إجازة الأستاذ أحمد لبن مدير المنتدى بقراءة الإمام عاصم الكوفي

موضوع: Ruqayyah, the Lady of الخميس 29 ديسمبر 2016, 7:22 am

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Ruqayyah, the Lady of
Two Migrations
May Allaah be pleased with her!
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When Allaah revealed His noble word, {And warn your tribe of near kindred}. Allaah's Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, went out, and when he had ascended As-Safa Mountain, he shouted, "Wa Sabaahaah!" The people said: "Who is that?" Then they gathered around him, whereupon he said: "Do you see?

If I inform you that cavalrymen are proceeding up the side of this mountain, will you believe me?" They said: "We have never heard you telling a lie." Then he said: "I am a plain warner to you of a coming severe punishment."

Abu Lahab said: "May you perish! You gathered us only for this reason?" Then Abu Lahab went away. So Allaah The Almighty revealed His words: {Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab [an uncle of the Prophet] and perish he! His wealth and his children will not benefit him! He will be burnt in a Fire of blazing flames! And his wife, too, who carries wood [thorns of Sadaan which she used to put on the way of the Prophet or used to slander him]. In her neck is a twisted rope of Masad [palm fiber].} [Quran 111: 1-5]

The Ansaari poet has the following to say about the rope of Abu Lahab's wife: "What it is this rope that all the people see in the middle of Hell and which is not hidden to anyone?

All other ropes are made of animal fur, but the rope of Abu Lahab's wife is made of palm fiber."

When Umm Jameel —Abu Lahab's wife— heard of these verses that Allaah revealed about her and her husband, she came to the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, while he was sitting down in the mosque in the vicinity of the Ka`bah with Abu Bakr beside him. She was holding a small rock. When she approached them with the intention of harming the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, Allaah blinded her from seeing His Messenger. And she could see none but only Abu Bakr.

She angrily said: "Abu Bakr, where is your companion? I was told that he was disparaging me. By Allaah, if I had found him I would have struck his mouth with this rock. By Allaah, I am a poetess. She then recited a poetic verse to deride the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, whose meaning is as follows: "We disobey Mudhammam (which is the opposite meaning of the Prophet's name, Muhammad);We rejected his affair and we renounce his religion."

She then went away.

Thereupon Abu Bakr said: "Messenger of Allaah, do you think that she saw you?" The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, replied: "She did not see me. Allaah blinded her eyes from seeing me."

Allaah, The Exalted had been protecting His Messenger and the believers who followed him. Though the Muslims were bodily persecuted by the Quraysh, this persecution failed to affect their faith, their hearts and their resoluteness.

The above is just a preamble to our discussion about Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthoom respectively.

Ruqayyah was born after her sister Zaynab. She was also a source of happiness for her noble parents.

Soon afterwards, Umm Kulthoom was born, and both of them grew together as if they were twins.

Their closeness to one another greatly increased especially since their eldest sister, Zaynab had married and moved to her matrimonial home. They then became ever more closed and more attached to each other. It is as if both of them had been destined for the same fate from the beginning to the end.

The books of Seerah testified to this unique closeness that was between them, for, all historical narrations agreed on the fact that the two noble sisters —Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthoom— shared almost everything in common.

After Zaynab had been married to Abu Al-`Aas ibn Rabee` and Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthoom neared marriage age, Abu Taalib, Prophet's uncle came to him seeking the hands of the two girls in marriage to sons of his brother, `Abdul-`Uzzaa ibn `Abdul-Muttalib, otherwise known as Abu Lahab.

Abu Taalib said: "We came to ask for the hands of our daughters, Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthoom in marriage. We hope that you will not make their marriage difficult to your cousins, `Utbah and `Utaybah sons of `Abdul-`Uzzaa."

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, responded, "Uncle, can you please give me some time so that I can talk to my daughters?"

The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, proposed the matter to his family, his wife and her daughters, the concerned ones.

Khadeejah, may Allaah be pleased with her, remained silent for sometime, pondering. She knew Umm Jameel —the wife of Abu Lahab and the mother of `Utbah and `Utaybah— very well. She knew that she was hard-hearted and brutal. She knew that she was sharp-tongued, foolishly pompous and utterly reckless.

Therefore, she was concerned about the girls and she would not like to surrender them to this heated atmosphere that was filled with rancour, hatred and evil conduct.

But she feared that if she expressed her opinion, she would annoy her husband and make him think that she wanted to destroy ties of kinship that was between him and his family. So she remained silent. The two girls also kept silent diffidently and did not utter a word in reply. The die was then cast.

The marriage contract took place in an atmosphere mixed with anxiety. The affectionate father invoked blessing on his daughters and left them in the care of Allaah.

In Makkah, a light gleamed that illuminated the city and removed its darkness. That was when Muhammad, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, was commissioned a Prophet and a Messenger of light and guidance.

Khadeejah, may Allaah be pleased with her, remembered her daughters, Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthoom and what their fate was likely going to be at the hand of the wicked Umm Jameel and her compliant husband.

The Quraysh met and conspired on how to deal with Muhammad, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam.

One of them said:
"You have saved Muhammad from his distress.

Send his daughters back to him and keep him preoccupied with them!"

Abu Lahab obliged and cancelled his sons' marriage to the Prophet's daughters. He told his two sons: "I am going to denounce you unless you have divorce Muhammad's daughters!"

Though the marriage had not yet been consummated, the two young ladies returned to their father's house with great distress and sorrow.

Abu Lahab and his wife, the wood-carrier, did not stop at bothering of the Muslims and harming them; they also extremely hurt the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.

Abu Lahab would always attack the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, at every gathering and on the road. He would abuse and insult him without having the least feeling of blood relations. This is because; Allaah had removed all senses of goodness and righteousness from his heart and from the heart of his vicious wife, who used collect harmful thorns and throw them on the Messenger's way in order to demonstrate how evil-hearted and immoral she was.

"The era of sleep is over, O' Khadeejah!" The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, announced to his loving and sincere wife. The vicious attack against him and his companions had been intensified, especially against the weak ones.

In fact, the two young ladies felt a fundamental change in the house. Their house was now surrounded with cruelty from all angles. It had become the main target of persecution, torment and mocking. Smile of happiness had disappeared from its air.

These two ladies endured the situation with their parents, doing so as an act of worship for Allaah. They bore it with perseverance, in the cause of Allaah, pains, hardship and sacrifice.
And they were refined by this tribulation.

The best two persons who met each other were Ruqayyah and her husband, 'Uthmaan
The Quraysh were utterly disappointed!

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, did not grieve because of his daughters that were sent back to him for Allaah soon compensated him with a husband who was better than the first two husbands.

He compensated him with a righteous, dignified, gracious, highborn, abundantly rich and amiable husband who was very bashful.

The person was `Uthmaan ibn `Affaan ibn Abu Al-`Aas ibn `Abd Shams.

`Uthmaan was one of the most gracious Quraysh youths in terms of lineage, prestige and wealth.

The Quraysh mothers had a well-known lullaby they sung for their children. The lullaby revolved around `Uthmaan. It means: `By Allaah, I love you as the Quraysh love `Uthmaan."

But when the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, gave his daughter, Ruqayyah to `Uthmaan in marriage the lullaby changed to what means: "The best two persons who met each other were Ruqayyah and her husband, `Uthmaan."

It was a traditional song that was on every tongue that was free of malice and hatred and uttered nothing but the truth.

Az-Zubayr reported in a Hadeeth that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, sent a man with a gift to `Uthmaan and Ruqayyah. The man then came back late.

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, told the man: "Do you want me to inform you about what delayed you?" The man answered is the affirmative. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, then said: "You stood there looking at `Uthmaan and Ruqayyah admiring their beauty."

The first migration
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When the Quraysh's persecution of the Muslims intensified, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, permitted his companions to migrate to Abyssinia in order to escape with their religion so that they would not be tempted.

He told them:
"If only you could go to Abyssinia, for there is a king there who does not allow that anyone should be wronged in his presence. And it is the land of truth. If only you could go there until Allaah provide a way out for you."

`Uthmaan migrated in the company of his weeping, afraid and agonised wife, Ruqayyah.

She hugged her father, mother and sisters almost choking with sorrow and distress.

`Uthmaan was also grave-faced and sad.

His persevering and believing wife looked at him and told him reassuringly, "Allaah is indeed with us and with those we are leaving behind in the vicinity of the Ancient House."

It is very appropriate, when we talk about migration to Abyssinia, to do so in detail; in terms of the land's farness from the homeland, in terms of the emigrants' period of stay there and in terms of incidences that happened to them there. All this needs some elaboration in the light of the personality of Ruqayyah, the Prophet's daughter.

The emigrants departed Makkah for Jeddah sea coast. It was from there that they boarded a sailship to Abyssinian sea coast. They disembarked at the shore and they moved in one group to the inland until they arrived at the palace of king Negus. They informed him of their migration to his land and their refugee status.

The distant between Makkah and Abyssinia was not short! There are, between the two lands, dry sand, scorching sun, deep sea and deserts and jungles. In addition to its farness, the road was also intractable and full of hardships.

This had made some emigrants fall ill and some of them almost perished, all in the cause of Allaah.

When the Quraysh knew of the Muslims' place of refuge and stay, they sent after them a delegation to disrupt their stay.

This delegation was led by `Amr ibn Al-`Aas and `Abdullaah ibn Abu Rabee`ah. `Amr was a close friend of the Negus. He would visit him every now and then and bring gifts to him.

`Amr brought with him some valuable gifts for his friend the Negus, especially the tanned leather which the latter so much loved and would want to have. `Amr hoped that this would make the Negus responded favourably to his demand.

When `Amr and his companions arrived at Abyssinia, they immediately made for the palace of his friend, the Negus. `Amr entered and presented the gifts to him, and the Negus was very happy with the gifts and gave his old Arab friend a rousing welcome.

Then `Amr talked and announced in the presence of the Negus that he had come to repatriate the Quraysh people who had escaped there from Makkah because they followed a religion that was different from their fathers' and disrupted their own people's lives. He added that it was necessary that a just punishment be meted out to them for what the evils they had perpetrated.

The Negus, however, rejected the demand because he was a king that respected himself and his covenant and he was a just ruler who did not condone injustice or persecution. He did not neglect the lives of any people whom he had given a promise of protection.

`Amr felt inconvenienced; and disappointed and being an expert in machinations and trickery, he informed the Negus these Quraysh men who had abandoned the religion of their ancestors were saying something about Jesus and his mother, Mary that Christian doctrine would not agree with.

It was then that the Negus became very angry and asked his men to bring the fugitive Arabs to his court so that he could listen to their defense. He decided that if `Amr's accusation was true, he would surrender the fugitives to him.

When the guards came to the Muslim camps and demanded that they follow them to the king's palace, so that he could listen to their defense of their religion they were horrified and had a sense of disappointment. They thought that they had fallen into the hands of their enemy, `Amr and his companions.

It was then that Ja`far stood up among them and allayed their fear. He asked them to allow his speak on their behalf and they agreed and surrendered their affairs to Allaah.
At the palace

In front of the Negus, Ja`far stood in the middle of his fellow Muslims with head raised high, putting his trust in Allaah, The Exalted.

At the opposite side stood `Amr ibn Al-`Aas and his companions with the Christian bishops and priests of Abyssinia standing beside them.

The Negus asked Ja`far about the allegation that `Amr levelled against them that they had renounced the religion of their forefathers and that they had disrupted their own society's stability and prosperity.

In response to this allegation, Ja`far told the Negus that concerning this change of religion and way of life, they had been in error so Allaah guided them and that they were ignorant and when they saw the truth, they followed it and believed in it. He added that they took adultery and fornication, drinking of intoxicants, playing games of chance, worshipping idols, burying new-born baby girls alive and committing other socials vices for granted.

It was then that Allaah sent a Messenger from among them whose name is Muhammad ibn `Abdullaah with the message of truth and light. So Allaah guided them to the straight path. He also forbade them from worshipping idols and commanded them to worship Allaah alone.

The Negus was relieved when he heard this excellent presentation from Ja`far. His face brightened up with joy. But suddenly, he frowned as he if he had remembered something. He then asked Ja`far: "What do you say about Jesus and his mother, may Allaah exalt their mention? Do you have with you something of what Muhammad, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, had brought?"

Ja`far answered: "We believe that Jesus, may Allaah exalt his mention, was a word of Allaah which He directed to the Virgin Mary and a soul created at a command from Him. We believe that he was a servant and messenger of Allaah. He then recited the beginning of Soorah Maryam."

Throughout the recitation of these verses, the Negus was listening and shaking his head in admiration. He also shed tears in humility and submission to the truth that he knew.

When Ja`far finished from his recitation, the Negus said: "Indeed, this and what Jesus, may Allaah exalt his mention, brought came from the same source."

He then dissolved the assembly and announced that he would never surrender the refugees to those who came to repatriate them.

And `Amr stood aghast!

When he came out from the Negus' palace, he went to some influential church leaders of the land and attempted to entice them with gifts so that they could help influence the Negus on his behalf.

Some of them accepted the task and accompanied him to the Negus. They entered his palace in the company of `Amr once again.

They attempted to convince him and mount pressure on him but they failed, for the Negus was adamant on his stand to give refuge to the Muslims and protect them.

`Amr went back to Makkah empty-handed, and the Muslims continued to enjoy security and peace at their place of migration.

A coup attempt

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Suddenly one day, the air changed for the Muslim refugees. The pleasant air of peace unexpectedly turned to a violent storm that nearly swept them away.

A nephew of the Negus who had some supporters and followers attempted to violently seize the throne. This nephew had been extremely hostile to the Muslims and had always wanted to get rid of them.

A war broke out between the Negus and this nephew of his, and the hearts of the Muslims were with the Negus fervently hoping for his victory. They remained in their camps and did not participate in the war.

However, they could not wait for the war to end. They feverishly waited to know who would be the victor and who would be the vanquished. For, their fate was hinged on that.

Though they were screened from the battleground by river Nile watercourse, the brave and courageous Zubayr ibn `Awwaam volunteered to carry out the onerous task of getting information about the events of the war, but unfortunately, he could not swim.

Then how could he cross the river?

They filled up two water skins with air and put them under his armpits. With these, he was able to swim to the other side of the river. He came out of the water and took position at the top of hill that overlooked the battleground. He remained for a long time observing the war with anxiety and hope.

The war ended with the defeat of the Negus' nephew and his followers, and the victory for the Negus!

Zubayr immediately returned to his people and gave them the good news of the victory. The Muslims were in great excitement as if they were in a wedding banquet.

Thus did the emigrants to Abyssinia witnessed great events and faced a lot of difficulties during their stay there. They were never a responsibility on anyone regarding their sustenance, even on the king who gave them shelter.

They used to work and earn for themselves, every one of them in his profession. And there were some among them who brought money with them and spent it for themselves and their families.

'Uthmaan and Ruqayyah's return

The emigrants spent days, months and years of their life yearning to go back to their homeland, despite the security, peace and freedom that they enjoyed.

When they heard that Hamzah ibn `Abdul-Muttalib and `Umar had accepted Islam, they were very happy. Some of them hastily returned to Makkah hoping to part take in shaping the future of the war that was raging in Makkah between the truth and falsehood or to see their missed families they had left for a long time.

Other opted to stay until the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, would permit them to come back home. This latter group was led by Ja`far ibn Abu Taalib.

`Uthmaan and Ruqayyah, may Allaah be pleased with them, were among those who decided to return.

Hardly had they set their feet on the soil of the homeland and saw dwellings where they spent their youth that their eyes were filled with tears.

However, the returning refugees were stunned by the increase in the Quraysh's heartless persecution of the Muslims. So they were greatly disappointed.

The saddest of these returnees was Ruqayyah.

For, when she entered her father's house and kissed her sisters, Umm Kulthoom and Faatimah, may Allaah be pleased with them, she anxiously asked of their great mother. Her sisters remained silent and did not respond to her question. Their tears served as the most vivid answer. Their mother, Khadeejah, may Allaah be pleased with her, was dead!!!

Ruqayyah wept profusely, and then she resigned her fate to Allaah and accepted His decision and decree submissively.

Refutation of a falsehood
======================
Shaykh Muhammad Al-Khudari wrote in his book, Noor Al-Yaqeen fee Seerah Sayyid Al-Mursaleen: "Some people narrate a story which they regarded as the reason for the return of Abyssinia emigrants. This story said that information reached these emigrants that their people had accepted Islam when the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, read Soorah An-Najm to them and said nice things about their idols.

They said that when Allaah revealed the His words: {Have you then considered al-Laat, and al-`Uzza [two idols of the pagan Arabs] and Manaat [another idol of the pagan Arabs], the other third?} [Quran 53: 19-20]

They claimed that the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, added: `These are the high-placed angels; and their intercession is sought for.' It was then that the polytheists prostrated in honour and joy!"

In fact, it is only the ignorant ones who carry about whatever they hear without verifying it who can narrate this false story. Textual and logical reasons attest to the spuriousness of this story.

The text and chains of narration of the story indicated its falseness. Qaadi `Iyaad said that none of the compilers of authentic traditions reported it and that neither did it had a sound Isnad.

As for the spuriousness of its text, neither the Prophet's companions nor the polytheists were insane that they would agree that something could be praised while it is being disparaged and condemned.

For, what Allaah The Almighty Says after mentioning those idols is (what means): {They are but names which you have named —you and your fathers— for which Allaah has sent down no authority!} [Quran 53: 23]

If we had looked critically at that false narration, we would realize that the statement was not coherent. Had the incidence actually happened, the disbelievers would have seized upon it and used it to argue against the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, whenever they disputed with him, for they were known —out of their stupidity— to have used against the Muslims, issues in which they had no proof. Had this story been true, they would have had greater reason to seize upon it.

Furthermore, we had not heard from any of their leaders and the most obstinate among them say: "Why are you disparaging our deities after you had praised them?" They would have even had a reason to unsheathe their swords and sacrifice their men for the matter.

Moreover, the transmitters of this narration and regard it as the reason for the return of the Abyssinia emigrants should mix up issues.

They claim that migration took place in the month of Rajab, the return took place in the month of Shawwal and the revelation of Soorah An-Najm occurred in the month of Ramadhaan?! So, could it be possible that the period between the revelation of the Soorah and the return of the emigrants was only a month?!!!

If one pondered very well, one would realize that one month could be enough, during that period, to travel from Makkah to Abyssinia and back, for there were no machine-operated ships or boats that could quicken the sea journey. Neither was there any telegraph that could bring the news of Quraysh's acceptance of Islam to those who were in Abyssinia.

It should be a surprise then, if we contend that this false narration was forged by the people of desires whom Allaah afflicted with the prevalence of this religion.

'Uthmaan and Ruqayyah — from Abyssinia to Yathrib
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`Uthmaan and Ruqayyah did not stay long in Makkah. The Muslims migrated to Yathrib after the Ansaar —the Aws and Khazraj— had given the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, their allegiance that they would support him and help his cause. The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, himself followed them soon afterwards.

Two years before migration to Madeenah, Ruqayyah gave birth to her only child for `Uthmaan, `Abdullaah.

The boy used to fill the life of his parents with happiness and friendliness. He was, in fact, a consolation for them for all the hardship they had suffered in days past. But the believer is always put to trial. Allaah Says (what means): {Who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed ...} [Quran 67: 2]

One day, while `Abdullaah ibn `Uthmaan was sleeping in his cradle, a rooster pecked him in the eyes. This led to an infection that claimed his life few days later.

Ruqayyah was struck with calamity and soon fell a victim of fever.

Her loving and affectionate husband stayed by the side of his wife nursing her and invoking Allaah to alleviate her suffering and make recover from her illness.

While he was nursing his sick wife, the voice of the announcer who was calling on the emigrants and the helpers to come out and take part in Jihaad by accosting the caravan of the Quraysh that was on its way back from Syria reached him.

He decided to go and respond to the call of Allaah and His Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam. But the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, commanded him to remain near his sick wife to care for her.

The departure
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The struggle between life and death was fierce. Eventually, Ruqayyah gave up the ghost.

At the same that the bereaved `Uthmaan was kissing his wife's forehead and fingertips and covering her face, the voice of the good news carrier could be heard outside announcing the Muslims' victory.

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, entered `Uthmaan's house having been shocked by the news of his daughter's death. He moved closer to her and sorrowfully bade her farewell.

He sympathetically praised Faatimah, may Allaah be pleased with her, who stood at her sister's deathbed crying. He helped her on her feet gently and compassionately and he wiped her tears off with his noble garment.

It was then that the sobbing of the women who were present became louder. `Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, wanted to stop them but the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, held his hand and told him: "Whatever tears shed by the eyes and however much the heart grieves, that is from Allaah. It is actions of the hands and words uttered by the tongue that come from Satan."

The farewell
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The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, the bereaved father, performed funeral prayers on his daughter and followed her corpse to the Baqee` until she was buried.

Thereafter, he returned home and to his mosque carrying on with his struggle and delivering the message.

May Allaah be pleased with Ruqayyah, the Prophet's daughter, the lady of two emigrations and the wife of the owner of the lights!

May He reward her for her faith, struggle, tribulations, and her perseverance with the best and the fullest reward!

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IZHAR UL-HAQ

إجازة الأستاذ أحمد لبن مدير المنتدى بقراءة الإمام عاصم الكوفي

Ruqayyah, the Lady of