Lady Fatima Masooma (pbuh)
Lady Masouma, may God’s peace be upon her, is the venerable Lady Fatima the Great, who was known for her virtue, knowledge, and religiosity, which she achieved from the blessings of the pure dynasty, the lineage of the imams of guidance, all the way up to her father, Imam Musa bin Jaafar Al-Kadhim, peace be upon him, from whom she obtained the knowledge of the afterlife, which rewarded her to her rank as well. When her brother, Imam Ali bin Musa Al-Rida, peace be upon him, bestowed it upon her. For visiting her, may God’s peace be upon her, there is a great reward that is not hidden from anyone who follows the noble hadiths narrated from the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them. On the authority of Imam al-Jawad, peace be upon him, he said regarding whoever visited her: (Whoever visits my aunt in Qom will have Paradise).
Biography of Lady Fatima Masooma (pbuh)
The Biography of the Ahl al-Bayt
The biography of the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, which achieved unparalleled heroics, details every aspect of their lives. These accounts, steeped in the wisdom and harmony of the Muhammadan lights, tell us the best stories. The harmony in their biographies is grounded in wisdom, and the historical events reflect their consistent application of the Muhammadan approach, characterized by peaceful intellectual movements in all their messages.
The Policy of Wisdom and Knowledge
The policy adopted by the prophets and imams, may God’s prayers be upon them, extended to those who learned from them. This policy formed a social environment distinguished by wisdom and knowledge, far from violence and political ambitions. Their main goal was sacrifice, defending lost rights, and exposing those who oppress people's rights. Throughout the ages, positions of sacrifice have been a constant for the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, and their followers.
The Trials of Lady Fatima al-Ma’souma
Lady Fatima al-Ma’souma, peace be upon her, faced constant pressure from unjust authorities due to her association with the purest lineage. The oppressive regimes feared those enlightened by the light of Muhammad and his family, leading to terrorism and bloodshed against the followers of Ahl al-Bayt. The followers, however, refrained from being drawn into the darkness of such temptations, adhering instead to the principles of wisdom and knowledge inherited from their pure ancestors.
Her Endurance and Wisdom
Lady Fatima al-Ma’souma endured severe oppression and injustice. Her endurance stemmed from her deep connection to the Ahl al-Bayt and her acquisition of knowledge from the most honorable sources. She was the sister of Imam al-Rida, peace be upon him, and the daughter of Imam Musa al-Kadhim, son of Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq, peace be upon them all.
Her strong bond with her brother, Imam al-Rida, peace be upon him, drove her to follow him to Khorasan, now called the holy city of Mashhad. Despite the travel difficulties, which prevented her from reaching her brother, she found her final resting place in the holy city of Qom.
Historical Evidence of Her Life and Journey
Her Birth: Lady Masuma was born on the first of Dhul-Qa'dah 173 AH in Medina.
Her Mother: Her mother was the esteemed Lady Najmah.
Her Upbringing: Lady Masuma grew up under the care of her brother, Imam al-Rida, peace be upon him, because their father was imprisoned by Harun the year she was born and was later assassinated in 183 AH. She lived with her siblings under the care of Imam al-Rida.
Her Trip to Khorasan: Concerned about the fate of Imam al-Rida after he was taken to Khorasan by al-Ma’mun, the family of Abu Talib set out to meet him, fearing his martyrdom.
Her Travel to Qom: Lady Masuma left, hoping to meet her brother, but the difficulties of travel led her to fall ill. While in the city of Sawa, she inquired about the distance to Qom and was told it was ten farsakhs (70 km). She then requested to be taken to Qom.
Arrival in Qom: Upon arriving in Qom while still ill, she was received by the nobles of Qom, led by Musa bin Khazraj bin Saad Al-Ash’ari, who took her to his home. She remained there until she passed away seventeen days later. Musa bin Khazraj arranged for her washing, shrouding, and burial in his land, which he had prepared for her. He built a shed over her grave, and later, Lady Zainab, daughter of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad, built a dome over it.
Her Death: Lady Masuma passed away on the tenth of Rabi’ al-Thani 201 AH and was buried in the holy city of Qom.
Visiting Her Grave
Imam Al-Jawad, peace be upon him, said: "Whoever visits my aunt’s grave in Qom will have Paradise" (1).
On the authority of Saad, Imam Al-Rida, peace be upon him, said: "O Saad, you have a grave for us." Saad responded, "May I be made your ransom, the grave of Fatima, daughter of Musa?" He said, "Yes, whoever visits it knowing its rights will have Paradise" (2).
References:
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Imam Al-Jawad's saying on visiting Lady Masuma's grave.
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Imam Al-Rida's confirmation on the sanctity and rewards of visiting Lady Masuma's grave.
Lady Fatima, Daughter of Imam Musa bin Jaafar: The Shams of Qom
Lady Fatima, daughter of Imam Musa bin Jaafar (peace be upon him), holds a distinguished position among the ladies of the House of Prophethood. She represents the highest level of humanity in terms of purity, infallibility, humanity, and a commitment to the oppressed and deprived, while standing firm against oppressors and the arrogant.
This great person was not only the daughter of Imam Musa bin Jaafar Al-Kadhim (peace be upon him), but she also shared a profound bond with him. Their relationship went beyond that of a daughter and father; it was intertwined with love and a shared mission. She inherited many qualities and virtues from him, which contributed to her esteemed position.
Noble Lineage
Lady Fatima Al-Kubra's lineage traces back to the Master of Beings, the Noble Prophet Muhammad (may God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family). The Prophet said, "Every line and lineage will be cut off on the Day of Resurrection, except for my lineage and lineage. Every people, if their lineage goes back to their father, except for the son of Fatima, for I am their father and their lineage." This great honor, coupled with the virtues added by her father, Imam Musa bin Jaafar Al-Kadhim, elevated her status.
High Status and Titles
Historical narratives indicate that Lady Fatima al-Masouma occupied a high position among her sisters. She was a scholar of great dignity, earning titles such as “the pure one” and “the speaker of the Ahl al-Bayt.” Additionally, she was a narrator of the Prophet’s hadith.
Fatima Al-Masuma was a world-class scholar and jurist from an early age. This is not surprising, considering she grew up in the house of Al-Masuma and was raised and educated by Imam Ali bin Musa Al-Rida (peace be upon him). Historical narratives recount an instance where a group of Shiites brought a letter containing questions to Imam Musa bin Jaafar Al-Kadhim (peace be upon him). Finding him traveling, they decided to return home in sadness. Moved by their plight, Lady Fatima Al-Masuma took the letter and answered their questions. When the Shiites met Imam Musa bin Jaafar Al-Kadhim outside the city, they told him what had happened and showed him her handwriting. The Imam, pleased, said, "May her father be sacrificed for her."
Scholarly Contributions
Lady Fatima Al-Masouma was renowned for her knowledge and memorization of hadiths. However, history has preserved only a few of the hadiths she documented. The authors of the Sunan and Athars have confirmed the authenticity of her hadiths, stating, “Her hadiths are in the rank of positive sahih and worthy of acceptance, reliance, documentation, and action, and not contradicting their texts and contents, because they narrate from righteous after righteous, truthful after truthful, and good after good.”
Among the most prominent hadiths narrated by Lady Fatima al-Ma’souma is the "Hadith al-Ghadir." Narrations show that this hadith was reported with its chain of transmission on the authority of Fatima, daughter of Imam Musa bin Jaafar al-Kadhim, through Shams al-Din Muhammad al-Jazari al-Shafi’i.
Esteemed Narrations
Many sources confirm that the Shiites of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) have a share of the narrations of Lady Fatima Al-Masouma. One such narration is:
"When I was taken to heaven, I entered Paradise, and I saw a palace made of a hollow white pearl, and on it was a door crowned with pearls and rubies, and on the door was a curtain. I raised my head, and there was written on the door: 'There is no God except God, Muhammad is the Messenger of God, Ali is the guardian of the people.' And lo and behold, it was written on the curtain, 'Braa, Braa,' from the likes of Ali’s Shiites! So I entered it, and I saw a palace made of hollow red agate, and on it was a door of silver crowned with green aquamarine, and there was a curtain over the door. I raised my head, and there was written on the door: 'Muhammad is the Messenger of God, Ali, the successor of the Chosen One,' and on the curtain was written, 'Tiding good news to Ali’s Shiites of a good birth.'"
Revered by All Muslims
Lady Fatima Al-Masouma is revered by Muslim scholars, both Sunni and Shiite, who speak of her with respect and admiration. Her distinguished personality embodies the elements of her father's character, making her an exemplary figure in Islam.
Conclusion
Lady Fatima Al-Masouma (peace be upon her) represents the sacred female figure in Islam. Her life, scholarship, and piety make her a role model for all Muslims, transcending sectarian divides. She is remembered not just as the daughter of Imam Musa bin Jaafar Al-Kadhim (peace be upon him), but as a scholar and narrator who embodied the virtues and wisdom of the Ahl al-Bayt. Her legacy continues to inspire devotion and respect among Muslims worldwide.