The proposal
After the Hijrah several prominent companions asked the Prophet (s) for his daughter's hand and were told that he awaited God's command. Ali (a), urged by friends to ask, said he owned nothing; when at last he went to the Prophet and could not bring himself to speak, the Prophet asked what he had, and he answered: only my armour. The Prophet accepted it as the mahr and gave Fatima (a) to him, telling those who complained that it was not he but God who had married her to Ali.
The wedding
The marriage contract was recited by the Prophet (s) in Dhu l-Hijja of the second year, and the wedding followed some months later. The armour was sold, and the money bought a bed, a water-skin, a hand-mill and a few household things; the Prophet blessed the couple with water from his own hands and prayed that God would bless their line. From this marriage came Hasan, Husayn, Zaynab and Umm Kulthum (a), and through them the Imams.
Observance
The first of Dhu l-Hijja is celebrated as the anniversary of the marriage, and Iran keeps it as Marriage Day; the story is told as the model of a wedding without display, made on faith rather than wealth.
Written for Shia Online Community. Dates and facts are checked against the references listed under Research & books; where the tradition records more than one date, all are given.
