Her First Marriage

It was normal in those days, according to Arab custom, for girls to be married at what would seem a very young age these days. So, the two sisters, Hazrat Ruqayyah (ra) and Hazrat Umme Kulsoom (ra) were married at an early age. Hazrat Ruqayyah (ra) was married to Utbah the elder son of the paternal uncle of the Holy Prophet (sas), Abu Lahab, and Hazrat Umme Kulsoom (ra) was married to Abu Lahab’s other son, Utaibah.1

At that time Abu Lahab was not an opponent of the Holy Prophet (sas), but when the Holy Prophet (sas) claimed prophethood, both Abu Lahab and his wife, Umme Jameel, became bitter enemies of the Holy Prophet (sas). Umme Jameel used to lay down thorns in the alleyway where the Holy Prophet (sas) would pass. Due to this, the blessed feet of the Holy Prophet (sas) would get wounded. The Holy Prophet (sas), a mercy for the entire universe, always showed great patience and forbearance. However, this would just enrage his enemies even more.

It is because of his enmity towards Islam that Abu Lahab threatened to break all ties with his sons if they did not divorce the daughters of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas). So Hazrat Ruqayyah (ra) and Hazrat Umme Kulsoom (ra) were divorced at the same time. This was the first of many big trials that the Holy Prophetsas had to face because of the enmity towards Islam.

Hazrat Umme Kulsoom (ra) accepted Islam with her mother2, Hazrat Khadijah (ra) when the Holy Prophet (sas) first claimed prophethood. Hazrat Umme Kulsoom (ra) took the oath of allegiance at the hand of the Holy Prophet (sas) together with her sisters when some other ladies also, were granted this honour. This was also the beginning of the period of hardships for the Holy Prophet (sas) and his family.

One of these hardships was that the enemy surrounded the home of the Holy Prophet (sas). At such a time, he was forced to take refuge in a valley known as Shi‘b Abi Talib to save himself and his companions from the evil of these people.