Accordingly, when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) came to the home of Hazrat Hafsah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), and she found the appropriate time, then she said, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! My father, Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), asked me to mention to you that he proposes for Hazrat Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha).” Hearing this, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) gave the same response which he had given when Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had proposed. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “I will wait for Allah Ta‘ala to decide in this matter.”

When Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) informed Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) regarding the response of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) remarked to him, “O Umar! It apparently seems that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has also not accepted your proposal.”

Thereafter, Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) went to Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and said to him, “Why do you not propose for Hazrat Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha)?” Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “I do not think that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) will marry her to me.” Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) responded, “Why will Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) not marry her to you when you are among the closest of all people to him?”

According to another narration, the family of Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) also encouraged him to propose for Hazrat Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) and told him that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would perhaps consider his proposal on account of him being closely related to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Hence, with the suggestion of his family as well as Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) decided to propose for Hazrat Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha).

(Majma’uz Zawaa’id #15211 and Tabaqaat Ibnu Sa’d 8/16 )

(To be continued)