Ruqayya bt. al-Imam al-Husayn (a): Difference between revisions

'''Ruqayya bt. al-Ḥusayn''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|رُقَیَّة بنت الحُسَین}}), according to some reports, was one of the daughters of [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] who was present at the [[tragedy of Karbala]] and was amongst the [[captives of Karbala|captives]] that was taken to [[Syria]]. According to these reports, it was during this captivity in Syria that led to her [[martyrdom]] at the tender age of three. Currently there exists a mausoleum for her in the city of [[Damascus]], Syria.  

In mentioning the names of the children of [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]], [[al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] only mentions that he (a) had two daughters by the names of [[Fatima bt. al-Husayn (a)|Fatima]] and [[Sukayna]].<ref>Bayhaqī, ''Lubāb al-ansāb'', p. 355.</ref> However, Muhammad b. Talha al-Shafi'i mentions that Imam al-Husayn (a) had four daughters and that Zaynab, Sukayna and Fatima were the names of three of the daughters. He believed that this opinion was the generally accepted opinion and that the opinion of the two daughters was not the generally accepted opinion. As can be noticed, he did not bring a name for the fourth daughter,<ref>Shāfiʿī, ''Maṭālib al-suʿūl'', p. 257.</ref> so it should be sought in other books.

::"It has come in ''al-Hawiya'' that the ladies from the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]], in the state of captivity, after all the men had been [[martyr]]ed in the [[Battle of Karbala]]; they hid the truth from their sons and daughters and every child was promised and told that your father had gone on a journey and will return. They were then taken to the palace of [[Yazid]]. A four year old daughter woke up from her sleep and said:'Where is my father Husayn? I saw him in my dream extremely worried!' The ladies and children started to cry and began to wail. Yazid was asleep. He awoke and started to investigate. He was brought news that such has happened. That accursed person said, 'Go! And take the head of her father and place it next to her.' The doomed guards took the head to her and placed it beside the four year old girl. She asked:'What is this?' the doomed guards replied: 'It is the head of your father.' That daughter began to tremble and let out a scream and became very ill; and in the following days passed away."<ref>Ṭabarī, ''Kāmil Bahāʾī'', p. 523.</ref>

::"When she removed the cloth, she saw a head placed on that platter. She lifted it up and looked at it carefully. She recognized the head of her father. She let out a chilling scream, she rubbed her face upon his and kissed his lips and while in that state, she left this world. <ref>Wāʿiẓ Kāshifī, ''Rawḍat al-Shuhadā'', p. 389.</ref>

::"It has been narrated that when the People of [[Allah]] and the [[household of the Prophet (s)]] entered upon [[Yazid]] in the city of [[Syria]], he provided for them a specific house and it was in this house that they [[mourning of Muharram|mourned]]. Our Master, Imam al-Husayn (a) had a three year old daughter... the head of Imam al-Husayn (a) was wrapped in a silk cloth. They brought the head and placed it in front of her and removed the cloth. The daughter of Imam al-Husayn (a) asked: 'Whose head is this?' They said: 'It is the head of your father!' She lifted it from the platter and hugged it and said: 'O my beloved father! After you, who can we give our love to? O my beloved father! Who will look after the orphans until they grow up? O my beloved father! Who will be the guardian of the weak ladies? O my beloved father! Who will be the guardian of the imprisoned widows? O my beloved father! Who will wipe our tears away? O my beloved father! Who will be the refuge for all the lost strangers? O my beloved father! Who will reassure those who are worried? O my beloved father! Who will fill the void for us left by you? O my beloved father! Who is there for us in our loneliness after you? O my beloved father! If only I could be sacrificed for you! O my beloved father! If only I was blind before this. O my beloved father! If only I had died before, I would not have seen your face covered in sand.' She then kissed the lips of her father and began to cry intensely until she fell unconscious. When they tried to wake her up, they realized that her soul had left this world." <ref>Ṭurayḥī, ''al-Muntakhab fī jamʿ al-marāthī wa al-khuṭab'', p. 136.</ref>

::"The family of the [[Prophet (s)]] during those nights had no candle, no lamp, no water, no food, no carpet and no extra clothing; they just sat in sadness and kept themselves busy by grieving over the [[martyrs of Karbala]]. Until Lady Zubayda, the three year old daughter of Imam al-Husayn (a), one night cried intensely over her separation from her father...<ref>Arjistānī, ''Anwār al-majālis'', p. 161.</ref>

In the pages that follows he narrates from the book ''[[Riyad al-ahzan]]'' that the name of the child was Fatima.

In this report, many names, including that of Ruqayya has been mentioned for the child who passed away in the Ruins of Syria.

The first report available about the current mausoleum attributed to Ruqayya, dates back to the 10th/16th century. In his book ''[[Tasliyat al-majalis]]'', Muhammad b. Abi Talib al-Ha'iri al-Karaki (alive at 955/1548) writes:

::"In the city of [[Damascus]], Syria, towards the eastern side of the Great Masjid of the city, I saw a ruins that used to previously be a [[Masjid]]. Amongst those ruins I saw a stone that had the name of the Holy Prophet (s), his family and the names of the [[twelve Imams]] written on it. At the end it had the following sentence,'This is the grave of a princess, the daughter of Husayn b. Amir al-Mominin (a)'."

 

During the first part of the 14th/20th century, [[Muhammad Hashim Khurasani]] (d. [[1352]]/1933), in his book- written in Farsi -''[[Muntakhab al-tawarikh]]'' in addition to attributing the grave to Ruqayya bt. Husayn (a), he goes into detail describing the damage done to the grave. <ref>Khurāsānī, ''Muntakhab tawārīkh'', p. 388.</ref>

It is not possible to give a concrete answer on the subject being researched. However, the miracles that have been seen and will be seen from this blessed place confirms that it does possess spiritual significance and that this place should be revered as it is a place that is attributed to the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]], even though the exact details concerning the demise of Ruqayya does not appear in any of the reliable sources. Mentioning her tragedy must be referenced to a reliable source so that the truth or inaccuracy of the story can be placed solely on the narrators head.

 

Even though many historical differences still exist concerning her, amongst the people and during the [[mourning]] gatherings held in [[Muharram]], Lady Ruqayya has a very elevated position. The third night of Muharram is dedicated specifically for her remembrance.<ref>Hādīmanish, ''Hūdaj-i khūn'', p. 136.</ref> Many groups ([[Hay'a]]) of mourners are named after her. A large amount of eulogies and poetry have been composed and recited in her honor. In some of the eulogies, those people who have denied her existence have been sarcastically and slyly reprimanded.

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