better than a maid? When you retire for the day, recite Allahu Akbar thirty-four times, Alhamdulillah thirty-three times, and Subhanallah thirty-three times.” Upon hearing this Fatimah lifted her head and said, “I submit and am pleased with Allah and His Prophet.”
It is related in al-Manaqib from Abu Bakr al-Shirazi (a scholar of the Ahlus Sunnah) that, “When Sayyidah Zahra related her state to the Prophet and asked for a maid, he wept. Then he said, ‘O Fatimah! I swear by the Lord Who has chosen me for truth! At present, there are four hundred men in the masjid without (adequate) food or clothing. If I had not feared that your merit would be lessened, I would have fulfilled your desire. O Fatimah! I do not wish that your own recompense and reward will part away from you and be passed on to your maid.’”
House of Sorrows Translation of Baytul AhzanShaikh Abbas Al – Qummi