Some Important Facts About Rabi‘a, the Sister of Salah al-Dinr her husband Malik Muzaffar and Ibn Dihya who wrote first book on celebrating mawlid un Nabi (peace be upon him).
Rabi‘a, the sister of Salah al-Din, adhered to the Hanbali school in both creed (‘aqidah) and jurisprudence (fiqh).
Ibn al-‘Imad said:
وَتَزَوَّجَ بِأُخْتِهِ رَبِيعَةَ وَاقِفَةِ مَدْرَسَةِ الصَّاحِبَةِ بِشَرْقِي الصَّالِحِيَّة
“And he (Malik al-Muzaffar) married his (i.e., Salah al-Din’s) sister Rabi‘a, the founder of Madrasah al-Sahibah east of al-Salihiyyah.” (Shadharat al-Dhahab, Ibn al-‘Imad al-Hanbali, 7/243)
Ibn Kathir said:
الْأَمِيرُ سَعْدُ الدِّينِ مَسْعُودُ ابْنِ مُعِينِ الدِّينِ، كَانَ مِنْ كِبَارِ الْأُمَرَاءِ أَيَّامَ نُورِ الدِّينِ وَصَلَاحِ الدِّينِ، وَهُوَ أَخُو السِّتِّ خَاتُونِ وَحِينَ تَزَوَّجَهَا صَلَاحُ الدِّينِ زَوَّجَهُ بِأُخْتِهِ السِّتِّ رَبِيعَةَ خَاتُونِ بِنْتِ أَيُّوبَ، الَّتِي تُنْسَبُ إِلَيْهَا الْمَدْرَسَةُ الصَّاحِبِيَّةُ بِسَفْحِ قَيْسُونَ عَلَى الْحَنَابِلَةِ
“Amir Sa‘d al-Din Mas‘ud ibn Mu‘in al-Din was among the senior commanders during the eras of Nur al-Din and Salah al-Din, and he was the brother of al-Sitt Khatun. When Salah al-Din married her (to him), he also married him to his own sister al-Sitt Rabi‘ah Khatun bint Ayyub, to whom is attributed the Madrasah al-Sahibiyyah on the slope of Mount Qasiyun for the Hanbalis.” (al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, 12/581 AH)
Some Very Important Notes:
1. Her Husbands.
Her first husband was Amir Sa‘d al-Din. Her second husband was Malik al-Muzaffar (Muzaffar al-Din Kokburi), who did not strictly adhere to any particular school of Islamic law (madhhab). He was generally inclined toward the Shafi‘i and Hanafi schools, although some sources claim he did not follow any established madhhab at all.
2. Malik al-Muzaffar and the Mawlid:
The first Sunni ruler to openly and publicly celebrate Mawlid al-Nabi (the Prophet’s birthday, peace be upon him) was Malik al-Muzaffar. His celebrations reportedly included dancing and musical instruments. The contemporary historian ‘Allamah Yaqut al-Hamawi (d. 626 AH) noted that al-Muzaffar was a ruler who combined tyrannical governance with charitable works. Other scholars, including Ibn Khallikan and Ibn Qadi Shuhbah, recorded many of his pious deeds among them, his efforts in jihad. Ibn Kathir also acknowledged al-Muzaffar’s good works but added that he and the King of Rum conspired to rebel against Sultan al-‘Adil. Regarding this rebellion, Ibn Kathir stated, “This is transgression and wrongdoingAllah prohibits such acts” (al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, under the events of 607 AH).
3. Al-Muzaffar followed the teachings of Ibn Dahiyah, who authored the first book devoted specifically to celebrating the Mawlid. It appears that al-Muzaffar’s views later evolved, possibly after marrying Salah al-Din’s sister Rabi‘ah Khatun, as he is credited with completing the construction of the al-Muzaffari Mosque the Hanbali mosque on the slope of Mount Qasiyun in al-Salihiyyah, Damascus. Alternatively, he may have undertaken this out of love for his wife. Allahu a‘lam (God knows best).
4. Notable Opinions of Ibn Dahiyah:
· He held that the Prophet’s parents (peace be upon him) died in a state of disbelief. (See al-Tadhkirah by al-Qurtubi, p. 40)
· Concerning claims that certain individuals met al-Khidr (peace be upon him), he remarked that it was strange, asking: “How can a person of intellect meet someone he does not recognize, hear that unknown person claim to be so-and-so, and then accept that statement?” (See al-Zahr al-Naḍir fi Hāl al-Khiḍr by Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani, p. 180)
· He declared that the hadiths regarding the special prayer on Laylat al-Bara‘ah (the 15th night of Sha‘ban) were fabricated and had interrupted chains of transmission. He asserted that “anyone who acts upon a report known to be false is a servant of Satan.” (See Tadhkirat al-Mawdu‘at, p. 45)
Additionally, Ibn Dahiyah transmitted a qasidah (poem) from his teacher al-Suhayli that is rich in themes of pure monotheism (tawhid). (See al-Dībaj al-Madhhab fi Ma‘rifat A‘yan ‘Ulama’ al-Madhhab, 1/89)
5. Rabi‘ah’s Teacher and Inspiration:
Rabi‘ah held her teacher Umm al-Latif, daughter of Shaykh al-Nasih al-Hanbali in great esteem. She would consult her on various matters and follow her guidance. It was this teacher who inspired her to establish the madrasah. Shaykh al-Nasih al-Hanbali was appointed its first teacher. It is also said that he delivered lectures during the lifetime of Hafiz ‘Abd al-Ghani al-Hanbali, who was a student of Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani.
6. Salah al-Din’s Attitude and Rabi‘ah’s Legacy:
Salah al-Din Ayyubi never objected to her Hanbali affiliation or to her founding a Hanbali madrasah. She was the last of her siblings to die, passing away even after Salah al-Din. The building of Madrasah al-Sahibah still stands today.
May Allah have mercy upon all the figures mentioned above. Amin.
See the article on history of this madrassah: https://www.naseemalsham.com/subjects/view/47716