HER FATHER: THE PROPHET (S.A.W.W.)
Her Father was the Prophet of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W.W.). As we have studied his life under a separate unit (Number one), we do not intend to repeat his biography again.
Before her birth, her two brothers called Qassim and Tahir were born. Both of them died when still young. Some historians say that the Prophet had also three daughters from Hazrat Khadija (Zainab, Um Kulthum and Ruqaia), but more reliable historians such as Shahr Ashub say that Hazrat Fatima (A. S) was the only daughter born from Hazrat Khadija. We shall discuss on this matter when we look at the life history of Hazrat Khadija.
Hazrat Fatima (A.S) had one stepbrother, Ibrahim, who was born from Maria Qibtia. But he too, died when still young.
HER MOTHER: HAZRAT KHADIJA, DAUGHTER OF KHUWAYLID
Not all scholars agree on her age or on the number of children that she had. Most of the Sunni authors believe that Lady Khadija was a widow of forty-five years when she was married to the Prophet (S. A. W. W.), Some of them also say that from this early marriage she had three daughters:
Zainab, Um Kuthum and Ruqaia. Others say that these daughters were born after her marriage with the Prophet (S.A.W.W.).
The majority of Shia scholars and some Sunni scholars too, believed in the following facts:
At the time of her marriage, Lady Khadija was between twenty-five to twenty-eight years of age.
That she was married only once and that was to the Prophet (S.A.W.W).
That she had only one daughter and that was Hazrat Fatima (A.S).
According to a famous scholar of Lucknow India (Hujatul Islam Nasir Husain) Zainab, Um Kulthum and Ruqaia were the daughters of Abu Hind Tamimi. When his wife died, he married Hala, Hazrat Khadija’s sister Soon Abu Hind died and Hala, together with the three girls went to live with Hazrat Khadija because of her kindness and generosity.
Hazrat Khadija brought up the girls like her nieces as these girls grew in her home and as she loved them like her own daughters, they have come to be regarded as her own daughters and because of her love for them, the Prophet too, loved them and treated them as his own daughters.
Source:
A Brief Biography of Hazrat Fatima (A.S.), [P.7-8].
By: M.M. Dungersi Ph.D.
