When Hadrat Fatima (s.a.) attained the age of maturity and was ready to get married, the Prophet Mohammad(s.a.)started receiving proposals from various people for her daughter. It is narrated that when Hadrat Fatima (s.a.) attained the marriageable age, the important people among the tribe of Quraish started sending proposals to the Prophet Mohammad(s.a.)but the Prophet (s.a.) did not accept any of them saying that he was waiting for the order of Allah to decide this issue.
Imam Ali (a.s.) Makes the Proposal
One day Imam Ali (a.s.) approached the Prophet Mohammad (s.a.) at his house. Imam Ali (a.s.) entered and greeted the Prophet (s.a.) and the Prophet (s.a.) replied in the same kind manner. Imam Ali (a.s.) sat down and he was so much shy that he continued staring at the ground and could not utter a word. The Prophet (s.a.) smiled and mentioned to Imam Ali (a.s.) that he knew what Imam Ali (a.s.) had to say but he wanted to hear it from him. He told Imam Ali (a.s.) that he does not need to be shy and to say whatever he wanted to say.
With this encouragement and soft tone from the Prophet, Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “My parents be ransom for you, you know that since my childhood, I have dedicated myself for your service. You have educated me from be beginning and brought me to this status. It is because of your encouragement that I feel this courage in myself to express my heartfelt wish that you give me the honor of becoming your son-in-law. I have concealed his wish in my heart for a long time thinking that this might not be according to your wishes as well. Is there a possibility that this could happen?”
Proposal Accepted
As soon as Imam Ali (a.s.) completed his request, the face of Prophet Mohammad (s.a.) lit up and he asked Imam Ali (a.s.): “What have you got to realize this act?” Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “O Prophet of Allah, you know my condition very well, I have only a sword, my war dress and one camel.” Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) said: “Ali, you definitely need your sword for fighting Jihad and the camel for traveling, however, you war dress could work. O Abul Hassan, I want to give you the good news that Allah has made the decision and already recited your marriage with my daughter Fatima (s.a.) in the Arsh (throne). Just before your arrival, Allah sent an angel to give me this good news.”
This event has been narrated in "Maarij an-Nabuwwah" of Moeen Kashfi, "Sifwatul Safada" of ibn-e-Jozi, "Madarij an-Nabywwah" on 2:75 of Shah Abdul Haq Dehalvi.
Marriage Recited on the Arsh
“O Prophet of Allah, Allah has chosen you and made you the most respected and high among his creatures and has selected Ali (a.s.) as your brother and has decided that the marriage of your daughter and the servant of Allah, Fatima (s.a.) would be with Ali (a.s.). Allah arranged for their marriage in such a manner that he addressed the dwellers of the Heaven to dress themselves with ornaments of the Heaven and then ordered all the angels to assemble together on the 4th Sky. He then filled the 4th sky with holy light and then appointed Adam to give a speech to begin the marriage ceremony. After that, Allah ordered an angel named Raheel to recite the surah “Hamd”, Raheel is the most beautiful of angels and possesses the most beautiful voice. After recitation of “Hamd”, Allah informed me (Archangel Gabriel) that He has performed the marriage of His servant Hadrat Fatima (s.a.) with His chosen person Imam Ali (a.s.) and that I should spread this news among the angels. I acted accordingly and made all the angels testify the event. Allah then ordered me to write all this event of this silk cloth of the Heaven and present it to you.”
After mentioning this event, Prophet Mohammad (s.a.) said: “O Abul Hassan (a.s.), the order of Allah has been served and I invite you to come to the mosque so that this marriage should be formalized on the earth as well among witnesses.”
Such was the importance of this marriage that Allah arranged the ceremony on His throne and then Himself decided and recited the marriage of Imam Ali (a.s.) with Hadrat Fatima (s.a.).
The above event has been mentioned in various other books as follows: Muaraj an-Nabuwwah, Al Asaba fee Tameez as-Sahaba, Sawaeq-e-Muharriqa bu Ibn-e-Hajr Makki, Al Bayan wal Bateen by Allam Jaahiz, Nuzhat-ul-Majalis by Allama Abdur Rehman Safori, Riyaz un-Nazrah fee Manaqib-ul-Ashra by Allama Muhib Tabri
Hadrat Fatima(s.a.) in the House of Imam Ali (a.s.)
A non-planned period of time elapsed between the engagement and the wedding ceremony, because Imam Ali (a.s.) was too shy to ask the Prophet to assign a day for the wedding, while he (s.a.) wanted to protect Fatima's pride by refraining from asking Ali to do so.
A month or more passed by before Imam Ali (a.s.) said anything regarding the wedding. Aqeel (his brother) asked him about the reason for the delay in holding the wedding ceremony and encouraged him to prepare for the wedding and to ask the Prophet (s.a.) to assign a date for it. Despite Imam Ali (a.s.)'s shyness, he accompanied Aqeel to the Prophet's house to fulfill his wishes. On their way to the Prophet's house, they met Um Ayman(r.a.) who, when told the reason for their visit, asked them to leave the matter to her. She, in turn, informed Um Salama who brought the matter to the attention of the Prophet (s.a.) who called for Imam Ali (a.s.) and asked his opinion. Imam Ali (a.s.) expressed his desire to bring Hadrat Fatima (s.a.) to his home which was donated by one of his followers. The Prophet (s.a.) asked Imam Ali (a.s.) to hold a dinner because Allah is pleased with those who do so; for the social good it does-such as bringing people together and implementing love and harmony among them.
Imam Ali (a.s.) arranged for the dinner and invited the people to the feast. Men and women from all around Medina gathered in the house. They ate, drank and even took food to their homes. The blessings of the Prophet (s.a.) were obvious on that day, for not only the food was enough to feed everyone, but also it did not decrease at all. The Prophet(S.A.W.)asked for food containers to be brought and filled them and sent them to his wives and left a special container for Hadrat Fatima(s.a.) and her husband.
By sunset, the wedding night had begun; it was time for Hadrat Fatima(s.a.) to depart to her new home. Everything went well, for the Prophet (s.a.) had made all the necessary preparation for the wedding. Despite the simplicity and modesty of her wedding, Hadrat Fatima (s.a.)'s marriage ceremony was surrounded by signs of greatness, excellence, and beauty.
The Messenger of Allah ordered his wives to embellish Hadrat Fatima (s.a.) before the wedding; they perfumed and dressed her with jewelry. They all helped her to get ready; some combed her hair while others embellished and dressed her in the dress brought by Gabriel from Paradise.
When Fatima was taken to Ali's house on her wedding night, the Prophet proceeded her, Gabriel was on her right, and Michael on her left, and seventy-thousand angels followed her. These angels praised and glorified Allah until dawn!
The Hashemi men, Abdul Muttalib's daughters, and Muhajarin and Ansar's women all accompanied Fatima's caravan that night. The Prophet's wives joyfully led the caravan; they were also the first to enter the house.
Upon arriving, the Prophet (s.a.) placed Hadrat Fatima (s.a.)'s hand in Imam Ali (a.s.)'s hand and said:
“May Allah bless his Messenger's daughter;
Ali, this is Fatima, you are responsible for her;
Ali, what an excellent wife Fatima is!
Fatima, what an excellent husband Ali is!
O Allah, bless them, bless their lives, and bless their children.
O Allah, surely they are the most beloved to me from among your creatures, so love them too, and assign for them a guardian.
I place them and their progeny under your protection from the curse devil.”