1st
ZilHajj - Anniversary of the marriage of Imam Ali(a.s.) and Hazrat
Fatima Zahra(s.a.)
Here I
present an extract from that account:
<< All proposals rejected >>
When Hazrat Fatima(s.a.) attained the age of maturity and was ready to
get married, the Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) started receiving proposals
from various people for her daughter. Hazrat Salman Farsi(r.a.) and
Hazrat Umm-e-Salma(r.a.) narrate that "When Hazrat Fatima(s.a.) attained
the marriageable age, the important people among the tribe of Quraish
started sending proposals to the Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) but the
Prophet (pbuh&hf) did not accept any proposal saying that he was waiting
for the order of Allah(swt) to decide this issue." Among the aspirants
for the marriage was Umar ibn-e-Khattab as well but he recieved the same
reply.
<< Imam Ali(a.s.) makes the proposal >>
Hazrat Umm-e-Salma(r.a.) narrates that : One day Imam Ali(a.s.)
approached the Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) at his house. Imam Ali(a.s.)
entered and greeted the Prophet(pbuh&hf) and the Prophet(pbuh&hf)
replied in the same kind manner. Imam Ali(a.s.) sat down and he was so
much shy that he continued staring at the ground and could not utter a
word. The Prophet(pbuh&hf) smiled and mentioned to Imam Ali(a.s.) that
he knew what Imam Ali(a.s.) had to say but he wanted to hear it from
him. He told Imam Ali(a.s.) that he does not need to be shy and to say
whatever he wanted to say.
With this encouragement and soft tone from the Prophet(pbuh&hf), Imam
Ali(a.s.) said "My parents be ransom for you, you know that since my
childhood, I have dedicated myself for your service. You have educated
me from be beginning and brought me to this status. It was because of
your influence and training that Allah(swt) saved me from all sins and
guided me to the Sirat-e-Mustaqeem. It is because of your encouragement
that I feel this courage in myself to express my heartfelt wish that you
give me the honor of becoming your son-in-law. I have concealed his wish
in my heart for a long time thinking that this might not be according to
your wishes as well. Is there a possiblity that this could happen?".
<< Proposal accepted >>
Hazrat Umm-e-Salma(r.a.) mentions that "I was watching this affair from
a distance and I saw that as soon as Imam Ali(a.s.) completed his
request, the face of Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) lit up and he asked Imam
Ali(a.s.) - what have you got to realize this act". Imam Ali(a.s.) said
"O Prophet of Allah(swt), you know my condition very well, I have only a
sword, my war dress and one camel". Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) said:
"Ali, you definitely need your sword for fighting Jihad and camel for
traveling, however, you war dress could work. O Abul Hassan(a.s.), I
want to give you the good news that Allah(swt) has made the decision and
already recited your Nikah with my daughter Fatima(s.a.) in the Arsh.
Just before your arrival, Allah(swt) sent an angel to give me this good
news."
This event has been narrated in "Maarij an-Nabuwwah" of Moeen Kashfi, "Sifwatul
Safada" of ibn-e-Jozi, "Madarij an-Nabywwah" on 2:75 of Shah Abdul Haq
Dehalvi.
<< Nikah recited on the Arsh >>
"Maarij an-Nabuwwah" also states that Hazrat Jabreel(a.s.) narrated the
story of the Nikah recited on the Arsh. He said "O Prophet of Allah(swt),
Allah(swt) has chosen you and made you the most respected and high among
his creatures and has selected Ali(a.s.) as your brother and has decided
that the Nikah of your daughter and the servant of Allah(swt),
Fatima(s.a.) would be with Ali(a.s.). Allah(swt) arranged for their
Nikah in such a manner that he addressed the dwellers of Jannah to dress
themselves with ornaments of Jannah and then ordered all the angels to
assemble together on the 4th Sky. He then filled the 4th sky with Noor
and then appointed Hazrat Adam(a.s.) to recite Khutba to begin the Nikah
ceremony. After khutba of Hazrat Adam(a.s.), Allah(swt) ordered an angel
named Raheel to recite Hamd. Raheel is the most beautiful of angels and
possesses the most beautiful voice. After recitation of Hamd, Allah(swt)
informed me (Jabreel(a.s.)) the He has performed the Nikah of His
servant Hazrat Fatima(s.a.)
with His chosen person Imam Ali(a.s.) and that I should spread this news
among the angels. I acted accordingly and made all the angels testify
the event. Allah(swt) then ordered me to write all this event of this
silk cloth of Jannah and present it to you."
After mentioning this event, Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) said "O Abul
Hasan(a.s.), the order of Allah(swt) has been served and I invite you to
come to the mosque so that this Aqd should be formalized on the earth as
well among witnesses."
Such was the importance of this marriage that Allah(swt) arranged the
ceremony on Arsh and then Himself decided and recited the Nikah of Imam
al-Muttaqeen, Ami-ul-momineen Ali ibn-e-Abi Talib(a.s.) with the leader
of the women of this world and in paradise Hazrat Fatima(s.a.).
The above event has been mentioned in various other books as follows:
- Muaraj an-Nabuwwah
- Al asaba fee tameez as-Sahaba
- Sawaeq-e-muharriqa bu Ibn-e-Hajr Makki
- Al Bayan wal Bateen by Allam Jaahiz
- Nuzhat-ul-Majalis by Allama Abdur Rehman Safori
- Riyaz un-Nazrah fee Manaqib-ul-Ashra by Allama Muhib Tabri
<< Nikah recited on Earth >>
Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) led Imam Ali(a.s.) into the mosque and asked
him to sell off his war dress and present that money to the Prophet(pbuh&hf).
The dress was sold in 400 dirhams, according to some traditions, and
were presented to the Prophet Mohammmd(pbuh&hf) who gave them to Hazrat
Salman Farsi(a.r.) and Hazrat Bilal(a.r.) and asked them to buy some
articles of use from the market. They went to the market and bought the
following items as jahez of Hazrat Fatima(s.a.)
- Two mattresses made of Egyptian canvas. (One stuffed with fiber and
the other with sheep wool).
- A leather mat.
- A pillow made of skin, filled with palm tree fiber.
- A Khaibarion cloak.
- An animal skin for water.
- Some jugs and jars also for water.
- A pitcher painted with tar.
- A thin curtain made of wool.
- A shirt costing seven (7) dirhams.
- A veil costing four (4) dirhams.
- Black plush cloak.
- A bed embellished with ,ribbon.
- Four cushions made of skin imported from Ta 'ef stuffed with a good
smelling plant.
- A mat from Hajar.
- A hand-mill.
- A special copper container used for dyestuff
- A pestle for grinding coffee.
- A (water) skin.
When the items of Jahez were received, Prophet Mohammad went to Hazrat
Fatima(s.a.) and said "Your Nikah has been recited on the Arsh by
Allah(swt) with my cousin Ali(a.s.) and He has ordered me to recite
your Nikah on the earth as well. I have gather my companions to do so
and now seek your agreement and permission to recite this Nikah."
Hearing this, Hazrat Fatima Zahra(s.a.) bowed her head with shyness
which indicated her agreement. The Prophet(pbuh&hf) came out of her
hujra and orderd Hazrat Bilal(a.r.) to gather all Ansaar and Muhajireen.
One the companions were gathered, Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) recited Hamd
of Allah(swt) and narrateded to his companions that Jibreel(a.s.) had
informed him that Allah(swt) has performed the Nikah of Hazrat Ali(a.s.)
with his daughter on the Arsh and has ordered him to recite the same on
the earth as well. He asked Imam Ali(a.s.) to formally request for the
marriage in front of the witnesses and Imam Ali(a.s.), after reciting
greatness of Allah(swt) and presenting his profound gratitude to him and reciting darood for Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf),
formally requested for the marriage. Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) accepted
the request and made all the companions witnesses. Upon hearing this all
the companions greeted Imam Ali(a.s.) and the Prophet(pbuh&hf).
Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) recited the Nikah himself and asked Imam
Ali(a.s.) if he accepted the Nikah for a Mehr of 400 Misqaal of Silver.
Imam Ali(a.s.) accepted and then the Nikah was formally concluded. Both
offered Sajda-e-Shukr to Allah(swt) and all the companions present their
congratulations and greeted both Imam Ali(a.s.) and the Prophet
Mohammad(pbuh&hf).
<< Marriage and move of Hazrat Fatima(s.a.) to the house of Imam Ali(a.s.)
>>
A non-planned period of time elapsed between the engagement and the
wedding ceremony, because Imam Ali (a.s.) was too shy to ask the Prophet
to assign a day for the wedding, while he (S.A.W.) wanted to protect
Fatima's pride by refraining from asking Ali to do so.
A month or more passed by before Imam Ali(a.s.) said anything regarding
the wedding. Aqeel (Imam Ali(a.s.)'s brother) asked him about the reason
for the delay in holding the wedding ceremony and encouraged him to
prepare for the wedding and to ask the Prophet(pbuh&hf) to assign a date
for it. Despite Imam Ali(a.s.)'s shyness, he accompanied Aqeel to the
Prophet's house to fulfill his wishes. On their way to the Prophet's
house, they met Um Ayman(r.a.) who, when told the reason for their
visit, asked them to leave the matter to her. She, in turn, informed Um
Salama(r.a.) who brought the matter to the attention of the Prophet(pbuh&hf)
who called for Imam Ali(a.s.) and asked his opinion. Imam Ali(a.s.)
expressed his desire to bring Hazrat Fatima(s.a.) to his home which was
donated by one of his followers. The Prophet(pbuh&hf) asked Imam Ali(a.s.)
to hold a dinner (walima) because Allah(swt) is pleased with those who
do so; for the social good it does-such as bringing people together and
implementing love and harmony among them.
Imam Ali(a.s.) arranged for the dinner and invited the people to the
feast. Men and women from all around Medina gathered in the house. They
ate, drank and even took food to their homes. The blessings of the
Prophet(pbuh&hf) were obvious on that day, for not only the food was
enough to feed everyone, but also it did not decrease at all. The
Prophet(pbuh&hf) asked for food containers to be brought and filled them
and sent them to his wives and left a special container for Hazrat
Fatima(s.a.) and her husband.
By sunset, the wedding night had begun; it was time for Hazrat
Fatima(s.a.) to depart to her new home. Everything went well, for the
Prophet(pbuh&hf) had made all the necessary preparation for the wedding.
Despite the simplicity and modesty of her wedding, Hazrat Fatima(s.a.)'s
marriage ceremony was surrounded by signs of greatness, excellence, and
beauty.
The Messenger of Allah(pbuh&hf) ordered his wives to embellish Hazrat
Fatima(s.a.) before the wedding; they perfumed and dressed her with
jewelry. They all helped her to get ready; some combed her hair while
others embellished and dressed her in the dress brought by Gabriel from
Paradise. Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdadi in Tareekh Baghdad V.5, P.7, Al-Hamvini
in Durar Al-Simtain, Al-Dhahabi in Mizan Al-Etedal, Garani in Akhbar Al-Dowal,
and Qandouzi in Yanabi' Al-Mawaddah have narrated that Ibn Abbas said:
'When Fatima was taken to Ali's house on her wedding night, the Prophet
proceeded her, Gabriel was on her right, and Michael on her left, and
seventy thousand angels followed her. These angels praised and glorified
Allah until dawn!
The Hashemit men, Abdul Muttalib's daughters, and Muhajarin and Ansar's
women all accompanied Fatima's caravan that night. The Prophet's wives
joyfully led the caravan; they were also the first to enter the house.
Upon arriving, the Prophet(pbuh&hf) placed Hazrat Fatima(s.a.)'s hand in
Imam Ali(a.s.)'s hand and said:
"May Allah bless his Messenger's daughter;
Ali, this is Fatima, you are responsible for her (or I entrust her to
you)
Ali, what an excellent wife Fatima is!
Fatima, what an excellent husband Ali is!
O Allah, bless them, bless their lives, and 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 curse
devil." |