May 29
Marriage of Hazrat Ali (RA) and Hazrat Fatima (RA)
Thursday 1 Dhul Hijjah, 1446
May 29
Thursday 1 Dhul Hijjah, 1446
Let's look at the historical and Islamic significance of Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and Hazrat Fatima’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) marriage. Before we get to the lessons this union gives us, here’s a detailed look at its history and the people who made it happen:
Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was the first cousin of our beloved Prophet. As a small child, he had been partly brought up by the Prophet himself. He was still a child when Islam was revealed, and was the first person to accept the message after Hazrat Khadija. He did so despite the Quraysh being hostile to the very idea of Tawhid. Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) himself wasn’t in the best of health at the time, but he was still brave enough to accept Islam in a public setting.
As Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) grew up, his loyalty and bravery became even more apparent. He also gained the name ‘Lion of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’ due to his strength and skill on the battlefield. The Prophet (ﷺ) said about Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ):
'Ali is from me and I am from 'Ali. And none should represent me except myself or 'Ali." [Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3719]
Hadith like these show us that the Prophet (ﷺ) and Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) shared a very strong bond with each other. Hazrat Ali’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) spirituality is evident from this Hadith, which is partly why he was accepted as the Prophet’s son-in-law.
Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) was the youngest surviving offspring of the Prophet (ﷺ) and the only child who survived him. Her mother was Hazrat Khadija (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and she was raised in the light of Islam from a very early age. The Prophet (ﷺ) would call her ‘Umm-e-Abiha’, meaning ‘mother of her father’. With parents like these, it is no surprise that she is to be the Queen of all women in Jannah.
There were several proposals for Hazrat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا), but the Prophet (ﷺ) did not accept them. Finally, he only accepted the proposal of Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). Before this, Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umar had both asked for Fatima’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) hand in marriage, but the Prophet told them that his daughter was too young.
According to Hazrat Aisha, the Prophet (ﷺ) would always treat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) in a very special way. When she would come to visit her father, he would get up from his place, take her hand, kiss her on the head, and sit her down where he was previously seated. Hazrat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) would do the same whenever her father visited. (Sunan Abi Dawud 5217)
When we look into the everyday life of Hazrat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) and Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) as a married couple, we don't see massive displays of wealth or power. Instead, we find examples of extreme simplicity, sacrifice, and patience.
Hazrat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) is said to be the queen of women in Jannah, while Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was granted the title of ‘Lion of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’. Even so, the life they shared was simple and sometimes hard. At times, both the husband and wife would go for days without eating anything. They would be struggling to make ends meet. What’s more, their home was far from being glamorous or even very comfortable. Instead of expensive furniture, they had a simple bed, a place to hang clothes, and little else.
During the day, Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) would usually be working in order to earn something and try to feed his family. His wife, Hazrat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا), would be grinding grain, doing the house chores, baking bread if there was any flour, and raising their children in the best manner.
At one point, Hazrat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) went to her father, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), to ask for a servant who could help her in housework. On the face of it, this was not an unreasonable request. Hazrat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) had five children and both parents worked very hard to provide for them.
At the time, Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) reported that he would draw one bucket of water in exchange for one date (Ibn Majah 2446). Hazrat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) would also have to do every chore herself, including grinding the flour, cooking, sweeping—the work was so hard that she developed blisters on her fingers.
Coming back to the matter of the maidservant–Hazrat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) realized that she needed help with her work. According to Bukhari 3113, she heard that some slaves had been part of the war & brought to the Prophet. Through Hazrat Aisha, she requested that one of the slaves be given to her. However, the Prophet later paid a visit to his daughter's home after Hazrat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) and Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) had gone to bed. When they started to stand up out of respect, he told them to sit down. Then, he gave them this advice instead of a servant: “Shall I tell you a thing which is better than what you asked me for? When you go to your beds, say: 'Allahu Akbar (i.e. Allah is Greater)' for 34 times, and 'Al hamdu Li llah (i.e. all the praises are for Allah)' for 33 times, and Subhan Allah (i.e. Glorified be Allah) for 33 times. This is better for you than what you have requested.” (Bukhari 3113)
With this advice, Hazrat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) was satisfied. To this day, some Muslims call this type of dhikr the Tasbeeh-e-Fatima. We usually recite it after each voluntary prayer, as well as at the end of the day, to remove tiredness from the body.
When Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was still young, he was living in the same house as the Prophet (ﷺ) and his family. However, by Hijrah, Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) had gained puberty and had moved to a house where some other single men were living in Quba.
After the Prophet (ﷺ) refused the proposals of Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umar for Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا), Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) wanted to send in his proposal as well. However, he was shy about doing so because of his poverty and inability to afford the haq meher (bridal gift). Some relatives offered encouragement, including Hazrat Abu Bakr and Saad bin Muaadh (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). After all, Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was from a noble family, even if he wasn’t wealthy.
When Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) finally approached the Prophet (ﷺ), he was very nervous. However, the Prophet (ﷺ) himself asked Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) whether his mission was to ask for Fatima’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) hand in marriage. Since Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) didn’t have enough money for the Mahr, the Prophet (ﷺ) suggested that he get some by selling his shield.
Before anything else, though, the Prophet (ﷺ) sought the permission of Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) for this marriage. At this time, Hazrat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) was too shy to give verbal consent immediately. However, the Prophet (ﷺ) made sure that she was willing to marry Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). Later on, she would jokingly mention to her father that he had married her to a man with a large stomach. The Prophet (ﷺ) would then remind her of Hazrat Ali’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) excellent character and piety.
'Abdullah bin Buraidah narrated from his father and reported that the wedding between Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and Hazrat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) was held in the 2nd Hijrah and was quite a simple celebration. Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)’s shield was sold for the Haq Mehr, while the food provided included meat, dates, and bread. While the atmosphere was joyous and celebratory, the occasion was still humble and not extravagant in any way. Indeed, the Prophet (ﷺ) himself has stated that:
“The best marriage is that which is easiest” [Sunan Abu Dawud 2117]
When it was time for the wedding, the Prophet (ﷺ) sent Hazrat Anas (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) to bring some of the Companions, including Hazrat Usman (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and Hazrat Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), to act as witnesses. He then made Wudhu, made dua for his daughter and her husband-to-be, and left to perform the Nikkah.
After they were married, Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and Hazrat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) would live quite a long way from the Prophet's home. Hazrat Haritha bin An Noman (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) owned lands near the Prophet's Mosque–he soon saw that the Prophet (ﷺ) was sad without his daughter. The Companion then gave some land for Hazrat Fatima’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) house as a gift. As a result, the windows of Hazrat Aisha’s home would face those of Hazrat Fatima’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا).
This blessed union contains many lessons for the Muslim Ummah. Let’s have a glance at some of them now:
While Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) wasn’t rich, his marriage to Hazrat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was decided on the basis of his piety, excellent character, bravery, and unwavering faith. He was the first person to accept Islam and show his support for the Prophet (ﷺ). Hazrat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) was the virtuous, modest, and beloved daughter of the Prophet (ﷺ). The basis of Hazarat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)and Hazrat Fatima’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) marriage was their spirituality and sincerity to the cause of Islam.
This marital connection was very significant for the Muslim community, especially in its early days. Both the bride and groom are among the most respected people in the history of Islam. With their marriage and the life they led together, Muslims gained a prime example of a God-fearing, simple, and righteous household. The union also resulted in the noble Ahle Bayt lineage, including Hassan and Hussain.
The marriage between Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and Hazrat Fatima (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) was conducted in Madina Munawwarah. The Prophet (ﷺ) had settled the earliest Muslims in this city after doing hijrah from Makkah due to the difficult situation there. The wedding was a simple one, setting an example of sincerity and humbleness for early Muslim society. However, the occasion was still marked by celebration and joy. The Prophet (ﷺ) officiated the marriage, arranged a dowry, and gave a sermon on the importance of humility for Muslims.
This blessed couple and their marital union give us several lessons for a lasting and happy marriage, even in this day and age. From their lifestyle and stories, Muslims learn that they can achieve a successful union by cultivating strong faith, good character, and mutual respect. We also learn that material wealth and ostentatious displays do not guarantee happiness – married couples can live in contentment and harmony even if they are poor and struggling financially.