Chief of the Prophets

Chief of the Prophets — Page 116

Chapter Seven 116 someone, think about the expectations of their hearts that could be judged from the following commandment 1 : (Al-Nisā’ 4:20) And consort with them in kindness Marriage of Fāṭimah ra , Dhul-Ḥajjah, 2 A. H. Fāṭimah ra was the youngest child of Muḥammad sa born of Khadījah ra. When she reached the age of 15, Abū Bakr ra and ‘Umar ra sent proposals of marriage one after the other, but Muḥammad sa did not accept them. Both the elders then assumed that Muḥammad‘s desire was about ‘Alī ra , so they urged ‘Alī ra to propose marriage. ‘Alī ra also perhaps wanted but was quiet because of his modesty. On the advice of the elders, ‘Alī ra presented his request before Muḥammad sa. Muḥammad sa who had already received Divine indication about the marriage of Fāṭimah ra with ‘Alī ra asked Fāṭimah ra , who remained quiet out of modesty. In a way, this was also an expression of acceptance. Muḥammad sa gathered the Muhājirūn and Anṣār and announced the Nikāḥ. The traditional wedding-farewell ( rukhṣati ) was most probably proposed to take place in the month of Dhul-Ḥajjah of 2 A. H. , after the Battle of Badr. When Muḥammad sa asked ‘Alī ra about the dowry money, 2 ‘Alī ra replied that he had no means to arrange dowry money. On the advice of Muḥammad sa , ‘Alī ra sold the body armour that he received from the spoils of the Battle of Badr for 400 dirhams. Muḥammad sa used the money from it for the expenses of the wedding. The dowry given to Fāṭimah ra by Muḥammad sa 1 Al-Hakm, February 28 th , 1902. 2 Haq Mehr refers to an amount that is fixed at the time of a marriage ceremony and is payable by the groom to the bride according to the Islamic traditions. [Publisher]