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The marriage of Sayyidah Fatimah bint Hussain rahimaha Llah to ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman has been reported in a number of narrations recorded in a number of sources of both history and genealogy. They were blessed from this union with three children: Muhammad al Dibaj, Ruqayyah, and Qasim.
All the scholars of the Ahlus Sunnah and others besides them are in agreement upon this fact.
However, a few have denied this union on account of feeble reasoning and baseless arguments which lack all forms of credibility.
Before I begin our response to this misconception, I would like to make mention of those narrations that discuss the marriage of Sayyidah Fatimah bint Hussain to Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr.
Ibn ‘Asakir reports with his chain from Abu Umayyah al Ahwas ibn Mufaddal ibn Ghassan al Ghilabi—his father said—Abu ‘Abdullah said:
Hanzalah ibn Qasamah al Ta’i entered into the presence of the Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam accompanied by his daughter, Zainab bint Hanzalah, and his sister al Jarba’ bint Qasamah. The Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam invited them to Islam and they all accepted. Zainab bint Hanzalah married Usamah ibn Zaid and Talhah married Jarba’ bint Qasamah. Talhah passed away and he had no other child from Jarba’ but her [i.e. Umm Ishaq bint Talhah], Umm Ishaq was married by Hassan ibn ‘Ali, and after him, Hussain ibn ‘Ali married her. She bore him Fatimah bint Hussain.
Fatimah bint Hussain was wed to Hassan (al Muthanna) ibn Hassan. She is the mother of ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan, Hassan ibn Hassan (al Muthallath), and Ibrahim al Ghamr. She then married ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan, and she bore him Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah.
Umm Ishaq then married Ibn Abi ‘Atiq al Bakri [after the martyrdom of Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu]… she bore him Aminah.[1]
Ibn ‘Asakir has reported another narration about this marriage; however, we will suffice with mentioning the one.
Ibn ‘Asakir reports with his chain from Ishaq ibn Muhammad al Musayyabi—’Abdullah ibn Hassan said:
I wed ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr [to my mother] and there was none I despised more than him, and then today there is no one more beloved to me than his son, Muhammad.[2]
In Tahdhib al Kamal, al Mizzi has mentioned about those who narrated from Fatimah bint Hussain rahimahu Llah:
Those who narrated from her: Ibrahim ibn Hassan ibn Hassan ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib… her son, ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan ibn Hassan ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib… her son, Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan—commonly known as al Dibaj.[3]
Al Dhahabi said under the biography of al Dibaj:
Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Amir al Mu’minin ‘Uthman al ‘Uthmani al Madani, commonly called al Dibaj due to his handsomeness… he narrated from his mother, Fatimah bint Hussain…[4]
Al Dhahabi said in his Tarikh:
Al Zubair[5] and others said: Hassan ibn Hassan passed away leaving Fatimah a widow. She was then married by ‘Abdullah (al Mutraf). It has been said that he gave her a million dirhams as Mahr (dowry). Ibn ‘Uyaynah said, “Fatimah lived until 110 A.H. It has been reported that she travelled to meet Hisham ibn ‘Abdul Malik.”[6]
It is mentioned in Maqatal al Talibiyin:
When ‘Abdullah proposed to Fatimah bint Husayn, she rejected his proposal. Her mother, however, insisted that she marry him. Thus, she stood in the sun, vowing to remain there until she agreed.[7]
Mus’ab al Zubairi has also reported a narration that establishes the marriage of Sayyidah Fatimah bint Hussain to ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan:
She bore him Muhammad al Dibaj, Qasim—who had no children—and Ruqayyah, all the children of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr. ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan—her eldest son—would say, “I never despised anyone as I despised ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr, and I have never loved anyone as I have loved his son, Muhammad, my brother.”[8]
Mus’ab al Zubairi has also reported when discussing the progeny of Sayyidina ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu:
Muhammad al Asghar ibn ‘Abdullah, who would be called al Dibaj due to his handsomeness, passed away or was killed in the prison of Mansur during the era of Muhammad and Ibrahim, the sons of ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan. Qasim and Ruqayyah: all the children of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr. Their mother is Fatimah bint Hussain ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib. Their uterine brothers are: ‘Abdullah, Hassan, and Ibrahim—the children of Hassan al Muthanna.[9]
A number of Shia scholars have reported narrations in their books which prove the marriage of Sayyidah Fatimah bint Hussain rahimaha Llah to Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman rahimahu Llah.
Amongst them is ‘Abbas al Qummi in a number of places throughout his book Muntaha al Amal. Take, for example, where he mentions the trials which the children of Hassan al Muthanna had to endure, he also mentions their brother, Muhammad al Dibaj, alongside them:
The uprising of ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan ibn Hassan ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib and the uprising of his two sons, Muhammad and Ibrahim… A group of the Banu ‘Abbas and Banu Hashim gathered in al Abwa’, amongst them was Abu Jafar al Mansur, his brother—al Saffah, Ibrahim ibn Muhammad, his uncle—Salih ibn ‘Ali, ‘Abdullah al Mahd, his sons—Muhammad and Ibrahim—and his brother—Muhammad al Dibaj, and others…[10]
He also said while discussing their imprisonment:
This was when the children of Hassan were tied in chains and fetters. They were then taken, along with them was Muhammad al Dibaj—the uterine brother of ‘Abdullah al Mahd—also in chains.[11]
He mentions elsewhere:
The children of Hassan were brought to Rabdhah and left to swelter in the sun. Sometime later, one of Mansur’s men arrived and asked, “Which one of you is Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Uthman?” So Muhammad stood up. He grabbed Muhammad and dragged him before Mansur… Muhammad was suffering from intense thirst and was crying for water, but no one responded out of fear for Mansur.
‘Abdullah yelled out, “Who will give the son of Rasulullah a sip of water.”
Sibt ibn al Jawzi narrated… Muhammad was the most handsome and good looking of people, which is why he was called al Dibaj. One of the lashes struck his eye and blinded it. He was then bound and taken to his brother, ‘Abdullah. Muhammad then complained of severe thirst but not a single person had the courage to give him water. His brother then yelled out, “O Muslims, will you let a Muslim from the sons of the Prophet pass away due to thirst, while you withhold water from him?”[12]
This is how they have unwittingly confirmed that Muhammad al Dibaj al ‘Uthmani is the uterine brother of ‘Abdullah al Mahd.
Ibn al Taqtaqi—the famed genealogist—in his book Al Asili Fi Ansab al Talibiyin has also mentioned the marriage of Sayyidah Fatimah bint Hussain rahimaha Llah to Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman rahimahu Llah:
With the following chain directly to Yahya who said—Musa ibn ‘Abdullah informed me—’Isa ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Umar ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib said:
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan married Fatimah bint Hussain thereafter, and she bore him children.[13]
In ‘Umdat al Talib fi Nasab Al Abi Talib of Ibn ‘Inabah—who is one of the most senior Shia genealogists—the researcher mentioned in his annotations:
Fatimah married ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan al Umawi after Hassan al Muthanna… she bore him a few children: Muhammad—martyred alongside his brother ‘Abdullah—who was called al Dibaj, Qasim, and Ruqayyah; all children of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr.[14]
In a similar fashion this union was mentioned by Ahmed ibn Yahya ibn Jabir al Baladhuri in his book Ansab al Ashraf.[15]
It is strange indeed to still find a person who denies this marriage, even after all that we have cited establishing this marriage from the books of the latter day scholars, biographers, and genealogists.
NEXT⇒ Refutation of A’lam al Nisa’
[1] Tarikh Dimashq, 74/13. Ibn Abi ‘Atiq: He is ‘Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abdur Rahman ibn Abi Bakr al Siddiq. Muhammad ibn ‘Abdur Rahman was known as Abu ‘Atiq, thus his son became known as Ibn Abi ‘Atiq.
[2] Tarikh al Dimashq, 74/15. We learn from this narration that ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan was the one who performed the marriage of his mother, Fatimah bint Hussain, to ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan; the reason being that he was her eldest son and most obedient to her. The narration which follows makes mention: “Her son, ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan performed her marriage. She wrote to him, while he was busy in his plantation, instructing him to come and perform her marriage. He proceeded on a donkey and the performed her marriage, in obedience to her command.” Ibid.
[3] Tahdib al Kamal, 11/751.
[4] Siyar A’lam al Nubala’, 6/224; Tarikh al Islam, pg. 442, # 527, biography of Fatimah bint Hussain.
[5] Zubair al Bakkar the famed genealogist.
[6] Tarikh al Islam, pg.442.
[7] Maqatal al Talibiyyyin, pg. 183.
[8] Nasab Quraysh, pg. 52.
[9] Nasab Quraysh, pg. 114.
[10] Muntaha al Amal, 1/372.
[11] Ibid, 1/375.
[12] Ibid, 1/375, 376.
[13] Al Asili, pg. 65.
[14] ‘Umdat al Talib, footnote: 188.
[15] Ansab al Ashraf, 2/198, with the research of Muhammad al Baqir al Mahmudi.
BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
The marriage of Sayyidah Fatimah bint Hussain rahimaha Llah to ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman has been reported in a number of narrations recorded in a number of sources of both history and genealogy. They were blessed from this union with three children: Muhammad al Dibaj, Ruqayyah, and Qasim.
All the scholars of the Ahlus Sunnah and others besides them are in agreement upon this fact.
However, a few have denied this union on account of feeble reasoning and baseless arguments which lack all forms of credibility.
Before I begin our response to this misconception, I would like to make mention of those narrations that discuss the marriage of Sayyidah Fatimah bint Hussain to Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr.
Ibn ‘Asakir reports with his chain from Abu Umayyah al Ahwas ibn Mufaddal ibn Ghassan al Ghilabi—his father said—Abu ‘Abdullah said:
Hanzalah ibn Qasamah al Ta’i entered into the presence of the Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam accompanied by his daughter, Zainab bint Hanzalah, and his sister al Jarba’ bint Qasamah. The Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam invited them to Islam and they all accepted. Zainab bint Hanzalah married Usamah ibn Zaid and Talhah married Jarba’ bint Qasamah. Talhah passed away and he had no other child from Jarba’ but her [i.e. Umm Ishaq bint Talhah], Umm Ishaq was married by Hassan ibn ‘Ali, and after him, Hussain ibn ‘Ali married her. She bore him Fatimah bint Hussain.
Fatimah bint Hussain was wed to Hassan (al Muthanna) ibn Hassan. She is the mother of ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan, Hassan ibn Hassan (al Muthallath), and Ibrahim al Ghamr. She then married ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan, and she bore him Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah.
Umm Ishaq then married Ibn Abi ‘Atiq al Bakri [after the martyrdom of Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu]… she bore him Aminah.[1]
Ibn ‘Asakir has reported another narration about this marriage; however, we will suffice with mentioning the one.
Ibn ‘Asakir reports with his chain from Ishaq ibn Muhammad al Musayyabi—’Abdullah ibn Hassan said:
I wed ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr [to my mother] and there was none I despised more than him, and then today there is no one more beloved to me than his son, Muhammad.[2]
In Tahdhib al Kamal, al Mizzi has mentioned about those who narrated from Fatimah bint Hussain rahimahu Llah:
Those who narrated from her: Ibrahim ibn Hassan ibn Hassan ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib… her son, ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan ibn Hassan ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib… her son, Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan—commonly known as al Dibaj.[3]
Al Dhahabi said under the biography of al Dibaj:
Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Amir al Mu’minin ‘Uthman al ‘Uthmani al Madani, commonly called al Dibaj due to his handsomeness… he narrated from his mother, Fatimah bint Hussain…[4]
Al Dhahabi said in his Tarikh:
Al Zubair[5] and others said: Hassan ibn Hassan passed away leaving Fatimah a widow. She was then married by ‘Abdullah (al Mutraf). It has been said that he gave her a million dirhams as Mahr (dowry). Ibn ‘Uyaynah said, “Fatimah lived until 110 A.H. It has been reported that she travelled to meet Hisham ibn ‘Abdul Malik.”[6]
It is mentioned in Maqatal al Talibiyin:
When ‘Abdullah proposed to Fatimah bint Husayn, she rejected his proposal. Her mother, however, insisted that she marry him. Thus, she stood in the sun, vowing to remain there until she agreed.[7]
Mus’ab al Zubairi has also reported a narration that establishes the marriage of Sayyidah Fatimah bint Hussain to ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan:
She bore him Muhammad al Dibaj, Qasim—who had no children—and Ruqayyah, all the children of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr. ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan—her eldest son—would say, “I never despised anyone as I despised ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr, and I have never loved anyone as I have loved his son, Muhammad, my brother.”[8]
Mus’ab al Zubairi has also reported when discussing the progeny of Sayyidina ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu:
Muhammad al Asghar ibn ‘Abdullah, who would be called al Dibaj due to his handsomeness, passed away or was killed in the prison of Mansur during the era of Muhammad and Ibrahim, the sons of ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan. Qasim and Ruqayyah: all the children of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr. Their mother is Fatimah bint Hussain ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib. Their uterine brothers are: ‘Abdullah, Hassan, and Ibrahim—the children of Hassan al Muthanna.[9]
A number of Shia scholars have reported narrations in their books which prove the marriage of Sayyidah Fatimah bint Hussain rahimaha Llah to Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman rahimahu Llah.
Amongst them is ‘Abbas al Qummi in a number of places throughout his book Muntaha al Amal. Take, for example, where he mentions the trials which the children of Hassan al Muthanna had to endure, he also mentions their brother, Muhammad al Dibaj, alongside them:
The uprising of ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan ibn Hassan ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib and the uprising of his two sons, Muhammad and Ibrahim… A group of the Banu ‘Abbas and Banu Hashim gathered in al Abwa’, amongst them was Abu Jafar al Mansur, his brother—al Saffah, Ibrahim ibn Muhammad, his uncle—Salih ibn ‘Ali, ‘Abdullah al Mahd, his sons—Muhammad and Ibrahim—and his brother—Muhammad al Dibaj, and others…[10]
He also said while discussing their imprisonment:
This was when the children of Hassan were tied in chains and fetters. They were then taken, along with them was Muhammad al Dibaj—the uterine brother of ‘Abdullah al Mahd—also in chains.[11]
He mentions elsewhere:
The children of Hassan were brought to Rabdhah and left to swelter in the sun. Sometime later, one of Mansur’s men arrived and asked, “Which one of you is Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Uthman?” So Muhammad stood up. He grabbed Muhammad and dragged him before Mansur… Muhammad was suffering from intense thirst and was crying for water, but no one responded out of fear for Mansur.
‘Abdullah yelled out, “Who will give the son of Rasulullah a sip of water.”
Sibt ibn al Jawzi narrated… Muhammad was the most handsome and good looking of people, which is why he was called al Dibaj. One of the lashes struck his eye and blinded it. He was then bound and taken to his brother, ‘Abdullah. Muhammad then complained of severe thirst but not a single person had the courage to give him water. His brother then yelled out, “O Muslims, will you let a Muslim from the sons of the Prophet pass away due to thirst, while you withhold water from him?”[12]
This is how they have unwittingly confirmed that Muhammad al Dibaj al ‘Uthmani is the uterine brother of ‘Abdullah al Mahd.
Ibn al Taqtaqi—the famed genealogist—in his book Al Asili Fi Ansab al Talibiyin has also mentioned the marriage of Sayyidah Fatimah bint Hussain rahimaha Llah to Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman rahimahu Llah:
With the following chain directly to Yahya who said—Musa ibn ‘Abdullah informed me—’Isa ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Umar ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib said:
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan married Fatimah bint Hussain thereafter, and she bore him children.[13]
In ‘Umdat al Talib fi Nasab Al Abi Talib of Ibn ‘Inabah—who is one of the most senior Shia genealogists—the researcher mentioned in his annotations:
Fatimah married ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan al Umawi after Hassan al Muthanna… she bore him a few children: Muhammad—martyred alongside his brother ‘Abdullah—who was called al Dibaj, Qasim, and Ruqayyah; all children of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr.[14]
In a similar fashion this union was mentioned by Ahmed ibn Yahya ibn Jabir al Baladhuri in his book Ansab al Ashraf.[15]
It is strange indeed to still find a person who denies this marriage, even after all that we have cited establishing this marriage from the books of the latter day scholars, biographers, and genealogists.
NEXT⇒ Refutation of A’lam al Nisa’
[1] Tarikh Dimashq, 74/13. Ibn Abi ‘Atiq: He is ‘Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abdur Rahman ibn Abi Bakr al Siddiq. Muhammad ibn ‘Abdur Rahman was known as Abu ‘Atiq, thus his son became known as Ibn Abi ‘Atiq.
[2] Tarikh al Dimashq, 74/15. We learn from this narration that ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan was the one who performed the marriage of his mother, Fatimah bint Hussain, to ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan; the reason being that he was her eldest son and most obedient to her. The narration which follows makes mention: “Her son, ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan performed her marriage. She wrote to him, while he was busy in his plantation, instructing him to come and perform her marriage. He proceeded on a donkey and the performed her marriage, in obedience to her command.” Ibid.
[3] Tahdib al Kamal, 11/751.
[4] Siyar A’lam al Nubala’, 6/224; Tarikh al Islam, pg. 442, # 527, biography of Fatimah bint Hussain.
[5] Zubair al Bakkar the famed genealogist.
[6] Tarikh al Islam, pg.442.
[7] Maqatal al Talibiyyyin, pg. 183.
[8] Nasab Quraysh, pg. 52.
[9] Nasab Quraysh, pg. 114.
[10] Muntaha al Amal, 1/372.
[11] Ibid, 1/375.
[12] Ibid, 1/375, 376.
[13] Al Asili, pg. 65.
[14] ‘Umdat al Talib, footnote: 188.
[15] Ansab al Ashraf, 2/198, with the research of Muhammad al Baqir al Mahmudi.