Removing Doubts Regarding Sayyidah Ruqayyah

Removing Doubts

Many misgivings have been created by the Shia regarding Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha. After mentioning her biography, we feel it appropriate to clarify these doubts.

1. Firstly, it is claimed that Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha is not the biological daughter of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam but rather a child from the previous husband of Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha and some even say that she is the niece of Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha.

In the beginning of this book, we have discussed this topic in detail. The discussion on the children from the previous husbands of Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha and the children of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam from Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha, these two topics were discussed in detail and it was established from the references of the books of both sects that they are the biological daughters of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam in a manner which utterly eliminated this doubt. There is no need to repeat it here. Refer to the previous discussion, which will put one at ease.

2. Secondly, they claim that no virtue can be located about Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha in any Islamic book, neither amongst the literary works of the Shia nor the Ahlus Sunnah, which is in stark contrast to reality. It is only propagated due to animosity and hatred. Otherwise, the reality is that she has the honour of being the child of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Her detailed biography mentioned before is sufficient testimony to this fact.

Carefully examine each discussion under the biography of Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha (which are approximately 20) and you will be convinced that the objection of her having no virtue is utterly baseless and entirely false. The irony is that we have at most places recorded the virtues from the life of Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha from many Shia books so that no one may have the opportunity to utter a word. If you do not have the time to read the entire biography of Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha then just have a look at ‘A synopsis of the biography of Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha’ documented at the end of her biography and it will become evident to you that those who claim that Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha holds no virtue are profane liars who have deceived the masses. What a blasphemous fabrication they have made regarding the noble offspring of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and how have they distorted historic facts.

3. Thirdly, they claim that Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu awfully oppressed Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha and tyrannized, persecuted and harassed her until she died in this pitiful condition. For this reason, they curse and vilify Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

This story of oppression on Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha is blatant vilification and a groundless insult and in direct conflict to the truth. No intelligent person will be prepared to believe it for the following reasons:

Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam awarded Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu with an equal share to the participants of Badr and equated him with them in reward too. In these very days, Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha passed away. If the death of Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha was due to the oppression of Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu, how can being counted equally in reward and in booty be correct in that case?
After the demise of Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha, Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam gave his other daughter Sayyidah Umm Kulthum radiya Llahu ‘anha to Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu in marriage (as will be mentioned in the biography of Sayyidah Umm Kulthum radiya Llahu ‘anha). It is indeed strange that if the first daughter died due to his oppression and tyranny, why then would Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam give another daughter to such a tyrant son-in-law? This opposes sanity and intelligence and clashes with the traits of the noble.
Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam has mentioned countless virtues and praises of Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu at different occasions and has announced his perpetual happiness with Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu. Regarding this, some narrations are recorded here. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam stated:

ان لكل نبى رفيقا و ان رفيقى فى الجنة عثمان

Every Nabi has a companion and my companion in Jannat will be ‘Uthman.^{^[1]}

عن عبد الرحمن بن عوف ان النبى صلى الله عليه و سلم قال ابو بكر فى الجنة و عمر فى الجنة و عثمان فى الجنة و على فى الجنة

Abu Bakr is in Jannat, ‘Umar is in Jannat, ‘Uthman is in Jannat, ‘Ali is in Jannat …^{^[2]}

These are marfu’ (sound unbroken) narrations which have been quoted wherein it is stated that Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu will be the companion of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam in Jannat. Jannat is that station which is attained as the result of Allah and His Rasul being pleased with a person. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was pleased with Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu, hence he is given the glad tidings of being his companion in Jannat. If Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was displeased with Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu on some account, he would not receive these glad tidings. This happiness is also narrated from Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

عن عمر رضى الله عنه قال ما احد احق بهذا الامر من هؤلاء النفر الذين توفى رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم و هو عنهم راض فسمى عليا و عثمان و الزبير و طلحة و سعدا و عبد الرحمن (رواه البخارى)

Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu states: “No one can be more deserving of khilafah than those whom Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam were pleased with when he passed away.” Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu then took their names: “‘Ali, ‘Uthman, Zubair, Talhah, Sa’d and ‘Abdul Rahman.”^{^[3]}

4. Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu mentions regarding himself:

وتوفى رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم و هو عنى راض

Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam passed away in a condition that he was pleased with me.^{^[4]}

It becomes clearly evident from the above that Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was pleased with Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu and Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was not displeased with him at all. Sayyidina ‘Uthman’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu relation with Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam remained blissful lifelong and in this condition he met his fate.

If Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu oppressed Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha and Sayyidah Umm Kulthum radiya Llahu ‘anha and tyrannised them to such an extent that they died, Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam would have definitely been emotionally hurt which would be felt by Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and other Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum as well. If this was the case, Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu would be deserving of punishment. If not this, at least he would be reprimanded or scolded, the relationship would turn sour and it would be severed. But in contrast to all this, we find happiness, the virtues and praises of Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu being announced and glad tidings being given regarding his beautiful actions, which are signs of acceptance.

We learn from this explanation that the story of oppression is a blasphemous fabrication propagated to cause bad thoughts about Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu. There is not an atom of truth in it.

5. Another point to consider is that senior Shia historians have mentioned many noble and lofty traits of Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu which clearly depict his upright conduct and his excellence and distinction shine like the sun. Hence, al Mas’udi has in his famous work Muruj al Dhahab expounded on the qualities of Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu in the following words:

و كان عثمان فى نهاية الجود و الكرم السماحة و البذل فى القريب و البعيد

‘Uthman was at the peak of generosity, compassion and munificence and spent freely on close and far relatives.^{^[5]}

From the words of the Shia al Mas’udi, is it evident that Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu was a man of noble traits, compassion, kindness and generous to his close and far kith and kin. These qualities show that Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu was neither a tyrant and a murderer nor one who oppresses his subordinates. The slander against him that he oppresses his wife is a blatant lie and vilification. It is such a wicked fabrication which no sensible just man will ever be prepared to believe. The very narrations of the Shia reject it. The senior Shia scholars use the title Dhu al Nurayn for Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu which is due to the honour of him marrying two daughters of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

NEXT⇒ The Biography of Sayyidah Umm Kulthum

^{^[1]} Mishkat pg. 561 – The chapter concerning the virtues of ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu, section 2

Kanz al ‘Ummal vol. 6 pg. 151 narration 2473, 2474 – The virtues of ‘Uthman Dhu al Nurayn radiya Llahu ‘anhu

^{^[2]} Mishkat pg. 566 with reference to Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah – The chapter concerning the virtues of the ‘Asharah Mubasharah radiya Llahu ‘anhum, section 2

^{^[3]} Mishkat pg. 565 – The chapter concerning the virtues of the ‘Asharah Mubasharah radiya Llahu ‘anhu, section 1

Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d vol. 3 pg. 42 – Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu; mention of the consultative assembly and their matters

^{^[4]} Kanz al ‘Ummal vol. 6 pg. 371 narration 2473, 2474 – The virtues of Dhu al Nurayn radiya Llahu ‘anhu and Hilyah

^{^[5]} Muruj al Dhahab vol. 2 pg. 241 –Dhu al Nurayn radiya Llahu ‘anhu

BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents

Removing Doubts

Many misgivings have been created by the Shia regarding Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha. After mentioning her biography, we feel it appropriate to clarify these doubts.

1. Firstly, it is claimed that Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha is not the biological daughter of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam but rather a child from the previous husband of Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha and some even say that she is the niece of Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha.

In the beginning of this book, we have discussed this topic in detail. The discussion on the children from the previous husbands of Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha and the children of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam from Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha, these two topics were discussed in detail and it was established from the references of the books of both sects that they are the biological daughters of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam in a manner which utterly eliminated this doubt. There is no need to repeat it here. Refer to the previous discussion, which will put one at ease.

2. Secondly, they claim that no virtue can be located about Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha in any Islamic book, neither amongst the literary works of the Shia nor the Ahlus Sunnah, which is in stark contrast to reality. It is only propagated due to animosity and hatred. Otherwise, the reality is that she has the honour of being the child of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Her detailed biography mentioned before is sufficient testimony to this fact.

Carefully examine each discussion under the biography of Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha (which are approximately 20) and you will be convinced that the objection of her having no virtue is utterly baseless and entirely false. The irony is that we have at most places recorded the virtues from the life of Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha from many Shia books so that no one may have the opportunity to utter a word. If you do not have the time to read the entire biography of Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha then just have a look at ‘A synopsis of the biography of Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha’ documented at the end of her biography and it will become evident to you that those who claim that Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha holds no virtue are profane liars who have deceived the masses. What a blasphemous fabrication they have made regarding the noble offspring of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and how have they distorted historic facts.

3. Thirdly, they claim that Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu awfully oppressed Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha and tyrannized, persecuted and harassed her until she died in this pitiful condition. For this reason, they curse and vilify Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

This story of oppression on Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha is blatant vilification and a groundless insult and in direct conflict to the truth. No intelligent person will be prepared to believe it for the following reasons:

Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam awarded Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu with an equal share to the participants of Badr and equated him with them in reward too. In these very days, Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha passed away. If the death of Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha was due to the oppression of Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu, how can being counted equally in reward and in booty be correct in that case?
After the demise of Sayyidah Ruqayyah radiya Llahu ‘anha, Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam gave his other daughter Sayyidah Umm Kulthum radiya Llahu ‘anha to Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu in marriage (as will be mentioned in the biography of Sayyidah Umm Kulthum radiya Llahu ‘anha). It is indeed strange that if the first daughter died due to his oppression and tyranny, why then would Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam give another daughter to such a tyrant son-in-law? This opposes sanity and intelligence and clashes with the traits of the noble.
Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam has mentioned countless virtues and praises of Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu at different occasions and has announced his perpetual happiness with Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu. Regarding this, some narrations are recorded here. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam stated: