The Status of the Daughters of the Prophet ﷺ and Refutation of the Shia Viewpoint

Adapted from the original work of Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri (Hafizahullah), enhanced with structured headings and formatting for clarity.

❖ Denial of the Prophet’s Daughters – A Misguided Belief​

There is no greater misfortune than denying the noble lineage of the daughters of the Prophet ﷺ, or attributing them to non-Muslims, claiming that the Prophet ﷺ had only one daughter. This erroneous claim rejects the Qur’an, authentic Hadith, and consensus of the Ummah, particularly in regard to Zaynab, Ruqayyah, and Umm Kulthum (رضي الله عنهن). Some falsely claim that the Prophet ﷺ was only a guardian, not a father, to them.

❖ A Dreadful Scene on the Day of Judgement​

On the Day of Resurrection, these noble daughters will present their case before Allah against those who denied their parentage, attempting to attribute them to disbelievers. Such people will face a humiliating punishment, and their false beliefs will be shattered.

❖ Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah’s Refutation of the Shia Claim​

In Minhaj al-Sunnah al-Nabawiyyah, Ibn Taymiyyah (661–728 AH) notes that some Shia deny the Prophet’s fatherhood to Zaynab, Ruqayyah, and Umm Kulthum, claiming they were daughters of Khadijah’s previous disbelieving husband.

He writes:
"Some among them claim Zaynab, Ruqayyah, and Umm Kulthum were daughters of Khadijah from a former disbelieving husband before she married the Prophet ﷺ."
(Minhaj al-Sunnah, Vol. 4, p. 493)

❖ Claims of Shia Scholars​

Several Shia scholars have denied the Prophet’s fatherhood to these daughters:

◉ Abu al-Qasim ‘Ali ibn Ahmad al-Kufi (d. 352 AH):
Claims Zaynab and Ruqayyah were daughters of Halah, Khadijah’s sister, raised by the Prophet ﷺ.
(Al-Istighathah fi Bida‘ al-Thalathah, Vol. 1, p. 68)

◉ Ibn Shahr Ashub (d. 588 AH):
States Zaynab and Ruqayyah were Halah’s daughters.
(Manaqib Aal Abi Talib, Vol. 1, p. 159)

◉ Mulla Ahmad al-Ardabili (d. 993 AH):
Repeats the same claim with no credible basis.
(Hashiyah Zubdat al-Bayan, p. 575)

❖ Ahl al-Sunnah's Stance​

According to Ahl al-Sunnah, it is an established fact that the Prophet ﷺ had four daughters from Khadijah (رضي الله عنها):

◉ Zaynab
◉ Ruqayyah
◉ Umm Kulthum
◉ Fatimah

❖ Consensus of the Ummah​

Renowned Sunni scholars affirm this:

◉ Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr (d. 463 AH):
"There is no disagreement that the Prophet ﷺ had four daughters from Khadijah."
(Al-Isti‘ab, Vol. 1, pp. 50, 89)

◉ ‘Abd al-Ghani al-Maqdisi (d. 600 AH):
Affirms the same.
(Al-Durrat al-Mudiyyah, Vol. 6, p. 8)

◉ Al-Safadi (d. 764 AH), Imam al-Nawawi (d. 676 AH), and Al-Mizzi (d. 742 AH) all confirm:
The Prophet ﷺ had four daughters.

❖ Qur’anic Evidence​

“Call them by [the names of] their fathers; that is more just in the sight of Allah.”
(Surah al-Ahzab, 33:5)

This verse establishes that one must not falsely attribute children to others. Since authentic Hadiths identify these women as daughters of the Prophet ﷺ, denying this is contrary to the Qur’an and consensus.

❖ Hadith Evidence​

● Zaynab (RA) – Eldest daughter, married to Abu al-‘As ibn al-Rabi‘
→ Injured during migration, miscarriage due to enemy assault.
(Mu‘jam al-Kabir, Vol. 22, pp. 431–432; Dala’il al-Nubuwwah, Vol. 3, pp. 156–157)

● Ruqayyah (RA) – Married to ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan (RA)
→ ‘Uthman missed Badr while caring for her, and was promised full reward.
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 3130)

● Umm Kulthum (RA) – Also married to ‘Uthman (RA) after Ruqayyah’s passing
→ The Prophet ﷺ wept at her funeral.
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 1285)

● Fatimah (RA) – Youngest daughter, wife of ‘Ali (RA), mother of Hasan and Husayn (RA)

❖ Acknowledgement by Shia Scholars​

◉ Imam Ja‘far al-Baqir:
Acknowledges the Prophet ﷺ had four daughters.
(Qurb al-Isnad, Vol. 3, p. 9; Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 22, p. 151)

◉ Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi:
Mentions Fatimah, Umm Kulthum, and Ruqayyah as daughters of the Prophet ﷺ.
(Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 95, p. 110)

◉ Ibn Abi al-Hadid (d. 656 AH):
Lists six children from Khadijah: two sons and four daughters.
(Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, Vol. 5, p. 132)

❖ Conclusion​

Ahl al-Sunnah unanimously agree that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had four daughters, and this fact is supported by:

◈ Qur’anic evidence
◈ Authentic Hadith
◈ Consensus of the scholars
◈ Even some admissions by Shia authorities