Are the statements mentioning that Ali ibn Abi Talib married 9 times correct, knowing that Islam prohibits marrying more than four?
Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, married many women, but he never had more than four wives at one time. Among his wives and children were: 1. Fatimah, daughter of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. Their children were: Al-Hasan, Al-Hussein, Zaynab the Elder, and Umm Kulthum the Elder. 2. Umm al-Banin bint Hizam. Her children were: Al-Abbas, Ja'far, Abdullah, and Uthman (they were martyred at Karbala, and there is no progeny except from Al-Abbas). 3. Layla bint Mas'ud al-Yatimah. Her children were: Abu Bakr and Abdullah. 4. Asma bint Umays. Her children were: Yahya and Muhammad (and it is said, Awn). 5. Umm Habibah bint Rabi'ah al-Taghlabiyyah (also known as As-Sahba'). Her children were: Umar and Ruqayyah (Umar lived for 85 years). 6. Umamah bint Abi al-As ibn Ar-Rabi'. Her child was: Muhammad al-Awsat (the Middle). 7. Khawlah bint Ja'far (al-Hanafiyyah). Her child was: Muhammad al-Akbar (the Elder), known as Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah. 8. Umm Sa'id bint Urwah ath-Thaqafiyyah. Her children were: Umm al-Hasan and Ramlah. 9. Muhayah bint Imru' al-Qays al-Kalbiyyah. Her child was: a girl named Jāriyah (who died young).
Ali had 14 sons and 17 daughters, but his lineage continued through only five: Al-Hasan, Al-Hussein, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, Al-Abbas, and Umar ibn at-Taghlabiyyah. Ali's naming some of his children after the Companions (Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman) indicates his love for them and their great stature in his eyes.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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