Superiority of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) by virtue of marriage to Lady Fatima Zahra (s.a.)
Among the virtues of Ameerul Momineen, Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.), is his marriage to the Prophet’s infallible daughter – Fatima Zahra (s.a.). There were many contenders for her hand, but Allah rejected them all and married Ali (a.s.) with Fatima Zahra (s.a.).
In this virtue is the reply to many objections raised by the skeptics against Ali (a.s.) with regards to his superiority in the matter of caliphate or his so-called differences with Fatima Zahra (s.a.) which was upsetting for her.
If indeed the match was made in heaven by Allah Himself, then the Knower of the Unseen, with his prior knowledge of events, would never have chosen Ali (a.s.), if he was going to upset Fatima (s.a.). More than Ali (a.s.), it appears the skeptics are targeting Allah, the Almighty Himself.
Ali (a.s.) is like the Kaaba
With his marriage to Fatima Zahra (s.a.), we see how Ali (a.s.) is compared to the Holy Kaaba
Jibrail to Prophet (s.a.w.a.) regarding Fatima Zahra’s (s.a.) marriage proposal:
Allah commands you to go (with the proposal) to Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) because he is like the Kaaba, people visit it, but it does not visit anyone…
- Dalail al-Imamah p 83
- Madinah al-Ma’aajiz v 2 p 324
- Awalim al-Uloom v 11 p 387
In this is the reply to the objection that if indeed Ali (a.s.) was the choice of Allah for caliphate, he should have visited the Muslims and informed them of it. Being the Kaaba, it was not for him to visit the Muslims to seek allegiance, it was for the Muslims to visit him for allegiance. In fact, the allegiance for Ali (a.s.) was already taken in Ghadeer. The call of Ali (a.s.) and Fatima Zahra (s.a.) to the Muslims after the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) martyrdom was towards the allegiance in Ghadeer that they had neglected.
Unfit for being the husband, unfit for being the Imam of Fatima Zahra (s.a.)
When Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Abdul Rahman Ibn Awf were considered unfit for being the husband of Fatima Zahra (s.a.), how can they claim to be her Imam, as the Imam is at a higher position than the husband.
And when they were unworthy of being the Imam of Fatima Zahra (s.a.), they were unworthy of being the Imam of her equal – Ali (a.s.).
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) points out this reality to the Shura council while making a superior claim to caliphate:
I implore you for the sake of Allah, is there anyone among you whose wife is the Chief of the women of Paradise, except me?
They replied: No.
- Behar al-Anwar, v 31, pp 331-346 narrating from Al-Ehtejaj of Shaikh Tabresi (a.r.), v 1, pp. 134-145
Ali (a.s.) is only one befitting of Lady Fatima’s (s.a.) hand
All virtues of Ali (a.s.) are unique, among them is his eligibility to marry Fatima (s.a.), for which he has no peer.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) informed:
If Allah had not created Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) there would have been no equal on the earth for Fatima (s.a.) in marriage, right from Adam (a.s.)…
- Amaali of Shaikh Tusi (r.a.) v 1 p 42
- Basharah al-Mustafa (s.a.w.a.) v 2 p 267
- Kafi v 1 p 461, v 2 p 498
- Tafseer al-Burhan v 3 p 143 under Surah Furqan (25): 54
- Tafseer al-Thalabi
- Faraid al-Simtain
Marriage made in heaven
As many traditions indicate, the marriage was sanctioned by Allah and witnessed by angels in the heavens and later by mortals on earth.
- Usod al-Ghabah v 1 p 206
- Tarikh al-Baghdad v 4 p 210
- Al-Sawaeq al-Muhriqah p 103
Anas Ibn Malik relates:
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) was with us in the Mosque, when he informed Ali (a.s.):
Jibrail has just informed me that Allah has married you to Fatima (s.a.) with 40,000 angels witnessing the marriage. And Allah inspired the Tooba tree to sprinkle pearls and rubies on them. The Hooris hastened to serve them in dishes of pearls and rubies and they will be exchanging gifts between them till the Day of Resurrection.
- Zakhair al-Uqba p 32
- Nuzhah al-Majalis v 2 p 225
Opponents of Fatima (s.a.) have no right to walk on the earth
As informed by the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) to Ali (a.s.):
Surely Allah married you to Fatima (s.a.) and has gifted her the earth as dower. Then one who walks on the earth with hatred for her, walks in transgression.
- Nahj al-Haqq p 358 from Al-Manaqib of Khwarizmi
- Behar al-Anwar v 37 p 70, v 43 p 141, 145
The marriage between Ali (a.s.) and Fatima (s.a.) carries many implications related to superiority of Ali (a.s.) and his proximity to Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and being the father of the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) progeny and having the highest, rather sole right, to caliphate and Imamat.