a critical assessment of umm kulthum’s marriage to umar

8/10/2019 A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar

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Islamic Truths Center

A Series of Theological Studies

A Critical Assessment of UmmKulthums Marriage to Umar

Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hussaini Milani

Translated by

Jawid Abari


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar a

Contents

Contents........................................................................a

Prelude..........................................................................1

Introduction...................................................................3

A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage toUmar...................................................................................4

Section I...........................................................................6he !arrations and heir !arrators..................................6

he !arrators and heir !arrations..............................."

1. I#n Saads !arrations in Al$a#a%at Al$Ku#ra........."

&. 'ula#is !arrations in Al$'urri(at Al$ahira..........1)

3. *+,im !isha#uris !arration in Al$Mustadra,.......1-

4. a(ha%is !arrations in Al$Sunan Al$Ku#ra...........16-. Khati# aghdadis !arrations in ari,h aghdad..1/

6. I#n A#d Al$arrs !arrations in Al$Istia#0.............1

". I#n Athirs !arrations in Usd Al$2ha#ah...............&1

/. I#n *aars !arrations in Al$Isa#ah.......................&4

Section II........................................................................&/

A Stud( of the Chains of ransmission of the !arrations &/

A Stud( of the Chains of ransmission of the !arrations........................................................................................&

he ocal Point in this 5egard......................................3)

Ahmad i#n A#dul a##ar as Seen #( iogra7hers....33

8unus i#n u,air as Seen #( iogra7hers................33

Amr i#n 'inar as Seen #( iogra7hers....................34

Suf(an i#n U(ainah as Seen #( iogra7hers............3-


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9a,i #in arrah as Seen #( iogra7hers..................3"

I#n urai as Seen #( iogra7hers............................3"

I#n A#i Mali,ah as Seen #( iogra7hers..................3/

*usham i#n Saad as Seen #( iogra7hers..............3

I#n 9aha# as Seen #( iogra7hers..........................4)

Musa i#n Ali :a,hmi as Seen #( iogra7hers...........41

Ali i#n 5a#+h :a,hmi as Seen #( iogra7hers.........41

U%#ah i#n ;mir uhani as Seen #( iogra7hers.......4&

At+ Khurasani as Seen #( iogra7hers....................43Muhammad i#n Umar 9a%idi as Seen #( iogra7hers

....................................................................................43

A#dul 5ahman i#n


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar 1

!relude

9ith the 7ro7hetic mission of Pro7het Muhammad ESFG theseal of the 7ro7hetsG the last and the most 7erfect di@inereligion as con@e(ed to humanit( and 7ro7hethood cameto an end. he religion of Islam emerged in Mecca #ut aftertent( three (ears of arduous eHorts made #( theMessenger of Allah ESF and a handful of his lo(alcom7anions it s7read all o@er the Ara#ian Peninsula.

he continuation of this di@ine mission as an im7ortant

underta,ing that as entrusted 7u#licl( on 'hul *iaG theeighteenthG #( 2lorious AllahG to Ali EA.S.FG the Commanderof the aithful and the >rst 7ersonalit( after the *ol(Pro7het ESF in the orld of Islam.

9ith the 7roclamation of *arat Alis guardianshi7 andsuccession on this da(G di@ine #lessings ere com7letedand the religion of Islam as 7erfected and announced as

the onl( religion chosen #( Allah. hat as ho un#elie@ersand 7agans des7aired of destro(ing Islam.

Soon after the demise of the Messenger of Allah ESFJGsome of the com7anions of the *ol( Pro7het ESFG #ased ontheir 7re$hatched cons7iraciesG de@iated from the course ofguidance and leadershi7. he( closed the gate of the cit( of,noledge 7utting Muslims in 7er7le?it(. rom the @er(#eginning of their ruleG the( 7laced the truths of Islam that ere li,e shinning sun #ehind the dar, clouds ofdou#t and s,e7ticism #( a( of 7utting a #an on recording7ro7hetic narrationsG s7reading fa#ricated narrationsGcasting dou#ts and em#ar,ing on h(7ocritical anddece7ti@e tactics.

#@iousl(G in s7ite of all cons7iracies hatched #( theenemies of IslamG the truths of Islam and no#le sa(ings of

the Messenger of Allah ESF ere 7romulgated #( the


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar &

Commander of the aithfulG Ali EA.SFG his successors and afe of his de@out com7anions and those truths continued to

Lo and manifest themsel@es in one a( or the other in thecourse of histor(. ( e?7laining the truthsG the( did aa(ith dou#tsG s7ecious argumentsG and ic,ed #eliefsinculcated #( the enemies of IslamG and made the truthclear to all.

In this res7ectG great scholars and men of ,noledgesuch as Shei,h Mu>dG Sa((id MurtadhaG Khaa !asirGAllamah *illiG Badhi !urullahG Mir *amid *ussainG Sa((idSharafuddinG Allamah Amini etc. ha@ing #een glittering li,eshining starsG since the( are the ones ho defended IslamictruthsG e?7lained the realities of the school of Ahl Al$a(tEA.S.F and dealt ith s7urious arguments using theirtongues and 7ens.

In our eraG one of the outstanding scholars andresearchers ho hasG ith his elo%uent 7en and e?7ressi@e

ritingG e?7lained the truths of the religion of Islam andastutel( defended the imamateand wilayah Eguardianshi7Fof the Commander of the aithfulG Ali EA.S.F is A(atollahSa((id Ali *usaini MilaniG a great researcher.

he Islamic ruths Center is 7roud to ta,e u7 the tas, ofre@i@ing the fruitful and 7recious or,s of that greatresearcher #( re@ieingG translating and 7u#lishing them in

a #id to ma,e them a@aila#le to studentsG scienti>c >guresand those ho are in search of Islamic truths.

he #oo, in (our hand is a translation of one of his or,shich ill no ac%uaint the nglish readers ith Islamictruths. It is e?7ected that this hum#le eHort ill earn the7leasure of the 5emnant of AllahG the Imam of imeG ma(Allah hasten his rea77earance.


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Introductionhe 7ur7ose of riting this #oo, is to conduct a researchinto the narrations or re7orts regarding Umars marriage toUmm KulthumG the daughter of the Commander of theaithfulG AliG 7eace #e u7on him. his e@ent has ala(s #eenused #( a grou7 of 7eo7le to den( the #itter incidents andad@erse e@ents that too, 7lace during the earl( 7eriod ofIslam in regards to Ali #in A#i ali# and atima


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar -

n case, the marria"e, as stated by the narrations of the Two ects, has ta*en placeunder coercion, intimidation and pressure, ma*in" recourse to such an ar"umentwould then be counterproductive and it will be counted as another injustice done to

the +rophets pro"eny (A..!.


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums

Marriage to Umar


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar "

In the name of AllahG the Com7assionate the Merciful

All 7raise is due to AllahG the :ord of the orlds. Ma( the7eace and #lessings of Allah #e u7on our MasterGMuhammadG and his 7ure famil(G and ma( the curse of Allah#e u7on all of their enemies.

Since the earl( Islamic centuries as of noG man(in%uiries and in@estigations ha@e #een made and ansersgi@en concerning the folloing narration0 The Commanderof Faithful, Ali (A.S.) married his daughter to Ummar b.

Khattab.

As ellG #oo,sG treatises and articles ha@e #een ritten inthis regard. or instanceG Shei,h Mu>dG ma( Allah #e7leased ith himG has authored to ell$researchedtreatises in this regardG of hich one has #een 7resented inthe #oo, titledA!webat Al"#asail Al"Sarawiyah in re7l( tothe tenth %uestion and the other has #een 7resented in

A!webat Al"#asail Al"$%!ibiyah in re7l( to the >fteenth%uestion.

he 7resent #oo, is the result of research concerning thisincident. In this stud(G >rst of allG the original narration has#een cited from the most famous Sunni #oo,s hereu7ontheir chains of transmission as ell as their signi>cationsha@e #een e?amined and criticied.

his stud( aims to e?amine the stor(G un@eil and clarif(the truth and >nall( 7ut a sto7 to contro@ersies anddis7utes in this regard.

And Allah is elicitous and *e is the *el7er.


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Section I

The "arrations and Their "arrators


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar

The "arrators and Their "arrations

ne of the narrations idel( ,non among Sunni Muslimsis the narration to hich the( ha@e made recourse in orderto argue that Nthe Commander of the aithfulG Ali EA.S.Fmarried out his daughterG Umm KulthumG to UmarO. he(ha@e transmitted this narration in their sources and e illcite it from their most famous #oo,s0

#$ Ibn Saads "arrations in Al%Taba&at Al%KubraAs far as e ,noG the earliest narrator ho has 7assed

on this tradition is Muhammad #in Saad #. Mani


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reference to it sa(ing0 NI feel em#arrassed toards Asma#int Umais hose to sons died hen the( ere in m(

com7an(G and I am orried a#out the third oneO UmmKulthum died in A#dullah i#n afars house and did not #eara child ith an(one of them

The second narration:Umar i#n Al$Khatta# as,ed Alii#n A#i ali# for the hand of Umm Kulthum in marriage. Alisaid0 NI ha@e ,e7t m( daughters for the sons of afar.O

Umar said0 NMarr( her to meG A#ul *asanG for #( AllahG

there is no man on the face of the earth ho see,s toachie@e through her good com7anionshi7 that hich I see,to [email protected]

Ali said0 NI ha@e done so.O

hen Umar came to the Muhairun Elit. migrantsF #eteenthe gra@e Eof 5asul$AllahF and the 7ul7it. he( Q AliGUthmanG


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I as a com7anion of the Pro7het and I also lo@ed this relationshi7 to #e maintained.

The third narration: N9a,i i#n arrah narrates from*usham i#n SaadG he from Ataa Khurasani that he said0NUmar 7aid fort( thousand TdirhamsJ as dor( TmarriagegiftJ to Umm KulthumO

The ourth narration:Muhammad i#n Umar 9a%idi andothers ha@e said0 NUmar as,ed Ali for the hand of hisdaughterG Umm KulthumG in marriage. Ali re7lied that she

had not (et attained the age Eof 7u#ert(F.

Umar re7lied0 N( AllahG this is not true. 8ou do not anther to marr( me. If she is underageG send her to me.O

husG Ali called Umm KulthumG the( 7re7ared her andmade her u7. hen he as,ed for a 7iece of cloth hich hefolded and handed o@er to Umm Kulthum telling her to ta,ethe garment to Amirul Mumeneen and tell him0 NM( father

has sent me to (ou instructing me to con@e( (ou hisgreetings and said that if (ou li,ed the garmentG ta,e it orelseG return it.O

9hen Umm Kulthum ent to UmarG the latter said0 NMa(Allah #less (ou and (our fatherG I li,e it.O

Umm Kulthum returned to his father and said0 N*e did notunfold the garmentG #ut ust loo,ed at meO

hen Ali married her to Umar and she #ore him a childnamed


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The tenth narration:afar i#n =An narrates from i#nura(h that !+> said0 Nhe #odies of Umm KulthumG the

daughter of Ali i#n A#i ali# and ife of Umar i#n Khatta#and her son


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Umar re7lied0 N( AllahG this is not trueV1 8ou do notant her to marr( me. If she is underageG send her to me.O

husG Ali ga@e his daughter Umm Kulthum a dress andas,ed her to go to Umar and tell him that her father antedto ,no hat this dress as for. 9hen she came to Umarand ga@e him the messageG he gra##ed her hand andforci#l( 7ulled her toards himself. Umm Kulthum as,edhim to lea@e her handG hich Umar did and said0 N8ou are a@er( mannered lad( ith great moralsV&2o and tell (our

father that (ou are @er( 7rett( and (ou are not hat he saidof (ouO

9ith that Ali married Umm Kulthum to Umar.

The third narration: Ahmad i#n A#dul a##ar narratesfrom 8unus i#n u,airG from Khalid i#n SalehG from 9a%idi#n A#dullah i#n UmarG from some of his relati@es that Umari#n Khatta# Umar i#n Khatta# as,ed Ali for the hand of his

daughterG Umm Kalthum #int atima Edaughter of the *ol(Pro7het ESFF in marriage.

Ali said to him0 NShe has other guardians alsoG ait until Iget their 7ermission.O hen Ali EA.S.F ent to atimas sonsand informed them a#out Umars 7ro7osal hereu7on the(said0 NMarr( her to him.O

Ali called Umm KulthumG ho as then a (oung girl thenG

and said to her0 N2o to the Commander of the aithfulG andtell him0 NM( father sends (ou his regards and sa(s that hehas ful>lled (our ish.O

1In the 7rinted co7( of the #oo,G it has #een ritten in this 7art of the #oo,s assuch0 Nhere is a ord here hich is not reada#leO ut the original sentence is this0N!oG I sear #( Allah hat is not true.O

&In the 7rinted co7( of the #oo,G it has #een ritten as such0 Nhere is a ord

here hich is not reada#leO ut in the tradition of Muhi#uddin Al$a#ariG there is notan( ord.O


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U7on reaching Umars houseG Umm Kulthum con@e(edhim her fathers message hereu7on Umar gra##ed her

and held her to his #osom EF and said0 NI sought UmmKulthums hand in marriage and her father married her tome.O

he( said to Umar0 N9hat do (ou meanR She is a littlegirlRO

Umar said0 W'o not dis7arage me Tfor marr(ing a (ounggirlJG for I heard the Pro7het sa(G u7on him #e #lessings and

7eace0

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'ery means will be *ut o+ and eery lineage seeredon the ay of -udgment e*e/t my means and lineage.0

desired to place myself in the +rophetHs linea"e throu"h this marria"e.I

Thefourth narration0 A#dul 5ahman i#n Khalid i#n Muni

sa(s0 N*a#i#G the riter of Mali, i#n Anass #oo,G narratesfrom A#dul Ai 'araerdiG from


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hen Ali turned to A%il and said0 Nh A%ilG I sear #( Allahthat it is not #ecause of m( inclination to (ou and (our

o7inionG #ut Umar i#n Khatta# informed me that he heardthe Messenger of Allah ESF sa(0

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'ery means will be *ut o+ and eery lineage seered

on the ay of -udgment e*e/t my lineage.0

The fth narration:A#dul Ai i#n Muni has narrated

from A#u Al$'arda MaraiG from Khalid i#n KhedashX alsoGIsha% i#n I#rahim i#n Muhammad i#n Sulaiman i#n ilal i#nA#i Al$'arda Ansari has re7orted from A#u amahirMuhammad i#n Uthman ho said0 NA#dullah i#n


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=An i#n afar i#n A#i ali# married Umm Kulthum EF andshe did not #ear a child from =AnG until the latter died.O

The ninth narration0 Ahmad i#n A#dul a##arG from8unus i#n u,airG from Isha%G ho narrates0 N9hen UmarGthe hus#and of Umm Kulthum #int AliG diedG =An i#n afarmarried Umm Kulthum and he also died in her lifetimeithout her #earing a child ith him.O

The tenth narration: I#n Isha% sa(s0 NM( father Ishaa%i#n 8asaar narrates from *asan i#n *asan i#n Ali i#n A#i

ali#G ho said0 N9hen Umm KulthumG the daughter of Alii#n A#i ali# as idoed of UmarG her #rothers *asan and*usain ent to her and said0 N8ou are ,non as the >rstlad( of Islam and the daughter of the #est lad( of the orld.9e sear #( Allah that if (ou lea@e (our decision to AliG heill de>nitel( marr( (ou to one of his or7hans EF and if (ouish to get much ealthG (ou ill de>nitel( get it.O

I sear #( AllahG no sooner the( got u7 than Ali arri@edhile he as leaning on his al,ing stic,. Praising andthan,ing AllahG he reminded them of their status anddignit( to the Pro7het of Allah ESF and said0 N the childrenof atimaG (ou are aare of (our status and dignit( and (ou,no ell that I ha@e gi@en (ou 7riorit( o@er m( otherchildren oing to (our 7osition and relationshi7 to theMessenger of Allah ESF.O

he( said0 N8ou are rightG ma( Allah #less (ou and ma(*e reard (ou on our #ehalf.O

Ali turned to his daughter and said0 NM( daughterG Allahhas granted (ou the authorit( to handle (our matter(ourselfG #ut I ish (ou lea@e that to me.O

Umm Kulthum said0 N'ear fatherG I sear #( Allah that Iam also a omanG and I too ha@e the as7irations and


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desires of all other omenG I ould lo@e to eno( the orldas much as an( other omen doX I ish to decide for m(self

hat I should do in this regard.O

Ali said0 NM( daughterG I sear #( Allah that it is not (our@ie #ut rather that of these toO

hen he stood u7 and said0 N8ou ill either do this or (ouill ne@er tal, to an( of these toO

*asan and *usain gra##ed their fathers dress and said0

N'ear fatherG sit don. ( AllahG e cannot aHord to miss(ou.O hen the( told Umm Kulthum0 N:ea@e the decision of(our marriage to him.O

Umm Kulthum said0 NI ha@e done so.O

Ali said0 NI ill marr( (ou to =An i#n afarG ho is anadolescent.O

hereu7onG Ali returned to Umm Kulthum ta,ing her fourthousand dirham. hen he informed his ne7he and senther to him.

*asan i#n *asan sa(s0 N( AllahG e@er since the#eginning of creation as of noG I ,no of no lo@e to #e li,eher lo@e of =An.O

Theeleventh narration0 A#u Isha%G I#rahim i#n 8a%u#i#n Isha% ouani narrates from 8aid i#n *aroonG from*ammad i#n SalamahG from Ammar i#n A#i Ammar that hesaid0 Noth Umm KulthumG the daughter of AliG and


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cor7ses of men and omen ere oHered to hich here7lied0 N9hen I arri@edG I sa A#dullah i#n Umar oHering

funeral 7ra(er on his #rother and his mother Umm KulthumGthe daughter of Ali i#n A#i ali#.O1

)$ H*im "ishaburis "arration in Al%Mustadra$*+,imG A#u A#dullah !isha#uri Ed. 4)- A.*.FG has

narrated onl( one tradition in this regard as follos0

*assan i#n 8a%u# and I#rahim i#n IsmatG #oth fair andustG from Sarri i#n Khua(mahG from Mualla i#n AsadG&from

9uhai# i#n KhalidG from afar i#n Muhammad Ti.e. ImamSadi% EA.SFJG from his fatherG from Ali i#n *ussainG ho said0NUmar as,ed Ali for the hand of Umm Kulthum in marriageand said0 NMarr( her to me.O

Ali said0 NI ha@e ,e7t m( daughters for afars sonO

Umar said0 NMarr( her to meG for #( AllahG there is noman on earth ho see,s to achie@e through her goodcom7anionshi7 that hich I see, to achie@eO

Ali married her to Umar.

hen Umar came to the Muhairun and said0 N'ont (oucongratulate meRO

he( as,ed0 N9ith hom are e congratulating (ouG Commander of the aithfulR

*e re7lied0 N9ith the daughter of Ali and atimaGdaughter of the Messenger of Allah ESF. I head theMessenger of Allah ESF sa(0

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1Al"urriyat Al"Tahirah,1-" 16-.&

In the te?t of Al"#ustadra2G it has #een recorded as NMualla i#n 5+shidOhich is rong.


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desired to include myself in the +rophetHs linea"e throu"h this marria"e.I

After re7orting this narrationG *+,im then sa(s0 Nhistradition is authentic in terms of the chain of transmissionG#ut u,hari and Muslim ha@e not narrated it.O1

+$ ,ayha&is "arrations in Al%Sunan Al%KubraA#u a,r a(ha%i Ed. 4-" A.*.F has re7orted some

narrations in this regard hich are as follos0

The frst narration: A#u A#dullahG *+>dh Ei.e. *+,imGthe author of Al"#ustadra2F from *assan i#n 8a%u# andI#rahim i#n IsmatG re7orts that Sarri i#n Khua(mahre7orted from Mualla i#n AsadG he from 9uhai# i#n Khalidho narrated0 Nafar i#n Muhammad Ei.e.Imam Sadi% EA.SFFre7orted from his fatherG he from Ali i#n *ussainX :i,eisefrom A#ul A##asG Muhammad i#n 8a%u#G from Ahmad i#n

A#dul a##arG from 8unus i#n u,airG from i#n Isha%G fromA#u afar Ei.e. Imam a%ir EA.SFFG from his fatherG from Alii#n *ussain that0

N9hen Umar married Umm KulthumG the daughter of Alii#n A#i ali#G he came to the Muhairun #eteen the gra@eEof the Messenger of AllahF and the 7ul7it here the 7eo7lein attendance congratulated him and ished him ell.O

Addressing the 7eo7leG Umar said0 ehold I sear #(Allah that hat im7elled me to marr( herG as a traditionthat I had heard from the Messenger of Allah ESF ho said0

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1

Al"#ustadra2G 31-3G #a0rifat Al"Sahabah (#ana&ib Amirul #u0uminin Ali ibnAbi TalibE7eace #e u7on himFG !o. 46/4F.


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a(ha%i has included this narration again under Nhe!arrations a#out athers Marr(ing out heir Dirgin

'aughtersO.1

ur,maniG the author of the #oo, of Al"-ouhar Al"3a&iGsa(s0 Na(ha%iG in this section of his #oo,G has narrated themarriage of the Pro7het and a si?$(ear$old AishaG themarriage of Umar and Alis daughter at a (oung ageG andsome of the Pro7hets com7anions ho married out their(oung daughtersV. As for Aisha and Alis daughterG the(

ere (oung Eand had not (et reached the age of 7u#ert(F.-$ Khatib ,aghdadis "arrations in Tarih ,aghdad

Khati# aghdadi Ed. 463 A.*.F e?7laining the #iogra7h( ofI#rahim i#n Mahran Marai in his Tari2h 4aghdad,narrates a tradition ith his chain of transmission. henarration reads0 :aith i#n Saad Ba(siG a ser@ant of ani5afaah in the (ear 1"1 A* in g(7tG re7orts from Musa i#nAli i#n 5a#+h :a,hmiG from his fatherG from U%#a i#n =Aamir

uhaniG ho narrated0

NUmar i#n Al$Khatta# as,ed Ali i#n A#i ali# for the handof Umm Kulthum Edaughter of atimaF in marriageG andfre%uentl( @isiting Alis house on this matter. *e told Ali0 NA#ul *assanG hat has made me to come to (ou time andagain is a sa(ing hich I heard from the Pro7het of Allah ESFthat0

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wish to place myself in the +rophetHs linea"e throu"h this marria"e.I

Ali stood u7 and called for his daughterG made her u7 EFand then sent her to Amirul MumeneenG Umar. Seeing

1 Al"Sunan Al"KubraG "1/- num#er 1366).


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hen Ali sent her daughter to UmarG and Umar 7ulledaa( the cloth from her calf EF. Umm Kulthum said0 Na,e

oH (our hands 9ere it not for the fact that (ou are theCommander of the aithfulG I ould ha@e #linded (ou.O

The third narration0 I#n 9aha# re7orts from A#dul5ahman i#n


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0$ Ibn Athirs "arrations in Usd Al%1habahI#n Athir aari Ed. 63) A.*.F has also related some

narrations in this regard in his #oo, titled Usd Al"6habah.*is narrations are as follos0

The frst narration0 Umm KulthumG the daughter of Alii#n A#i ali# and atimaG the daughter of the Messenger ofAllah ESF as #orn #efore the demise of the *ol( Pro7hetESF.

Umar i#n Khatta# as,ed Ali i#n A#i ali# for his

daughters hand in marriage. Ali re7lied that she as too(oung.

Umar said0 Nhere is no man ho see,s to achie@ethrough her good com7anionshi7 that hich I see, toachie@e.

Ali said0 =I ill send her to (ou and if (ou are 7leasedG Ishall marr( her to (ou.O

hen Ali sent Umm Kulthum to Umar ith a 7iece of clothand instructed her to tell Umar that it as the cloth he astal,ing a#out.O

Umm Kulthum con@e(ed Umar her fathers message.Umar told her0 NI am 7leasedG ma( Allah #e 7leased ith(ou.O *e then touched her

=9h( are (ou doing thisR Umm Kulthum o#ected. N*ad itnot #een for the fact that (ou are Commander of theaithfulG I ould ha@e #ro,en (our nose.O

hen she ent home and re7eated the e7isode to herfatherG stating 8ou sent me to a foul old man.

9ith that Ali saidG M( daughterG he is (our hus#and.


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar&/

The second narration0 A#dul 9aha# i#n Ali i#n Ali Aminre7orts from A#u adhl Muhammad i#n !+sirG from Khati#

A#u ahir Muhammad i#n Ahmad i#n A#i Sa%arG from A#ulara,+t Ahmad i#n A#dul 9+hid i#n adhl i#n !adhif i#nA#dullah arra ho narrates that he told Ahmad0 N*as A#uMuhammad *assan i#n 5ashi% narrated to (ouRO

*e said0 N8esG A#u ushr Muhammad i#n Ahmad i#n*ammad 'ula#i re7orted from Ahmad i#n A#dul a##arGfrom 8unus i#n u,airG from I#n Isha%G from *asan i#n

*asan i#n Ali i#n A#i ali# ho said0N9hen Umm KulthumG the daughter of Ali i#n A#i ali#

EA.SF as idoed of UmarG her #rothers *asan and *usainent to her sa(ing0 N8ou are ,non as the chief of Muslimomen and the daughter of the #est lad(. 9e sear #(Allah that if (ou lea@e (our decision to AliG he ill de>nitel(marr( (ou to one of his or7hans EF and if (ou ish to getsu#stantial ealth EFG (ou ill de>nitel( get it.O

I sear #( AllahG no sooner did the( stand u7 than Aliarri@ed hile he as leaning on his al,ing stic,. Praisingand than,ing AllahG he reminded them of their status anddignit( to the Pro7het of Allah ESF and said0 = the childrenof atimaG (ou are aare of (our status and dignit( and (ou,no ell that I ha@e gi@en (ou 7riorit( o@er m( otherchildren oing to (our 7osition and relationshi7 to the

Messenger of Allah ESF.Ohe( said0 =8ou are rightG ma( Allah #less (ou and ma(

*e reard (ou on our #ehalf.O

Ali turned to his daughter and said0 NM( daughterG Allahhas granted (ou the authorit( to handle (our matter(ourselfG #ut I ish (ou to lea@e that to me.O


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar&

Umm Kulthum said0 N'ear fatherG I sear #( Allah that Iam also a omanG and I too ha@e the as7irations of other

omen EFG I ould lo@e to eno( the orld as much as an(other omenX I ish to decide for m(self hat I should doregarding this matter.O

Ali said0 NM( daughterG I sear #( Allah that it is not (our@ie #ut it is that of these toO

hen he stood u7 and said0 N8ou ill either do this or (ouill ne@er tal, to an( of these to

*asan and *usain gra##ed their fathers la7 and said0N'ear fatherG sit don. ( AllahG e cannot aHord to miss(ou.O urning to Umm KulthumG the( said0 N:ea@e (ourmatter to him.O

=I ha@e done soGO Umm Kulthum ansered.

Ali said0 NI ill marr( (ou to =An i#n afarG ho is an

adolescent.Ohereu7onG Ali returned to Umm Kulthum gi@ing her four

thousand dirham and sending her to =An.O

his narration has also #een re7orted #( A#u Umar.1

2$ Ibn Ha3ars "arrations in Al%IsabahI#n *aar As%alaniG ho died in the (ear /-& A.*.G has

also re7orted some narrations in this regard hich are asunder0

The frst narration0 Umm KulthumG the daughter of Alii#n A#i ali# as a descendant of *ashimG her mother asatimaG the daughter of the Messenger of Allah ESF. She as#orn during the lifetime of the Pro7het of AllahG 7eace #eu7on him and his descendants.

1 Usd Al"6habah, "3"" Y 3"/.


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A#u Umar sa(sG NShe as #orn #efore the demise of the*ol( Pro7het ESF.O

I#n A#i Umar Ma%disi sa(s0 NSuf(an re7orted from UmarGfrom Muhammad i#n Ali TImam a%ir EA.SFJ that he said0NUmar i#n Khatta# as,ed Ali for her daughters hand EUmmKulthumF in marriage. Ali re7lied that she as too (oung.

he( told UmarG NAli has reected (ou.O

Umar returned to Ali to as, again for his daughters hand

in marriage. Ali said0 NI ill send her to (ouG if (ou li,e herGshe ill #e (our ife.O

hen Ali sent her daughter to Umar ho 7ulled aa( thecloth from her calf Umm Kulthum said0 Na,e oH (ourhands 9ere it not for the fact that (ou are the Commanderof the aithfulG I ould ha@e #linded (ou.O

The second narration: I#n 9aha# re7orts from A#dul

5ahman I#n


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*asan i#n *asan i#n Ali sa(s0 N9hen UmarG the hus#and ofUmm Kulthum died and she as idoed of himG her

#rothers *asan and *usain ent to her and said to her0 NIf(ou (ourself ma,e (our decision and ant to get su#stantialealthG (ou shall de>nitel( get it.O hen Ali entered thehouseG than,ed and 7raised Allah and said0 NM( daughterGAllah has granted (ou the authorit( to handle (our matter(ourselfG #ut I ish (ou lea@e the matter to me.O

Umm Kulthum said0 N'ear fatherG I sear #( Allah that I

am also a omanG and I too ha@e the as7irations anddesires of all other omen and I ould lo@e to eno( theorld as much as an( other omen do.O

Ali said0 NM( daughterG I sear #( Allah that it is not (our@ie #ut rather that of these toO

hen he stood u7 and said0 N8ou either do this or I illne@er tal, to an( of these toO

he( surrounded Umm Kulthum and anted her to acce7tthe 7ro7osal. She acce7ted and got married to =An i#n

afar.O

The fth narration0 'ar Butni has referred to UmmKulthum in inAl"52hwahand has said0

N9hen =An diedG his #rother Muhammad married UmmKulthum After a hileG =An too died hereu7on his #rotherA#dullah married her EF and Umm Kulthum died inA#dullahs house.

I#n Saad has also re7orted a narration similar to thea#o@e sa(ing at the end0 Umm Kulthum used to refer to theincident sa(ing0 NI feel em#arrassed toards Asma #intUmais hose to sons died hen the( ere in m(com7an(G and I am orried a#out the third one.O


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar3&

Umm Kulthum died in A#dullah i#n afars house and didnot #ear a child ith an(one of them.

The sixth narration0 I#n Saad re7orts from Anas I#n=A(adhG from afar i#n MuhammadG from his father hosaid0

NUmar i#n Khatta# as,ed Ali for his daughters hand inmarriage. Ali said0 NI ha@e ,e7t m( daughters for the sons of

afar.O

Umar said0 NMarr( her to meG for #( AllahG there is noman on earth ho see,s to achie@e through her goodcom7anionshi7 that hich I see, to [email protected]

Ali said0 NI ha@e acce7ted.O

Umar ent to the 7lace of the Muhairun and told them0NCongratulate me.O

he( congratulated himG and as,ed0 N9hom ha@e (oumarriedRO

*e re7lied0 NI ha@e married the daughter of Ali i#n A#iali#.O

IndeedG the Pro7het of Allah ESF said0

- /023456789:;?;@9BDE2234G256

'ery means will be *ut o+ and eery lineage seeredon the ay of -udgment e*e/t my lineage.0

I had gi@en the Pro7het a daughterG #ut I also lo@ed toEmarr( a daughter from his famil(F.O1

1Al"5sabahG /464 and 46-.


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Section II

A Study of the Chains of Transmission of the

"arrations


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A Study of the Chains of Transmission of the

"arrationshe narrations that (ou ent through ere the most

im7ortant re7orts that ha@e #een 7assed on #( SunniMuslims most famous #oo,s. Some of these narrationsrelate to the allegation that the Commander of the aithfulGAli EA.SF married his daughter to Umar. Some relate to themarriage of Umm Kulthum after Umars death and othersrelate to the e@ent of her death and her son.

ased on Sunni Muslims rules and 7rinci7les in thescience of hadith EtraditionF and rel(ing on the sa(ings oftheir scholars in 7ilm Al"ri!%l Tthe science of narrators#iogra7hiesJG if one carefull( loo,s and e?amines the chainsof the transmission of these narrationsG he ill come tounderstand that the stor( in its entiret( is #aseless andunsu#stantiated let alone the rele@ant details and minor

incidents in connection ith itR1

!oG #efore @erif(ing the chainsG e shall remind (ou of afe 7oints concerning these narrations0

1. he stories that (ou ent through in the 7re@ioussection ha@e not #een re7orted in the to ell$,non andres7ected #oo,sG namel( Sahih 4u2hariand Sahih #uslim.

he authors of these to #oo,s ha@e disregarded these

narrations not mentioning them in their #oo,s.

&. hese narrations ha@e also not #een narrated in theother Sunni #oo,s hich are idel( ,non as Sihah Sittah.

1 9e can di@ide the narrators of these narrations into to grou7s01. Peo7le ho ha@e #een ea,ened Econsidered as unrelia#leF and accused of

l(ing #( Sunni scholars.&. Peo7le ho are though trusted #( Sunni scholarsG their hatred and malice

toards the Commander of the aithfulG Ali EA.SF as an o#@ious andindis7uta#le historical realit(.

It is 7ertinent to mention thatG the narrations from this grou7 of narrators es7eciall( those against Ali #in A#i ali# EA.SF are not acce7ta#le to Shia.


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*enceG all the authors of the si? so$called authentic #oo,sha@e disregarded these traditions and agreed not to narrate

them.

3. his stor( has not #een related in other hadith #oo,ssuch as #usnadof Ahmad i#n *an#al. *e and a grou7 of hisfolloers maintained that an(thing that is not recorded inthis #oo, #usnad Ahmad is not authentic.1

It is orth noting that in man( cases and in diHerentto7icsG Sunnis do not 7resent their arguments ith reliance

on the narrations hich are authentic sim7l( #ecauseu,hari and Muslim ha@e not narrated them in their #oo,sor that the( ha@e not #een recorded in the other Sihah#oo,s

The 4ocal !oint in this 5egardhe focal 7oint that can #e mentioned in this regard is

that this stor( has #een narrated #( their narrators from the

Shia ImamsG the Ahl Al$a(t EA.SF. he a#o@e narrationsha@e #een transmitted in the #oo,s of Al"Taba&%t of i#nSaadGAl"#ustadra2of *+,imGAl"Sunan Al"Kubraof a(ha%iandAl"urriyat Al"Tahirahof 'ula#i.

o 7oints must #e noted concerning these narrations.

The frst point0 olloing (ears of stud(ing andre@ieing Sunni Muslims narrationsG e ha@e found out

that hen Sunnis and the o77onents of the Ahl Al$a(t EA.SFanted to relate a narration to the Ahl Al$a(t EA.SF hich isin no a( in harmon( ith those no#le mens o7inion anddoctrineG the( ha@e ala(s em#ar,ed on fa#ricating anarration ascri#ing it to one of the mem#ers of the 7ure7rogen( of the *ol( Pro7hetG 7eace #e u7on him and hisdescendants.

1 Dide0 3afaht Al" A8h%rG &&" and ne?t.


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9hen the( anted to >nd a fault ith Allahs Pro7het ESFand his no#le daughterG atima


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side of the stor( on the #asis of their on standards and7rinci7lesG then it de7ends on the authenticit( of the

narration according to them.

*enceG it is not 7ossi#le to use the foregoing narrationson the authorit( of the Ahl Al$a(t EA.SF #ecause I#n SaadGthe riterofAl"Taba&atAl"Kubrahas s7o,en insolentl( anddisres7ectfull( of Imam Sadi% EA.SF sa(ing0

N*e has se@eral narrations that cannot #e used to argueith since the( are ea, and unrelia#le. *e as once

as,ed0 'id (ou hear these narrations from (our fatherRO

*e said0 N8es.O

*e as as,ed again and he said0 NI found them in m(fathers #oo,.O1

:i,eiseG in hisAl"#ustadra2,*+,im !ishar#uri narratesa tradition from Imam Saad EA.SF on the authorit( of Imam

Sadi% EA.SF considering it to #e authentic. Commenting onthat traditionG 'haha#i sa(s0 Nhe chain of transmission ofthis narration is cut oH.O&

Concerning that narrationG a(ha%iG sa(s0 Nhis narrationis =mursal0 Ehurried or a tradition in hich the chain ofnarrators is omitted.O3

he narration that has #een narrated from *asan i#n

*asan inAl"urriyat Al"TahirahG is also similar to this. n to7of thatG its narrators ha@e #een ea,ened as shall soon #eclari>ed. Certainl(G there is no interru7tion in the narrationstransmitted in a(ha%is Al"Sunan Al"Kubrafrom *asan i#n*asanG from his father #ut their chains of transmission lac,authenticit( and credi#ilit( es7eciall( #ecause the narrator

1 Tahdhib Al"Tahdhib, 19:;.& Tal2his Al"#ustadra2, 9=?1.


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narrates this tradition from *asan i#n *asan i#n A#iMali,ah. 9e shall 7ro@ide the details soon.

n the other handG if their aim of relating thesenarrations is to ma,e Shiites acce7t themG sim7l( #ecausethe( ha@e #een narrated from the Ahl Al$a(t EA.SF throughthose ho narrated traditions from the *ol( Messenger ofAllah ESFG such an eHort de7ends on the fact that thefolloers of Ahl Al$a(t EA.SF should @erif( and authenticatethe transmitters of these narrations according to their on

@ie7ointG and this is the #eginning of the de#ate #eteenShiism and the Sunnite school.

*enceG the most im7ortant narrations hich SunniMuslims ha@e made recourse to and 7ointed out in their#oo,s are @eri>ed and 7ro@en #e unrelia#le andunauthentic. E( e?tensionG other rele@ant narrations ould#e @oid and unauthenticF.

!otithstanding thisG e shall discuss at length in thisregard. o #egin ithG e shall discuss the chain of thetransmission of the narration that has #een narrated inAl"Sunan Al"Kubraof a(ha%iG from Imam a%ir EA.SF and fromhis res7ected father Imam Saad EA.SF and in Al"5sti0%bGfrom Imam a%ir EA.SF and inAl"Sunan Al"Kubrafrom *asani#n *asan. hen e shall stud( their isnad EdocumentationFand chains of the transmission of the other narrations so as

to dra a conclusion and to e?7ose the o77onents #(concrete arguments and 7roofs. n this #asisG e sa(0

a(ha%i has re7orted this narration inAl"Sunan Al"Kubrafrom *+,im !isha#uriG from Imam a%ir EA.SFG from hisfather Imam Saad EA.SF. he 7oint is that Ahmad i#n A#dul

a##ar is also 7resent in the chain of the transmission of thenarrationG and e shall no stud( his #iogra7h(.


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Ahmad ibn Abdul Jabbar as Seen by ,iogra6hersSome of the comments made #( #iogra7hers concerning

Ahmad i#n A#dul a##ar are as follos0

I#n A#i *atim sa(s0 NI ha@e ritten man( narrationsre7orted #( AhmadG #ut #ecause a lot of 7eo7le ares7ea,ing Thighl( ofJ himG I ha@e refrained from narratingthem.O

I#n Muein sa(s0 N*e used to lie.O

A#u Ahmad *+,im also sa(s a#out him0 NAhmad i#nA#dul a##ar is ea, according to #iogra7hers. hat is h(I#n U%dah has disregarded his narrations.O

I#n =Adi also sa(s a#out him0 Nhe 7eo7le of Ira%unanimousl( consider him as ea, Euntrustorth(F.O1

7unus ibn ,uair as Seen by ,iogra6hers8unus i#n u,air is also in the chain of the transmitters of

the narrations. Some #iogra7hers sa(ings a#out him areas follos0

;uriG from A#i 'aud narrated that 8unus i#n u,air isnot trustorth( according to him. *e used to ta,e a clausefrom I#n Ish+%s sa(ings and attach it ith the traditions.

!esai sa(s a#out him0 N8unus is not good in narratingtraditions.O *e has also #een re7orted as ha@ing said0

N8unus is ea, in terms of narrating traditions.O

oani sa(s a#out 8unus0 NIt is a77ro7riate to loo, intohis or, carefull(.O

S+i sa(s0 NI#n Madini ne@er transmitted narrations from8unusG ne@erthelessG he is counted among the honestnarrators #( Sunni Muslims.O

1

Tahdhib Al"TahdhibG 14".


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Ahmad i#n *an#al sa(s a#out him0 Nhe 7eo7le hatedand detached themsel@es from no one as much as the(

hated and detached themsel@es from him.O

I#n A#i Sha(#ah sa(s0 N*e as characteried #(ea,ness.O

S+i sa(s0 N8unus as a truthful 7ersonG the onl( La ithhim as that he used to follo the rulers and he as afolloer of the =Muriah1sect.&

Amr ibn (inar as Seen by ,iogra6hershis narration has also #een %uoted #( I#n A#d al$arr

and I#n *aar on the authorit( of Imam a%ir EA.SF ith Amri#n 'inar #eing 7resent in the chain of the transmission. 9eha@e mentioned #elo comments made #( some#iogra7hers a#out him0

Ma(muni narrates from Ahmad i#n *an#al that Amr i#n'inar is ea, in terms of transmitting narrations and thathe as a re7orter of ea, Tmun,arJ traditions.

Isha% i#n Mansur narrates from I#n Maein that he is notnoteorth( from a #iogra7hical 7ers7ecti@e. 8a%u# i#nSha(#ah has also narrated from I#n Maein that he said thatAmr i#n 'inar is a =dh%hib Al"hadith03.

Amr i#n Ali sa(s a#out him0 Nhe narrations from Amr are

ea, in terms of transmission.O *e narrated mun2arTliterall( denouncedJ4traditions from SalimG from i#n UmarGfrom Allahs Messenger ESF.

A#u *atim has narrated the same sa(ing0 NAll of hisnarrations are denounced.O

1 Muriah as a grou7 of Muslims ho 7roclaimed0 N!o sin is harmful ithfaith.O

&Tahdhib Al"TahdhibG 113/3.3 Meaning the traditions transmitted #( him are orthless.4

#un2arG EJKL :M;NFG literall( means denounced. If a narration hich goes againstanother authentic hadith is re7orted #( a ea, narratorG it is ,non as mun2ar.


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hese ere some of the remar,s made #( #iogra7hersconcerning Amr i#n 'inar. *enceG the conclusion is that the

narration hich he has transmitted in connection ith thesu#ect matter is orthless. 9hat is moreG Suf(an i#nU(ainah is also in the chain of these narrators.

Sufyan ibn Uyainah as Seen by ,iogra6hersa(ha%i has also re7orted this narration from *asan i#n

*asanG from his no#le father ESF. Among the 7eo7le in thechain of the transmission of the tradition is Suf(an i#n

U(ainah. 9hat follos is hat some #iogra7hers ha@e somecommented on him0

I#n Ammar sa(s0 =I heard 8ah(a i#n Saeid Batt+n sa(ing0Near itness that Suf(an i#n U(ainah lost his mind in the(ear 1" EA.*.F. herefore an(one ho heard a narrationfrom him in this (ear or in the folloing (earsG cannot #etrusted.O

After %uoting I#n AmmarG hile ansering the %uestion of'haha#iG I#n *aar As%alani sa(s0 Nhis has #een re7orted#( 'haha#i onl( #ecause I#n Ammar is among the trustedintellectuals. here ould #e no 7ro#lemG if 8ah(a i#n Saeidheard it from a grou7 of 7ilgrims in that (ear and testi>ed itsim7l( #ecause he trusted them due to the fact that thereere man( 7eo7le ho re7orted the same.O

I found a sa(ing from 8ah(a i#n Saeid that can form areason h( I#n Ammar narrated from himG concerning I#nU(ainah. 9hile ela#orating on the #iogra7h( of Ismail i#nA#i Saleh MuadhinG in Tari2h 4aghdadG A#u Saad SamaninarratesG ith a strong chain of transmission from A#dul5ahman i#n ushr i#n *a,amG that he heard 8ah(a i#nSaeid sa(ing0 NI told I#n U(ainah0 N8ou ha@e rittentraditions #ut hen (ou narrate them these da(sG (ou add

and omit something from their chains of transmissionO


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*e said0 N8ou should o#tain the traditions in the samea( as (ou heard them earlierG #ecause I ha@e #ecome old

no.O

A#u Mueen 5ai rites as 7art of the annotations hichhe has ritten on Ahmad i#n *an#alsAl"5man0 N*aroon i#nMaaruf told Ahmad0 he health condition of I#n U(ainahhad deteriorated during the last moments of his life.OSula(man i#n *ar# also told him0 NI#n U(ainah has made alot of mista,es in most of the narrations that he has

re7orted from A((u#.O1

8ai bin Jarrah as Seen by ,iogra6hers

Another narrator ho has transmitted this narration is9a,i #in arrah. In his #i8an Al"0tidalG 'haha#i %uotesAhmad i#n *an#al a#out 9a,i #in arrahs incredi#lenessand unrelia#ilit( as a re7orter #ecause he used to curse the7redecessorsG drin, into?icants and gi@e false @erdicts.&

Khati# aghdadi narrates on the authorit( of !aeem i#n*ammad that he had his dinner or #rea,fast ith 9a,i.9a,i said0 N9hich one do (ou li,e me to #ring (ouG oldmens s7ecial nabi8 Ewine of raisins or datesF or (oungmens s7ecial na#iRO

I said0 N'o (ou s7ea, of such thingsRO

*e said0 NI #elie@e this is more halal E7ermissi#leF than

the u7hrates ater.O3

I#n *aar re7orts from Ahmad that 9a,i has erred in asman( as >@e hundred traditions.4

1 Tahdhib Al"Tahdhib0 41)/ and 1).

&Mian Al$tidalG "1&".3

ari,h aghdadG 134"".4ahdhi# Al$ahdhi#G 11111.


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*e has re7orted from Muhammad #. !asr Marai that inthe last da(s of his lifeG 9a,i used to narrate traditions

from his on mind changing his sentences.1

Ibn Jurai3 as Seen by ,iogra6hersI#n urai tooG is one the transmitters of this tradition.

5egarding himG I#n *aarrites0 Mali, sa(s0 N9hen it comesto narrating a traditionG I#n urai is li,e someone collecting>reood in the dar,ness.&

I#n Mueen sa(s0 Nhe narrations that he has narrated

from c #oo,s to ma,e a sarcastic remar, a#out mi?ingu7 of the right and rong and truth and falsehood.


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I#n *i##an sa(s0 NI#n urai used to 7ractice =tadlis01

EconcealingF.O

'ar Butni sa(s0 NKee7 aa( from the concealing anddeceit of I#n urai since his tadlisTconcealingJ is mean.O&

Concerning I#n urais 7ersonalit(G 'haha#i rites in his#i8an Al"0tidal0 N*e used to 7ractice tadlis in narratingtraditions.O3

In this regardG I#n *aar sa(s0 NI#n urai used to 7ractice

tadlisin narrating narrations and used to narrate traditions#( a( of irsal Ethe a#sence of the lin, #eteen thesuccessor and the Pro7hetF.O4

Most im7ortantl(G Ahmad i#n *an#al sa(s a#out him0NSome of the narrations that I#n urai has narrated #( a(of irsalare forged. It as not im7ortant for him as to herehe as narrating from.-

Ibn Abi Maliah as Seen by ,iogra6hers*is name is A#dullah i#n U#aidullah and it is enough to

sa( a#out him #eing untrustorth( that he as a s7ecial=muadhin0Eone ho calls 7eo7le to 7ra(erF and the udge ofI#n


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'haha#i adds0 NI#n A#d al$arr has mentioned his nameamong the 7eo7le ho are counted as ea, #ut hose

narrations are rittenG and 8a%u# i#n Suf(an has alsoconsidered him to #e among the ea,.O

I#n Saad sa(s a#out *usham0 N*e used to narrate a lotof traditions #ut he as generall( considered to #e ea,Xhe as inclined toards Shiism.1

Ibn 8ahab as Seen by ,iogra6hersI#n 9aha#s has a77eared in the narration that I#n A#d

al$arr and I#n *aar ha@e narrated ith their on isnad&

from AslamG the freed sla@e of Umar. !oG e shall seeho he is and hat #iogra7hers ha@e said a#out him.

I#n 9aha# is that same A#dullah i#n 9aha# Al$Burashiho is g(7tian #( origin #ut as allied ith the Buraish.

I#n Adi and 'haha#i ha@e recorded his name inAl"Kamil@ Al"hu0afa3and #i8an Al"0tidalres7ecti@el(.4

I#n Mueen has also said something a#out him ith intentto re7roach him.-

I#n Saad sa(s concerning I#n 9aha#0 N*e used to7ractice tadlis.O6hat isG he concealed the truth a#out theisnadof the tradition to create the im7ression that he heardthe hadith in 7erson.

Ahmad i#n *an#al sa(s a#out him0 Nhe traditions hichI#n 9aha# has narrated from I#n urai need to #e e?aminedand contem7lated u7on Efor the( ma( not #e trueF.O

1 #i8an Al"0tidal, "/1 and Tahdhib Al"Tahdhib0 113" and 3/.&he chain of authorities attesting to the historical authenticit( of a 7articular

hadith.3Al"Kamil @ Al"hu0afa0 -336.4 #i8an Al"0tidalG 4&&3.-

Al"Kamil @ Al"hu0afaG -336 and 33" and #i8an Al"0tidal0 4&&3 and &&4.6 Tahdhib Al"Tahdhib,66" and 6/.


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Con>rming hat Ahmad i#n *an#al has said a#out I#n9aha#G A#u =Aanah sa(s0 NAhmad has said the truthG

#ecause I#n 9aha# has transmitted re7orts hich noneother than him has re7orted.O1

Musa ibn Ali 9ahmi as Seen by ,iogra6hersKhati# aghdadi has re7orted this narration ith his on

isnad from :aith i#n SaadG from Musa i#n Ali i#n 5a#+h:a,hmiG from his fatherG from U%#ah i#n ;mir uhani hoare all @eri>a#le in terms of trustorthiness and relia#ilit(.

According to Su(uti0 NMusa i#n :a,hmi as the go@ernorof g(7t from 1-- until 161 A.*.O&

I#n *aar sa(s a#out him0 NMusa too, the go@ernorshi7 ofg(7t in the (ear 161 A*.O3

Samani sa(s concerning Musa :a,hmi0 N*e as thego@ernor of g(7t.O 4

I#n Mueen has commented on him #( sa(ing0 NMusa isnot good in narrating tradition.O

5egarding Musa :a,hmiG I#n A#d al$arr rites0 Nhenarrations that Musa has narrated alone are not strong.O-

Ali ibn 5ab*h 9ahmi as Seen by ,iogra6hersI#n *aar has studied Ali :a,hmis life and made

reference to certain facts a#out him in his #oo, in hich he

rites0

1. *e came to Muai(ah as a re7resentati@e.

&. *e used to sa(0 NI shall not 7ardon hoe@er named me=Ali #ecause m( name is =Ulai.O

1 Tahdhib Al"Tahdhib,66" and 6/.& $usn Al"#uhadharahG &1&.3 Tahdhib Al"Tahdhib,1)3&3.4

A"Ans%b-134.- Tahdhib Al"Tahdhib,1)3&3.


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3. *e as treated ith res7ect #( A#dul Ai Ethe son ofMaran and #rother of A#dul Mali, ho as for some time

the go@ernor of g(7tF until a time hen A#dul Ai gotangr( at him and sent him to a #attle in Africa. *e remainedthere in Africa until he died.1

U&bah ibn :mir Juhani as Seen by ,iogra6hersU%#ah has #een criticied and considered unrelia#le #(

man( #iogra7hers0

1. *e as one of the go@ernors and agents of Muai(ah

i#n A#i Suf(an. Samani sa(s0 NU%#ah as 7resent duringthe con%uest of g(7t and he got the measurement of thatarea. In the (ear 44G after the death of Ut#ah son of A#uSuf(anG he ser@ed as the commander of Muai(ahs arm(in g(7t. hen in the (ear 4"G Muai(ah dis7atched him fora na@al com#at.&

I#n *aar sa(s a#out U%#ah0 N*e as a77ointed go@ernor

of g(7t #( Muai(ah in the (ear 44.O3

Su(uti has also said the same thing a#out him.4

&. *e as the murderer or one of the murderers ofAmmar i#n 8asir. In this regardG I#n Saad rites0 NAmmarEma( Allah #less himF as ,illed at the age of 1. *e had#een #orn #efore the Pro7het of Allah ESF. In the attle ofSiZnG Ammar as confronted #( three 7eo7leX U%#ah i#n

;mir uhaniG Umar i#n *arith Khul+ni and Shari, i#nSalamah Mur+di. 9hen the( had surrounded himG Ammartold them0 NI sear #( AllahG if (ou attac, me and 7ush us#ac, as far as to *aar 7alm gro@eG I ould still #e sure thate are on the right side and (ou are not.O

1 Tahdhib Al"Tahdhib,"&"1 and &"&.&Al$Ans+#G &134.3

Tahdhib Al"Tahdhib,"&) and &1).4 $usn Al" #uhadharahG &/.


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar-)

It as then that the( attac,ed and ,illed him. Some7eo7le thought that U%#ah i#n ;mir had ,illed Ammar.

3. *e as the man ho #ate u7 Ammar #( the order ofUthman.

After the a#o@e account of the con@ersationG I#n Saadsa(s0 NU%#ah is the 7erson ho #ate Ammar at the #ehestof Uthman #in AHan.O1

ased on the foregoing accountG e do not see an( need

to e?amine the #iogra7hies of :aith #in Saad and other7eo7le in Khati# aghdadis chain of the transmitters of thenarration.

At* Khurasani as Seen by ,iogra6hersne of the narrators of this narration is At+ Khurasani.

u,hari has mentioned him in the #oo, titledAl"huafa Al"Saghir.1

I#n *i##an has made mention of him in Al"#a!ruhin.3U%aili has mentioned his name in his #oo, titled Al"huafa

Al"Kabir.4

'haha#i has 7ro@ided At+ Khurasanis #iogra7hicaldetails in to of his #oo,s namel( #i8an Al"0tidal andAl"#ughni @ Al"huafa0.

Samani sa(s a#out At+ Khurasani0 N*e as a man of #ad

memor(G had a lot of mista,esG erred un,noingl( andthese narrations ere transmitted from him. 9hen these7ro#lems ere noted ith his narrationsG the( ere no

1Al"Taba&at Al"Kubra,316.

&Al" huafa Al"SaghirG 1"/ and 1".3 he #oo, ofAl"#a!ruhinG &13) and 131.4

Al"huafa Al"Kabir,34)-.- #i8an Al"0tidalG -&GAl"#ughni @ Al"huafa,&-.


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar-1

longer used as 7roofs and reasons as the( ere consideredorthless and unacce7ta#le.O6

In additionG there is interru7tion and disconnection iththis narration of his #ecause At+ as #orn in the (ear -)and he died in the (ear 133 or 1-) of the Islamic calendar.

herefore he must ha@e narrated these narrations fromsomeone else hose name he has not mentioned.

Muhammad ibn Umar 8a&idi as Seen by ,iogra6hersne of the narrators ho ha@e re7orted this narration is

Muhammad i#n Umar 9a%idi. iogra7hers ha@e also said alot a#out him0

Ahmad i#n *an#al sa(s0 N*e is a great liar and a 7ersonho tam7ers ith narrations.O

u,hari and A#u *atim sa(0 NMuhammad i#n Umar is ano#solete 7erson.O

:i,eise A#u *atim and !esai ha@e said0 N*e used toforge narrations.O

I#n 5ahaih sa(s0 NIn m( o7inionG he is one of those hofa#ricated narrations.O

I#n Mueen sa(s0 N*e is not a relia#le and trustorth(7erson.O

'ar Butni sa(s0 N*e is characteried #( ea,ness interms of narrating traditions.O

I#n Adi sa(s0 Nraditions transmitted #( him are not7rotected and coherentX e@il and com7lications arise fromthem.O

Samani sa(s0 NMuch has #een said a#out him.O

6Al"Ans%bG &33".


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar-&

I#n Khalla,an sa(s0 Nhe #iogra7hers ha@e ea,ened himin terms of narrating traditions and the( ha@e said a lot

concerning him.O

8afeei sa(s0 NProminent traditionists ha@e la#eled him asea,.O

'haha#i sa(s0 Nhere is an all out agreement a#outdisregarding his narrations.1

Abdul 5ahman ibn ;aid as Seen by ,iogra6hers

Another 7erson ho has narrated this tradition is A#dul5ahman i#n


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in@ersel( to an e?tent that he narrated a lot of mursal Tlit.hurriedJ traditions as marfuTattri#utedJ traditions and a lot

of the maw&uf1traditions ith chains of transmission and itis #ecause of the same reason that his narrations aredenounced and disregarded.O

I#n Saad sa(s0 N*e has re7orted a lot of narrationsG #utsurel( he is ea, in terms of narrating traditions.O

I#n Khua(mah sa(s0 NA#dul 5ahman is among the7eo7le ho are of 7oor memor( due to hich the scholars

and e?7erts ne@er use his narrations to 7resent theirargument.O

S+i sa(s0 N*is narrations are mun2arTdenouncedJ.O

ahai sa(s0 N*is narrations are ea, according toscholars of hadith.O

oani sa(s0 N


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hus man( narrations re7orted from other com7anionsha@e #een attri#uted to him to ma,e the im7ression that he

himself has re7orted those narrations from them hereas infact he had ne@er heard them.

I#n A#d al$arr has also said the same thing a#out himand I#n *aar has %uoted him and seen e(e to e(e ith himin this regard. *e sa(s0 NI#n A#d al$arr has said things inthe introduction to his #oo,Al"Tamhidhich sho that nd these statements and also other sa(ings in ahdhi# Al$ahdhi#@olume 6 7ages 16& and 163.


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that isG I#n Muni ho has narrated from


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar-"

1$ A#u a,r 7ra(ed on atimaG the daughter of AllahsPro7het ESF and recited four ta2birs.

&$ 9hen atima 7assed aa(G Ali #uried her at night andtoo, A#u a,r #( his arm hel7ing him to oHer 7ra(er onatima.

he fact that this narration is fa#ricated is so o#@ious thatI#n *aar has #een com7elled to rite under it0 Nhisnarration is ea, and disconnected.O1

:i,eise this enmit( has made him go as far as toconsider *arith *amedani as a liar E#ecause he as ShiiteF#ut he as o#ected to for ha@ing le@eled such anaccusation against him.

I#n *aar sa(s in this regard0 N9hile %uoting I#rahima#out Shua#i refuting *arithG I#n A#d al$arr rites in his#oo, titled Al"5lm0 NI thin, Shua#i should #e 7unished#ecause he has refuted *arith and called him a liar. his is

#ecause *arith had not #een seen l(ingG and his onl( crimeas his e?cessi@e lo@e of AliG 7eace #e u7on him.&

A 9oo at the ,iogra6hy of Ammar ibn Abi AmmarIn @ie of the fact that some of the narrations end ith

Ammar i#n A#i AmmarG a %uic, glim7se into his#iogra7hical account re@eals that a num#er of the leadersof =arh Elit. to inureF and =adil Elit. to adustF3such as

Shua#ah i#n *aaG u,hariG I#n *i##an and others ha@ere7roached him.4

A 9oo at the ,iogra6hy of "*fiSome of these narrations are connected to !+>G the

master of I#n Umar. *enceG e must ha@e a short glim7se1Al" 5sabahG /&6".& Tahdhib Al"Tahdhib,&13-.3he 7hrase Al"!arh wa Al"tadilrefers to a s(stematic a77roach to criti%uing a

narrators 7osition as a narrator.4 Tahdhib Al"Tahdhib,"341G Ta&rib Al"TahdhibG 1")".


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar-/

of his #iogra7h(. o understand the t(7e of his characterG itis enough to ,no that A#dullah i#n Umar had said to !+>0

Nh !+> fear Allah and do not ascri#e lies to me in thesame a( as I,ramah used to ascri#e lies to I#n A##as.O

his sa(ing of I#n Umar a#out !+> and I,ramahG isfamous. Additionall(G Ahmad i#n *an#als sa(ing a#out!+> is orth( of notice. *e sa(s0 N!+>s narrations fromUmar are cut$oH and disconnected.O1

A 9oo at the ,iogra6hy of Abdullah Al%,ahiSome of these narrations are connected to A#dullah Al$

ahi ho is #etter ,non as A#dullah i#n 8asar.

Concerning him I#n *aar sa(s0 NA#dullah as the masterMusa# i#n


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Section III

The Te=t of the "arrations and their

Significations


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The Te=t of the "arrations and their Significations

ruth$see,er Come ith me so e ma(G after e ha@ee?amined the #iogra7hies of the narrators of this stor(G loo,into the te?t of the narrations and their signi>cations. hishas to #e done so that e shouldG throughout the stages ofthe stor(G loo, from close the male@olence and s7iteful#eha@iors of the enemies of the household of the *ol(Pro7hetG 7eace #e u7on them.

9e shall carr( on this discussion from se@eraldimensions0

The first dimension/In the concocted stor( a#out Umm Kulthums marriage to

UmarG it has #een narrated that the reason gi@en #( ImamAli EA.SF for not consenting to his daughters marriage toUmar as the formers (oung age and that he had ,e7t herfor the son of his #rotherG afar i#n A#i ali#.

It has #een narrated in the narration #( I#n Saad that NAliEA.SF said0 NI ha@e ,e7t m( daughters for the sons of afar.O

In the narration of *+,imG the Imam has #een %uoted asha@ing said0 NI ha@e 7re7ared her for the son of m(#rother.O

In another narration %uoted #( I#n SaadG it is re7orted

that the Imam said0 NShe is a (oung girl.Of course I#n A#d al$arrG I#n Athir and others ha@e also

re7orted the same thing. In a(ha%is narrationG it has #eenre7orted that the Imam EA.SF said0 NShe is too (oung EformarriageF.O

So in these narrationsG nothing else has #een re7ortedfrom the Imam EA.SFG e?ce7t that Umar returned again and


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said0 NMarr( her to meX I sear #( Allah here is no one inthis orld thatV.O

According to these narrationsG the Imam EA.SF did not doan(thing e?ce7t that he sent her daughter to Umar so thathe could see herV.

It has #een added in some narration that the Imam EA.SFordered her to #e 7re7ared and made$u7. So the( she as#eauti>ed and adorned and thenG the Imam EA.SF sent herto Umar so that if he li,ed her and agreed to marr(G she

ould then #ecome his ife

It is sur7rising to see ho the Imams 7osition changes inres7ect of Umm Kulthums marriage from total and decisi@erefusal to %uic, acce7tanceG thus re@ersing and changinghis mind so %uic,l(R

9ho #elie@es thisR At least this re7ort is du#ious andsus7icious and re%uires some thought and reLection.

Certain facts are re@ealed to the reader ho goes throughdiHerent narrations in this regardG facts that the( ha@eattem7ted to continue to hide in some old or,s authored#( the scholars of hadith. !o e shall mention andela#orate on some of those narrations0

I#n Maghaali Ed. 4/3F narrates through his on chainfrom A#dullah i#n Umar that Umar i#n Khatta# mounted the

7ul7it and said0 Nh 7eo7le I sear #( Allah 9hat mademe tal, 7ersistentl( to Ali i#n A#i ali# concerning hisdaughter as the fact that I heard the Pro7het of Allah ESFsa(0

- /O234P564JQPR7P89:;!DE (?P;@9B22P34SJQPR@PUQ6@VW@PXY>S?;@9BW@Z[\>O@UQ2]@^B1

1 #an%&ib Al"5mam Ali ibn Abi Talib (A.S), i#n MmaghaaliG 134 and 13-.


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ery lineage and means and grooming relationshi/ will

be seered on the ay of -udgment e*e/t my lineage and

grooming relationshi/ with me, and these two will *ome onthe ay of -udgment and will inter*ede for their owners.=

hrough this narrationG it #ecomes clear that theCom7anions and their folloers ere sur7rised hearing thisstor( and it as e@en tal,ed a#out in the cit( ma,ing Umarto go on the 7ul7it and e?7lain to the 7u#lic his aim of thismarriage 7ro7osalG and he sore that he had no other

reason for this act of his e?ce7t that he had heard theMessenger of Allah ESF a#out it and he as #ent on doingthat onl( for the same reason.

he 7oint to #e ta,en into consideration is that there isno detail as to Umars 7ersistence and insistence and it hasnot #een e?7lained h( he insisted on marr(ing Alisdaughter and hat the latters reaction as to it.

In Khati# aghdadis narrationG it has #een re7orted thatUmar i#n Khatta# 7ro7osed to Ali i#n A#i ali# for hisdaughterG ho as from atima EA.SFG and ent to him timeand again and said0 N A#al *assanG 9hat has made me tocome to (ou time and again is onl( a sa(ing that I heardfrom the Messenger of Allah EA.SF V.O

It has #een statedG in this narrationG that Umar @isited AliEA.SF man( a time.

According to some narrationsG Umar used threat tointimidate Ali EA.SF in order to ma,e him acce7t the oHer.or instanceG I#n Saad re7orts0 N9hen Imam Ali EA.SF toldUmar that Umm Kulthum as a (oung girlG Umar said0 NIsear #( Allah hat is not (our e?cuseG #ut e ,no hat(our intent is.O

1#ana&ib Al"5mam Ali bin Abi Talib (A.S)G I#n MaghaaliG 134 Y 13-.


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- /023456789:;?;@9BDE2234G256

'ery means and lineage is seered on the ay of-udgment e*e/t my lineage and means.0=

A7art from #eing an underage girl and the fact that UmmKulthum had #een ,e7t for the son of afarG Ali EA.SF alsoga@e another reason for his refusal here the Imam EA.SFsaid0 NShe has also to other guardians a7art from me.O&

9hat the Imam EA.SF meant #( those to ere Imam

*asan and *ussain EA.SF. According to the narrationsG Alidiscussed the matter ith *asan and *ussain EA.SFG A%il andA##as.

his narration that has #een re7orted from Aslam im7liesthat Imam *asan EA.SF ,e7t silent a#out this 7ro7osalG andhis silence has #een ta,en as a sign of his consent anda77ro@al.

In another narration it is re7orted that *ussain ,e7t %uietand *asan started to tal,. han,ing and 7raising Allah hesaid0 N'ear fatherG a7art from UmarG ho else is morea77ro7riate for marriage ith Umm KulthumR *e as acom7anion of the Pro7het of Allah ESF and hen the Pro7hetESF 7assed aa(G he as 7leased ith him. *e has ta,enthe cali7hate and has acted ustl(

Ali said0 N8ou are rightG m( sonG #ut I did not ant to>nish a tas, ithout see,ing the o7inion of (ou to.O3

his narration contradicts the narration that a(ha%i hasre7orted from I#n A#i Mali,ahG from *asan i#n *asan. It isre7orted in that narration that Ali told *asan and *ussain0NMarr( her to (our uncle.O

1 $iliyat Al"Awliy%0, &4&.&

ha2hair Al"U&ba,&/.3 ha2hair Al"U&ba,&/.


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Umm Kulthum. If hat (ou sa( is the caseG send her tomeVW3

Since such actions are not in ,ee7ing ith the re@erenceand res7ect of the second cali7h according to SunnischolarsG some narrators and hadith e?7erts ha@e a@oidedto re7ort on the o77osition of the Commander of theaithfulG Ali EA.SF to his daughters marriage to Umar andalso the latters insistenceG threat and refutation. ne horefers to Khati# aghdadis narration ill readil( admit this

fact.Third dimension/

I#n Saad narrates from 9a%idi and others and sa(s0Nhen Ali re%uested for a 7iece of garment hich he foldedand told Umm Kulthum to ta,e it to Umar.

It has #een stated in Muhi# a#aris re7ort from I#n Isha%that Ali called Umm KulthumG ga@e her a 7iece of cloth and

told her0 Na,e this to UmarVO

his as done to ma,e Umar see her. hat as h( henUmm Kulthum returned to her fatherG she said0 NUmar didnot unfold the cloth and he did not loo, at an(thing e?ce7tme.O

Surel(G such a #eha@ior from the Muslims cali7h has#een seen #( some Sunni scholars e.g. Sa#t i#n auiG as

>lth( and un7leasant. 9e shall soon 7oint out his ords inthis regard. It is for the same reason that some narratorsha@e not made reference to this to7ic in their narrations.

A#u ushr 'ula#i has narrated as such0 NAli called UmmKulthumG ho as a little girlG and said to her0 N2o to AmirulMumeneen and tell him0 NM( father sent (ou his greetingsand said that he ful>lled the re%uest that (ou had made.O

3Al"urriyat Al"TahirahG 1-" and 1-/X ha2hair Al"U&baG &/6.


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Khati# aghdadi has also re7orted a similar narration0

NUmar 7ro7osed to Ali for his daughters hand inmarriage and said0 NMarr( her to me.O

Ali said0 NI ha@e ,e7t her for the son of m( #rotherGA#dullah i#n afar.O

Umar said0 NI sear #( AllahG there is no man on the faceof the earth ho see,s to achie@e through her goodcom7anionshi7 that hich I see, to [email protected]

hereu7onG Ali married her to Umar and the latter ent tothe Muhaireen.O

The 4ourth dimension/In this stor(G >lth( and un7alata#le things ha@e #een

%uoted including the folloing0

I#n Saad narrates from I#n 9a%idi as such0 NAli orderedUmm Kulthum to #e made u7 and adorned so that she couldgo to Umar. She as 7re7ared and adorned Eas ordered #(her fatherF.O

In the narration transmitted #( Khati# aghdadi fromU%#ah #in =AamirG it has #een re7orted0 NShe as adorned.O

In the narration re7orted from Imam a%ir EA.SF #( I#nA#d al$arr and othersG the Imam has #een %uoted as

ha@ing said0 N9hen Umm Kulthum ent to UmarG Umar7ulled aa( the cloth from the calf of her legO

rul(G these re7orts are at the highest le@el of o#scenit(.he %uestion is thatG are the liars and forgers of thesenarrations not ashamed of doing such o#scene andloathsome actsR heir conducts are so mean and des7ica#lethat e@en if a la( 7erson hears themG he ill readil( des7isethem and testif( to their o#scenit(. Are the( not ashamed of


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forging and attri#uting such >lth( stories to Imam a%irG7eace #e u7on himR

Indeed it is so shameless and it is oing to the samereason that e see some Sunni narrators tr(ing tomisre7ort and concoct such stories in order to 7ro@e theirside of the stor(. I#n Athir modi>es the stor( and ma,es itloo, a #it modest. *e sa(s0 NUmar 7laced his hand on her.O

In this res7ectG 'ula#i and Muhi# a#ari ha@e re7orted assuch0 NUmar too, hold of her arm.O

lse here the( sa(0 NUmar gra##ed her and 7ulled herto his #osomO

thers such as a(ha%i and *+,im !isha#uri ha@e notnarrated an(thing in this regard. 9hen re7orting suchnarrationsG Muhi# a#ari sa(s0 NI#n Samman has made a#rief #ut im7licit reference to this su#ect.O *oe@erG hathe has re7orted does not include an(thing from the re7orts

transmitted #( the narrators hose names ere mentioneda#[email protected]

In additionG some of the narrators of this stor(G ha@estated clearl( that this stor( is a lie. Concerning this sameissueG Sa#t i#n aui Ed. 6-4F sa(s0 NM( grandfather rites in

Al"#unta8am that Ali sent Umm Kulthum to Umar so that hecould see her. Umar 7ulled aa( the cloth from the calf of

her leg and then touched herO

Sa#t i#n aui further sa(s0 NIn m( o7inion I sear #(Allah this is a des7ica#le actX e@en if she ere a sla@e girlGshe ould not ha@e #een treated as such.&

1 5efer to0 ha2hair Al"U&ba,&/.& It is orth mentioning that in the Islamic las Eof #oth the Sunni and Shia

sectsF s7eci>c las on ho to treat a sla@e ha@e #een discussed hich are notcom7ara#le ith the las regarding a free oman. In an( caseG the meanness and

o#scenit( of Umars action remains in 7lace and hat I#n aui *ana> means fromthe a#o@e statement refers to the @er( 7oint.


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n the other handG Muslims are unanimous a#outtouching a nonmahram lad( #eing 7rohi#ited in Islam. he

%uestion is0 9h( are the( attri#uting all this to UmarR 1

he author sa(s0 NI ish it as onl( touching.O In Khati#aghdadis narrationG Umar is said to ha@e e@en ,issed andgra##ed the calf of Umm Kulthums leg

The fifth dimension/he te?t of the narration narrated #( I#n Saad and

othersG in a a(G contains 7raise and congratulation. 9e

ha@e read that Umar told Meccan migrants0 NCongratulateme.O and the( congratulated him.& In other ordsG Umarre%uested a s7ecial congratulation and said0 NCongratulateme on i@es #eing considerate and em7athetic and onha@ing more children.O3

It is 7rett( o#@ious that this ,ind of congratulation ascustomar( in the 7eriod of ignorance hichG according to all

MuslimsG the Messenger of Allah ESF had 7rohi#ited. In thisregardG Ahmad i#n *an#al narrates through his on chainthat A#dullah i#n Muhammad i#n A%il sa(s0 NA%il son of ali#had marriedG he came to us and e congratulated him inthe a( hich as customar( during the 7eriod ofignorance. A%il said0 NCalm don 'o not congratulate mein such a manner #ecause the Pro7het of Allah ESF7rohi#ited us from congratulating in such a manner and he

said0 N8ou should sa( NMa( Allah #less (ouG ma( Allah ma,eit #lessedG ma( it #e #lessed.4

1 Tadh2irat Al"KhawasG &// and &/.& Al"Taba&at Al"KubraG /33G Kan8ul UmmalG 13&6 num#er 3"-"6GAl"5sti0ab,

4-)G Usd Al"6habahG "3"/GAl"5sabahG /46-.3 ha2hair Al"U&baG &/". o understand the meaning of this ,ind of

congratulationG refer to =Eisan Al"Arab0and other #oo,s in Ara#ic grammar to >ndthe ord N5ifaaO.

4

#usnad Ahmad ibn $anbal,44/4. 5efer to asail Al"Shia,141/3 traditionnum#er &---).


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Since this statement of Umar de7icts his ignorance and alac, of ,noledge a#out the things that the Messenger of

Allah ESF 7rohi#ited as ell as indicates the fact that heanted to re@i@e the customs and norms of the 7eriod ofignoranceG some Sunni scholars ha@e endea@ored to alterthe te?t and mani7ulate it in a a( hich is consistent iththeir on @alues and standards. hat is h( in *+,ims Al"#ustadra2G e read0 NUmar ent to the Muhairin and said0N9ill (ou not congratulate meRO

In a(ha%isAl"Sunan Al"KubraG it is re7orted that Umarent to the Muhairin and the( 7ra(ed and ished him ell.:ets not forget that Khati# aghdadi has ne@er narratedthis incident in his ari,h Ehistor( #oo,F.

The si=th dimension/Another as7ect of this stor( that can #e studied and

e?amined is the fruit of this false marriageX it has #eenre7orted in some narrations that folloing the marriage ofUmm Kulthum to UmmarG she ga@e #irth to a son allegedl(named


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The se>enth dimension/ne of the to7ics discussi#le in this fa#ricated stor( is

Umm Kulthums marriage after UmarX it has #eenmentioned in man( a num#er of narrations that afterUmars deathG =An folloed #( Muhammad sons of afarmarried Umm Kulthum #ut the same 7eo7le ho ha@ere7orted that these to married Umm Kulthum ha@e said0W=An and Muhammad ere ,illed in the #attle of Shushtarhich too, 7lace during Umars cali7hate.W

I#n A#d Al$arr sa(s0 W=An son of afar #in A#i ali# as#orn in the time of the Messenger of AllahG 7eace #e u7onhim and his descendants. =Ans mother and that of his#rothers A#dullah and Muhammad sons of afar #in A#i

ali# as Asma daughter of Umais Khathami. =An and his#rotherG MuhammadG ere mart(red in the #attle ofShushtar ithout them lea@ing an( children #ehind.W1

*e further sa(s0 Muhammad #in afar #in A#i ali# as#orn in the time of the Messenger of AllahG 7eace #e u7onhim and his descendants. *e is the one hoG after the deathof Umar #in Khatta#G married Umm Kulthum daughter of Ali#in A#i ali#V and as mart(red in the #attle of Shushtar.&

Concerning =An #in afars mart(rdomG I#n *aar sa(sGW=An #in afar as mart(red in the #attle of Shushtarhich too, 7lace in the time of Umars cali7hate. *e did not

ha@e a child.W3

I#n Athir has made a similar comment.4

1Al"5stiab,331-.&Al"5stiab,34&3 and 4&4.3

Al"5sabahG 4G 4 61.4Usd Al"6habahG 4G 3)&.


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It is 7ertinent to mention that the #attle too, 7lace duringthe cali7hate of Umar and historians ha@e made clear

reference to it in their accounts.-

In this 7assage %uoted from I#n *aarG he has mademention of the same fact. IndeedG a truth$see,ingresearcher is amaedl( mindful of the contradictor( re7ortsand narrations transmitted #( these 7eo7le.

The eighth dimension/An im7ortant %uestion in connection ith the to7ic under

discussion is0 9hich one of the to #rothers married UmmKulthumG =An #in afar or Muhammad #in afarR Sunnitraditions 7ro@ide diHerent accounts in this regard. I#nSaad and 'ar ButniG as stated in Al$Isa#ahG sa(s0 W=Andied during the lifetime of Umm Kulthum and his #rotherGMuhammadG contracted marriage ith her. henGMuhammad died and A#dullah married her.W

I#n Saad narrates as such0 Umm Kulthum said0 NI feelem#arrassed toards Asma #int Umais hose to sonsdied hen the( ere ith meG and I am orried a#out thethird oneO Umm Kulthum died hen she as ith A#dullahi#n afar.O&

I#n Butai#ah narrates this stor( diHerentl(X he sa(s0N9hen Umar as ,illedG Muhammad i#n afar married UmmKulthum and died during her lifetime. hen =An i#n afarmarried her and Umm Kulthum died hen she as marriedto him.O3

8ou can see that I#n Butai#ah has mentioned themarriage of Muhammad i#n afar ith Umm Kulthum #eforethe latters marriage to =An i#n afar and she died hen

-Tari2h TabariG 3 1"4G Al$Kamil > Al$ari,hG &--).&

Al"Taba&at Al"KubraG/33/.3Al #a0arifG 1&&.


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she as still married to =An. Butai#ah has made nomention of A#dullah #in afar.

Moreo@erG although I#n A#d al$arr has discussed UmmKulthums lifeG he has not stated an(thing regarding hermarriage after Umars deathG nor has he said an(thinga#out her marriage to =An. !e@erthelessG hen it comes toMuhammad #in afars lifeG he sa(s0 NMuhammad i#n afari#n A#i ali# is the one ho married Umm KulthumG thedaughter of Ali i#n A#i ali#G after the death of Umar i#n

Khatta#.1

The ninth dimension/In this sectionG e shall no ha@e a short loo, at the

#iogra7h( of A#dullah i#n afar. *e as the hus#and of the9ise 9oman of ani *ashimG e.g.


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar"-

The tenth dimension/Another %uestion that comes u7 isG ho 7ra(ed on Umm

Kulthum after she diedR he anser to this %uestion isfound in the re7orted narrationsG #ut there arecontradictions and discre7ancies in those re7orts. hecontradictions are found e@en in the narrations re7orted #(one narrator.

9hen it comes to the 7ra(er on Umm Kulthum and herson ho said0 NSaeid #in Aas 7ra(ed on them.O

It is interesting to note that some historiogra7hers ha@enarrated from Ammar i#n A#i Ammar that Saad i#n A#i9a%as 7ra(ed on them.1

In an( caseG regardless of ho oHered the funeral 7ra(erGthe narrations indicate the fact that she died during thereign of Muai(ah #ecause the narrations re7ort that Imam*asan and Imam *ussain EA.SF attended the 7ra(er.

*oe@erG hat is 7ro@en through historical accounts isthat Umm Kulthum and her sister


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar""

the aithfulG Ali EA.SF marr(ing his daughter to Umar i#nKhatta#G and other narrations 7ertaining to this great lad(

of the *ousehold of the Pro7het ESF. *oe@erG e could not>nd in them a chain of transmission that could #e reliedu7on or hich an argument could #e #ased u7on. 9e alsoin@estigated meticulousl( the te?t of the narrationregarding Umm Kulthums marriage to Umar. 9e loo,edcarefull( into the sa(ings of Sunni scholars and their re7ortson this to7ic. 9e found out that their re7orts arecontradictor( and refuting each other.

Moreo@erG e also studied the signi>cations of thenarration and it as made clear that the entire stor( is#aseless and undocumented. he 7ro#a#ilit( here is thatthe forgers of this stor( sought to create a @irtue for Umari#n Khatta# ho himself is one of the narrators of this7ro7hetic tradition0

- /023456789:;?;@9BDE2234G256

'ery means and lineage will be seered on the ay of

-udgment e*e/t my means and my lineage.0

his tradition signi>es the @irtues and merits of thePro7hets *ousehold es7eciall( the Commander of theaithfulG Ali EA.SF. As also stated #( ManaiG e@en *+,im!isha#uri has narrated the a#o@e tradition as a 7roof of the@irtues of the Commander of the aithfulG Ali EA.SF. 1 hatas h( the( forged the stor( of Umars 7ro7osal to thedaughter of the Commander of the aithfulG Ali EA.SF in a #idto include Umar amongst those ho ere lin,ed to thePro7het ESF and to >nall( esta#lish a @irtue for him. his isfurther e@idenced #( the fact that a num#er of great Sunnitraditionists ha@e re7orted this tradition from Umar ithoutmentioning this stor(G and the( ha@e re7orted the same

1 Faidh Al" DadirG -&".


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar/&

5mamahG he rites0 NUmm Kulthum as (oung and u@enileand Umar died #efore consummating marriage ith her.1

:i,eiseG Shei,h A#u A#dullah Muhammad i#n A#dul a%iPgVV@PK>@PQPVS@6PBPgZVX@PV@K;k

G:9B

hoeer treats well any of the *hildren of Abdul

#uttalib and does him a faor and he does not not ma2e u/

for the faor in this world, it will be ne*essary u/on me to

ma2e it u/ on the ay of -udgment when he shall meet

me.

a#arani has re7orted this tradition in Al"#u0u!am Al"Awsat. *ence, those ho are related to 7eo7le #efore A#dulMuttali# li,e the children of A#dul ManafG or the 7eo7le hoare in the same le@el related to A#dul ManafG for e?am7lethe children of *ashimG the #rothers of A#dul Muttali# or the7eo7le related to him #ut ho did not see him or associatedith himG are e?cluded from his ,inshi7.

It seems that ,inshi7 does not refer to the men and

omen ho ere in the com7an( of the Messenger of AllahESF and did not see himX #ut it refers to Ali and his childrenX*assanG *ussainG Mohassin and Umm KulthumG the ife ofthe second cali7hG Umar i#n Khatta#.

1 4ihar Al"Anwar,4&1.& *is #iogra7h( can #e read in Sil2 Al" urarfFi A0ayan Al" Darn Al"Thani Ashar,

43&


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar/3

In factG Umar died #efore Umm Kulthum reached the ageof 7u#ert( and =An i#n afar married her. *e also de7arted

and she got married to his #rotherG Muhammad. *e too diedand she got married to A#dullahG the #rother of those to.Umm Kulthum died in his house and did not #ear a childith an( of those threeG e?ce7t MuhammadG for hom she#ore a daughter ho diedG hile still a child. husG UmmKulthum does not ha@e an( children or descendents as theauthor mentioned in the second section of this #oo,.1

urthermoreG assuming that Umar married Umm KulthumGthe fact that Umm Kulthum did not #ear a child is reaZrmed#( Umar ho stressed that he did not ant an(thing #(ma,ing a marriage 7ro7osal #ut to #e the son$in$la of *ol(Pro7het ESF. *e insisted that he anted to #e one of themem#ers of the Pro7hets household EA.SF. *e declared thathe did not see, to gain an(thing e?ce7t relationshi7 iththe Messenger of Allah through marriage ith Umm

Kulthum.

1

Sharh Al"#awahib Al"EadoniyyahG " and 1)G theme0 Ma#hath Bara#at Al$!a#iESF.


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Section I

Umars Marriage to Umm Kulthum in Shiite

"arrations


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A Critical Assessment of Umm Kulthums Marriage to Umar/-

Umars

a critical assessment of umm kulthum’s marriage to umar

Documents