She was hardly nine years of age when messages asking for her hand in marriage began to come to her father. Those who showed their desires t the Prophet to marry Hazrat Fatima (S.A) included Abu Baqr and Omar Bin Khattab. The Prophet (S.A.W.W.) refused them all saying that “Her matter is with Allah. Whenever He wishes she will marry”.
Then Imam Ali (A.S) went to the Prophet (S.A.W.W.) and asked for Hazrat Fatima’s hand in marriage. Umm Salma, one of the wives of the Prophet (S.A.W.W), was present and she reports:
“The Prophet (S.A.W.W) smiled, kept Imam Ali waiting, and went to his daughter and said,”you know how near Ali is to us and how dear he is to Islam.
I have asked Allah to give you in marriage to the best of his creatures and the most beloved to Him. Ali has his wishes to marry you, what do you say?’ Hazrat Fatima (S.A) did not reply but from her face the Prophet knew that she was happy about it.
The Prophet (S.A.W.W) said, “Allahu Akbar. Her silence means her approval.”
He went back to Imam Ali and said “Ali! Do you have anything to pay toward Fatima’s marriage to you? Imam Ali (A.S) replied,”I have my sword, my coat of mail and my camel which I use to water the date palms."
The Messengers of Allah replied, “Ali, you need your sword to fight in the way of Allah and defend yourself from His enemies. As for your camel you need it to water the date palms and to carry you when you are travelling. But your coat of mail will do, so sell it and bring the money for dowry.”
The coat mail which the Prophet (S.A.W.W) had given to Imam Ali (A.S) after the battle of Badr was sold for 500 dirhams. Imam Ali (A.S) gave the money to the Prophet (S.A.W.W). The Prophet (S.A.W.W) divided it into three parts: one part was to be spent on perfumes and other such things needed in a marriage, one part for buying household things, and the third part to pay towards food to be served in celebrating the marriage.
Source:
A Brief Biography of Hazrat Fatima (A.S.), [P. 16-17].
By: M.M. Dungersi Ph.D.
