Umar's marriage to Umm Kulthum
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Umar's marriage to Umm Kulthum bint Ali occurred in 17 AH (637–638), when Umar was 55 years old. The event is notable in that Shi'a and Sunni differ as to the identity of the person named Umm Kulthum.
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[edit] Overview
The person Umar ibn al-Khattab married in 17 AH was the fourth one having the name Umm Khulthum. The identity of the other three was:
- Umm Kulthum bint Asim - Her actual name was Jamila. According to some sources, her kunya was Umm Asim, not Umm Kulthum.
- Umm Kulthum bint Jarwila Khuzima - Her actual name was Maleeka. Umm Kulthum was her kunya.
- Umm Kulthum bint Uqba
Whilst the Shia believes that all these was married to Umar [1], the sunnis disagree that Umm Kulthum bint Uqba was married to Umar. [2]
As for the Umm Kulthum that Umar married in 17 AH, Sunni view that it was Umm Kulthum bint Ali, while some Shi'a argue it was Umm Kulthum bint Abu Bakr.
- Umm Kulthum bint Abu Bakr was born to Asma bint Umays, thus she was the sister of Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr. She was born in 12-13 ah (633-634), after the death of Abu Bakr. Asma, her mother, married Ali and the young Umm Kulthum joined her mother in the house of Ali.
- Umm Kulthum bint Ali was the daughter of Ali and his wife Fatima al-Zahra, thus she was the sister of Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn. According to the Shi'a, she was present at the Battle of Karbala and eventually survived it [3]. This is, however, denied by the Sunnis [4].
[edit] Hadith
Several narrations recorded in both Sunni and Shi'a sources mentions Umar's marriage to Umm Kulthum.
[edit] Shi'a narrations
Shi'as tend to view this as Sahih [7] and have included it in Furu al-Kafi [8]}}
"People have assumed that Umar married Umme Kalthum binte Fatima, rather he married Umme Kalthum binte Jarweela Khuzeema" Tareekh al Qum Shaykh Saduq, by Muhammad Nishapur page 193, published in Tehran [9]
[edit] Sunni narrations
The Shias have argued against this Hadith by saying that the real Arabic text of this narration does not mention "the daughter of Ali" and that is in reality an addition by the translator, Dr. Muhsin Khan.[13] The Sunnis, however, argued that this is a blatant lie and the actual narration does mention her to be "the daughter of Ali."[14] The Shias also argued that this narration is unauthentic because one of its narrators is Thalabah ibn Abi Malik and he is a completely unknown personality.[15] But the Sunnis showed that this is a lie as well.[16]
[edit] Sunni view
[edit] Recognizing the marriage
Most Sunni's believe that it was Umm Kulthum bint Ali that married Umar, as stated by several Shi'i and Shia narrations mentioned above. This view is, among many others, held by following prominent Sunni scholars:
- al-Ya'qubi [19]
- Ibn Shabba [20]
- al-Bukhari [21]
- Ibn Qutayba [22]
- Imam al-Bayhaqi [23]
- al-Dhahabi [24]
- al-Nawawi [25]
- al-Suyuti [26]
- Ibn Kathir [27]
- Ibn Asakir [28]
- Hakim al-Nishaburi [29]
- Ibn Abd al-Barr [30]
[edit] Denying the marriage
A minority of Sunni scholars rejects that it was Umm Kulthum bint Ali that married Umar.
These include
- The Pakistani scholar Mufti Ghulam Rasool Jamaati, who has written a book named Hasab aur Nasab rejecting that it was Umm Kulthum bint Ali that married Umar.
- The Pakistani scholar Malik Daulath Abadi, who wrote in his book Hidayaat al Saud:
| “ | Asma bint Umays was initially the wife of Ja'far al-Tayyar then she married Abu Bakr from this relationship two children were born a boy and a girl called Umm Kulthum. After that she married Hadhrath 'Ali and Umm Kulthum came into his house. This is the Umm Kulthum that Umar married… [31] | ” |
[edit] Shi'a view
Like among the Sunni's, there is also a dispute among Shia's at this point. While the majority of Sunni's acknowledge Umar's marriage to Umm Kulthum bint Ali, this view is disputed among Shia scholars today.
[edit] Recognizing the marriage
The shi'i authors Muhammad Al-Hassun and Umm 'Ali Mashkur stated in their book A'lam al-Nisaa al-Mu'minat:
| “ | The marriage of Umm Kulthum to Umar ibn al-Khattab is counted amongst the important issues presented to us by Islamic history, and as one of those matters around which debate and research has continued at length—and still continues. Those who regard this marriage as an authentic fact use it to prove the righteousness of her husband [Umar] and Ali’s acceptance of him. Otherwise, why would he give him his daughter in marriage? As for those who reject the historic occurrence of the marriage, or are of the opinion that it took place under pressure which Umar brought to bear upon Ali use this issue to justify the unrighteousness and viciousness of Umar, and that Ali u did not approve of him[32]] | ” |
Also, the famous Shi'a website Al-Shia.com states following in a commentary to the hadith in Furu al-Kafi stating that she was a "woman" who was taken from us by force [8]:
| “ | Translated from arabic: [Regarding] Umm Khulthum, who is the daughter of Ameer al-Mu’mineen Ali, Umar proposed to Ali for her hand in marriage during his [Umar’s] caliphate, and at first Ali refused him. So then Umar said what he said, and did what he did [33] The original Arabic text is: ام كلثوم هذه هى بنت امير المؤمنين عليه السلام قد خطبها اليه عمر في زمن خلافته فرده اولا فقال عمر ماقال وفعل مافعل |
” |
The shi'a scholar Abul Qasim al-Kufi (died 352 AH) also believed that it was Umm Kulthum bint Ali who married Umar, but stated that "when Umar asked for the hand of Umm Kulthum, Ali thought to himself: “If I say no, that thing would come to pass which Rasul-Allah tried to prevent, and for which reason he asked me to exercise patience, which is that people will fall into apostasy.” Thus, it was better to hand over Umm Kulthum to him [34]
Shaykh Tabarsi, a 12th century Shi'a Islamic scholar also believed that Umm Kulthum bint Ali married Umar. He wrote following in his book I‘lam al-Wara bi-A‘lam al-Huda:
| “ | As for Umm Kulthoom, she is the one whom Umar ibn al-Khattab married. Our associates say that he (Ali) only married her to him after putting up a lot of resistance, severe refusals and finding excuses. Ultimately he was forced by circumstances to turn her matter over to Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib who married her off.[35] | ” |
Among the Shi'a scholars who believed that the marriage took place is also:
- Agha al-Tahrani [36]
- Al-Hurr Al-'Amily [37]
- Al-Muhaqqiq al-Ardabili [38]
- Sheikh Abu Jaafar al-Tusi [39]
- Fadil al-Hindi [40]
- Mohamad Soleiman-Peneh [1]
While the above scholars believed that the marriage took place, all of them held the opinion that Ali was forced to give away his daughter - not that he happily married her off, as claimed by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
[edit] Denying the marriage
Several Shi'a scholars deny this marriage, including:
The view that Umm Kulthum bint Ali married Umar is not held by the majority of the Shi'a. The common Shi'a view is as follows:
- Asma bint Umays from the Banu Hashim was married to Ja'far ibn Abu Talib, also from Banu Hashim.
- After martyrdom of Jafar in 8 AH, she was married to Abu Bakr, from the Banu Taim.
Then the Succession to Muhammad in 10 AH happened, viewed by Shi'as a joint military coup by Umar and Abu Bakr.
- After the death of Abu Bakr in 13 AH, she got married to Ali, from Banu Hashim.
When she went to the house of Ali, her daughter Umm Kulthum bint Abi Bakr also went with her.
Umar asked to marry Umm Kulthum bint Ali, but Ali refused, arguing she was to little. Umar got furious, and `Abbas ibn `Abd al-Muttalib helped to settle the issue.
So, in 17 AH, she asked Umar (caliph at that time) to call Umm Kulthum bint Abu Bakr. Ali was not ready to send this girl but Abbas said "We must not fight on such minor issues". So Umm Kulthum bint Abi Bakr was sent to Umar.
Also, Shi'a point out that Fatima Zahra, the mother of Umm Kulthum bint Ali, refused to talk to Abu Bakr and Umar, and actually cursed them according to some sources, and willed that she be buried in secret, so that Umar and Abu Bakr would not be able to pray over her grave. Then, Shi'a argue that it is improbable that Ali would give Fatimah's daughter in marriage to the very same person four years later.
[edit] Marriage rules
Based on narrations found even in Sunnī[43] sources, Muhammad said that daughters of his household could only marry those who were from Banū Hāshim.[43] Umar was of Banu Adi.
But this argument does not seem to be correct as Prophet Muhammad's eldet daughter Zainab bint Muhammad was married to Abu al-Aas ibn al-Rabee who belonged to Banu Abd Shams clan of the tribe Quraish. Prophet Muhammad's 2nd daughter Ruqayyah bint Muhammad and after her death 3rd daughter Umm Kulthum bint Muhammad were married to Uthman bin Affan who belonged to Banu Umayya clan of the tribe Quraish. Shia Muslims hold this argument incorrect as they deny existence of any daughter of Mohammad other than Fatima bint Mohammad.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Answering-Ansar.org - Nikah of Lady Umm Kulthum (as)
- ^ AhlelBayt.com - A Different Umm Kulthum?
- ^ Sharh al-Akhbar fi Fada'il al-A'immat al-Athar, vol3 p198
- ^ Siyar Aalam al-Nubalaa by al-Dhahabi (Fikr edition) vol.4 p.418
- ^ Usul al-Kafi, Vol. 5, p. 346, as quoted in Tragedy of al-Zahra.
- ^ Nasihk al-Tawarikh Volume 3 page 408
- ^
- Ahadith from Ali ibn Ibrahim was rated Sahih by Ayatollah Khomeini in his work Al-Hukumatu al-Islamiya p. 133.
- Ali ibn Ibrahim is also considered reliable in Jami' ar-Ruwât, vol.1, p.545
- One of the narrators, Ibn Abi Umayr, was considered very reliable by Abu Jaafar al-Tusi in Al-Fihrist p.169
- ^ a b Furu al-Kafi, vol. 5 p. 347, Dar al-Adwa, Beirut 1992
- ^ http://www.answering-ansar.org/answers/umme_kulthum/en/chap13.php
- ^ al-Tabaqat al-Kubra vol.8 p.338 by Ibn Sa'ad (ed. Dar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyyah, Beirut 1990)
- ^ Jami‘ ar-Ruwat, vol. 1 p. 109, Dar al-Adwa, Beirut 1983
- ^ Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 52, Number 132
- ^ Answering-Ansar.org :: Nikah of Lady Umme Kulthum[sa
- ^ Lies of Answering-Ansar :: 5 - Blatant Lie About Şaĥīĥ al-Bukhārī I: Umm Kulthūm “bint `Alī”
- ^ Answering-Ansar.org :: Nikah of Lady Umme Kulthum[sa
- ^ Lies of Answering-Ansar :: 13 - Tha`laba ibn Abī Mālik (ra) and the Continuity of Answering-Ansar’s Deception
- ^ Sunnan Abu Dawood, Book 20, Number 3187
- ^ Sunan al-Sughra by Imam Al-Nasa'i Volume 1, Chapter Janâza, page 317
- ^ Tarikh al-Yaqubi vol. 2 pp.260
- ^ Tarikh al-Madina vol 2 p654
- ^ Tarikh al-Saghir vol. 1 p. 102
- ^ Ma'arif p. 107
- ^ Sunan al-Kubra vol. 4 p. 33
- ^ Siyar Aalam al-Nubalaa 5:22-24
- ^ Tahdhib al-Asmaa wa al-Lughat 2:267 #1219
- ^ al-Hawi lil Fatawa 2:179
- ^ Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah vol. 8 p. 14
- ^ Tarikh al Dimashq 42:555
- ^ Al-Mustadrak alaa al-Sahihain, by al-Hakim al-Nishaburi, 3/142
- ^ al-Istiab fi ma'rifat al-Ashab vol 4 p 509
- ^ Hidayaat al Saud page 359
- ^ “A‘lam an-Nisa al-Mu’minat” (p. 182) by Muhammad al-Hassun and Umm ‘Ali Mashkur
- ^ http://www.al-shia.com/html/ara/books/al-kafi-5/213.html
- ^ al-Istighathah fi Bida' ath-Thalathah”, p.90
- ^ I'lam al-Wara bi A'lam al-Huda by al-Tabarsi p.204
- ^ Al-Dhari'ah 5:184
- ^ Wasa'il al-Shi'a aal al-Bayt 15:19, 17:594, 21:263, 26:314
- ^ Majmaa al-Fa’ida vol.11 p.530
- ^ al-Mabsut vol.4 p.272
- ^ Kashf al-Litham vol 2 pp.312
- ^ ´Adah rasa'il 227-229
- ^ Tareekh al Qum Shaykh Saduq, by Muhammad Nishapur page 193, published in Tehran
- ^ a b * al-Haythami, Ahmad ibn Muhammad Ibn Hajar (1965). al-Sawa`iq al-muhriqah. Maktabat al-Qahirah. p. 160.
* Ibn Qutayba, Abd Allah ibn Muslim (1960). Kitab al-Ma'arif. s.n. p. 70.
[edit] External links
- http://www.ansar.org/english/marriage.htm - Sunni arguments by Ansar.org
- http://www.answering-ansar.org/answers/umme_kulthum/en/chap5.php Shia counter-argument by Answering-Ansar.org
- http://www.ahlelbayt.com/articles/sahabah/rebuttal Sunni Response to Answering-Ansar.org's article by AhlelBayt.com
- http://www.al-islam.org/Organizations/Aalimnetwork/msg00166.html Shi'a scholar on al-Islam.org who views that it was Ali's daughter.
