Marriage to Uthman رضي الله عنه

After the sons of Abu Lahab divorced Ruqayyah RA and Umm KulthumRA, Rasulullah ﷺ married Ruqayyah RA to Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan RA in Makkah Mukarramah. Concerning this, ‘ulama’ have recorded some narrations:

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas RA relates that Rasulullah ﷺ said: “Allah Ta’ala revealed to me that I should marry my beloved daughter Ruqayyah to ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan.” Therefore, Rasulullah ﷺ married Ruqayyah RA to ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan RA in Makkah and sent her to his place.

‘Ali RA mentioned regarding ‘Uthman RA:

و زوجه رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم واحدة بعد واحدة

Rasulullah ﷺ married one daughter after another to him. [Kanz al ‘Ummal vol. 6 pg. 379]

Praises for Sayyidah Ruqayyah RA on the Tongues of the Women of Quraysh

The historians write that Allah favoured Ruqayyah RA with exceptional beauty. The author of Tarikh al Khamis in his history book and Muhib al Tabari in Dhakha’ir al ‘Uqba articulated it in the following words:

و كانت ذات جمال رائع

Ruqayyah RA was a woman of exceptional beauty.

و تزوجها عثمان بن عفان و كانت نساء قريش يقلن حين تزوجها عثمان احسن شخصين راى انسان رقية و بعلها عثمان

When ‘Uthman RA got married to her, the women of Quraysh of those days would envy this couple and express their beauty in the following words:

The most beautiful couple ever seen by man, is Ruqayyah with her husband ‘Uthman. [Tafsir al Qurtubi vol. 14 pg. 242 – (Surah al Ahzab)]

Rasulullah ﷺ had a servant by the name of Usamah ibn Zaid RA who was the son of Zaid ibn Harithah RA and reckoned among the distinct attendants of Rasulullah ﷺ.

Sayyidina Usamah RA says: “Rasulullah ﷺ once sent me with a plate of meat to ‘Uthman. When I entered his place, he was sitting with Ruqayyah. I have never seen a couple more beautiful than them. [Kanz al ‘Ummal vol. 6 pg. 380 with reference to Baghawi]

A gift from Rasulullah ﷺ – Sayyidah Umm ‘Ayyash رضي الله عنها

Rasulullah ﷺ had a servant by the name of Umm ‘Ayyash RA who would be at his service and take care of household chores. Sayyidah Umm ‘Ayyash says:

قالت كنت اوضى رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم و انا قائمة و هو قاعد (اخرجها الثلاثة)

I would pour water for the wudu’ of Rasulullah ﷺ while standing and he was sitting. [Usd al Ghabah vol. 5 pg. 607]

Regarding Umm ‘Ayyash RA, narrations mention that Rasulullah ﷺ gave her as a gift to Ruqayyah radiyallahu ‘anha. Umm ‘Ayyash RA would live at ‘Uthman RA’s place to serve Ruqayyah RA. It was a very kind action of Rasulullah ﷺ to specially gift a servant to Ruqayyah RA to make her household chores easy.

The Children of Sayyidah Ruqayyah RA

و كانت قد اسقطت من عثمان سقطا ثم ولدت بعد ذلك عبد الله و كان عثمان يكنى به فى الاسلام و بلغ سنين فنقره ديك فى وجهه فمات و لم تلد له شيئا بعد ذلك

The ‘ulama’ write that she miscarried an undeveloped fetus of ‘Uthman RA in Abyssinia. She then gave birth to a son who was named ‘Abdullah. Through him, the agnomen of ‘Uthman RA became Abu ‘Abdullah. When ‘Abdullah was approximately six years of age, a rooster pecked him in the eye thus injuring him which caused his face to swell up. It did not heal and he passed away in this condition. (He passed away in Madinah after his mother in Jumad al Ula 4 A.H.) She did not have any other children after this.

The Janazah and burial of ‘Abdullah

Al Baladhuri and other scholars have written that when ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Uthman RA passed away, Rasulullah ﷺ was extremely grieved.

و اما عبد الله بن عثمان فان رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم وضعه فى حجره و دمعت عليه عينه و قال انما يرحم الله من عباده الرحماء

Regarding ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Uthman, Rasulullah ﷺ picked him up and placed him in his lap. With tears flowing from his eyes he commented: “Indeed, Allah shows mercy upon His compassionate servants.” [Ansab al Ashraf vol. 1 pg. 401]

Rasulullah ﷺ performed the Salat al Janazah upon him and ‘Uthman RA descended into the grave.

Rasulullah ﷺ participated in these sorrowful moments. He issued guidelines regarding his grandchild and accordingly all arrangements were made.

Man has a natural bond with his offspring. Whenever a calamity befalls them, he is worried. This phase can only be crossed with perseverance and calmness which was displayed here.