Sayyidatina Ruqaiyyah (R.D) was the second daughter of Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), she was born before the Prophet-hood, when the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) was 33 years of age. Ummul Mumineen Khadijah (R.D) was her mother, who was the richest and purest women of Mecca. She was so pure that her progeny would call “Banu Tahira (descendant of purity).” Daughter of a pure and richest mother and the Father was the best human of this universe Muhammadur Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) , who was the fountain source of all goodness of this universe, its easily understandable how descent and pure was the upbringing of Sayyidatina Ruqayyiah (R.D). She was Not only the daughter of such outstanding Father and Mother, but also belonged to Banu Hashim (the custodian’s of Baitullah for ages) the progeny of Ibrahim (A.S), which was the best family in this world. She was the first women among this Ummah who pioneered and therefore encouraged women to migrate to protect Imaan and Islaam. She was an amazing women and among the greatest women of this world.

Ruqayyiah meaning charming, attractive or something which rises more higher and ascends. She was the perfect example of her name and rose her name to such height with her patience, obedience and sacrifice, so silently even after having the privilege of the daughter of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and wife of the 3rd best Sahabi among the Sahaba Ikram (Ridwanullahi Ta’ala Anhum) that until Qiyamah will remain an example for us to follow.

As her mother Khadijah (R.D) was the richest women of Mecca and she was born before the Prophet-hood, it’s easily understandable, she brought up with affluence in her childhood. She was given good Tarbiyyah and wisdom by her wise parents. Imam Zarqani (R.H) wrote, she was blessed with very beautiful feature like all other children of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam). She was the daughter of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), about whose beauty Ummul Mumineen Aaishah (R.D) said,

“The women of Egypt cut their hands upon seeing Prophet Yusuf (AlaihissalamS), but had they seen the my Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) they would have cut out their hearts.” [Shama’il Tirmidhi]

It’s understandable how beautiful could be the daughter of such father. The more we dive deep into Ruqaiyyah (Radiyallahu Anh’s) life, we find a women of amazing patience, supportive to her husband and Father, sacrificial, wise, decent, who gave us wisdom silently and a very strong women who created examples among all odd with outstanding courage.

When she was at the age of 9/10, she was given marriage with Utbah, a son of Abu Lahab, in Arab culture marriage would take place years before starting living as husband and wife. Therefore, she got married but was not started living with Uthbah yet, in the meantime, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) was given Prophet-hood and started His mission to call His family and people towards one Allah. It was a great shake on those people who were soaked into Shirk (associating partner with Allah). Abu Lahb, although he was the uncle of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), he turned bitter enemy of Islam, Allah SWT revealed Surah Lahab in regards to inform the Ummah about his and his wife’s punishment in the hereafter thus,

تَبَّتْ يَدَآ أَبِى لَهَبٍۢ وَتَبَّ ١) مَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُ مَالُهُۥ وَمَا كَسَبَ ٢) سَيَصْلَىٰ نَارًۭا ذَاتَ لَهَبٍۢ ٣ وَٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ حَمَّالَةَ ٱلْحَطَبِ ٤) فِى جِيدِهَا فِى جِيدِهَا حَبْلٌۭ مِّن مَّسَدٍۭ ٥

1. May the hands of Abu Lahab perish, and he himself perish! 2. Neither his wealth nor worldly gains will benefit him. 3. He will burn in the flaming Fire, 4. and so will his wife, the carrier of thorny kindling 5. around her neck will be a rope of palm-fibre.

When these verses were heard by Abu Lahb, he got angry and willed to give a punishment to our beloved Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and his family members, he instantly went to both of his son’s and said,

” Unless you both divorce the daughter’s of Muhammad, I am not going to see your face.”

After that Quraish leaders proposed Utbah to give him merry with another leader’s daughter, if he divorces Ruqaiyyah (R.D). The Mushrikeen were greedy of wealth, name and fame. Therefore, Utbah Divorced Sayyidatina Ruqaiyyah (Radiyallahu Anha) and lost such amazing girl for forever. Sometimes some hardship comes to take us near to something more valuable, although Abu Lahb was proud of having the privilege of a membership of a high family of Quraish but his pride and and arrogance distroyed him for forever. On the other hand, think about the prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), when two of His daughter’s suddenly got divorced by their husbands without having any faults of their own, how was the feelings of that fatherly heart…….. even in this modern age, how hard it is to accept a sudden divorce for a women or the women family!! now think in an era where women had no value in the eyes of men, completely in a society of full ignorance, it was not something easy to tolerate to see two daughters getting divorced at the same time. Allah SWT took tests from Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and His noble family with every possible means so that the Ummah never even point towards a single thing that they bearing and their Nabi didn’t. In whatever hard condition we go through, Our Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and his family went through with all those things and left for us His Sunnah, what to do in that situation. He (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), Khadijah (R.D), and Ruqaiyyah (R.D) all remained patient at that time and when a person remains patient in hardship Allah SWT gives him more better thing afterwords.

Within a few years Ruqaiyyah (R.D) was given marriage with Uthman bin Affan (R.D), who was a prominent Muslim, among the best Sahaba Ikram (R.D), became the 3rd Khalifa of Islam later in life, he was wealthy and rich, best in conduct and the most modest man of this Ummah (Even Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) used to respect his modesty, such modesty and shyness Allahuakber!!), Noble and decent, from good family background and a beautiful and handsome man with many other qualities. Who could be best for Ruqaiyyah (R.D) than him!! Allah SWT gave her such a husband in exchange of her patience that she had to bear from Uthbah and Abu Lahb.

In the fifth year of Prophet-hood or something so, this strong lady participated in the first migration to Abyssinia with her husband to protect their Imaan. She was the first women of this Ummah, and they were the first couple after Ibrahim (A.S) and Lut (A.S) who migrated from their own land for Islam. It was such a strong decision for a lady at that time, where migration to Abyssinia was very hard decision for a man even. Only camel was the transport, there was fear of robbers on the way, long desert to cross in the heat of the sun for days and nights, then crossing the red sea with ship or something, then again long way to travel and cross rocky mountain, lands, deserts, travels of days and nights on camel with fear of robbers and rebels on the way. When we think deeply it was not only a hard but a dangerous decision for a beautiful women like her. But she accompanied her husband in that journey that makes us understand the love and respect of a lady for her husband, that she never thought to leave him alone in this strenuous journey rather overlooked all fears of time and strongly accompanied him SubhanAllah!! and she created an example of support, strong Imaan and Tawakkul on Allah until Qiyamah for all the women to support their spouses in for Deen and protect their Imaan no matter whatever condition and situation comes in life.

However, when Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) learnt about their migration, He made Duaa for them. After a few days of their migration the news reached to them that Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) migrated to Madinatul Munawwarah, they came back again to Meccah. But it was nothing but a rumor, therefore, they again participated with a group of Muslim men and women of the 2nd migration to Abyssinia.

During her stay in Abyssinia, she gave birth to a son, who was named as Abdullah. Therefore, Uthman (R.D) would call “Abu Abdullah” as his Kuniyah (A Title). Before the Migration of Madinah the couple again came back to Meccah then participated in the migration of Madinah as well. Her life was full of Migration for the protection of Imaan and Islam. Journey is hard even in this age, how hard was for the women who brought up with affluence, again think how great was the Tarbiyyah of Khaijatul Kubra (R.D)!!! all her daughters bore great hardships in this world silently for Islam until they met Allah SWT. They were the princesses, isn’t it ??? Such linage! such parents!! such Husbands!! but bore hardship’s after hardship’s to create example for the Ummah coming until Qiyamah, May Allah gives us Taufiq to learn from their beautiful lives. Ameen.

However, the couple and their son Abdullah again migrated to Madinah, but hardship upon hardship made this amazing women’s health near to the end that she couldn’t see the life of comfort and ease in this life. She turned very ill in her young age, withing 1 year after migrating to Madinah, the first Azeemush Shan battle of Badr was calling. All the the sahaba (R.D) were getting ready to participate with full Yaqeen on Allah, but the house of Uthmaan (R.D) was counting the last moment’s of Ruqaiyyah (R.D). Our beloved Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said to Uthman (R.D) to stay at home to do Khidmah to Ruqaiyyah (R.D). Aha…. how was that moment of the father and and daughter when they left each other, daughter was about to leave the world and the father was about to depart for the battle field to give life for Islam………..

Uthman (R.D) remained at home with Ruqaiyyah (R.D). On the other hand the battle started in the field of Badr and Muslim were getting near to victory bit by bit, here in Madinah Ruqaiyyah (R.D) was getting near to leave this world bit by bit at the same time. Before the end of the battle she met the Rahmah of Allah and left this world at the age of 23 years and kept behind a life of sacrifice and outstanding patience. Uthman (R.D) arranged her funeral and burial. When a Sahabi reached Madinah to give the glad tidings of the Victory of the first battle of Islam, people were coming back from her burial. The prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) could not see her for the last time and could not attend her Janaza as He was in the battle field. When He came back He visited her grave. Fatimah (R.D) was crying bitterly and Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) was wiping her eye tears.

It was the life of the daughter of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam)…… with such sacrifice they strengthened Islaam, sacrificed their everything silently and left example for us until Qiyamah. May Allah give Ruqaiyyah (R.D) best Ajr on behalf of the entire Ummah, may we can also follow the path that she showed until her end and met Allah happily in the early bloom of her life. Ameen.

Dandenong Madrasa