Now, I’d like to talk a little about Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her), the youngest and most beloved daughter of our Master (saw). In doing so, we may also gain some insight into what Islamic marriage was like…

Hadhrat Fatima was born, according to one narration, during the year of the reconstruction of the Kaaba. At that time, our Master was either 35 years old (as per one narration) or 41 years old (as per another narration).

However, according to a narration from Abbas (ra), Ali (ra) was approximately three years older than Fatima…

When Fatima reached the age of marriage, the first person among the companions who expressed interest in marrying her was Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (ra)…

However, our Master gave him the response: “O Abu Bakr, I am waiting for the divine decree regarding her marriage.”

When Abu Bakr later shared this with Omar he said: “O Abu Bakr, the Rasul has turned you down!”

In response, Abu Bakr said to Omar: “Why don’t you try requesting Fatima’s hand in marriage from the Rasul of Allah?”

When Omar went to the Rasul (saw) to propose to Fatima, he received the same answer: “I am waiting for the divine decree to marry Fatima, O Omar.”

When Omar told Abu Bakr about his unsuccessful proposal to marry Fatima, he received the same response: “The Rasul has turned you down, O Omar...”

Following Abu Bakr and Omar, they suggested Ali to propose for Fatima’s hand in marriage. However, Ali hesitated and expressed his concerns, saying, “After the rejection of companions like Abu Bakr and Omar, how can I muster the courage to do so? I have no guarantee that I won’t be rejected...”

At this point, they presented the argument of family ties. Among the Arab tribes, marrying one’s paternal cousin was a widely respected tradition.

“Fatima is your cousin’s granddaughter... We hope that the Rasul will grant Fatima to you!”

After these discussions, Ali went home and confided in his slave. The slave said to him:

“What’s holding you back from asking for Fatima from the Rasul?”

Ali replied:

“I have nothing to offer for her hand in marriage…”

The slave insisted:

“If you go and ask for her from the Rasul, he won’t reject you…”

Encouraged by this conversation, Ali gathered his courage and went to the presence of the Rasul... However, when he entered and saw the Rasul’s majestic presence, he was left speechless and stood there in awe…

This time, the Rasul spoke:

“Why have you come, Ali? Do you have a request?”

Ali could only manage to utter a single word:

“Yes...”

The Rasul continued:

“I suppose you’ve come to ask for Fatima’s hand in marriage?”

Once again, Ali could only repeat the same word:

“Yes...”

Upon this, the Rasul asked again:

“So, what do you have to offer as a dowry for Fatima?”

“I have nothing as a dowry, O Rasul of Allah…”

The Rasul asked:

“What about the armored shirt that was made for me by Hutami? What happened to it?”

“It is at home, O Rasul of Allah…”

The Rasul then said:

“Then give that shirt as a dowry for Fatima…”

After this, Ali left, and when the Rasul asked Fatima for her opinion, she remained silent. Later, when she realized that Ali was to marry her, she began to cry. In response to her tears, our Master said:

“O Fatima, why are you crying? I am marrying you to the most knowledgeable among those who seek knowledge, the gentlest and wisest among them, and the one who first embraced Islam by following me…”

Following this conversation, Ali left and went straight home. He took the thick and heavy armored shirt made by Hutami and then went to Osman. Hadhrat Osman had also learned about the marriage proposal by this time…

When Osman saw Ali with the armored shirt, he asked, “What are you going to do with that shirt?” Ali explained, “The Rasul of Allah (saw) has allowed me to marry Fatima, and I want to sell this shirt to provide a dowry for her.”

Osman, who was already aware of the situation, immediately offered, “Will you sell it to me, Ali?” Ali’s intention was already aligned with this, so he agreed and said, “Of course.”

Osman generously purchased the armored shirt for 480 dirhams, which was a little above its value...

“I can give you 480 dirhams in exchange for that armor. Do you accept?”

Indeed, it was a generous offer…

“Accepted!”

Osman (ra) immediately counted the money, placed it in the hand of Ali (ra), and took the armored shirt. Just as Ali was about to leave, Osman said:

“Ali, your marriage is now considered official... Therefore, I would like to give you a gift.

“...?”

“Please accept this armored shirt as a wedding gift!”

And with these words, he extended the armored shirt that Ali had brought to sell. Ali (ra) was greatly surprised. He couldn’t say anything for a moment. He was extremely touched... 

He managed to say, “Thank you, Osman!”

Later, holding the dirhams and the armored shirt in his hand, Ali returned to the presence of our Master and told him about what had transpired… Rasulullah (saw) was very pleased... He prayed for Osman many times in appreciation of this act of goodness…

When the news of the marriage between Hadhrat Ali and Hadhrat Fatima (may Allah be pleased with them) spread, not everyone was pleased with it. Our Master silenced those who were not in favor with the following words: “I did not marry her to Ali, but Allah married her to him.”

After that, preparations for the wedding began immediately. Our Master (saw) ordered that two-thirds of the 480 dirhams should be spent on food, decorations, and perfumes, while one-third should be used for clothing. He also instructed Esma Hatun to prepare Hadhrat Fatima’s house.

Hadhrat Fatima’s dowry and household items included three pillows, a pillow stuffed with palm fibers, a fringed carpet, two hand mills, a water bag, an earthenware jug, a water cup made from palm leaves, a towel, a sieve, an untreated ram’s hide, a striped Yemeni mat, a palm-leaf mat, a wooden cot, a velvet blanket, and a Yemeni dress with red and white stripes…