Marriage to Hazrat Umm Kulthum (ra)
In regard to Hazrat Ruqayyah’s (ra) demise and the marriage to Hazrat Umm Kulthum (ra) it is mentioned by Abdullah bin Muknif bin Haritha Ansari that when the Holy Prophet (sa) departed for the Battle for Badr, he left Hazrat Uthman (ra) with Hazrat Ruqayyah (ra). Hazrat Ruqayyah (ra) was unwell at the time and passed away on the same day that Hazrat Zaid (ra) bin Haritha brought the good news to Medina regarding the victory which Allah the Almighty had granted to the Holy Prophet (sa) at Badr. The Holy Prophet (sa) granted Hazrat Uthman (ra) a share from the spoils of battle and his share was equal in measure to those who had participated in the Battle of Badr. After the demise of Hazrat Ruqayyah (ra), the Holy Prophet (sa) gave his daughter, Hazrat Umm Kulthum (ra), in marriage to Hazrat Uthman (ra).
(Ibn Saad, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3, Uthman (ra) bin Affan [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi, 1996], p. 32)
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra) relates that the Holy Prophet (sa) met Hazrat Uthman (ra) at the entrance of the mosque and said, “Uthman, this is Gabriel and he has informed me that Allah the Almighty has settled your marriage with Umm Kulthum with the same mehr [dowry] as Ruqayyah’s and for you to afford her with the same kind treatment [as shown to Ruqayyah].”
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Iftitah al-Kitab, Fasl Uthman (ra), Hadith 110)
In other words, Allah the Almighty revealed to the Holy Prophet (sa) that his second daughter, Umm Kulthum (ra) should be married to Hazrat Uthman (ra).
Hazrat Aisha (ra) relates that when the Holy Prophet (sa) settled the marriage of Umm Kulthum (ra) with Hazrat Uthman (ra), he said to Hazrat Umm Aiman (ra), “Prepare my daughter, Umm Kulthum, and take her to Uthman and beat the drum before her [as you go along].” Thus, she did exactly that.
After three days, the Holy Prophet (sa) went to visit Hazrat Umm Kulthum (ra) and stated, “My beloved daughter, what do you think of your husband?” Umm Kulthum (ra) replied, “He is the most excellent husband.”
*(Ali Muhammad al-Salabi, Sirat Amir al-Momineen Uthman (ra) bin Affan Shakhsiyyatuhu wa Asruh, Ch. 1 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Ma‘rifah, 2006] p. 41) *