Marriage of Imam Ali (A.S) with Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A)
Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A), the daughter of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) while come to a marriageable age, and the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) had to consider the question of her marriage. Abu Bakar (L.A) waited on the Holy Prophet (S.A.W), and asked for the hand of Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A). The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) made no answer. Thereafter Umar (L.A) asked for the hand of Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A) and again the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) maintained silence. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) did not respond to the requests of Abu Bakar (L.A) or Umar (L.A) due to the fact that He (S.A.W) had to wait for the guidance of Allah (S.W.T).
After the Battle of Badr, Imam Ali (A.S) made his suit. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) told Imam Ali (A.S) that he would give his reply after consulting Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A). The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) consulted Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A), and she maintained silence signifying her assent. In the meantime the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) received the revelation that Allah (S.W.T) approved of the marriage of Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A) with Imam Ali (A.S).
The Marriage Khutba
On the day fixed for the marriage,First Zilhaj, the Muslims assembled in the mosque, and the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) delivered the Khutba solemnizing the marriage. Referring to the importance of marriages in human society the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said that undoubtedly the Almighty Lord made matrimonial alliances as the means of a fresh relationship which is a fundamental necessity and a just affair which is made incumbent on all and sundry, and through which creation is linked. After these introductory remarks the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) declared: "Now in obedience to the Will of Allah (S.W.T) I perform the marriage ceremony of Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A) with Imam Ali (A.S), and ask you to bear witness that I have given Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A) in marriage to Imam Ali (A.S) against a dower of 400 pieces of silver coin. May Allah (S.W.T) create love between the pair, bless them, purify their offspring, make their progeny a mine of wisdom, and a source of Allah (S.W.T)'s blessing and solace to the believers in faith. "
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) ended the Khutba by asking for the forgiveness of Allah (S.W.T) for himself and for the Muslims.
The Ideal Marriage
According to all accounts that have come down to us, the marriage of Imam Ali (A.S) and Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A) was an ideal marriage. It was a union of two great souls. Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A) is superior to whole mankind in the world; she is the lady whose face shines as the full moon; she is the bride whose groom excels all in Scholarship.
According to some authors Imam Ali (A.S) was twenty-one years old at the time of marriage, while Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A) was sixteen years old. According to others the date of the birth of Imam Ali (A.S) is to be placed around 599 C.E. and on this basis he was 24/25 years old at the time of marriage. Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A) was born around 604 C.E. and on this basis she was 19/20 years old at the time of marriage.
Undoubtedly the marriage of Imam Ali (A.S) and Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A) was an ideal marriage as the marriage was performed by the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) in accordance with the will of Allah (S.W.T), it could not be anything but an ideal marriage. As an ideal marriage it should have been a happy marriage.
Over the question of the poverty of Imam Ali (A.S) and even the Holy Prophet (S.A.W), it appears that such accounts are highly exaggerated, and remote from the truth. Islam is not a religion for the next world alone; it is a religion for this world as well. Islam does not favour accumulation of riches and the hoarding of wealth, but it does not commend poverty either. It stands for the middle course marked neither by richness nor by poverty. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) before an ideal Prophet had to set an example in this respect. As such while the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) could not be very rich, he could not be poor either. Islam stands for simplicity and austerity but simplicity and austerity are not another name for poverty. How could Allah permit his beloved to starve.
When the Muslims migrated to Madina, Ansars shared all their resources with the Muslims. Under the circumstances how could the Ansar permit Imam Ali (A.S) and Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A) the beloved daughter of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) to live from hand to mouth on the verge of starvation. Imam Ali (A.S) and Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A) were after all human beings, and how could they be happy when they had to starve for days. When selecting husbands for their daughter even ordinary persons take steps to insure that their daughter is married in a family which is quite well off. This is a parental obligation, and it is unbelievable that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) would have married his beloved daughter to a person who had no source of income. Imam Ali (A.S) was the greatest warrior of the age. He was also the greatest jurist, grammarian and scholar of the age. Under the circumstances the accounts that Imam Ali (A.S) was very poor are not correct.
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) advised Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A) to have patience and submit to her husband. When Imam Ali (A.S) saw the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) later, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) counselled him to be kind to his wife. Due to the wise counsels of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W), both Imam Ali (A.S) and Bibi Fatima Zahra (S.A) succeeded in making adjustments which insured mutual happiness. Imam Hassan (A.S), their first child was born in 625 C.E. and Imam Hussain (A.S), the second child was born in 626 C.E. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) had great love for Imam Hassan (A.S) and Imam Hussain (A.S) and treated them as his own sons.
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