Marriage to Hazrat Fatimah (ra) (Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib’s Narration)
With regard to the marriage of Hazrat Fatimah (ra) and Hazrat Ali (ra), a detailed account has been mentioned in Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin as follows:
“Hazrat Fatimah (ra) was the youngest child of the Holy Prophet (sa), from among the children he was blessed with from Hazrat Khadijah (ra). The Holy Prophet (sa) held Hazrat Fatimah (ra) most dear to himself and on account of her personal merit, she was undoubtedly most worthy of this distinct love. Now, her age had more or less reached 15 and she had begun to receive proposals of marriage.
“It was Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) who was the very first to make a request for Hazrat Fatimah (ra) but the Holy Prophet (sa) apologised. Then, Hazrat Umar (ra) made a proposal, but his request was not accepted either. After this, upon judging that the intention of the Holy Prophet (sa) seemed to be with respect to Hazrat Ali (ra), both these honourable men approached Hazrat Ali (ra) and encouraged him to make a proposal with regards to Hazrat Fatimah (ra).
“Hazrat Ali (ra) who was perhaps already desirous, but was silent out of modesty, immediately presented himself before the Holy Prophet (sa) and submitted a proposal. The Holy Prophet (sa) had already received an indication by way of divine revelation that the marriage of Hazrat Fatimah (ra) should take place with Hazrat Ali (ra) . Hence, when Hazrat Ali (ra) presented a request, the Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘I have already received a divine indication in this respect.’ Then, the Holy Prophet (sa) sought the consent of Hazrat Fatimah (ra), who remained silent out of modesty.
“In a way, this was also an expression of acceptance. Therefore, the Holy Prophet (sa) gathered a community of the Muhajireen and Ansar and formally announced the marriage of Hazrat Ali (ra) and Hazrat Fatimah (ra) [i.e. the nikah]. This event took place in the beginning or middle of 2 AH.
“Afterwards, when the Battle of Badr had taken place, it was proposed that the rukhsatanah [when the bride is sent off by her parents to her new home] be held in the month of Dhul-Hijjah 2 AH. The Holy Prophet (sa) called upon Hazrat Ali (ra) and enquired of him as to whether he had anything to pay the mehr. (The incident regarding the orchard which was mentioned earlier was before the marriage took place, therefore I was correct in saying that this incident took place before the marriage.) Hazrat Ali (ra) submitted, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! I have nothing.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) responded, ‘What about that chainmail I gave to you on that day (i.e., from the spoils of Badr)?’ Hazrat Ali (ra) responded, ‘That, I do have.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘That shall suffice, bring it.’ Hence, this chainmail was sold for 480 dirhams and the Holy Prophet (sa) arranged for the expenses of the wedding from this very amount.
“The trousseau which the Holy Prophet (sa) gave to Hazrat Fatimah (ra) consisted of an embroidered shawl, a cushion made of hide which had been filled with dry date palm leaves and a water-skin. It is also related in one narration that the Holy Prophet (sa) also gave Hazrat Fatimah (ra) a hand-mill as part of her trousseau. When these items had been arranged for, there was a need to obtain a home.
“Until now, Hazrat Ali (ra) perhaps lived with the Holy Prophet (sa) in an apartment built next to the mosque. However, a separate abode was now required, where husband and wife could reside after marriage. Therefore, the Holy Prophet (sa) instructed Hazrat Ali (ra) to find a place where both of them could reside. Hazrat Ali (ra) temporarily arranged for a home and the rukhsatanah of Hazrat Fatimah (ra) took place. On the very same day, after the rukhsatanah, the Holy Prophet (sa) visited their new home and called for some water to be brought to him, prayed on it and then sprinkled it on both Hazrat Fatimah (ra) and Hazrat Ali (ra), whilst repeating the following words:
اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ فِيْهِمَا وَبَارِكْ عَلَيْهِمَا وَبَارِكْ لَهُمَا نَسْلَهُمَا
“Meaning, ‘O my Allah! Bless their union, and bless those relations with others which are built from this union and bless their progeny.’
“After this, the Holy Prophet (sa) left the newly wedded couple alone and returned. Afterwards, one day, when the Holy Prophet (sa) came to visit Hazrat Fatimah (ra), she submitted to the Holy Prophet (sa) that Harithah (ra) bin Nu‘man Ansari was in possession of a few homes, and asked if the Holy Prophet (sa) would request him to vacate one of them. The Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘He has already vacated so many homes for our sake. Now I feel embarrassed in requesting more of him.’
“In some way or another, when Harithah (ra) happened to find out about this, he came running to the Holy Prophet (sa) and submitted, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! Everything I own belongs to you my Master. By God, whatever you accept of me causes me greater joy than that which remains with me.’ Then, this faithful companion insisted and vacated one of his homes and presented it to the Holy Prophet (sa). After this, Hazrat Ali (ra) and Hazrat Fatimah (ra) moved to this home.”
(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), pp. 455-456)