Shia Commemorate Blessed Birth Anniversary of Sayyida Ruqayyah (peace be upon her)
Sayyida Ruqayyah (peace be upon her) is one of the daughters of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him), and her holy shrine is located in Damascus. Her birth is dated to the 23rd of Sha’ban in the year 58 AH.
According to some historical texts, her mother was Umm Ishaq, who was previously married to Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (peace be upon him). After his martyrdom, she married Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) as per Imam Hasan’s will.
There is disagreement regarding the number and names of Imam Hussain’s daughters. Sources suggest he had four daughters: Fatima al-Kubra, Fatima al-Sughra, Sakina, and Ruqayyah. The name Ruqayyah, meaning “ascension” or “progress,” is believed to be her title, while her actual name might have been Fatima, known as Fatima al-Sughra.
Some sources suggest she might be the same as Fatima bint al-Hussain, as it was common for some of Imam Hussain’s children to have two names.
In some narrations, it is mentioned that on the Day of Ashura, Sayyida Sakina (peace be upon her) said to her three-year-old sister (likely Sayyida Ruqayyah): “Let us hold onto our father’s cloak and prevent him from going to his martyrdom.” Upon hearing this, Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) wept deeply. Sayyida Ruqayyah then called out, “Father! I won’t stop you. Wait so I can see you.” Imam Hussain embraced and comforted her before parting with a heavy heart.
One of the ancient books that mentions Sayyida Ruqayyah is Lohuf by Sayyid ibn Tawus. It recounts that after the tragedy of Ashura, the enemy took all survivors as captives. Among them was a young girl—Ruqayyah, the daughter of Imam Hussain—who, after her father’s martyrdom, was taken to Sham (Damascus) with her aunt Zainab and other captives.
From the ruins of Sham, the cries of a child were heard. The captives knew it was Ruqayyah, who had awoken and was calling for her father, as if she had seen him in a dream. Yazid then ordered the severed head of Imam Hussain to be shown to her. When Hazrat Ruqayyah saw her father’s decapitated head, she cried out in anguish, threw herself upon it, and passed away at that moment.
Her holy shrine is located in Damascus, near the shrine of Sayyida Zainab (peace be upon her).
