Ruqayyah was the second daughter of the great Prophet Muhammad Ibn 'Abdullah (S) and Khadijah ('a). She was born when the Prophet (S) was 33 years old. She married 'Utbah Ibn Abi Lahab whose mother was Jamilah Bint Harb Ibn Umayyah (Umm Jamil). After revelation of Surah al-Lahab, the father and mother of 'Utbah persuaded him to divorce her.

She later married 'Uthman Ibn 'Affan in Makkah and migrated along with him to Abyssinia. Their son 'Abdullah was born there. When he was six years old a rooster pecked him in the eye causing swelling and illness until in the month of Jumada al-Ula, 4 A.H. he passed away. The Prophet (S) prayed over him; and, 'Uthman, the father of 'Abdullah, entered the grave when they buried him.

When the Prophet (S) set off for the Battle of Badr, Ruqayyah became sick. Therefore, the Prophet (S) didn't take 'Uthman so that he could care for his wife. The day when Zayd Ibn Harithah brought news of the victory of the Islamic army, Ruqayyah departed life.1

Her Merits

The Messenger of God (S) was present at the burial of Ruqayyah. Ibn 'Abbas relates that the Prophet (S) said, “Praise be to God, (helping in) the burying of girls is of high honor."2 And al-Kulayni relates from Imam al-Baqir ('a) or Imam al-Sadiq ('a) that at the burial for Ruqayyah the Messenger of God (S) said, “May you join our virtuous relative, 'Uthman Ibn Maz’un."

Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, Ibn al-Athir, and Ibn Hajar have listed this lady among the companions of the Prophet (S). Mamqani has listed her among the transmitters of traditions. Sayyid Muhsin al-Amin has called her 'one of the notable Shi'ah.'3

• 1. Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 1, p. 458; al-Isti'ab, vol. 4, p. 399; Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, vol. 6, p. 277 al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 12, p. 432; Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 78.
• 2. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 11, p. 376; al-Isti 'ab, vol. 4, p. 401 as related by Abu Na'im in Hidayat al-Awliya', vol. 5, p. 209.
• 3. Al-Isti’ab, vol. 4, p. 400; Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 7, p. 115; Al-Isabah, vol. 8, p. 138; Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 78; A'yan al-Shi'ah, vol. 7, p. 34.