The marriage of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib and Lady Fatima al-Zahra holds a special place in Shia Muslim history. A narration preserved in Bihar al-Anwar describes how Imam Ali asked the Prophet Muhammad for his daughter’s hand in marriage, how Lady Fatima responded, and how the Prophet prayed for the couple.
It is a story remembered not for an elaborate ceremony, but for its moments of humility, family affection, and prayer.
Imam Ali Decides to Ask for Lady Fatima’s Hand
According to a narration transmitted by Dahhak ibn Muzahim from Imam Ali, two companions, Abu Bakr and Umar, encouraged Imam Ali to speak to the Prophet Muhammad about marrying his daughter, Lady Fatima al-Zahra.
Imam Ali went to the Prophet. When the Prophet saw him, he smiled and asked:
“O Abu al-Hasan, what brings you here? What do you need?”
Imam Ali explained his close family relationship with the Prophet, his early commitment to Islam, his support for the Prophet, and his efforts in fighting alongside him.
The Prophet replied:
“Ali, you have spoken the truth. You are even better than what you have described.”
Then Imam Ali made his request:
“O Messenger of Allah, will you give Fatima in marriage to me?”
The Prophet explained that other men had previously asked for Lady Fatima’s hand. When he had discussed their proposals with her, he had seen signs of reluctance on her face.
But he asked Imam Ali to wait while he spoke with his daughter.
How Did Lady Fatima Respond to Her Father?
The Prophet went to Lady Fatima.
According to the narration, when she saw him, she stood up, took his cloak, removed his sandals, and brought water for his ablution. She washed his feet and then sat down.
The Prophet addressed her gently:
“O Fatima!”
She replied:
“Yes, O Messenger of Allah. What do you need?”
He then spoke to her about Imam Ali:
“Ali ibn Abi Talib is someone whose family relationship with me, virtue, and devotion to Islam you already know. I have asked my Lord to unite you in marriage with the best of His creation and the one most beloved to Him. He has now spoken to me about marrying you. What do you think?”
Lady Fatima did not immediately answer. She remained silent and did not turn her face away.
The Prophet saw no sign of displeasure in her expression. He understood her response in that context as acceptance and left the room, joyfully declaring:
For the Prophet, this was a moment of happiness. His beloved daughter had shown no sign of rejecting the proposal, and he understood her response as agreement.
The Message of Angel Gabriel
According to the same narration, Angel Gabriel then came to the Prophet Muhammad with a message:
“O Muhammad, marry her to Ali ibn Abi Talib. Allah is pleased with her for him and with him for her.”
The Prophet then formally united Lady Fatima al-Zahra and Imam Ali in marriage.
For Imam Ali, this was a blessing beyond anything he could have achieved through worldly status or wealth. He was being joined in marriage to the daughter of the Messenger of Allah, a woman deeply loved and honored by him.
The Prophet’s Prayer for Imam Ali and Lady Fatima
After the marriage was arranged, the Prophet went to Imam Ali, took him by the hand, and asked him to stand.
He instructed him to say:
عَلَى بَرَكَةِ اللهِ، وَمَا شَاءَ اللهُ، لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللهِ
Translation: “With the blessing of Allah, by the will of Allah, there is no power except through Allah. I place my trust in Allah.”
The Prophet then brought Imam Ali to Lady Fatima and seated him beside her.
There, he offered a heartfelt prayer:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّهُمَا أَحَبُّ خَلْقِكَ إِلَيَّ، فَأَحِبَّهُمَا، وَبَارِكْ فِي ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا، وَاجْعَلْ عَلَيْهِمَا مِنْكَ حَافِظًا، وَإِنِّي أُعِيذُهُمَا وَذُرِّيَّتَهُمَا مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
Translation:
“O Allah, these two are the most beloved of Your creation to me, so love them. Bless their descendants, appoint a guardian from You over them, and I seek Your protection for them and their descendants from Satan, the accursed.”
With this prayer, the narration concludes with the Prophet placing the couple and their future descendants under Allah’s protection.
What Makes This Story Special?
This account offers a glimpse into the marriage of Imam Ali and Lady Fatima al-Zahra as remembered in Shia tradition. It highlights Imam Ali’s humility in approaching the Prophet, the care between a father and daughter, and the Prophet’s joy and prayers for the couple.
The story also reminds readers that, within this narration, the marriage is presented as more than a family arrangement: it is accompanied by a prayer for love, blessing, and protection.
For Shia Muslims, the marriage of Imam Ali and Lady Fatima is closely associated with the honored place of the Ahl al-Bayt—the family of the Prophet Muhammad—in Islamic history.
Source of the Narration
This account is recorded in:
- Book: Bihar al-Anwar
- Compiler: Allama Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi
- Volume: 43
- Page: 93
- Narration source cited in the text: Amali al-Tusi
- Narrator mentioned: Dahhak ibn Muzahim, reporting from Imam Ali
Reference: "Read the Arabic text of Bihar al-Anwar, volume 43, page 93"
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who did Imam Ali ask to marry him?
Imam Ali asked Prophet Muhammad to give his daughter, Lady Fatima al-Zahra, in marriage to him.
2. How did Lady Fatima respond to Imam Ali’s marriage proposal?
In the narration preserved in Bihar al-Anwar, Lady Fatima remained silent and did not turn her face away. The Prophet understood her response in that specific context as acceptance.
3. Where is the story of Imam Ali’s marriage proposal recorded?
The account appears in Bihar al-Anwar, volume 43, page 93, where the narration is transmitted from Amali al-Tusi.
4. What prayer did Prophet Muhammad make for Imam Ali and Lady Fatima?
He prayed that Allah would love them, bless their descendants, appoint a protector for them, and protect them and their descendants from Satan.