When Fatimah (ra) married Ali (ra)
𝑰𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅, 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒉 𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝑴𝒖𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒅(𝒓𝒂), 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒕ﷺ 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍. While her sisters played, she was happier to sit with her mother. The Prophetﷺ praised her excellence of character, later saying, ‘She is the leader of the women in Paradise.’
Grown up, she married the Prophet’sﷺ cousin, Ali ibn Abi Talib(ra). It can be daunting for a daughter to leave her family home of fond memories for a new environment, with new people. As Fatimah(ra) left her affectionate father’s home, the Prophetﷺ seeing her weep assured her; “Why these tears! I have married you with the person who is supreme in learning and manners and was the first (among the boys) in accepting Islam.”[Usud-ul Ghaba]
The Prophetﷺ took a keen interest in the household of his daughter and son-in law, extending help to make their lives easier and more peaceful. The Prophetﷺ would advise Ali(ra) to treat Fatimah(ra) well and so Ali(ra) was very kind to her and strove for her comfort and convenience. Likewise the Prophetﷺ would call upon Fatimah(ra) to obey her husband and serve him well. Ali(ra) worked as a drawer and carrier of water and Fatima(ra) as a grinder of corn.
There was a deep love between the two; seeing Fatimah(ra) using a miswak, Ali(ra) feeling jealous, recited a poem he composed that touched her heart;
"Fortunate are you oh stick of the Arrak (tree), how dare you! Aren't you afraid that I would see you? Had you been of the people that fight, I would have killed you! No one has been able to defeat me, oh Siwaak, except for you!”
If the couple quarrelled, the Prophetﷺ would advise Fatimah(ra) to be patient and put trifling disagreements aside, asserting; “there is no couple, who does not have differences and squabbles.” It is not absolutely necessary that the man should at all times work in accordance with the wishes of his wife. [Tabaqat]
The Prophetﷺ was a true model of a father and in-law, who intervened (not interfered); to offer sound advice, sincerely seeking to reconcile the couple as any well-wishing family member should. So Fatimah(ra) and Ali’s (ra) marriage stayed firm throughout their up’s and down’s and together they lived an exemplary life as a devout and loving couple.
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