Allah had gifted Sayyida Fatima the intellectual
maturity and integrity of conduct. Her religious feelings and literary
knowledge were boundless. History has not witnessed any other woman who has
achieved the high level of education, knowledge and social graces that she achieved
regardless of the fact that she did not attend any school other than the school
of Revelation under the sacred guidance of the Messenger of Islam (s.a.w.a.s.)
One year after the Migration
to Madina,the proposals of marriage for Sayyida Fatima (s.a.) began to be
received by the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) who politely refused saying that
it was the will of Allah and he was awaiting Allah’s decree in this regard.
Sayyida Fatima (s.a.) was the
model of Prophet’s teachings for women just as the Lion of Allah; Imam Ali
(a.s.) was the best embodiment of his teachings and the supreme and matchless masculine
and noble qualities that he possessed. They were the most suitable couple to be
united in the matrimonial bonds, but he was too modest to speak about it. After
some persuasions from his friends, he finally went to see the Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)
in the mosque and proposed for the marriage. The Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) discussed
it with Sayyida Fatima (s.a.) saying: “Fatima,
you know Ali ibne Abi Talib’s relationship with us; his devotion and
faithfulness to Islam. I asked Allah to give you in marriage to the best of His
creatures, and the most beloved to
Him; and Ali has declared his wish to marry you; what do you say?” Sayyida Fatima
(s.a.) did not reply, nor did she show any signs of rejection or resentment, so
the Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) stood up and said “Allah is the greatest! Her silence is her approval”. He inquired
from Imam Ali (a.s.) about his state of preparedness to fulfill the
requirements needed for the wedding. This marriage would be remembered and will
be of great influence for generations to come. Imam Ali (a.s.) replied that he
owned a sword, a shield and a camel. As advised by the Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.),
he sold his shield of armor for 500 Dirham and brought the money to the Messenger
(s.a.w.a.s.) who added similar amount and asked his companions to buy household
goods to setup home for this Unique Family.
Ahmad Ibne Yousuf Ad-Demishqi and other narrators of
traditions report that Sayyida Fatima said to her father “I ask you to kindly give
the dowry back and supplicate to Allah, to make my dowry the right to intercede
for the sinners of Muslim Ummah” It is apparent from the above tradition the
greatness, honor and excellence of the Lady of Paradise, Sayyida Fatima Zahra
(s.a.)
Marriage was solemnized by the Messenger
(s.a.w.a.s.) himself and after the marriage the couple went to live in a
separate house next to the house of the Messenger, near the Masjid-e-Nabavi.
The Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) arranged the wedding gifts of basic simple items of
daily use.
Ibne Tauoos narrates that The Messenger
(s.a.w.a.s.) had purchased a new dress for Sayyida Fatima for her wedding. On
her wedding night, a needy person knocked at the door and requested for any old
clothes. Sayyida Fatima was about to give her old dress having patches on it,
when she remembered the Qur’anic verse “By no
means ye shall attain righteousness unless ye give (freely) of that which ye love”. She gave
the poor man her wedding dress. Consequently, the Jibra’il descended to the
Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and said “O Muhammad, Allah sends His blessings upon
you; He commanded me to greet Fatima and (give her the gift He sent her) which
is a dress from Paradise, made of silk, brocade.”
The
Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) asked Imam Ali (a.s.) to hold a dinner as Allah is
pleased with those who do so; for the social good it does: such as bringing
people together and implementing love and harmony among Muslims.
When
Imam Ali (a.s.) reached the mosque, he found it filled with hundreds of Muslims.
Imam Ali’s generosity and noble heartedness did not allow him to invite
selected people. Hence he invited every one present in the mosque. Due to the presence
of the Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), there was barakah in food, hence not only every
one ate but he (s.a.w.a.s.) sent some of the food to the companion’s homes. The
he (s.a.w.a.s.) ordered his wives to prepare Sayyida Fatima, perfume her and assist
her wear the special dress from Paradise.
Ibne Abbas narrates that when Sayyida Fatima
was taken to Imam Ali’s house on the wedding night, the Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) preceded
her, Jibra’il was on her right side, and Meka’il was on left side and seventy
thousand angels followed her. These angels praised and glorified Allah till
dawn.
Upon arriving, the Messenger
(s.a.w.a.s.) placed Sayyida Fatima’s hand in Imam Ali’s hand and said “May
Allah bless His Messenger’s daughter; Ali! This is Fatima, you are responsible
for her. Ali, what an excellent wife Fatima is! Fatima, what an excellent
husband Ali is! O Allah bless them, bless their lives, bless their children. O
Allah, surely they are the most beloved to me from among your creatures, so
love them too, and assign for them a guardian. I place them and their progeny
under your protection from the cursed devil”
This sacred marriage also
took place at the fourth heaven when angels gathered and Allah ordered one of
the angels named Rahil to ascend the
Mimber of Light and praise and glorify His Names. After enumerating His Mercy
and Benevolence on angels, he continued as “Allah, the Omnipotent king, chose the one who
was bestowed with special Divine Honor, and the worshipper of His Greatness,
for His worshipper, the Mistress of women, and the daughter of the best of
Prophets, the Master of all Messengers, and the Imam of the pious; so He
brought into relations the Prophet with a man from his kin. One who is his
believing companion, and was prompt in answering his call- Ali the devout, with
Fatima, the splendid and the daughter of the Messenger.”
Then, Jibra’il added the
following words on behalf of Allah: “Praise is My garment, Greatness is My
Magnificence, All the creatures are My slaves, men and women. I give Fatima, My
Worshipper in marriage to Ali My chosen worshipper. So bear witness O My
angels.” (Bihar ul Anwaar)
It is to be noted that the Messenger
(s.a.w.a.s.) performed the marriage ceremony in the mosque and announced the
dowry. For the Dowry, he said “Avoid exaggerations in (the amounts of) dowries, because this causes enmity
(between you)”
The he (s.a.w.a.s) also
assigned the desirable practice of limiting the dowry to 500 Dirhams. He and
the Infallible Imams never exceeded this amount of dowry in marriages.
Sources used:
Fatima the Gracious by Abu
Muhammad Ordoni
A Restatement of the History
of Islam by Sayyid Ali Asghar Razwy
Fatima, the Daughter of
Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.) by Yasin T. Jibouri
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