1st Question:

Is it permissible for a lady, who is a descendant of Fatimah (a.) to marry a man who is not a descendant of Fatimah (a.)?

Answer:

Muhammad ibn Ali reported that Imam as-Sadiq (a.) said: ,,All things are unrestricted until a prohibition is referred to them.” [al-Faqih of As-Saduq, Volume 1 Page 223 Hadith 937]

محمد بن علي بن الحسين قال: عن الصادق عليه السلام أنه قال: كل شئ مطلق حتى يرد فيه نهي

2nd Question:

Is it obligatory to stand up in respect of a person who is a descendant of Fatimah (a.)?

Answer:

Al-Mustanbat reported that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: ,,Whoever saw [one of] my children and did not stand before him, so he has already treated me harshly, so whoever treats me harshly then he is a hypocrite.” [Al-Qatrah of Al-Mustanbat, Volume 2 Page 107 Hadith 3]

 قال السيد أحمد المستنبط: عنه (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم): من رأي أولادي ولم يقم بين يديه فقد جفاني، ومن جفاني فهو منافق

 The author has quoted this tradition from the book ‘Jami al-Akhbar’.

Al-Hurr Al-Amili writes: ,,These books are unreliable, because of no knowledge about their reliability and their authors, and the proof of weakness of some of them, and because of that, I did not narrate anything from them [in Wasail]: … Jami al-Akhbar.” [Wasail-ush-Shiah of Al-Amili, Volume 30 Pages 159 – 160]

قال الحر العاملي: هذه كتب غير معتمدة، لعدم العلم بثقة، مؤلفيها، وثبوت ضعف بعضهم، ولذلك لم أنقل منها شيئا: … (٦) كتاب جامع الأخبار

Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi writes: ,,And the book Ghawali al-La’ali, although it is well-known, and its author in is well-known in virtue, but he did not distinguish the peel from the pulp, and he entered the news of the fanatics of the opponents among the narrations of the companions. Therefore, we confined ourselves to the transmission of some of it, and the like of it is the book Nathr al-La’ali and the book Jami al-Akhbar.” [Bihar-ul-Anwar of Al-Majlisi, Volume 1 Page 31]

قال محمد باقر المجلسي: وكتاب غوالي اللئالي وإن كان مشهورا ومؤلفه في الفضل معروفا، لكنه لم يميز القشر من اللباب وأدخل أخبار متعصبي المخالفين بين روايات الأصحاب. فلذا اقتصرنا منه على نقل بعضها، ومثله كتاب نثر اللئالي وكتاب جامع الأخبار

3rd Question:

Is it obligatory to respect the descendants of Fatimah (a.) even if they are wicked?

Answer:

It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: ,,Honor my children.” [Jami al-Akhbar Page 140]

روى أنه قال: أكرموا أولادي

It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: ,,[Honor] my pious children for God and the wicked for me.” [Jami al-Akhbar Page 140]

روى أنه قال صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: أولادي الصالحون لله والطالحون لي

Although the source is weak, the first tradition is not unreliable as it is supported by other reliable traditions. As for the second tradition, it is unreliable as it is from a weak source and it contradicts other reliable traditions.

Al-Hasan ibn al-Jahm reported that Imam Ar-Ridha (a.) said: ,,Whoever does not fear God and does not watch out (against sins) so he is not from us.” [Uyoon Akhbar Ar-Ridha of As-Saduq, Volume 2 Page 260 Hadith 6]

حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق رضي الله عنه قال: حدثنا محمد بن أبي عبد الله الكوفي قال: حدثنا أبو الخير صالح بن أبي حماد عن الحسن بن الجهم عن الرضا عليه السلام أنه قال: من لم يتق الله ولم يراقبه فليس منا

4th Question:

If a person who is not a descendant of Fatimah (a.) marries a lady from the descendants of Fatimah (a.), would it go against protective jealousy?

Answer:

Jamil bin Darraj reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: ,,There is no [protective] jealousy in the lawful matters.” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, Volume 5 Pages 537 – 538 Hadith 1]

علي بن إبراهيم، عن أبيه، عن ابن أبي عمير، عن جميل بن دراج، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: لا غيرة في الحلال

5th Question:

Obeying your husband is obligatory. If a lady from the descendants of Fatimah (a.) marries a man who is not from the descendants of Fatimah (a.), she will also have to obey her husband. Does it go against the respect which should be maintained for descendants of Fatimah (a.)?

Answer:

Those who use this argument have the belief that a man from the descendants of Fatimah (a.) can marry a lady who is not a descendant of Fatimah (a.). If the couple has a child, he will be considered a descendant of Fatimah (a.) because of his father. Obeying your mother is obligatory according to many traditions. How can a descendant of Fatimah (a.) obey her mother who is not a descendant of Fatimah (a.)? Where does the respect for descendants of Fatimah (a.) go in such cases?

6th Question:

A descendant of Fatimah (a.) is not allowed to receive [obligatory] charity. Does this prove that a lady from the descendants of Fatimah (a.) can not marry a man who is not from the descendants of Fatimah (a.)?

Answer:

Charity is prohibited not only on the descendants of Fatimah (a.) but on the whole clan of Abdul Muttalib.

Ees ibn al-Qasim reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: ,,O children of Abdul Muttalib, charity is not lawful for me and for you.” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, Volume 4 Page 58 Hadith 1]

أحمد بن إدريس، عن محمد بن عبد الجبار; ومحمد بن إسماعيل، عن الفضل بن شاذان جميعا، عن صفوان بن يحيى، عن عيص بن القاسم، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) قال: فقال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله): يا بني عبد المطلب إن الصدقة لا تحل لي ولا لكم

Abu Bakr al-Hadrami reported that Imam as-Sadiq (a) said: ,,Messenger of God (s.) got Miqdad ibn al-Aswad married to Zubaat daughter of Al Zubeyr ibn Abdul Muttalib, and rather he got him married in order to set the rules of the marriage and (for people) to follow the footsteps of the Messenger of God (s.), and to let them know that the most prestigious of them in the presence of God is the most pious of them.” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, Volume 5 Page 344 Hadith 1]

علي بن إبراهيم، عن أبيه، عن الحسن بن علي بن فضال، عن ثعلبة بن ميمون، عن عمر بن أبي بكار، عن أبي بكر الحضرمي، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) قال: إن رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله) زوج مقداد بن الأسود ضباعة ابنة الزبير بن عبد المطلب وإنما زوجه لتتضع المناكح وليتأسوا برسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله) وليعلموا أن أكرمهم عند الله أتقاهم

Ali ibn Bilal narrated: ,,Hisham ibn al-Hakam met one of the Kharijites, so he said: ,,O Hisham, what are you saying regarding the non-Arabs, are they allowed to marry among the Arabs?” He said: ,,Yes.” He said: ,,So the Arabs can marry from Quraish?” He said: ,,Yes.” He said: ,,So the Quraish can marry in the Clan of Hashim (a)?” He said: ,,Yes.” He said: ,,From where did you take this?” He said: ,,From Jafar (a.) ibn Muhammad (a.). I heard him saying: ,,Your blood is matching but your reproductive organs can not?” He (the narrator) said: So the Kharijite went out until he came over to Imam As-Sadiq (a.), so he said: ,,I met Hisham, and I asked him about such, so he informed me with such and such, and he mentioned that he had heard it from you.” He said: ,,Yes, I have said that.” So the Kharijite said: ,,So here I am with a marriage proposal.” So Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said to him: ,,You are a match regarding your blood and your nobility among your people, but Allah, Powerful and Exalted, safeguarded us from the charity, and it is a dirt from the hands of the people. Thus, we dislike that we associate you in what Allah has preferred us with, [as you are] the one whom Allah has not made for you the like of what Allah has made for us.” So the Kharijite arose and he was saying: ,,By Allah, I have not seen a man like him (a) at all. He (a) repulsed me, by Allah, with the ugliest of repulsions, but still without contradicting his companion (Hisham).” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, Volume 5 Page 345 Hadith 5]

الحسين بن الحسن الهاشمي، عن إبراهيم بن إسحاق الأحمر، وعلي بن محمد بن بندار، عن السياري، عن بعض البغداديين، عن علي بن بلال قال: لقى هشام بن الحكم بعض الخوارج فقال: يا هشام ما تقول في العجم يجوز أن يتزوجوا في العرب؟ قال: نعم، قال: فالعرب يتزوجوا من قريش؟ قال: نعم، قال: فقريش يتزوج في بني هاشم؟ قال: نعم، قال: عمن أخذت هذا؟ قال: عن جعفر بن محمد سمعته يقول: أتتكافأ دمائكم ولا تتكافأ فروجكم قال: فخرج الخارجي حتى أتى أبا عبد الله (عليه السلام) فقال: إني لقيت هشاما فسألته عن كذا فأخبرني بكذا وكذا وذكر أنه سمعه منك، قال: نعم قد قلت ذلك، فقال الخارجي: فها أنا ذا قد جئتك خاطبا فقال له أبو عبد الله (عليه السلام) إنك لكفوفي دمك وحسبك في قومك ولكن الله عز وجل صاننا عن الصدقة وهي أوساخ أيدي الناس فنكره أن نشرك فيما فضلنا الله به من لم يجعل الله له مثل ما جعل الله لنا فقام الخارجي وهو يقول: تالله ما رأيت رجلا مثله قط ردني والله أقبح رد وما خرج من قول صاحبه

If we were to say this tradition means those on whom charity is prohibited can not marry those who can receive charity, this interpretation would be invalid because:

[1.] It would contradict the custom (Miqdad’s marriage).

[2.] It would contradict the opinion of Hisham, and Imam (a.) did not reject the statements of Hisham rather he said: “Yes, I have said that.”

[3.] The Kharijite himself agreed that the Imam (a.) did not contradict his companion.

[4.] Imam (a.) said “You are a match regarding your blood and your nobility among your people.” but a believer is match for a believer, it can mean: the Kharijite was a disbeliever and this was a way for Imam (a.) to call him a disbeliever. See Al-Hadaiq of Al-Bahrani, Volume 24 Page 75.

7th Question:

Are there any more reports about the permissibility of marrying a descendant of Fatimah (a.)?

Answer:

Aban ibn Taghlib reported that Imam Al-Baqir (a.) said that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: ,,I am only a human like you, I marry in you [your women] and I give in marriage [my women] except for Fatimah (a.), for her marriage will be revealed from the sky.” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, Volume 5 Page 568 Hadith 54]

محمد بن يحيى، عن أحمد بن محمد، عن العباس بن معروف، عن علي بن مهزيار عن مخلد بن موسى، عن إبراهيم بن علي، عن علي بن يحيى اليربوعي، عن أبان بن تغلب، عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام) قال: قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله): إنما أنا بشر مثلكم أتزوج فيكم وأزوجكم إلا فاطمة (عليها السلام) فإن تزويجها نزل من السماء

Abu Hamzah Ath-Thumali reported that Imam Al-Baqir (a.) said that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: ,,A believer [male] is match for a believer [female].” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, Volume 5 Page 341]

محمد بن يحيى، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن الحسن بن محبوب، عن مالك بن عطية، عن أبي حمزة الثمالي، عن الباقر عليه السلام أنه قال: قال رسول الله [صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم]: المؤمن كفو للمؤمنة

Sheikh al-Kulayni reported from his chain that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: ,,The match is that he happens to be chaste, and with him is wealth.” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, Volume 5 Page 347 Hadith 1]

عدة من أصحابنا، عن أحمد بن محمد، عن علي بن الحكم، عن أبان، عن رجل عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) قال: الكفؤ أن يكون عفيفا وعنده يسار

Ali ibn Mahzyar reported that Imam Al-Jawad (a.) wrote that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: ,,If someone comes to you and you are satisfied with his manners and religion, marry him. Verily, if you do not do that, there will be sedition (fitnah) on the earth and great corruption (fasad).”
[Tahdhib al-Ahkam of At-Tusi, Volume 7 Page 456 Hadith 4]

وعنه عن علي بن مهزيار قال: قرأت كتاب أبي جعفر عليه السلام إلى أبى شيبة الأصبهاني: فان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله قال: إذا جاءكم من ترضون خلقه ودينه فزوجوه، انكم إلا تفعلوا ذلك تكن فتنة في الأرض وفساد كبير

Sulaiman ibn Jafar al-Jafary reported that Imam Ar-Ridha (a.) said to him: ,,O Sulaiman, Allah, Blessed and High, created the believer from His light (noor), and coloured them with His mercy, and Took their Covenant for us with the Wilayah. So the believer is a brother of the believer to [as of the same] father and the mother. His father is the light (noor) and his mother is the mercy. Therefore, beware of the insight of the believer, for he looks by the light of Allah from which He has been Created.”
[Al-Mahasin of Al-Barqi, Page 131 Hadith 1]

أحمد بن أبي عبد الله البرقي، عن أبيه، عن سليمان بن جعفر الجعفري، عن أبي الحسن الرضا عليه السلام، قال: قال لي: يا سليمان، ان الله تبارك وتعالى خلق المؤمن من نوره، وصبغهم في رحمته، وأخذ ميثاقهم لنا بالولاية، فالمؤمن أخو المؤمن لأبيه وأمه، أبوه النور وأمه الرحمة، فاتقوا فراسة المؤمن، فإنه ينظر بنور الله الذي خلق منه

Abu Ishaq al-Khafaf, raising it, reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: ,,The believer is the friendliest of all, best of race, from our clay, [of] Ahl ul-bayt.” [Al-Mahasin of Al-Barqi, Page 135 Hadith 15]

عنه، عن أبي إسحاق الخفاف، رفعه، قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: المؤمن آنس الانس، جيد الجنس، من طينتا أهل البيت

Al-Barqi reported from his chain that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: ,,The seed of the believer comes to be in the loins of the polytheists, so nothing from the evil hits him until it is placed. So when he comes to be a complete person, nothing from the evil hits him until the Pen flows against him.” [Al-Mahasin of Al-Barqi, Page 138 Hadith 23]

وعنه، عن الحسن بن علي الوشاء، عن علي بن ميسر، عمن ذكره، عن أبي – عبد الله عليه السلام، قال: أن نطفة المؤمن لتكون في صلب المشرك فلا يصيبه من الشر شئ حتى يضعه، فإذا صار بشرا سويا لم يصبه من الشر شئ حتى يجرى عليه القلم

Abu Abdullah al-Madaini reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said:,,Nor will anyone love us (a) except the one who was the elite of his generation.” [Al-Mahasin of Al-Barqi, Page 139 Hadith 25]

وعنه، عن عبد الله بن محمد الحجال، عن أبي عبد الله المدايني، قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: ولا يحبنا الا من كان صفوة من أي الجيل كان

Sadeer reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: ,,You (Shiah) are Family of Muhammad (s.), You (Shiah) are Family of Muhammad (s.).” [Al-Mahasin of Al-Barqi, Page 143 Hadith 40]

عنه، عن أبيه، عن سعدان بن مسلم، عن سدير، قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه – السلام: أنتم آل محمد، أنتم آل محمد

Khaythamah reported that Imam Al-Baqir (a.) said: ,,So whoever recognized us and supported us and recognized our right and took (followed) from our order/affair so he is from us and towards us.” [Basair ud Darajaat volume 2 page 96 hadith 10]

حدثنا عبد الله ابن عامر عن العباس بن معروف عن عبد الرحمن بن أبى عبد الله البصري عن أبي المعزا عن أبي بصير عن خيثمة عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام قال سمعته يقول: فمن عرفنا ونصرنا وعرف حقنا و اخذ بأمرنا فهو منا والينا

Abu Ubaidah reported that Imam Al-Baqir (a.) said: ,,Whoever loves us so he is from us, Ahl ul-bayt.” I (narrator) said: ‘May I be sacrificed for you, from you?’ He said: “From us, by Allah, have you not heard the saying of Ibrahim (a.): [Quran 14:36] “So whoever follows me then he is from me.” [Tafsir al-Ayyashi, Volume 2 Page 414 Hadith 30]

عن أبي عبيدة عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام قال: من أحبنا فهو منا أهل البيت قلت: جعلت فداك منكم؟ قال: منا والله، اما سمعت قول إبراهيم عليه السلام: (فمن تبعني فإنه منى)

Abu Hamzah reported: ,,Saad ibn Abdul Malik went to Imam Al-Baqir (a.), he used to call him ,,Saad The Good (Khair)”, and he was from the sons of Abdul Aziz ibn Marwan. Imam Al-Baqir (a.) saw Saad crying outloud like women do. So Imam Al-Baqir (a.) said to him: ,,What makes you cry, o Saad?” he said: ,,And how can I not cry and I am from the accursed tree (family) in the Quran.” He said: ,,You are not one of them, you are an Umayyad [but] from us, Ahl ul-bayt, have you not heard the saying of Allah, Powerful and Exalted, narrated from Ibrahim (a.): [Quran 14:36] ,,So whoever follows me then he is from me.” [Al-Ikhtisas of Al-Mufid, Page 91]

حدثني أبو عبد الله محمد بن أحمد الكوفي الخزاز قال: حدثني أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد الكوفي، عن ابن فضال، عن إسماعيل بن مهران، عن أبي مسروق النهدي، عن مالك بن عطية، عن أبي حمزة، قال: دخل سعد بن عبد الملك وكان أبو جعفر عليه السلام يسميه سعد الخير وهو من ولد عبد العزيز بن مروان على أبي جعفر عليه السلام فبينا ينشج كما تنشج النساء قال: فقال له أبو جعفر عليه السلام: ما يبكيك يا سعد؟ قال وكيف لا أبكي وأنا من الشجرة الملعونة في القرآن، فقال له: لست منهم أنت أموي منا أهل البيت أما سمعت قول الله عز وجل يحكي عن إبراهيم: فمن تبعني فإنه مني

Hamzah ibn Bazee reported that Imam Al-Baqir (a.) wrote to Saad ibn Abdul Malik: ,,O brother.” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, Volume 8 Page 56]

محمد بن يحيى، عن محمد بن الحسين، عن محمد بن إسماعيل بن بزيع، عن عمه حمزة ابن بزيع قال: كتب أبو جعفر (عليه السلام) إلى سعد الخير: يا أخي

Comment:

The claim that a descendant of Fatimah (a.) can not marry anyone but a descendant of Fatimah (a.) is baseless and contradicts many traditions.

The traditions about descendants of Fatimah (a.) are that one has to respect them and their deeds are doubled. But the traditions about a believer and their virtues are too many, whether the believer is a descendant of Fatimah (a.) or not. See Fadail ash-Shiah of As-Saduq and Al-Mahasin of Al-Barqi [book 4].