Marital relations between the House of Zubair and the Ahlul Bayt

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Marital relations between the House of Zubair and the Ahlul Bayt

 

1. Safiyyah bint ‘Abdul Muttalib, aunt of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam

Sayyidah Safiyyah radiya Llahu ‘anha, the beloved aunt of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was married to al ‘Awwam ibn Khuwaylid. Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam was born from this union. This is famous and well known, established in all the books of genealogy and history.

 

2. Umm al Hassan bint Hassan ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib

Umm al Hassan, the daughter of Sayyidina Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu, was married to ‘Abdullah ibn Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam.

• ‘Abbas al Qummi: Muntaha al Amal, (1/341, al Dar al Islamiyyah; 1/460, Mu’assat al Nashr, Qum)
• Ibn ‘Inabah: ‘Umdat al Talib (pg. 288)
• Al Baladhuri: Ansab al Ashraf (2/193)
• Mus’ab al Zubairi: Ansab Quraysh (pg. 50)

 

Mus’ab al Zubairi mentioned her agnomen as Umm al Hussain, saying:

Umm al Hussain was married to ‘Abdullah ibn Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam; she bore him Bakr and Ruqayyah.[1]

 

This is an error on his part and the correct name is Umm al Hassan. This was mentioned by:

• Ibn Tabataba: Abna’ al Imam fi Misr wa al Sham (pg. 77, Jull al Ma’rifah)
• Footnotes of ‘Umdat al Talib (pg. 63, Ansariyan) on the authority of al Majdi of al ‘
• Ibn Habib: al Muhabbar (pg. 57)
• Ibn Qutaybah: Al Ma’arif (pg. 212)

Abu al Hassan al ‘Umari says in al Majdi, “Umm al Hassan, who was the daughter of an Umm Walad, was married to ‘Abdullah ibn Zubair… and Ruqayyah was married to ‘Amr ibn Mundhir ibn Zubair ibn al Awwam.[2]

The same mistake was made by Abu ‘Umar Hay ibn Salim al Hay, who also mentioned her name as Umm al Hussain relying on what Mus’ab al Zubairi recorded in Nasab Quraysh. It is possible that the error found in Nasab Quraysh is actually the fault of the scribe and not of Mus’ab al Zubairi.

Ibn ‘Inabah says under the discussion of Abu al Hussain Zaid ibn Hassan:

He pledged his allegiance after the murder of his uncle Hussain to ‘Abdullah ibn Zubair because his sister was in the wedlock of ‘Abdullah ibn Zubair. Abu Nasr al Bukhari said, “When ‘Abdullah was killed, Zaid took his sister and returned to Madinah.”[3]

 

3. Ruqayyah bin al Hassan ibn ‘Ali bin Abi Talib

Ruqayyah, the daughter of Sayyidina Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu, was married to ‘Amr ibn Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam.

• ‘Abbas al Qummi: Muntaha al Amal (pg. 342, Al Dar al Islamiyyah; 1/460, Mu’assat al Nashar, Qum)
• Al A’lami: Tarajim A’lam al Nisa’ (pg. 346)
• Abu al Hassan al ‘Umari: Al Majdi
• Ibn ‘Inabah: ‘Umdat al Talib (pg. 88, Dar al Hayat; pg. 64, Ansariyan)
• Musab al Zubairi: Nasab Quraysh (pg. 50)
• Ibn Habib: al Muhabbar (pg. 57)

 

4. Mulaykah bint al Hassan (al Muthanna) ibn al Hassan ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib

Mulaykah, the granddaughter of Sayyidina Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu, was married to Jafar ibn Mus’ab ibn Zubair, the grandson of Sayyidina Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam radiya Llahu ‘anhu. They were blessed with a daughter named Fatimah.

• Musab al Zubairi: Nasab Quraysh (pg. 53)

 

5. Musa ibn ‘Umar ibn ‘Ali (Zayn al ‘Abidin) ibn Hussain ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib

Musa ibn ‘Umar, who is the grandson of Imam Zayn al ‘Abidin—considered to be the fourth infallible Imam by the Shia—married ‘Ubaidah bint al Zubair ibn Hisham ibn Urwah ibn Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam. They were blessed with three children: Safiyyah, Zainab, and a son named ‘Umar^درج.

• Musab al Zubairi: Nasab Quraysh (pg. 72)

 

6. Jafar (al Akbar) ibn ‘Umar ibn ‘Ali (Zayn al ‘Abidin) ibn Hussain ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib

Jafar al Akbar, who is the grandson of Imam Zayn al ‘Abidin—considered to be the fourth infallible Imam by the Shia—married the granddaughter of Sayyidina Zubair radiya Llahu ‘anhu, Fatimah bint ‘Urwah ibn Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam. They were blessed with a son named ‘Ali.

• Musab al Zubairi: Nasab Quraysh (pg. 72)

 

7. ‘Abdullah ibn Hussain ibn ‘Ali (Zayn al ‘Abidin) ibn Hussain ibn ‘Ali bin Abi Talib

‘Abdullah ibn Hussain, who is the grandson of Imam Zayn al ‘Abidin—considered to be the fourth infallible Imam by the Shia—married Umm ‘Amr bint ‘Amr ibn al Zubair ibn Amr ibn ‘Amr ibn al Zubair.

• Musab al Zubairi: Nasab Quraysh (pg. 73, 74)

 

Mus’ab al Zubairi says:

The children of ‘Abdullah ibn Hussain ibn ‘Ali (Zayn al ‘Abidin) ibn Hussain ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib were Bakr, Qasim, Umm Salamah, and Zainab—who married Amir al Mu’minin Harun and was divorced by him after the first night. As a result the people of Madinah referred to as Zainab Laylah, she was born from an Umm Walad by the name Nuwaybah. (Also of his children:) Jafar and Fatimah, whose mother was Umm ‘Amr bint ‘Amr ibn al Zubair ibn Amr ibn ‘Amr ibn al Zubair.[4]

 

8. Muhammad ibn ‘Awf ibn ‘Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib

The great grandson of Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyah—son of ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib—married the great granddaughter of Sayyidina Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam radiya Llahu ‘anhu, Safiyyah bint Muhammad ibn Mus’ab ibn al Zubair radiya Llahu ‘anhu. They were blessed with son, ‘Ali, and a daughter, Hassanah.

• Musab al Zubairi: Nasab Quraysh (pg. 77)

 

9. Bint al Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Jafar ibn Abi Talib

The great granddaughter of Sayyidina Jafar ibn Abi Talib radiya Llahu ‘anhu—brother of Amir al Mu’minin Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu—was married to Hamzah ibn ‘Abdullah ibn al Zubair, grandson of Sayyidina Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

• Musab al Zubairi: Nasab Quraysh (pg. 83)
• Ibn Hazm: Jamharah Ansab al ‘Arab ( 61)

 

Mus’ab al Zubairi says while discussing the children of ‘Abdullah ibn Jafar ibn Abi Talib, nephew of Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and his son-in-law:

…And Umm Kulthum, Muawiyah asked for her to be married to his son so ‘Abdullah handed over her matter to Hussain ibn ‘Ali. Hussain then married her to Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Jafar ibn Abi Talib instead of Yazid ibn Muawiyah. Qasim was then blessed with a daughter who he married to Hamzah bin ‘Abdullah ibn Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam, and they were granted children from this union. Thereafter Talhah ibn ‘Umar ibn ‘Ubaidullah ibn Ma’mar married her, and she bore children for him too. Her lineage continued through them and the children of Hamzah. Qasim then passed away and Umm Kulthum was then married by Hajjaj ibn Yusuf—who was the Amir of Madinah and Makkah at that time—but ‘Abdul Malik wrote to him, instructing him to separate from her. He therefore divorced her.[5]

 

He mentioned at another juncture while discussing the children of Sayyidina Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam:

And amongst the children of Hamzah ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Zubair are Abu Bakr and Yahya. Their mother is Fatimah bint al Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Jafar ibn Abi Talib, whose mother was Umm Kulthum bint ‘Abdullah ibn Jafar ibn Abi Talib. Her mother was Zainab bint ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, whose mother was Fatimah bint Rasulillah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Their (i.e. Abu Bakr and Yahya) uterine brother is Ibrahim ibn Talhah ibn ‘Umar ibn ‘Ubaidullah ibn Ma’mar…[6]  

 

Note:

The progeny of Hamzah ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam has been blessed with a pure noble ancestry, both maternally and paternally.

• Their mother was Umm Kulthum bint ‘Abdullah ibn Jafar ibn Abi Talib ibn ‘Abdul Muttalib ibn Hashim ibn ‘Abd Manaf ibn Qusayy.
• Her mother was Zainab bint ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, daughter of Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha.
• Her mother was Fatimah bint Muhammad Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
• Her mother was Khadijah bint Khuwaylid ibn Asad ibn ‘Abdul ‘Uzza ibn Qusayy.
• Her mother was Fatimah bint Za’idah ibn al Asam, from the Banu ‘Amir of the Banu Lu’ayy.
• Her mother was Halah bint ‘Abd Manaf, from the Banu Harith.

 

10. Muhammad (al Nafs al Zakiyyah) ibn ‘Abdullah (al Mahd) ibn Hassan (al Muthanna) ibn Hassan ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib

The great grandson of Sayyiudna Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu married Fakhitah bint Fulayh ibn Muhammad ibn al Mundhir ibn Zubyar ibn al ‘Awwam. They were blessed with a son named Tahir.

• Abu Nasr al Bukhari: Sirr al Silsilat al ‘Alawiyyah (pg. 18)
• Ibn ‘Inabah: ‘Umdat al Talib, subnotes (pg. 96, Ansariyan)
• Mus’ab al Zubairi: Nasab Quraysh (pg. 45)

 

11. Hussain (al Asghar) ibn ‘Ali (Zayn al ‘Abidin) ibn Hussain (al Shahid)

The son of the fourth Imam according to the Shia married Khalidah bint Hamzah ibn Mus’ab ibn Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam.

• Muhammad Hussain al A’lami: Tarajim A’lam al Nisa’ (pg. 361)
• Mus’ab al Zubairi: Nasab Quraysh (pg. 73)

 

Mus’ab al Zubairi stated:

Hussain ibn ‘Ali ibn Hussain ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib had ‘Abdullah, ‘Ubaidullah, ‘Ali, and Aminah (al Kubra). Their mother was Umm Khailid bint Hamzah ibn Mus’ab ibn Zubair…[7]

 

12. Sukaynah bint Hussain ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib

The daughter of Sayyidina Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu was married to Mus’ab ibn Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam.

Some scholars[8] have denied this union for feeble reasons, despite it being recorded in a number of sources: books of history, and genealogy. If I had to cite all the references that have expanded on the life of this noble woman, Sayyidah Sukaynah bint Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anha, and her marriage to Mus’ab ibn Zubair then this treatise would be extensively lengthened.

However, I will cite a few of these important references from the works of history and genealogy.

Al Baladhuri writes:

Zainab bore no children for Hassan. Rubab bore for Hussain Sukaynah bint Hussain. She was married to ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, who was the first man to marry her, and then passed away. She was then married by Mus’ab ibn Zubair, and she bore him Fatimah^درج. Mus’ab was then later martyred, upon which she would say, “May the curse of Allah be upon you, O People of Kufah, you orphaned me when I was a child and then widowed me when I was old.”[9]

 

Ansab al Ashraf has been favoured with the annotations of al Mahmudi on account of his knowledgeable rank, while the version containing the annotations of Dr. Suhayl Zakkar has omitted this. This despite Muhammad Baqir al Mahmudi not negating it or adding any comments to it in his sub notes.

The exact same quotation above has been cited by Muhammad ibn Habib (d. 245 A.H) under the heading, Names of those women who married thrice or more. The book of Ibn Habib with the annotations of Ilse Lichtenstadter is an invaluable resource in genealogy and history.  

Ibn Habib is of those who have narrated the works of Ibn al Kalbi (d. 203 A.H), specifically in his book Jamharah Nasab.

As for Ibn Qutaybah (d. 276 A.H), he has mentioned:

As for Sukaynah, she was married by Mus’ab ibn Zubair, who was killed.[10]

 

He then quotes the statements of Ibn al Kalbi (d. 204 A.H):

She bore for Mus’ab a daughter

 

Ibn al Kalbi is one of the earliest genealogists, whose works have reached us in manuscript form. Those that came after him quoted it and structured it.

Thus the greatest historians, biographers, and genealogists have reported Sukaynah bint Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anha marrying Mus’ab ibn Zubair radiya Llahu ‘anhu. Those who reject this union do so based on their misguided premise that there existed enmity between the progeny of ‘Ali and the progeny of Zubair radiya Llahu ‘anhuma. Whoever will read what we have just written and what is still to come, about the marital relations between these two great houses, will know with complete certainty that no such enmity existed. Further elucidation on this union from Nasab Quraysh of al Zubairi can be read in the appendix.

Also amongst those who recorded this union is Ibn al Jawzi in al Muntazam (7/175) and al Dhahabi in Siyar A’lam al Nubala’ (5/262. 4/140), in addition to many other scholars.

 

13. Hussain ibn Hassan ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib

The son of Sayyidina Hassan radiya Llahu ‘anhu married Aminah bint Hamzah ibn Mundhir ibn Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam, great granddaughter of Sayyidina Zubair radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

• Abu Nasr al Bukhari: Sirr al Silsilat al ‘Alawiyyah (pg. 103)

 

Abu Nasr states:

Hussain ibn Hassan had the following children: Muhammad, ‘Ali, Hassan, and Fatimah. Their mother was Aminah bint Hamzah ibn Mundhir ibn Zubair.

 

14. ‘Ali (al Kharazi) ibn Hassan ibn ‘Ali ibn ‘Ali (Zayn al ‘Abidin) ibn Hussain ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib

The great grandson of ‘Ali Zayn al ‘Abidin, considered to be the fourth infallible Imam by the Shia, married Fatimah bint ‘Uthman ibn ‘Urwah ibn Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam, the great granddaughter of Sayyidina Zubair radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

• Abu Nasr al Bukhari: Sirr al Silsilat al ‘Alawiyyah (pg. 102)

 

Abu Nasr states:

‘Ali ibn Hassan ibn ‘Ali ibn ‘Ali, well known as al Kharazi had a son named Hassan, whose mother was Fatimah bint ‘Uthman ibn ‘Urwah ibn Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam.

 

15. Fatimah bint ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib

The daughter of Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was married to the grandson of Sayyidina Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam radiya Llahu ‘anhu, Mundhir ibn ‘Ubaidah ibn Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam.

• Mus’ab al Zubairi: Nasab Quraysh (pg. 46)
• Ibn Habib: Al Muhabbar (pg. 56, 75)
• Ibn Tiqtaqa: al Asili (pg. 60)

 

Mus’ab al Zubairi writes:

Fatimah bint ‘Ali was married to Abu Sa’id ibn ‘Aqil, for who she bore Humaidah. She was then married to Sa’id ibn al Aswad ibn Abi al Bakhtari, for who she bore Barrah and Khalidah. Thereafter she was married to Mundhir ibn ‘Ubaidah ibn Zubyar ibn al ‘Awwam, for who she bore ‘Uthman and Kindah^درج.[11]

 

The same statement can be seen in Al Muhabbar of Ibn Habib under the discussion of the sons-in-law of Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu. A detailed discussion on this will follow in the appendix.

Amongst those who mentioned this was Ibn Tiqtaqa:

Fatimah al Kubra (whose mother was Kalbiyyah) was (first) married to Abu Sa’id ibn ‘Aqil, for who she bore Jamilah. After him Sa’id ibn al Aswad ibn Abi al Bakhtari married her and she bore him Barrah and Khalidah. Thereafter Mundhir ibn ‘Ubaidah ibn Zubair married her, and she bore him ‘Uthman and Kathirah.[12]

 

16. ‘Abdullah ibn Hussain (al Asghar) ibn ‘Ali (Zayn al ‘Abidin)

The grandson of Imam Zayn al ‘Abidin also married into the progeny of Sayyidina Zubair radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

• Abu al Hassan al ‘Umari: Al Majdi
• Ibn ‘Inabah: ‘Umdat al Talib (pg. 290, Ansariyan)

 

Al ‘Umari says while discussing him:

Jafar ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Hussain al Asghar ibn ‘Ali ibn Hussain ‘alayh al Salam was born, who was extremely virtuous and possessed many praiseworthy traits. His mother was from the progeny of Zubair who was nicknamed Sahsaha[13]… he was called Ibn al Zubairiyyah.[14]

 

17. Ibrahim ibn Hussain ibn ‘Ali ibn Hussain ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib

Ibrahim, the grandson of ‘Ali Zayn al ‘Abidin married Buraykah bint ‘Ubaidullah ibn Muhammad ibn Mundhir ibn Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam.

• Mus’ab al Zubairi: Nasab Quraysh (pg. 75)

 

Mus’ab al Zubairi writes:

Ibrahim ibn Hussain ibn ‘Ali ibn Hussain ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib had the following children: Hussain^درج, ‘Abdullah, Zainab, and Fatimah. Their mother was Buraykah bint ‘Ubaidullah ibn Muhammad ibn Mundhir ibn Zubair ibn al ‘Awwam.[15]

 

Respected reader, these are some of the marital relations between the house of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and the house of Zubair radiya Llahu ‘anhu. I think it is quite sufficient to refute all those who believe that great enmity and discord existed between these two great houses. The reason cited by al Mufid for rejecting the marriage of ‘Umar ibn al Khattab radiya Llahu ‘anhu to Umm Kulthum bint ‘Ali was that it was reported by a Zubairi, Zubair ibn al Bakkar, about whom he said, “The enmity of the Zubairis for the Alawis is known.” However, after the dissertation above it has become clear that this alleged enmity is doubtful, in fact it is rather a figment of their imagination.

 

NEXT⇒ Marital relations between the House of al Faruq and the Ahlul Bayt

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[1] Nasab Quraysh, pg. 50.

[2] ‘Umdat al Talib, pg. 63.

[3] ‘Umdat al Talib, pg. 65.

[4] Nasab Quraysh, pg. 73, 73.

[5] Nasab Quraysh, pg. 83; Jamharah Ansab, pg. 62.

[6] Nasab Quraysh, pg. 241.

[7] Nasab Quraysh, pg. 73.

[8] Such as Muhsin Baqir al Musawi in his book, al Sayyidah Sukaynah bint Hussain bayna Haqa’iq al Tarikh wa Awham al Mu’arrikhin, and ‘Ali Muhammad Dakhil in his book, Sukaynah bint Hussain; Muhammad Rida al Hakimi in his book, A’yan al Nisa’; and others. I have compiled a separate work establishing her marriage to Mus’ab ibn Zubair (and refuting their claims), pray it is published soon.     

[9] Ansab al Ashraf, 2/195, Mu’assah al A’lami li al Matbu’at, Beirut, with the research of Sheikh Muhammad Baqir al Mahmudi.    

[10] Al Ma’arif, pg. 214.

[11] Nasab Quraysh, pg. 46.

[12] Al Asili, pg. 60. The researcher says in the footnotes, “Refer to her biography in Al Majdi, pg. 17, 18; Lubab al Ansab, 1/333, 334; Al Irshad, 1/354, 355; Bihar al Anwar, 42/74, 110. The researcher did not deny the marriages mentioned above. He is a renowned researcher of the books of genealogy, Famhadi al Raja’i, who has researched and anointed a number of books such as, Al Asili Fi Ansab al Talibiyin of Ibn al Tiqtaqa which is before us, Al Nafhat al ‘Anbariyyah Fi Ansab Khayr al Bariyyah of Muhammad Kazim al Yamani al Musawi, al-Shihab al Thaqib Fi Bayan Ma’na al Nasib of Yusuf al Bahrani, Al Tara’if Fi Ma’rifah Mazahib al Tawa’if of Ibn Tawus, Mafatih al Sharai’ of Fayd al Kashani, al Ta’liqah ala Usul al Kafi of Sayed Damad, Irshad al Talibin ila Nahj al Mustarshidin of Fadil al Miqdad, Hidayat Muhaddithin ila Tariqat al Muhammadin of al Fadil al Kazimi, Rasa’il al Sharif al Murtada, Ikhtiyar Ma’rifat al Rijal of al Kashshi, as well as many other books. He is the student of ‘Allamah Mar’ishi al Najafi—the genealogist. I have discussed his biography in brief here as his name will again appear when discussing the marriage of Sayyidina ‘Umar ibn l-Khattab to Umm Kulthum bint ‘Ali, quoting his research on the statements of Ibn Tiqtaqa in al Asili.           

[13] ‘Umdat al Talib, pg. 290, footnotes.

[14] ‘Umdat al Talib, pg. 291, footnotes.

[15] Nasab Quraysh, pg. 75.