Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when we were about to leave Makkah, the daughter of Sayyiduna Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him) started following us, calling out,“Uncle! Uncle!”I took her by the hand and entrusted her to Sayyidah Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her), and said to her,“Take care of your cousin.”When we reached Madinah, there was a dispute between me, Sayyiduna Ja’far, and Sayyiduna Zayd bin Harithah (may Allah be pleased with them) regarding the guardianship of the girl. Sayyiduna Ja’far (may Allah be pleased with him) argued that she was his uncle’s daughter, and her maternal aunt, Sayyidah Asma bint Umais (may Allah be pleased with her), was married to him, so her guardianship was his right. Sayyiduna Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) said that she was his niece. I claimed that I had brought her and she was my uncle’s daughter. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) decided the matter, saying:“Ja’far! You resemble me in appearance and character. Ali! You are from me and I am from you. And Zayd! You are our brother and our freed slave. The girl will stay with her maternal aunt, for the maternal aunt is like the mother in status.”I said,“O Messenger of Allah! Why don’t you marry her?”He replied,“Because she is my foster niece.”