The Muslim majority defend the two oppressive rulers for their role in the murder of Fatima Zahra (s.a.) with the explanation that the Sahabah / companions are just and could never have committed such an offence.
The Muslims must call to mind the murder of another daughter (ward) of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), who was likewise killed by another oppressive ruler, in the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) very lifetime as this report indicates:
Abu Basir (r.a.) narrates:
I asked Abu Abdillah i.e., Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) – Can anyone remain safe from the squeeze of the grave?
Imam (a.s.): I seek protection against it from Allah. How few are those who remain safe from the squeeze of the grave! When Ruqaiyyah was murdered by Usman, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) stood on her grave and raised his head toward the sky, his eyes flooded with tears, and said to people – I thought of her and her condition in the grave moved me to a weeping state. I pleaded before Allah to give her safety from the squeeze of the grave as a gift for me.
- Al-Kafi v 3 p 236
NOTE
There are differences of opinions on the relation of the three other daughters with Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) i.e. Umme Kulsum and Ruqaiyyah who were married to Usman and Zainab who was married to Abul Aas.
Some reporters / historians record that the three were his biological daughters, while some document that they were his foster daughters. But they were under his (s.a.w.a.) care and the important point from this article’s perspective is that Umm Kulsum and Ruqaiyyah were married to Usman.
Usman barred from Ruqaiyya’s funeral
When Usman was seen at Ruqaiyya’s funeral, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) announced that he should leave the funeral and he (s.a.w.a.) said it thrice. When Usman refused to leave, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) threatened to expose him at which he went away.
- Behar al-Anwar v 22 p 160-162
Why Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) married two daughters to Usman
The Muslims take it as validation of the excellence of the companions (‘caliphs’) that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) got two of his daughters married to Usman.
There is an interesting report in this regard:
Narrator asked Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.): Did the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) get his daughter (Umm Kulsum) married to Usman.
Imam: Yes
Narrator: Then why did he get his second daughter (Ruqaiyya) married to him (seeing how he treated his first daughter)?
Imam: He (s.a.w.a.) did it and Allah revealed the following verse in connection with his incident:
نُمْلِي لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ لِّأَنفُسِهِمْ إِنَّمَا نُمْلِي لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُواْ إِثْمًا وَلَهْمُ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
And let not those who disbelieve think that Our granting them respite is better for their souls; We grant them respite only that they may add to their sins; and they shall have a disgraceful chastisement.
- Surah Aal Imran (3): 178
Clearly, by marrying his two daughters / wards, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) wished to expose the enemies so they would be subject to more severe torment for their transgressions.
Seeing how the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) daughter Ruqaiyya was killed ruthlessly, and the tormentor was barred from her funeral and all this transpiring in the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) lifetime, it is hardly surprising if another daughter was likewise subject to such torment after the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and her tormentors were likewise barred from her funeral. In fact, the transgressions the enemies dared to commit in the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) lifetime with regards his near ones, should have alerted the Muslim community to their intentions to perpetrate similar crimes after the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) martyrdom.