28/09/2026
The Blessed Daughters of Rasūlullāh ﷺ
Ruqayyah رضي الله عنها
Ruqayyah رضي الله عنها is the second daughter of Rasūlullāh ﷺ and Khadījah رضي الله عنها. She was born when Rasūlullāh ﷺ was thirty-three years of age. She was nurtured by the finest couple ever to live. She embraced Islam with her mother, Khadījah رضي الله عنها, and pledged her allegiance to Rasūlullāh ﷺ. [Ṭabaqāt Ibn Sa'd]
Ruqayyah رضي الله عنها was first married to Abū Lahab's son, ʿUtbah. However, he divorced her before consummation, when the verses condemning Abū Lahab were revealed. Ruqayyah رضي الله عنها bore this heartache with perseverance, in support of her father. Rasūlullāh ﷺ soon thereafter married her to ʿUthmān رضي الله عنه at the instruction of Allah. They made a fine couple; the women of Quraysh would say, “The finest couple ever seen by man, is Ruqayyah and her husband, ʿUthmān.” [Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī] They were the first couple to emigrate to Abyssinia. Hence, Rasūlullāh ﷺ said, “ʿUthmān is the first to emigrate with his wife in Allah's path after Nabī Lūṭ عليه السلام.” [Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah]
The couple was blessed with a baby boy in Abyssinia, whom they named ʿAbd Allāh. ʿAbd Allāh passed away at the age of six. The couple later emigrated to Madīnah Munawwarah and thus have the distinctive privilege of emigrating twice in Allah's path.
Before the Battle of Badr, Ruqayyah رضي الله عنها had taken ill, suffering from measles. Rasūlullāh ﷺ instructed ʿUthmān رضي الله عنه to stay behind and take care of her. Ruqayyah رضي الله عنها passed away on the Day of Badr, Friday, 17th of Ramaḍān, 2 AH. Rasūlullāh ﷺ visited her grave after returning from Badr and sought forgiveness for her, before addressing her with the words, “Join our noble predecessor, ʿUthmān ibn Maẓʿūn.” [Ṭabaqāt Ibn Sa'd] May Allah be pleased with her.
Umm Kulthūm رضي الله عنها
Umm Kulthūm رضي الله عنها is the third daughter of Rasūlullāh ﷺ and Khadījah رضي الله عنها. She is younger than Ruqayyah رضي الله عنها and older than Fāṭimah رضي الله عنها. She was nurtured by the most superior couple ever to live. Like her sisters, she professed Islam and pledged allegiance at the hands of Rasūlullāh ﷺ with her mother. [Usd al-Ghābah]
She was first married to ʿUtaybah, the son of Abū Lahab, who divorced her after Sūrah al-Lahab was revealed, condemning his father and mother. She emigrated to Madīnah in the company of her family and the family of Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه. [Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah]
After the demise of Ruqayyah رضي الله عنها, ʿUmar رضي الله عنه offered his daughter, Ḥafṣah رضي الله عنها, to ʿUthmān رضي الله عنه, but he politely declined. ʿUmar رضي الله عنه informed Rasūlullāh ﷺ of this, who remarked, “Someone superior to ʿUthmān will marry Ḥafṣah, while ʿUthmān will marry someone superior to Ḥafṣah,” i.e., Umm Kulthūm. [Al-Iṣābah] ʿUthmān رضي الله عنه married Umm Kulthūm رضي الله عنها, thus becoming the only man in history to have ever married two daughters of a prophet, earning him the title Dhū al-Nūrayn (The Possessor of Two Lights).
Umm Kulthūm رضي الله عنها passed away in Shaʿbān, 9 AH, at the age of approximately twenty-five. Rasūlullāh ﷺ performed her Ṣalāt al-Janāzah and prayed for her forgiveness. Before her burial, Rasūlullāh ﷺ was seen weeping at her grave. May Allah be pleased with her.
