12th August 2016
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
Question: Is it true that Sayyidah Maryam radhiyallahu anha will marry our beloved Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam in Jannah?
الجواب حامداً و مصلياً
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
According to a prophetic narration, recorded in Mu’jam Tabrāni, the Messenger of Allāh sallallahu alayhi wasallam said to Sayyidah A’ishah radhiyallahu anha that Allāh Almighty will marry him to (Sayyidah) Maryam radhiyallahu anha the daughter of Imrān, (Sayyidah) Kaltham radhiyallahu anha the sister of Sayyidunā Moosā alayhissalaam and (Sayyidah) Āsiya radhiyallahu anha the wife of Fir’awn.[1] Some scholars such as Imām Dhahabi rahimahullah have classified this Hadeeth as weak due to a specific narrator being unreliable in the chain of transmission. Its weakness in the chain however, does not negate the possibility of the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam marrying them due to their lofty status. Their piety has been clearly expressed both in the Holy Qur’ān and in the prophetic tradition and for them becoming his wives does not go against his status. So Allāh Almighty can allow this to happen in Jannah if He so Wills. Its possibility can also be proven by the fact that Sayyidah Maryam radhiyallahu anha remained unmarried throughout her life whilst Sayyidah Āsiya radhiyallahu anha was married to a tyrant who relentlessly persecuted her because of her faith in Allāh Almighty and Prophet Moosā alayhissalaam. This inevitably terminates the marriage between them due to the clash of faiths. As for Kaltham radhiyallahu anha, the the Qur’ān and Hadeeth make no clear reference of her marriage in this world. Allāh Almighty promises the believers, both men and women, on multiple occasions in the Holy Qur’ān that they will relish the company of their spouse(s) in Jannah. This suggests that every believing man and woman will marry those of their own choices and no one will be left unmarried, including the three aforesaid women. If viewed in this way then arguably, it is plausible that Allāh Almighty can permit the marriage of these three great women with the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam.
Henceforth, though the authenticity of the Hadeeth is objectionable by some scholar, it does not conflict with the general Islamic principles and neither negates its possibility of happening. We must however consign its true knowledge to Allāh Almighty Himself.
[Allãh Knows Best]
Written by (Mufti) Abdul Waheed
Answer Attested by Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[1] Tabrāni, Mu’jamul Kabeer No:8006
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ نُوحِ بْنِ حَرْبٍ الْعَسْكَرِيُّ، ثنا خَالِدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ السَّمْتِيُّ، ثنا عَبْدُ النُّورِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ، ثنا يُونُسُ بْنُ شُعَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ لِعَائِشَةَ: «أَشَعَرْتِ أَنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ زَوَّجَنِي فِي الْجَنَّةِ مَرْيَمَ بِنْتَ عِمْرَانَ، وَكَلْثَمَ أُخْتَ مُوسَى، وَامْرَأَةَ فِرْعَوْنَ