Removing Doubts Regarding Sayyidah Umm Kulthum

Removing Doubts

1. Some people create this doubt that Sayyidah Umm Kulthum radiya Llahu ‘anha was the daughter of Umm al Mu’minin Sayyidah Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha from her previous husband Sayyidina Abu Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anhu and due to her being nurtured in the house of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, she is referred to as his daughter i.e. she is the step daughter of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam which is known as rabibah in Arabic.

The answer to this is that majority of scholars do not include Umm Kulthum as one of the children of Sayyidah Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha from Sayyidina Abu Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anhu. The children of Abu Salamah are two sons, Salamah and ‘Umar and two daughters, Zainab and Durrah radiya Llahu ‘anhum. Nonetheless, some scholars have included Umm Kulthum as one of the children. However, this is an obscure view. Even if it is accepted that Sayyidah Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha had a daughter by the name Umm Kulthum, it does not mean that she became the wife of Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu. The Umm Kulthum whose mother was Sayyidah Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha is different, while the first Umm Kulthum’s mother is Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha and father is Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam just as we have mentioned in detail previously. They are two different people.

Thus, the base of this objection is only on similarity in name which has no teeth. Such flimsy conjecture and similarity in name is not sufficient to denounce an important accepted fact of history.

2. The objectors have spread this propaganda that no virtue is found in Islamic books regarding these three daughter viz. Sayyidah Zainab, Sayyidah Ruqayyah and Sayyidah Umm Kulthum radiya Llahu ‘anhunna. Every page of the writings of Shia and Sunni scholars are devoid of their mention and there is no display of love and affection of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam to any of them, etc.

To answer this objection, one has to only look through the biographies of all of these three daughters and peruse every title then the reality will dawn and the baselessness of this objection will be understood.

Some points are mentioned hereunder for the benefit of the readers. Ponder over them.

We have reproduced 48 references from our own books and about 24 references from the books of senior Shia scholars regarding the lives of these three daughters, the list of which is documented in the beginning or ending of this book. From the shelf of books, we have sufficiently quoted regarding them and have included the original text at many of the places so that the readers are fully satisfied and contented.

After reading through these, intelligent scholars can ascertain the veracity of the claim that Shia and Sunni books have no mention of these three daughters and can determine the truthfulness of the audacious claim of the non-existence of any virtue in their favour.

You can view a synopsis of the lives of the three daughters that:

They are the noble offspring and from the honourable lineage of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
They have been nurtured, raised and tutored in the blessed home of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
They were honoured with Islam and pledging allegiance to Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
They bore the difficulties of hijrah and are deserving of the rewards and virtues of the Muhajirin.
They were married off by Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam who displayed an abundance of affection and love to them.
The love and kindness Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam displayed to their children.
The praises of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam in their favour.
Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam being present at their burial, besides that of Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha, his participation in grief and sorrow and presenting himself at the grave of Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha.
Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam making the arrangements for their shrouding and burial and on some occasions gifting his shawl to be inserted in the shroud.
Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam performing their Salat al Janazah and supplicating for their forgiveness.
Making arrangements for their burial, descending in the grave and making special supplications for them.
Sayyidah Fatimah’s radiya Llahu ‘anha participating and mourning at the sorrowful occasions of the departing of her dear sisters.

The above points are regarded as accolades of much goodness and blessings by the scholars and the just pious people who appreciate these incidents of virtue and merit. Turning a blind eye to all of this, some people audaciously claim that no virtue is found in the books regarding them and these are the step daughters and the customary daughters of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and there is no mention of Rasulullah’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam natural love and affection to these daughters; all these claims are in stark contrast to reality, in direct conflict with the sirah of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and contradict historical Islamic facts. It is flagrant oppression and unashamed injustice to the noble offspring of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and a display of inner hatred for the blessed descendants of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. It is enmity in the form of friendship to Sayyidah Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha that the noble lineage of her sisters is being rejected and that the virtues and honour of these blessed women and being discarded and the family of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is being harassed which scars and wounds the hearts of the Muslims and mu’minin. Oh how regretful!

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