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cushion filled with, palm fibre, a sheepskin. a pot, a waterskin
and a quernýfor. grinding grain.
1 This indicates that the Prophet
married his daughter for a very modest dowry, despite his status in
society as, the Messenger of. Allah and the fact that there were men,
far richer than Ali bin AblT'alib competing for his daughter's hand
0%
and offering great sums of money for the privilege of becoming
related to him in marriage. However, the Prophet chose Ali because
he felt that.. he would be a more suitable husband,, despite his
poverty. In fact, the marriage and the congratulations were
conducted by the Prophet with the utmost simplicity, contrary to
what might have been expected from his status as Prophet in the
community. so began her married life which is described as
difficulty and full of poverty and hardship. Throughout their life,
All. remained poor. F; timah was the only one of her sisters who
0
married a man who was not wealthy. Given her husband's financial
situation, of which she was well aware, and the appreciation of
costs involved in a marital relationship, the load she then had as
the wife of a poor man was heavy. In addition, Ali naturally could
not afford a maid, but he did try to help with the housework.
However, the circumstances she had experienced as a child had well
prepared and taught her strength and fortitude, In fact, it could be
said that Fatimah's life with'Ali was even more rigorous than life
in her father's home. At least before marriage, there were also a
number of ready helping hands in the Prophet's household. But now
she had to cope virtually on her own. "
In the event, she seems to have coped admirably. The couple were
blessed with two boys and two girls# ýassan, ýussJin, Zainab and'Umm
Kaittrum.
3,
le Hamid, op, cit., P. 20
2, Ibid; To. 21 e.
3. Muhibb al-Tabri. al-Simt alwThamin fi Manaqil)'Thnýt al-Mumd-
ntn-, Po 181
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