Introduction
Lady Fatima Masuma (A) was the daughter of the 7th Imam, Imam Musa al-Kazim (A) and the sister of the 8th Imam, Imam Ali al- Rida (A). She was a noble lady who dedicated her life to Islam and Allah. She was highly gifted and due to the training of her father and brother, she has achieved a high reputation in history for her knowledge and piety.
She was only six years old when her father was arrested by Harun (the 6th Abbasid Caliph) and thereafter, she was brought up under the care of her brother, Imam al-Rida (A) for twenty-one years.
In the year 200 A.H, Ma'mun (the 7th Abbasid Caliph) forced the Imam (A) to move from Medina to Khurasan, in Iran. And so, Lady Fatima Masuma (A) was once more separated from her guardian.
In the year 201 A.H, she decided to leave Madina and travel to Khurasan to be at the side of her brother, intending to help him in his mission to preach Islam. But regrettably, she never reached him.
The caravan that she was travelling with, was ambushed at Saweh, where she had to witness the brutal killing of her close family members. As a result, she can be compared to Lady Zaynab (A), who suffereda similar plight in Karbala.
Lady Fatima Masuma (A) was taken ill at at saweh. From here, the Shi'a of the nearby Qum brought her to their city, where she spent her last few days, before passing away during the month of Rabi' al-Thani in 201 A.H.
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Lady Fatima Masuma (A) is buried in Qum, Iran. Due to her blessed presence and patronage, the city has grown into a centre of Shi'a leaning; a destination for thousands of Muslim students from over 80 countries.
Life in Qum largely revolves around the Haram of Lady Fatima Masuma (A), which is the focal point of this holy city.
Every year hundreds of thousands of pilgrims come from all over the world to pay homage to this noble lady. They come to pay respect to Lady Fatima Masuma (A) in accordance to the reliable traditions of three Holy Imams (A) which are quoted below:
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From the 6th Imam, Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (A):
تقبض فيها امراة من ولدي اسمها فاطمة بنت موسي وتدخل بشفاعتها شيعتي الجنة بأجمعهم
"A Lady from my children whose name will be Fatima, daughter of Musa, will die in Qum. On the day of Judgement this lady will intercede for all my Shi'a to enter Heaven."1
From the 8th Imam, Imam Ali al-Rida (A):
من زار المعصومة بقم كمن زارني
"Whoever visits Masuma in Qum is like one who has visited me."2
From 9th Imam, Imam Muhammad Taqi al-Jawad (A):
من زار عمتي بقم فله الجنة
"Whoever visits my aunt in Qum will enter Heaven."3
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1. 'Allamah Muhammad Baqir Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 60, p. 228; Qadr Nurullah Sushtari, Majalis al-Mu'minin, vol. 1, p. 83.
2. Mirza Muhammad Taqi Khan Sepehr, Nasikh al-Tawarikh, vol. 3, p. 68; Shaykh Dhabihullah Mahallati, Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 5, p. 35.
3. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 102, p. 265.
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1.1 - Predictions about this Noble Lady
It is interesting to know that the Imams (A) foretold the birth of this noble Lady and her presence in Qum many years before her birth.
Qadi Nurullah Shustari (d. 1109 A.H) reports from the 6th Imam, Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (A):
تقبض فيها امراةٌ من ولدي اسمها فاطمة بنت موسي وتدخل بشفاعتها شيعتي الجنة باجمعهم
"A lady from my children whose name will be
Fatima, daughter of Musa, will die in Qum. On
the Day Judgement this lady will intercede for
all my Shi'a to enter Heaven."1
Allamah Majlisi narrates from Imam al-Sadiq (A):
وستدفن فيها امرأةٌ من اولادي تسمي فاطمة فمن زارها وجبت له الجنة
"A lady from my children, by the name of
Fatima will be buried in Qum. Whoever visits
her [shrine], will certainly be
admitted to Heaven."2
The writer of the above tradition says that Imam al-Sadiq (A) gave these glad tidings even before the birth of his son, the 7th Imam, Imam Musa al-Kazim (A), the father of Lady Fatima Masuma (A).
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1. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 60, p. 228; Majalis al-Mu'minin, vol. 1, p. 83.
2. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 48, p. 317 & vol. 60, p. 216 & vol. 102, p. 266
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Since Imam al-Kazim (A) was born in 128 A.H and Lady Fatima Masuma (A) in 173 A.H; this speech was made at least 45 years before her birth. Therefore, the good news of her birth was foretold more than 45 years before she was born!
1.2 - The date of her birth
According to certain traditions, some of which are mentioned below, Lady Fatima Masuma (A) was born on the 1st of Dhul Qa'dah, 173 A.H. in Madina.
1. The narrator Ayatollah Shaykh Ali Namazi (d. 1405 A.H) writes: "Fatima Masuma was born at the beginning of the month of Dhul Qa'dah the year 173 A.H"1
2. Mulla Muhsin Fayd narrates:
"Lady Fatima [Masuma], daughter of Imam al-Kazim (A) was born in Madina at the beginning of the month Dhul Qa'dah in the year 173 A.H and she passed away in Qum on the 10th of the month Rabi al-Thani in the year 201 A.H.2
Others who have also written that the birth of Lady Fatima Masuma (A) is in the beginning of the month of Dhul Qa'dah are mentioned below:
1. 'Allamah Bahrani in his book 'Awalim al-Ulum, vol. 21, p. 328.
2. Shaykh Mahdi Mansuri in his book Hayat al-Sadat, p. 10.
3. Dr. Muhammad Hadi Amini in his book Fatimah Bint al-Imam Musaal-Kazim, p. 21.
____________
1. Shaykh Ali, Mustradrak Safinat al-Bihar, vol. 8, p. 257.
2. Abbas Faid, Ganjine-ye Athar-e Qum, vol. 1, p. 386.
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4. Ahmad Zadeh in his book Zendegani Hadrat Musa Ibn Ja'far, vol. 2, p.375.
Some of the authors above have reofeded the year of the birth of Lady Fatima Masuma (A) as 183 A.H instead of 173 A.H, but this is incorrect on acount of two major points, which are:
i. If we study the details of Imam Musa al-Kazim's (A) life we see that on the 25th Rajab 183 A.H he died in prison in Baghdad. We also know the minimum amount of time that he spent in prison was four years and during this imprisonment, his family was in Madina. So it cannot be possible for Lady Fatima Masuma (A) to be born in this same year of 183 A.H.
ii. Also, it is well documnted that Imam al-Kazim (A) had more than one daughter named Fatima, and that Lady Fatima Masuma (A) was the eldest Fatima (Fatimat al- Kubra), therefore she could not have been born in the same year as the year of her father's death.
From the foregoing, it can seen that it is not possible that Lady Fatima Masuma (A) was born in the year 183 A.H, and the authors who have quoted this date have made a mistake, (either in counting or writing) and should have recorded 173 A.H.
1.3 - The date of her death
There is no difference of opinion about the fact that Lady Fatima Masuma (A) died in Qum in the year 201 A.H. The year of her death is further corroborated by the tiles in her shrine, dating back from centuries ago, whcih have the same date written on them.1
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1. Hasan ibn muhammad Qummi, Tarikh-e Qadim-e Qum, p.213; Bihar al-Anwar, vol.48, p.290; Sayyid Muhsin Jabal 'Amili, A'yan al-shi'a, vol.8, p.391; Shaykh Abbas Qummi, Muntaha al-Amal, vol.2, p.242; Sayyid Hasan al-Amin, Da'irat al-Ma'arif, vol.3, p.231.
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However, there are various possibilities about the month and day of her death:
1. 10th Rabi al-Thani1
2. 12th Rabi al-Thani2
3. 8th Sha'ban3
There is no evidence to say which of the three dates is correct, and so the scholar have decided that because the first and the second dates are so close together, the mourning for the death of his noble lady should be over a three day period (10th, 11th and 12th of Rabi' al-Thani).
This three day period is called: "ايام معصومية" - "the days of Masuma".
Lady Fatima Masuma (A) was about 28 years old when she died, although some scholars have said that at the time of her death her age was 18 (from the mistake of the year of her birth - 183 A.H instead of 173 A.H) and others have said her age was 23, but this last narration is not very reliable, due to its weak chain of transmission.
1.4 - Her father
The father of Lady Fatima Masuma (A) was the 7th Imam -Imam Musa al-Kazim (A). It has been recorded in history that Imam al-Kazim (A) had numerous children.
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1. Mir Abu Talib Tabrizi, Wasilat al-Ma'sumin, p.65; Sayyid Mahdi Mansuri, Zindagani-ye Hadrat-e Ma'suma, p.37, Ali Akbar Mahdipur, Zindagani-ye Karimah-ye Ahl al-Bayt, p.105.
2. Mustadrak Safinat al-Bihar, vol.8, p.257.
3. Shaykh Hurr Amili, Risalat al-Arabiyah al-Alawiyah, p.11.
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Shaykh Mufid (d. 413 A.H) writes that Imam al-Kazim (A) had 37 children (whom he has named), 19 sons and 18 daughters; and that two of these daughters were named Fatima - Fatima al-Kubra and Fatima al-Sughra.1
Sibt ibn Jawzi, the famous 8th century scholar of the Ahl al-Sunnah, narrates that four daughters of Imam al- Kazim (A) were named Fatima; Fatima al-Kubra, Fatima al-Wusta, Fatima al-Sughra and Fatima al-Ukhra.2
Fatima al-Kubra is the very same Lady Fatima Masuma (A) buried in Qum.
It is narrated that Fatima al-Wusta is buried in Isfahan and her Haram is called Sitti Fatima (near Chahar Suq Shirazi-ha).
Fatima al-Sughra is well known as "Bibi Heybat". She is buried in Azerbaijan,3 where the beautiful dome and garden at her shrine were destroyed during the era of the Communist Russia.
Fatima al-Ukhra, who is also known as Fatima Tahira, is buried in Rasht, Iran.4
The contemporary reseacher, Allamah Shaykh Muhammad Taqi Tustari wites : Amongest all the children of Imam al-Kazim (A), other then Imam Ali al-Rida (A) there was no one equal in status to Lady Fatima Masuma (A).5
In 173 A.H, Harun al-Rashid became the Caliph. Six years later, on the 20th Shawwal 173 A.H, he ordered Imam al-Kazim (A) to be arrested in Madina. At the time of his
____________
1. Shaykh Mufid, Al-Irshad, Chapter on the life of Imam al-Kazim (A).
2. Sibt ibn Jawzi, Tadhkirat al-Khawass, p.315.
3. Bihar al-Anwar, vol.48, p.317.
4. Ibid.
5. Shaykh Muhammad Taqi Tustari, Tawarikh, Tawarikh al-Nabi wa al-Al, p.65.
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arrest, Imam (A) was in the state of prayers in the Prophet's (S) mosque. After his arrest, he was brought to Iraq, where he was imprisoned in the dungeons of Baghdad. This is where the Imam (A) spent the rest of his life.
Harun had the Imam (A) poisoned, and he died in the prison of Baghdad on the 24th or the 25th of Rajab in the year 183 A.H. He is buried in the "Maqabir Quraysh" which is now known as Kazimayn, because the 9th Imam - Imam Muhammad al- Taqi (A) is also buried there.1
From the dates above, we can conclude that the Imam (A) was in prison for four years. However, some historians have quoted that his time in prison was seven years, and Ibn Jawzi has mentioned that it was eleven years.2
1.5 - Her mother
The mother of Lady Fatima Masuma (A) was also the mother of the 8th Imam - Imam Ali al-Rida (A) and she had no children other than these two.
She was known by several names, the most well known of them was Najmah Khatun.3
Lady Najmah was a slave from North Africa and was bought by Lady Hamidah, the mother of Imam al- Kazim (A). After she came into the house of the Ahl al-Bayt (A), she reached a high level of intellectual and spiritual excellence, with lessons and teachings from Lady Hamidah.
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1. Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 476; Al- Irsha, vol. 2, 215; Ali bin Husain Mas'udi, Ithbat al-Wasiyah, p. 161-169.
2. Tadhkirat al-Khawass, p. 314.
3. Shaykh Saduq, Uyun Akbar al-Rida, vol. 1, p. 14; shaykh Tabarsi, I'lam al-Wara, p. 302; shaykh Hurr Amili, Ithbat al-Hudat, vol. 3, p. 233.
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Lady Hamidah narrates that one night she had a dream, where she saw the Prophet (S) and he said to her: 'Make Najmah the wife of your son, Musa ibn Ja'far, so that soon the best of people in the world (Imam al-Rida (A)) will be born from her.1 Lady Hamidah acted upon this order, and so Najmah became the wife of Imam al-Kazim (A) and later, the mother of Imam al-Rida (A) and Lady Fatima Masuma (A). Some of the other names mentioned for Lady Najmah are:
Tuktam : This was a popular name amongst the Arabs, and it was the name of the mother of Imam al-Rida and Lady Fatima Masuma (A) at the time when she was bought as a slave.
The name Tuktam was also used to refer to the well of Zamzam (the well near the Ka'ba) in the dream of Abdul Muttalib, when he was told to dig up and find the hidden well, and in this way it seems a very appropriate name for Najmah Khatun whose excellence was also hidden at the time of her slavery.2
Umm al-Banin : This was the only title that was given to her; the meaning of this title is the "mother of boys" although Najmah Khatun only had two children - Imam al-Rida (A) and Lady Fatima Masuma (A). Due to the nobleness of both of her children, she had this title "Umm al-Banin" given to her.3
Tahira : It has been narrated that after giving birth to Imam Ali al-Rida (A) on 11th Dhul Qa'dah in the year 148
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1. Uyun Akhbar al-Rida, vol, vol. 1, p. 17.
2. Uyun Akhbar al-rida, vol. 1, p. 14; I'lam al-Wara, p. 302; Ithbat al-Hudat, vol. 3, p. 233.
3. Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 486; Uyun Akhbar al-Rida, vol. 1, 14; I'lam al-Wara, p. 302; Al-Irshad, vol. 2, 247.
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A.H in Madina, she was known as Tahira, which has the meaning of purity.1
Although Lady Fatima Masuma (A) was born 25 years after Imam al-Rida (A), the fact that they had the same nother and father, led to a special closeness between them.
1.6- The names and titles of Lady Fatima Masuma (A)
It has been emphasised in many traditions that the choosing of a suitable name for a child is the responsibility of the father.2 The recommendation is that, if the child is a boy, then the name of the Prophet (S) and the Imams (A), expecially the names of Muhammed and Ali should be chosen for him.3 And for a daughter there is no name more suitable than Fatima.4
The Imams (A), due to their high esteem of Lady Fatima Zahra (A) would accord great respect and reverence to the name 'Fatima'. So much so, that when one of his companions informed Imam al-Sadiq (A) that he had chosen the name Fatima for his daughter, the Imam (A) exclaimed: "Ah, Ah." Then he said: "Now that you have kept her name Fatima, be careful not to ever curse or beat her."5
And it was due to this respect that the Imams (A) would name their children by these holy names, and usually more
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1. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 49, p. 4; Uyun al-Akhbar al-Rida, vol. 1, p. 14; Ithbat al-Hudat, vol. 3, p. 233; Muhammad Rida Hakim, A'Yan al-Nisa, p. 76.
2. Shaykh Muhammad bin Ya'qub al-Kulayni, Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 6, p. 18; Shaykh Saduq, Man La Yahduruh-u al-Faqih, vol. 4 p. 269; Shaykh Tusi, Tahdhib al-Ahkam, vol. 7, p. 347.
3. Shaykh Tusi, Al-Amali, vol. 2, p. 69; Shaykh Saduq, Ma'ani al-Akhbar, p. 146; Usul al-Kafi, vol. 6, p. 19; Uyun al-Akhbar al-Rida, vol. 2, p. 29; Sahifat al-Rida, attributed to Imam al-Rida (A) p. 88.
4. Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 6, p. 19; Tahdhib al-Ahkam, vol. 7, p. 438
5. Furu'al-Kafi, vol. 6, p. 48; Tahdhib al-Ahkam, vol. 8, p. 112.
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than one child had the fortune to have such a noble name. Especially so in the case of Imam al-Kazim (A), who named four of his daughters Fatima, as mentioned previously. We know that the name of Lady Fatima Masuma (A) was Fatima (al-Kubra).
Masuma : The title of Masuma was given to this noble lady by her brother, Imam al-Rida (A). It is worth noting that this title was awarded to her after her death and she was not referred to by this name during her life-time. This also nullifies the erroneous view that she died after her brother, Imam al-Rida (A), on hearing the news of her death.
Mirza Muhammad Taqi (d. 1297 A.H) reports the title "Masuma" was given to her by her brother - Imam al-Rida (A). And according to this tradition Imam al-Rida (A) said:
من زار المعصومة بقم كمن زارني
"Whoever visits Masuma in Qum is like the one
who has visited me"1
The question arises, was this title "Masuma" given to her to indicate her sinless status? In other words, was she infallible in the same sense as the 14 Ma'sumin (The Prophet, Lady Fatima Zahra and the 12 Imams - peace be upon them all), who are considered sinless and Divinely protected according to the verse of Purity:
إنما يريد الله ليذهب عنكم الرجس أهل البيت ويطهركم تطهيراً
"Verily, Allah intends to keep all uncleanliness away from
you, O Ahl al-Bayt, and to purify you thoroughly."2
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1. Naskh al-Tawarikh, vol. 3, p. 68; Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 5, p. 35.
2. Holy Quran (33: 33).
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Several scholars believe that some of the noble personalities from the household of the Prophet (S), such as Lady Zaynab(A), Hadrat 'Abbas (A) and Lady Fatima Masuma (A due to their proxiity to the Ma'sumin (A) have acquired a high state of purity.
Infallibility (al-isma) has two meanings: Infallible from error and infallible from sin. When speaking of the infallibility of the Ma'sumin (A), both these meanings apply, but when speaking about special and noble people, such as Lady Zaynab (A), Hadrat 'Abbas (A) or Lady Fatima Masuma (A), the latter meaining of infallible from sin is meant.
Here we do not have space to discuss this issue, but we can mention that the Imams (A) never falsely praised anyone, and the faxt that the Imam al-Rida (A) gave the title of Masuma to his sister is proof that she deserved such a title.
Karimat Ahl al-Bayt: This title, meaning "the noble one of the family of the Prophet (S)" was given to her by either Imam al-Baqir (A) or Imam al-Sadiq (A) in a dream seen by Ayatollah Sayyid Mahmud Mar'ashi Najafi, the author of Mashjirat al-Alawiyin.
This noble man was very interested in finding the exact location of the burial place of Lady Fatima Zahra (A), and for this purpose he spent 40 days supplicating, so that he could be privileged with this information.
On the 40th night, after the completion of his prayers, he went to sleep and in his dream he saw himself present at the grave of either Imam al-Baqir (A) or Imam al-Sadiq (A) (both of whom are buried in Jannat al-Baqi' in Madina). Imam (A) said to him :
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عليك بكريمة اهل البيت
"I advise you to go to the Karimat (Noble one)
of the Ahl al-Bayt"
He thought that by Karimat Ahl al-Bayt, Imam (A) was referring to Lady Fatima Zahra (A), and so he answered, "Yes, I have been supplicating for this very purpose, so that I may know the exact place of the holy grave of this noble personality, enabling me to perform her pilgrimage."
The Imam (A) said, "I meant the holy of Lady Fatima Masuma (A) in Qum." Then the Imam (A) added, "It is Allah's desire that the location of the holy grave of Lady Fatima Zahra (A) be hidden from everyone."
Therefore, the Imam (A) has placed the grave of Lady Fatima Masuma (A) in a place of the grave of Lady Fatima Zahra (A), and so all the honour and grandeur that would have accorded to the grave of Lady Fatima Zahra (A) should be given to the grave of Lady Fatima Masuma (A).
On waking from his dream, the late Mar'ashi made an intention to travel to Qum with his family, in order to perform the pilgrimage of Lady Fatima Masuma (A) and he carried out this intention without any delay.1 He died in Najaf, in the year 1338 A.H.
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Shahab al-Din Mar'ashi Najafi, the illustrious son of the late Mar'shi, migrated to Iran in the year 1342 A.H. He often cited that one of the reasons for his emigration to Iran was the dream of his father.
After a short stay in Tehran, he entered the seminary in Qum, al-Hawza al-Ilmiya, in the year 1343 A.H, and here he lived, in the proximity of the Karimat of Ahl al-
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1. Zindagani-ye Karimah-ye Ahl al-Bayt, p. 44.
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Bayt - Lady Fatima Masuma (A) - until his death in the year 1411 A.H.
For over sixty years, every morning, the late Shahab al-Din Mar'ashi, was the first person to perform the pilgrimage of this noble lady. He would wait outside her shrine for the doors to be opened.
Even during his final illness before his death, he requested to be carried to her shrine in order to perform her pilgrimage. Other titles that have been given to Lady Fatima Masuma (A) are :
| 1. Tahira |
6. Naqiya |
| 2. Hamida |
7. Radiya |
| 3. Barra |
8. Mardiya |
| 4. Rashida |
9. Sayyida |
| 5. Taqiya |
10. Ukht al-Rida. |
All of these ten titles can be found in her salutation (Ziyarat), which has been narrated by Shaykh Muhammad Ali Qummi in his book, Anwar al-Musha'sha'in. This salution for Lady Fatima Masuma (A) is other than the more famous one that has been narrated by 'Allamah Majlisi in Bihar al-Anwar, quoting from Imam al-rida (A).
1.7- The high status of Lady Fatima Masuma (A)
In the salutation (Ziyarat) of Lady Fatima Masuma (A) which has been narrated from Imam al-Rida (A) (the salutation is quoted in the final chapter of this book), one reads:
وان لا يسلبنا معرفتكم انه ولي قدير
"(We ask from Allah) not to deprive us from
understanding your status. Indeed, He is the
Protector and has Power over everything."
And so in this chapter we will attempt to understand something of the great status of this noble lady. Some traditions that are indicative of her status are mentioned below:
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1. The authentic tradition from Imam al-Rida (A):
من زار المعصومة بقم كمن زارني
"Whoever visits Masuma in Qum is like the one
who has visited me."1
This tradition implies that the rewards and benefits awarded to a pilgrim are the same whether he does the pilgrimage of Lady Fatima Masuma (A) or Imam al-Rida (A). Also, from this tradition, as discussed previouly, we get the title of Masuma (infallible) that was given to this noble lady by Imam (A) himself.
2. The authentic tradition from Imam al-Sadiq (A):
وستدفن فيها امرأةٌ من اولادي تسمي فاطمة فمن زارها وجبت له الجنة
"A lady from my children, by the name of Fatima will be
buried in Qum. Whoever visits her [shrine], will certainly
be admitted to Heaven.2
This narration also illustrates the high status of this noble lady, becauseher pilgrim is ensured entry into Heaven.
3. Another authentic tradition from Imam al-Sadiq (A):
تقبض فيها امراةٌ من ولدي اسمها فاطمة بنت موسي وتدخل بشفاعتها شيعتي الجنة باجمعهم
"A lady from my children whose name will be
Fatima, daughter of Musa, will die in Qum. On
the day of Judgement this lady will interecede for
all my Shi'a to enter Heaven."3
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1. Nasikh al-Tawarikh, vol. 3,p. 68; Rayahin al-Shari'a, vol. 5, p. 35.
2. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 48, p. 317; vol. 60, p. 216 & vol. 102, p. 266.
3. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 60, p. 228; Majalis al-Mu'minin, vol. 1, p. 83.
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This narration indicates the honour and positions of Lady Fatima Masuma (A), who will be the means of intercession of the Shi'a of the Ahl al-Bayt (A) on the Day of Judgement.
Although there have been other traditions by the Imams (A) stating that, through the intercession of the scholars and the martyrs, people will enter Heaven, never has a non-Ma'sum been specifically named for this intercession, as in the case of Lady Fatima Masuma (A).
4. The Ziyarat to Lady Fatima Masuma (A) that we have in our hand today has been narrated from Imam al-Rida (A). Interestingly, no other non-Ma'sum has had an Imam dicate the text and manner of their Ziyarat other Than Lady Fatima Masuma (A).
Also, because we know that this Ziyarat has been narrated by the Imam (A) through a reliable tradition, the virtues of Lady Fatima Masuam (A) within it must be considered true.
Some extracts from her Ziyarat are discussed here as an example:
i. In this Ziyarat, she called:
the daughter of the Prophet of God,
the daughter of Fatima and Khadija,
the daughter of Amir al-Mu'minin Ali,
the daughter of Hasan and Husain,
the daughter of the Vicegerent of God (al-Kazim),
the sister of the Vicegerent of God (al-Rida),
and the aunt of the Vicegerent of God (al-Jawad)
(may the blessings of Allah be on all of them).
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That portion from her Ziyarat is reproduced below:
السلام عليك يا بنت رسول الله
Peace be on You, O Daughter of the Messnger of Allah!
السلام عليك يا بنت فاطمة و خديجة
Peace be on you, O Daughter of Fatima and Khadija!
السلام عليك يا بنت امير المؤمنين
Peace be on you, O Daughter of the
Commandr of the Faithful!
السلام عليك يا بنت الحسن والحسين
Peace be on you, O Daughter of Hasan and Husain!
السلام عليك يا بنت ولي الله
Peace be on you, O Daughter of Vicegerent of Allah!
السلام عليك يا أخت ولي الله
Peace be on you, O Sister of the Vicegerent of Allah!
السلام عليك يا عمة ولي الله
Peace be on you, O Aunt of the Vicegerent of Allah!
The above relation given of lady Fatima Masuma (A) shows the honourable family that this noble lady comes from and also her nobility due to being a 'true' child of the Prophet (S), Lady Khadija al-Kubra, Lady Fatima Zahra (A) and the Pure Imams (A).
ii. In this Ziyarat, Imam al-Rida (A) refers us to her for intercession, due to her nearness, status and special esteem in the eyes of Allah.
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يا فاطمة اشفعي لي في الجنة فان لك عندالله شأناً من الشأن
O Fatima! Intercede for me, so that I enter Heaven, for
indeed you have a great status in the eyes of Allah.1
The intercession of this noble lady in the matter of our entrance to Heave has been mentioned before in the authentic traditions from Imam al-Sadiq (A) and in the salutation taught by Imam al-Rida (A).2
5. One of the noble qualities attributed to Lady Fatima Zahra (A) was that her father, the Prophet (S) would say about her:
فداها ابوها
"May her father be sacrificed for her."3
This phrase was also used in reference to Lady Fatima Masuma (A) by her father, Imam al-Kazim (A).4
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1. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 102, p. 267.
2. The matter has also been referred to by some scholars. The following is narrated by Ayotollah Muhammad Baqir Nasiri (d. 1407 A.H):
"In the year 1295 A.H around the locality of Qum, there was a famine and drought, the sheep and cattle were dying. The people chose forty pious individuals, who were sent to the Haram to Lady Fatima Masuma (A) to pray for deliverance. The forty individuals prayed in the Haram for three days and nights and on the third night, one of the individuals saw the late Ayoatollah Mirza Mummi in a dream. The late Mirza asked this individual, 'what it was that they wanted. He replied that they were praying for rain to get relief from the diffculty that they were experinceing. The late Mirza answered: 'Only for this you all have gathered here? This is nothing, I myself can resolve this. If you have needs such as these then come to us, but if you desire the intercession for all on the Day of Judgement, then appeal to Lady Fatima Masuma (A)". (Muhammad Ishtihardi, Hadrat-e Ma'suma - Fatima-ye Duvvum, pp. 178 *& 179).
3. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 43, pp. 86-88.
4. Zindagani-ye Karimah-ye Ahl al-Bayt, pp. 63 & 64. The episode in which Imam (A) said this phrase has been duscussed in section 1.10.
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This statement is indeed worthy of attention because:
i. it compares the status of Lady Fatima Masuma (A) to that of lady Fatima Zahra (A), since it is the same phrase that Prophet (S) also used.
ii. the statement itself comes from an Imam (A) and that further emphasises the status of Lady Fatima Masuma (A).
6. The shrine of Lady Fatima Masuma (A) is equivalent to the shrine of Lady Fatima Zahra (A).1
7. The coming of the two men, whose faces were not clearly seen, at the time of the burial of Lady Fatima Masuma (A). These two men, who are believed to have been Imam al-Rida (A) and Imam al-Raqi (A), buried the noble Lady.2
An infallible is always buried by an infallible. This incident in itself does not necessarily prove that Lady Fatima Masuma (A) was infallible, because the Imams (A) would take part in the burial rituals of many of their followers. However, it does indicate her high status, and the fact that the Imams (A) came from a far and took over the responsibility of her burial is worth noting.
8. The number of traditions from the Imams (A) on the virtues of Qum, (mentiond section 4.5), due to the fact that this noble lady is buried here. There is no nother place where a non-Ma'sum is buried, that has been mentioned so numerously.
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1. As discussed earlier, in section 1.6, this was related in a dream to the late Ayatollah Sayyid Mahmud Mar'ashi Najafi by Imam al-Baqir (A) or Imamal-Sadiq (A), after his insistence on finding the exact location of the burial place of Lady Fatima Zahra (A).
2. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 48, p. 290. This matter is explained in detailin section 2.4.
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9. The number of miracles, that have been narrated by scores of people, in different generations (mentioned in section 3.11) has not occurred in any other place where a Prophet (S) or Imam (A) is not buried, except for the shrine of Hadrat Abbas (A) in Karbala and Lady Zaynab (A) in Damascus.
10. The authentic traditions that have been narrated by this noble Lady (mentioned is section 1.9) show her high degree of Knowledge of the various Islamic sciences and the teachings and merits of the family of the Prophet (S), in addition to her other qualities.