By: Seyyed Ali Shahbaz

Today, the 1st of Zi’l-Hijjah, is a very auspicious day. It is the day of the solemnizing of the blessed union between two of the noblest-ever persons by the Best of God’s creation.
To be precise, it is the day of the nuptials of Prophet Muhammad’s only daughter, the Immaculate Hazrat Fatema az-Zahra (SA) and the Infallible Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS).
The Seal of Messengers and his faithful wife of 25 long years, the Mother of all True Believer (Omm al-Momineen) Hazrat Khadija (SA), had several children, including two sons, but except for their youngest child, all of them died in infancy.
She was none other than Hazrat Fatema (SA), whom God Almighty hails in the holy Qur’an as "Kowthar” or the Blessed Fountain of Abundant Munificence. Accordingly, the Prophet described her as Seyyedat-an-nisa al-alameen min al-awwaleen wa’l-akhereen or the Noblest Lady of all times?
Thus when this noble lady came of age, wealthy suitors approached the Prophet for her hand, but were politely turned down, because no Tom, Dick or Harry of Arabia, whose past was tainted with idol-worship and the sinful ways of Jahailiyya, was worthy of her hand.
Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) who never errs and whatever he says is revelation revealed (refer to the opening ayahs of Surah Najm) was waiting for Divine Orders in this regard.
Soon the Prophet was approached by his dearest cousin and ward, Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), whom he had personally brought up since childhood, and who, as a ten-year lad, was present on Mount Noor when God had sent Archangel Gabriel with the first rays of divine revelation to the 40-year old Hazrat Muhammad (SAWA) with orders to proclaim his universal mission of Islam as the Last and Greatest Messenger. Incidentally, when the Prophet announced his mission in Mecca by testifying to the Oneness of Allah, the Arabs mocked at him, while this same boy Ali (AS) had dauntlessly stood up say the immortal phrase which every Muslim pronounces today: "ash-hado anna Muhammadan Rasoul-Allah” (I testify Muhammad is the Messenger of God).
The young cousin was rather shy before his elder cousin. Out of courtesy he couldn’t make the proposal for which he had approached him. The Prophet understood the intention of the brave young man who had volunteered to sleep on his bed on the night of migration (Hijra) from Mecca to Medina in order to save his life from the murderous Arab assassins hovering around the abode of divine revelation.   
The Prophet smiled, saying whether the only person ever born in the holy Ka’ba has come to seek the hand of his virtuous daughter.
It was the 2nd year of Hijra, and the reply from the victor of the Battle of Badr that had been fought the year before, was in the affirmative. The Prophet decided to consult his daughter regarding his cousin’s proposal.
In the meantime, the commandment descended from the ethereal heavens. The Prophet called his cousin and gave the glad tidings:
"Here is Gabriel informing me that Allah has given Fatema to you in marriage, and made forty thousand angels testify to her marriage. He also revealed to the Tree of Tuba to sprinkle them with gems, rubies, jewelry and embellishments. When it had done this, the Houris rushed to collect these gems, rubies, jewelry, and embellishments to exchange them for gifts until the Day of Resurrection.”
In other words, the Impeccable Hazrat Fatema (SA) would have remained unmarried like the Virgin Mary (mother of Prophet Jesus), if God had not created the Infallible Imam Ali (AS).
It was a marriage made in heaven, whose blessed fruits were four Impeccable Children – two daughters and two sons – all of whom carved out immortal niches in the history of mankind through their faith, patience, prudence, piety, valour, wisdom, forbearance and sacrifices, the peak of which is the heartrending tragedy of Karbala.
If her elder son, Imam Hasan Mojtaba (AS) relinquished the rule of a vast realm for the sake of preservation of the values of Islam, her younger son, Imam Husain (AS) gave his lifeblood in defence of all humanitarian values.
Her daughters too excelled in the social arena, as is evident by the epoch-making sermons of Hazrat Zainab (SA) in Kufa and Damascus and the role this dynamic lady played in the aftermath of the tragedy of Karbala to immortalize and universalize the message of her martyred brother. Her younger daughter, Hazrat Omm Kolsoum (SA) also played a unique role during the journey of the caravan of captives from Karbala, to Kufa, to Damascus and to Medina.
Thus, the anniversary of the blessed marriage of Imam Ali (AS) and Hazrat Fatema (SA) and their role in building the model family of emulation for all Muslims, serves as the lasting lessons for all sections of the ummah in every age, era, and place, in safeguarding faith and virtue within the framework of a virtuous household in addition to carrying out duties in society whenever the situation required.

Felicitations on the Blessed Marriage of Hazrat Zahra (SA) and Imam Ali (AS)