Ruqayyah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha), The lady of two migrations

Ruqayyah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) was born after her sister Zaynab (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha), and she was soon followed by her younger sister, Umm Kulthum – and as such, both (Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthum) grew

Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) had not been bestowed with Messenger-ship yet, and so he agreed to the engagement while the delegation was requested to wait until the matter was consulted with the Prophet’s (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) family and the two daughters.

Khadijah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) (despite her disapproval) wordlessly agreed to the engagement because she feared that her opinion might anger her husband, or he might think that she wished to break the bonds of kinship between him and his family.

The two girls also kept silent out of Hayaa (shyness); hence, the engagement was finalized. The father sought blessings for his two daughters and left the matter in the Hands of Allaah.

As soon as Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was bestowed with the Message of His Lord and he began calling people to the true religion, the Quraish gathered and conferred (conspired) about the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). One of them said: “You have relieved Muhammad of his responsibilities, return back his daughters, let him be occupied with them.”

Abu Lahab asked his sons to call off the weddings with the daughters of the Prophet saying: “You will never see my face unless you divorce the daughters of Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).”

The two daughters returned back to their families before the marriages were consummated. The persecution being executed by Abu Lahab and his wife (Umm Jameel-Hammalatul-Hatab) did not end at this; rather, they kept increasing in their harassment of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) until Allaah revealed: “May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he. His wealth will not avail him nor that which he has gained. He will (enter to) burn in a Fire of (blazing) flame. And his wife (as well), the carrier of firewood. Around her neck is a rope of (twisted) fiber.“ [Surat Al-Masad (111:1-5)]

A Mu’min (believer) only increases in steadfastness when faced with trials and ordeals. Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) had already told his loyal wife days before the ordeals: “Gone are the days of sound sleep, O Khadijah!“

Khadijah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) understood what the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) meant with that phrase, and she had prepared herself to stand by her noble husband. She kept steadfast with him through all ordeals that were inflicted upon him until the end. She used to encourage him to stay firm and made easy on him what he used to confront until he was relieved. [As-Seerah an-Nabawiya (1/257)]

The two sisters, Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthum understood what their father meant – and they too, stayed resolute with their parents, bearing every pain and suffering along the way.

Hammalatal-Hatab, her husband and the Mushrikeen of Quraish were greatly disappointed because even the returning of his daughters did not deter the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) nor grieve him. And as it turned out, due to the divorces, Allaah had saved the two ladies from the sufferings that they might have had to face if they were to reside with Abu Lahab and his wife. Furthermore, Allaah compensated both the ladies with suitors far better and more righteous – husbands from amongst those who were the foremost followers of Islam; ‘Uthmaan ibn Affaan and ibn Abul-‘Aas Umayyah ibn Abul-Shams – one of the ten who were promised Jannah¹At-Tabaqaat li-Ibn Sa‘eed (8/36) – Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq, ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, ‘Uthmaan ibn Affaan, ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn Al-Jarraah, Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydullaah, Az-Zubair ibn Al-‘Awwaam, Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf, Sa‘eed ibn Zayd (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhum)

– and one of the most prestigious young man amongst them.

‘Uthmaan ibn Affaan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) married Ruqayyah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha)

The harm from Quraish increased and grew obscene. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) permitted his Sahabah to migrate to Habashah (Abyssinia) fleeing for their religion and escaping the Fitnah. ‘Uthmaan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) was the first to migrate to Habashah (Abyssinia),  accompanied by his wife, Ruqayyah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) although they were newly married. [As-Seerah (1/344), and Tareekh at-Tabaree (2/2310)]

The son of Umayyah left the land of his fathers and his honor. He left behind the most beloved people and migrated to a remote land to live as an outsider. But what brought solace to his heart was the fact that he was accompanied by the daughter of the master of the children of Adam – Ruqayyah, who would comfort him saying: “Allaah is with us, and with those whom we have left behind in Makkah.”

Habashah (Abyssinia) welcomed the early immigrants under the leadership of their king, an-Najjashi (Negus). They stayed there enjoying the freedom to worship without anything disturbing them except the Quraish plotting against them and the news of the sufferings of their families in Makkah.

Long days passed by and the emigrants were eager to hear the news about the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and the Sahabah fighting against the disbelievers of Quraish. But as soon as they heard about the Islam of Hamzah ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib and ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma), the evolution of the second phase of Dawah²i.e., evolution of Dawah from the stage of hidden preaching to that of open preaching., some of them aspired to return to their loved ones and their homeland.

‘Uthmaan ibn Affaan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) and Ruqayyah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) were amongst those who had intended to return. Hardly had the returning refugees set their feet on the soil of their homeland, but they were stunned by the increased persecution of the Muslims. They heard by their own ears, the Mushrikeen (polytheists of Makkah) threatening with afflictions and destruction. Some of the returning migrants entered Makkah under the protection of al-Walid ibn al-Mugheerah al-Makhzoomi and Abu Talib ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib.

Ruqayyah was one of the saddest returning migrants because she learned about the demise of her mother Khadijah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha). But she kept patient upon the Decree of Allaah for she was a strong (struggling) patient lady.

Not much time had passed after Ruqayyah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) returned to Makkah, than the Muslims migrated to Madinah with the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam); Ruqayyah emigrated along with her husband to the new place of migration. There she gave birth to their son ‘Abdulllaah. Ruqayyah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) felt great relief from the sufferings of the past, but her happiness did not last long when her only beloved son died at the age of six due to an infection when a rooster pecked him.³Siyar a’laam an-Nubala (2/251) Due to extreme sadness, Ruqayyah fell sick with high fever. Her compassionate husband nursed her during the illness. Few days had passed when ‘Uthmaan heard the announcement calling for Jihaad in the Way of Allaah at Badr. He intended to respond to the great call, but the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) ordered him to stay with his wife – caring for and serving her.

Ruqayyah’s (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) struggle with sickness elongated and her illness increased and her loyal husband stayed beside her until she passed away to meet her Lord as a patient wife, a migrant, and a noble example of a pure kind (loving) daughter.  

Source:

 “Women around the Messenger and replying to the Slanders of the Orientalist” by Mahmood Mahdi al-Istambuli and Mustafa Abu an-Nasr Shibli