Ruqayyah bint Muhammad (605-624)

Ruqayyah bint Muhammad was the daughter of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. She is viewed as the daughter of Muhammad and Khadijah bint Khuwaylid by Sunni Muslims, but other Muslim sects such as Shia Muslims debate her being daughter of Muhammed (or even of Khadijah) (see Genealogy of Khadija's daughters). She died in 2 AH (624 CE).

Origin dispute
There is dispute about her origin. Some historian has reported her as one of two orphaned girls raised by Khadija. some view her as daughter of Khadija's sister, Hala, or were orphaned girls raised by her. Possibly, all of them were Khadijah's but only Fatimah was born to Muhammad. Sunni Muslims however do not contest the parentage of her daughters. They affirm what the Qur'an states, "O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers...". With the exception of Fatimah, neither is there any narration that Muhammad had ever visited Ruqayya or any of his other daughters, nor is there any report that any of them have ever been distiguished in any occasion of Muhammad's life. Muhamad was always visiting Fatimah, the only daughter who is recognized among the members of Ahlulbayt and Ahl al-Kisa. While there are lots of reports about many suitors who asked for marriage to Fatimah, there isn't any similar report for any other daughter of Muhammad. In the incident of mubahala in which Muhammad agreed to accompany his family members, Fatima was his only child who accompanied him.

The famous Sunni scholar Yusuf ibn abd al-Barr says: "His children born of Khadīja are four daughters; there is no difference of opinion about that".

Marriage dispute
There is dispute about her marriage to Muhammad. Some source has reported she was first married to Utbah ibn Abu Lahab. His father, Abu Lahab, forced Utbah to divorce Ruqayyah due to Abu Lahab's opposition to Muhammad and his teachings. Muslim convert Uthman ibn Affan had long admired Ruqayyah and was then able to ask for her hand in marriage.

While some Sunni's historians have reported anger of Muhammad when Ali asked marriage to the daughter of Abu Jahl, there is no report about Muhammad's comment on Uthman's marriage to Ramla daughter of Shuiba ibn Rabi'a, Fatima daughter of Walid, Umm ul-Banin daughter of 'Ayina, whose fathers were enemies of Muhammad.

The only man who is reported as Muhammad's son-in-law in the early Islamic history is Ali. As an example, when a man asked Abdullah ibn Umar about comparison of Ali and Uthman, he replied:

As for 'Uthman, it seems that Allah has forgiven him, but you people dislike that he should be forgiven. And as for 'Ali, he is the cousin of Allah's Apostle and his son-in-law.

Another matter about her marriage is her age at the time of marriage. The historian who viewed Ruqaya as daughter of Muhammad has reported that she was born after Muhammad passed his 40 years old and started Islam faith, and she was the youngest daughter of Muhammad

Marriage rules
Based on narrations found even in Sunnī sources, Muhammad said that daughters of his household could only marry those who were from Banū Hāshim. .

But (if it is assumed that Zaynab, Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthum were daughter of Muhammed and Khadijah) this argument does not seem to be correct as:
 * Zaynab was married to Abu al-Aas ibn al-Rabee who belonged to Banu Abd Shams clan of the tribe Quraish.
 * Ruqayyah and, after her death, Umm Kulthum were married to Uthman bin Affan, who belonged to Banu Umayya clan of the tribe Quraish.