They asked him to propose to Fatimah and win the honour of...

They asked him to propose to Fatimah and win the honour of the Prophet’s affinity. Imam Ali finally approached the Prophet hesitatingly because of his shyness to ask for Fatimah’s hand in marriage. He came to the Prophet lowering his sight to the ground. The Messenger of Allah (PBUHH) asked: “O son of Abu-Talib! What did you come here for?” “For a marriage proposal of Fatimah?”. He (PBUHH) replied: “ Salām and welcome!

Men from Quraysh were angry with me because I did not give them my daughter in marriage. I told them that this was based on Divine permission. “ The Messenger of Allah (PBUHH), who has absolute guardianship over all Muslim men and women, including his daughter, would not announce his agreement to the marriage without Fatimah’s consent.

By this action, he made it clear that it is inevitable to obtain the daughter’s permission for marriage because she is the one who is to live with the man and share his life. When the Prophet (PBUHH) described the virtues of Imam Ali to his daughter, he (PBUHH) said: “I wish to make you the wife of the best of God’s creation. What is your opinion?” Lady Fatimah, who was submerged in shyness and modesty, lowered her head saying nothing and denying nothing.

The Prophet (PBUHH) raised his head and spoke this historical sentence, which is proof for Islamic jurists today concerning the marriage of previously unmarried girls: “Allah is Great!

Her silence is the proof of her acceptance.” And when the Messenger of Allah (PBUHH) heard a positive response from her daughter, he asked Ali thus: “What do you have from the worldly wealth for the dowry?” Ali said: “May my parents be sacrificed for you, you are well aware that my belongings are nothing more than a sword, an armour, and a camel.” The Prophet (PBUHH) said: “You cannot use the camel and swords for this purpose, as you need all of them, but you can sell your armour and use it for this.” Ali went to the market and sold his armour for 480 dirhams and brought the money and gave it to the Prophet, and he (PBUHH) therefore divided it into three sections.

He gave a part of it to Hazrat Bilal to purchase a decent perfume, and he spent the other two to purchase some household items and clothes for Lady Fatimah. Obviously with the money from the armour the materials that could be bought were very cheap and simple!