The Myth of the Marriage of Hazrat Umme Kulsoom (a.s.) with Umar b. Khattab – Part II

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Continued from part I …..

Umme Kulsoom, the daughter of Abu Bakr also rejected Umar’s marriage proposal

Umar intending a proposal for Umme Kulsoom the daughter of Abu Bakr who was yet a child, sent someone to Ayesha who said – As you say.

Umme Kulsoom: I don’t need him. Ayesha: Do you seek distance from the Commander of the Faithful? Umme Kulsoom: Yes, he leads a rough life and treats his wives harshly. Ayesha sent someone to Amr-e-Aas to convince him not to pursue with the proposal who then convinced Umar against this marriage.

[Tarikh al-Umam wa al-Mulook by Tabari, vol. 3, p. 576]

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) rejected the Proposal of Umar Ibn Khattab for Hazrat Fatima Zahra (s.a.)

There are many traditions in Ahle Tasannun books which prove that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) rejected the marriage proposals of Abu Bakr and Umar. Here we quote a few traditions in which they (Abu Bakr and Umar) themselves claim that they have been rejected.

Ibne Saad narrates from his chain of narrators that Abu Bakr proposed for marriage with Harzat Fatima (s.a.). The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) replied: I am waiting for divine order in this matter Abu Bakr returned and narrated the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) reply to Umar. Umar said – He has rejected you O Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr asked Umar to propose marriage with Hazrat Fatima (s.a.). Umar proposed marriage with Harzat Fatima (s.a.) and the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) gave the same reply. Umar returned and narrated the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) reply to Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr said – He has rejected you O Umar. The family of Imam Ali (a.s.) wanted him (a.s.) to propose marriage with Hazrat Fatima (s.a.). He proposed and the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had Hazrat Fatima (s.a.) married to him (a.s.).

[At-Tabaqaat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 19]

According to another tradition, Abu Bakr and Umar individually approached the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and presented the proposal for marriage with Hazrat Faitma (s.a.) which the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) rejected stating that she is still a child.

[Fazaail al-Sahabah by Ahmad Ibn Hambal, vol. 2, p. 761; Fazaail-e-Fatima Zahra by Haakim Nishapuri, p. 68, tr 68]

In another tradition, Abu Bakr and Umar proposed marriage with Hazrat Faitma (s.a.) to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) who looked at Ali (a.s.) and said – She is for you, O Ali.

[Tabaqaat al-Kubra by Ibne Saad, vol. 8, p. 19; Mojam al-Kabeer by Tabarani, vol. 4, p. 34, tr. 6571]

Hazrat Ali (a.s.) would not deviate from the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) path

In every century and era, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is the best role model for the entire Muslim nation.

‘Indeed for you, in the Messenger of Allah, is the best role model.’

[Surah Ahzab (33): 21]

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) was a role model for the entire nation, but none among the entire nation was following the example of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) more than Ameerul Momineen (a.s.)

Ali (a.s.) himself in a tradition mentioned the intensity of his imitation to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in the below words:

‘Just as a baby camel exactly treads on the footsteps of its mother, I too did the same with respect to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.).’[Nahjul Balagah, Sermon 192]

True following demands that when the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) has performed an action or abandoned it, Imam Ali b. Abi Talib (a.s.) can be expected to follow the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) wholeheartedly. So if the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) did not give his daughter Hazrat Fatima (s.a.) to Umar despite his constant beseeching and imploring, how is it possible that Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) would give his and Hazrat Fatima’s (s.a.) daughter to Umar?

When Allah and the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) have decided a matter against an individual how can Imam Ali b. Abi Talib (a.s.) choose otherwise?

And as expected from Ameerul Momineen (a.s.), he acted in the same manner as the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in the matter of marriage proposal of Umar for his daughter and as per traditions with Ahle Tasannun references mentioned above, he even used the same excuse as the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), stating that she was still a child.

Hazrat Ali (a.s.) following the practice of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)

At  the  time  of  the  martyrdom  of Hazrat Jafar-e-Tayyar (a.s.), in the battle of Muta, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) entered his room, consoled his wife and children and asserted looking at the sons of Jafar and at the sons of Ali (a.s.):

‘Our daughters are for our sons and our sons are for our daughters.’

[Man La Yahzuruhu al-Faqih by Shaikh Sadooq, vol. 3, p. 249]

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) not only practically married his daughter to his cousin Ali (a.s.) but also considered his good practice as culture for the Bani Hashim. Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) also followed this practice and married his daughter to his nephews. Here are the marriage relations of the daughters of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) with the youths of Bani Hashim:

1. Janab Zainab (s.a.) was married to Abdullah Ibn Jafar

 

2. Janab Umme Kulsoom (s.a.) was married to Aun Ibn Jafar

 

3. Janab Ruqayyah (s.a.) was married to Muslim Ibn Aqeel

 

4. Zainab-e-Sugha, another daughter of Ali (a.s.) was married to Muhammad Ibn Aqeel

 

5. Nafeesah, another daughter of Ali (a.s.) was married to Abdullah b. Asgar Ibn Aqeel

 

6. Khadeejah, another daughter of Ali (a.s.) was married to Abdul Rahman Ibn Aqeel

[Ansaab al-Ashraaf by Ahmad b. Yahya al Balazuri, vol. 2, pp. 413, 414, 415]

Based on the above proof, when Umar proposed marriage with Janab Umme Kulsoom (s.a.), Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) replied:

‘Surely I am looking after them for the sons of my brother Jafar.’

[Fazaail al-Sahabah by Ahmab b. Hanbal, vol. 2, p. 775; Al-Mustadrak Ala al-Sahihain by Haakim Nishapuri, vol. 3, p. 142]

In another clearer statement he (a.s.) said,

“I am taking care of my daughters for the sons of Jafar” [Al-Tabaqaat al-Kubra by Ibne Saad, vol. 8, p. 463; Taareekh al-Dimishq by Ibne Asaakir, vol.21, p. 344]

From the above it is clear that Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) clearly followed the practice of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and married his daughters to the youths of Bani Hashim.

Imam Hasan (a.s.) also rejects Yazid’s Marriage Proposal

It is narrated that after the martyrdom of Ameerul Momineen Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.), Muawiyah grabbed power unjustly and became the ruler over all the Muslim lands

Muawiyah sent a proposal for the daughter of Abdullah Ibn Jafar for his son Yazid. Abdullah Ibn Jafar said: The choice of my daughter is with Imam Hasan Ibn Ali (a.s.), you can propose for my daughter to him. Marwan approached Imam Hasan (a.s.) and made a proposal for the daughter of Abdullah. Imam Hasan (a.s.) rejected the proposal stating:

Then surely our enmity with you is for Allah and in the way of Allah so we will not reconcile with you for the sake of the world (marriage).

Marwan said: O Bani Hashim, is this the way you come face to face with us and rebut us word for word and explicitly reject our proposal?

Imam Hasan (a.s.) retorted: Yes! Each one of these replies is a rebuttal to your words. Marwan despaired with these words and wrote to Muawiyah about the incident.

Muawiyah retorted: We proposed to them but they replied in the negative. Had they proposed to us, we would definitely have given a positive response.

[Behaar al Anwaar, vol. 44, pp 119-120, trad 13, chapter 107]

The incident is a pointer to the fact that the Ahle Bait (a.s.) never entertained a marriage proposal from the caliphs, the enemies and those antagonistic to the Ahle Bait (a.s.). Not only their own daughters, the Ahle Bait (a.s.) rejected proposals even for daughters of their cousins or any member of Bani Hashim, for that matter.

So if Imam Hasan (a.s.) is not in favour of marrying off Abdullah Ibn Jafar’s daughter to Yazid, where is the question of Ameerul Momineen Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) marrying off his own daughter (Umme Kulsum s.a.) to an usurper?

From the above historical and traditional proofs, we conclude that the marriage of Hazrat Umme Kulsoom (s.a.) with Umar Ibn Khattab is only a myth and a fabrication of the Nasibis for fulfilling their twisted motives and there is not an iota of reality in this.

We pray to Allah that He protects us from the doubts of the sceptics and keeps us firmly steadfast on the Mastership of the Ahle Bait (a.s.). Amen.