Virtues of the Ahlul Bayt
عن عائشة ام المؤمنين رضي الله عنها أنها قالت ما رأيت أحدا كان أشبه كلاما و حديثا برسول الله صلى الله عليه و آله و سلم من فاطمة و كانت إذا دخلت عليه قام إليها فقبلها و رحب بها و أخذ بيدها فأجلسها في مجلسه و كانت هى إذا دخل عليها رسول الله صلى الله عليه و آله و سلم قامت إليه تستقبله و قبلت يده
Aisha Umm al Mu’minin RA relates, “I have not seen anyone who resembled Rasulullah RA more in speech and dialogue than Fatimah. When she would visit Rasulullah RA, he would stand up, kiss her, welcome her, take her hand, and make her sit in his seat. And when Rasulullah RA would visit her, she would stand up to welcome him and kiss his hand.” [Al Bayhaqi narrated it in al Kubra, Kitab al Nikah, bab ma ja’a fi qublat al rajul waladah hadith no. 13356]

Famous personalities from the Ahlul Bayt: Fatimah رضي ألله عنها
Yesterday Mufti concluded the discussion of Fatimah RA with a brief discussion on the proposal for marriage by Ali RA. Today we will look at further aspects about the nikaah.

Preparing the House of Sayyidah Fatimah رضي ألله عنها
Regarding the house of Fatimah RA, Rasulullah ﷺ commanded Aisha RA to decorate it for Fatimah RA. Umm Salamah RA assisted her in this task. Aisha RA reports that they began preparations and brought good quality sand from Wadi Batha’ with which they plastered the walls. They then cleaned and straightened the barks of date-palm tree and made two cushions out of them and prepared a dish with dates and raisins and a drink of sweet water. They then placed a stick in the corner of the room to hang clothes and leather water-skin. When these arrangements were completed, Aisha RA commented:
فما راينا عرسا احسن من عرس فاطمة
We never saw a marriage more exquisite than that of Fatimah. [Al Sunan Ibn Majah pg. 139]

The Marriage Gift to Sayyidah Fatimah رضي ألله عنها
عن على رضى الله عنه ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم لما زوجه فاطمة بعث معهما بخميلة و وسادة من ادم حشوها ليف و رحين و سقاء و جرتين
Sayyidina ‘Ali RA reports that when Rasulullah ﷺ married Fatimah RA to him, he sent with them a big sheet, a leather cushion stuffed with barks of the date palm or idhkhir (scented) grass, a grinder, a leather skin and two jars. [Musnad Ahmed vol. 1 pg. 104]

This was the concise wedding gift to Fatimah RA. To fulfil her marital needs, these were all the belongings she had. From here, we learn about the simplicity of their lifestyle. No expensive ornaments or decorations. This is a lesson and example of simplicity for the ummah. Living in this poverty is a practical manifestation that the main factor for a Muslim is concern for Aakhirah. This life is temporary – there is no need for great efforts and exertions to attain it.

Contracting the Nikah and the Spouses’ Age
When the preparations were made and the house and belongings of Fatimah ﷺ was ready, Rasulullah ﷺ contracted the nikaah between ‘Ali RA and Fatimah RA. In the light of general narrations, 400 mithqal was stipulated as dowry. According to Fadil Zarqani, etc. senior Sahabah (Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman, RA etc.) were at the nikaah and were witnesses to it. This nikaah ceremony was very simple. Neither any formalities were carried out nor any customs.

After the nikaah was performed, Rasulullah ﷺ sent his daughter with Umm Ayman RA to ‘Ali’s RA house. Fatimah RA went walking. No arrangements were made for a conveyance or carriage. It is written in her biography that the nikaah took place after the Battle of Badr in Ramadan 2 A.H and the marriage was consummated a few months later in Dhu al Hijjah of the same year. According to some historians, Fatimah`s RA age at that time was 15 years and 5 months while others say that she was 18 years old. There are other views as well. The age of ‘Ali RA according to the widely accepted view was 21. [Tafsir al Qurtubi vol. 14 pg. 242 – under the ayah “O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters…” (Surah Ahzab)] And Allah knows the truth.

Their Bedding
After the marriage of Fatimah RA to ‘Ali RA was contracted, their marital life began. Many narrations indicate that they did not possess any smart bedding and the spouses did not have separate sleeping clothes. The following narration of ‘Ali depicts this:

Mujalid ibn Shu’bah R says, “I heard ‘Ali RA declaring while on the pulpit, ‘I married the daughter of Rasulullah ﷺ and our condition was that we had no bedding to sleep upon besides sheepskin. We would sleep on it at night and we would place fodder on it during the day for the camel.’” [Kitab al Sunan vol. 3 pg. 154]