The Marriage of Imam `Al¢ and Lady F¡§imah

The Marriage of Imam `Al¢ and Lady F¡§imah

Upon the victory in the Battle of Badr that added to the Muslim’s dignity, another auspicious event took place; it was the marriage of Imam `Al¢ and F¡§imah that was held at the Holy Prophet’s house.[1] Due to her father’s special charisma and high social status in addition to her own supreme personality, Lady F¡§imah had numerous suitors some of whom were wealthy. However, the Holy Prophet would not consent[2] saying, “I am waiting for the Divine decision.”[3] Then, they provoked `Al¢ who was extremely poor to ask her father to marry her to him. Imam `Al¢ did. Upon consulting with F¡§imah, the Holy Prophet informed Imam `Al¢ of her consent.[4] He said to his daughter,

“I consent to your marriage with a man who is most advanced in moral aspects and adoption of Islam.”[5]

Then the Holy Prophet said to Imam `Al¢,

“There are several men of Quraysh who were offended because I could not agree with any one of them to marry F¡§imah, telling them that I was awaiting a Divine decision, because I was certain that nobody deserved being F¡§imah’s spouse other than `Al¢.”[6]

This marriage, which took place in the simplest ceremony and with the least amount of dowry[7] and trousseau,[8] is one the most obvious manifestations of the spiritual value of the bond of marriage in Islam.