Ruqayya bint Ali

Sayyidah Ruqayyah bint Ali was a daughter of Ali ibn Abi Talib. She went to Makran and Lahore (modern-day Pakistan) to preach Islam. Her mashhad in Cairo is still used as an oratory where vows and intercessionary prayers to her are offered.

Birth and lineage

Name plate of her Zarih showing her as sister of Abbas ibn Ali

Sayyida Ruqayyah was the daughter of Ali ibn Abi Talib. She was the sister of Abbas ibn Ali.

Her mother was Fāṭimah bint Ḥuzam al-Kulābīyah al-Alawiyyah, better known as ʾUmm al-Banīn, who was a wife of Ali ibn Abi Talib. She was from the tribe of Banu Kilab Kalbasi, Khasaes al-Abbasiah.

Under time of Ali

After the events at Karbala five Muslim women, led by Ruqayyah left Mecca to settle and proselytise in Lahore, as a result of which a sizable portion of the community entered Islam.

According to one school of thought among some Islamic historians, Ruqayyah was instructed by their father to go to Sindh to preach the Islamic faith. It was prophesied that their mission would achieve success. The events of the massacre at Karbala caused Ruqayyah to migrate to Makran where she preached Islam for several years. Muhammad ibn Qasim also became a supporter of Ruqayyah after learning of the sufferings she experienced.

Bibi Pak Daman in Lahore, Pakistan

There were threats to Ruqayyah's life which caused her to settle in Lahore. Ruqayyah continued her missionary activities in peace for some more time.

External view of the Mashhad of Sayyidah Ruqayyah, Cairo

Names in history

Seven ladies and four men are traceable from history, as it is found that she introduced herself stating that “ I am widow of Martyr Muslim bin Aqeel, daughter of Ali and sister of commander-in-chief Abbas of Imam Hussain's Army and other five ladies were my sisters in law, whereas the sixth one was our maid “Halima” but she was equal to us in status. She introduced further telling the names of men that they were our guards and belonged to our tribes namely Abb-ul-Fatah. Abb-ul-Fazal, Abb-ul-Mukaram, and Abdullah

Death

The exact date of when she died is not known. She was buried in Lahore at the Bibi Pak Daman.

Legacy

The Mashhad of Sayyida Ruqayya was built in 1133 as a memorial to her. In Pakistan, she is a very respected woman and her shrine in Lahore is visited by both Sunni and Shia Muslims. In the Islamic month of Jumada al-Thani three days urs of Sayyida Ruqayya from 7 to 9 Jumada al-Thani is celebrated. A reverence event of urs includes a ritual in which women devotees bring water for ablution of the graves at the shrine of Ruqayya.