Name: Fatima
Title: Masumah
Born In: Medina, on the first Day of Dhu al-Qa'dah 173 A.H.
Father's name: Imam Musa al-Kazim(A.S.)
Mother's name: Najma Khatoon mother of Imam Reza (A.S.)
Died: at the age 28, in Qum on 10th Rabi al-Thani, 201 A.H.
Buried: in the holy shrine in the holy city of Qum
HADRAT FATIMA MASUMAH (S.A.)
The name of this divine lady was Fatima and her nickname was Masoumah. Her father was Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS), the seventh Imam of the Shi'ites and her mother was named Najma Khatun who was also the mother of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shi'ite Imam.
She was born on first day of the month of Zee al-Qa'adah in the year 173 A.H./789 A.D., in the holy city of Madinah Munawwarah. Her holy father was martyred in the Baghdad prison at the hands of the Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid after undergoing long term of imprisonment and tortures. After the martyrdom of her holy father she came under the care of Imam Reza (AS), her elder brother.
In the year 200 A.H./815 A.D, Imam Reza (AS) was forced to leave Madinah Munawwarah by the orders of Mamun,the Abbasid caliph. Imam Reza (AS) came alone to Marv (Khurasan) and did not accompany any of his family members.
In the year 201 A.H./816 A.D., Hadrat Fatimah Masoumah (AS) accompanied by her brothers and other elders from the Ahlul Bayt (AS) left Madinah Munawwarah for Marv (Khurasan) to meet Imam Reza (AS). On their way they were welcomed and greeted by the people of the different cities and villages.
Hadrat Masoumah (AS) like her noble aunt Hadrat Zainab (AS) delivered the message of innocence of her brother Imam Reza (AS) and revealed the evil intentions of the Abbasid caliph to the public. When the caravan reached Saveh a group of armed men who were deputed by Mamun, the Abbasid caliph, savagely attacked them and all the brothers of Hadrat Masoumah (AS) were martyred and according to some historical reports she was poisoned and became severely ill.
Due to her ill health she was unable to continue her journey towards Khurasan and decided to go towards Qum which is near Saveh. Hadrat Masoumah (AS) narrated while going towards Qum that her father, Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS) has said that city of Qum is the centre of the Shi'ites.
The inhabitants of Qum who were Shi'ites became very happy that Hadrat Masoumah (AS) is visiting their city and they gave warm welcome to her. Musa bin Khajraj, the doyen of Ashari family in Qum took the rein of the she-camel litter in his hand in which Hadrat Masoumah (AS) was travelling and large number of people gathered around the she-camel litter. Hadrat Masoumah (AS) entered the city of Qum on 23rd Rabi al-Awwal, in the year 201 A.H./816 A.D.
She then resided in the house of Musa bin Khajraj in the locality which is now called as "Maidan Mir".
She remained alive only for 17 days because she was poisoned in Saveh.But even in this condition she spent most of her time in praying and supplicating to Allah .
The place of her stay and worship in Qum is now situated in the Madrasa Sittiyah and is known as "Bait al-Nur" and is a place of ziyarah for the Shi'ites.
She passed away on 10th Rabi al-Thani, in the year 201 A.H./816 A.D., and she could not meet her elder brother before death. The Shi'ites in Qum greatly mourned her death and she was buried in a place called Bagh-i Babelan, which at that time was located outside the city.
When the grave was ready there arose a difference that who should keep the body of Hadrat Masoumah (AS) in the grave. It is reported that suddenly two men whose face were covered and riding the horses came to that place and performed the Salaat-e Mayyit ( the prayers for the dead person) and then one of them went in the grave and the other person gave the body of Hadrat Masoumah (AS) to that standing person in the grave who laid her to rest in the grave.
After the burial ceremony was over both those persons without talking to anybody sat on their horse and went away.
It is said that those two holy personalities who performed the burial ceremony for Hadrat Masoumah (AS) were Imam Reza (AS) and Imam Muhammad Taqi al-Jawad (AS). According to sacred rules the burial ceremony of an infallible has to be performed by another infallible person for example the burial ceremony of Hadrat Fatima Zahra (AS) was performed by Amir al-Muminin Imam Ali (AS).
After the burial of Hadrat Masoumah (AS), Musa bin Khajraj built a shed over the grave made out of mat. In the year 256 A.H./869 A.D., Hadrat Zainab (AS), the daughter of Imam Muhammad Taqi al-Jawad (AS) constructed a dome over the grave of her aunt Hadrat Masoumah (AS).
Since the burial of that divine lady of Islam in Qum, the holy grave of her have become a centre of ziyarah for the lovers of the Holy Ahlul Bayt (AS)
In the year 200 A.H./815 A.D, Imam Reza (AS) was forced to leave Madinah Munawwarah by the orders of Mamun,the Abbasid caliph. Imam Reza (AS) came alone to Marv (Khurasan) and did not accompany any of his family members.
In the year 201 A.H./816 A.D., Hadrat Fatimah Masoumah (AS) accompanied by her brothers and other elders from the Ahlul Bayt (AS) left Madinah Munawwarah for Marv (Khurasan) to meet Imam Reza (AS). On their way they were welcomed and greeted by the people of the different cities and villages.
Hadrat Masoumah (AS) like her noble aunt Hadrat Zainab (AS) delivered the message of innocence of her brother Imam Reza (AS) and revealed the evil intentions of the Abbasid caliph to the public. When the caravan reached Saveh a group of armed men who were deputed by Mamun, the Abbasid caliph, savagely attacked them and all the brothers of Hadrat Masoumah (AS) were martyred and according to some historical reports she was poisoned and became severely ill.
Due to her ill health she was unable to continue her journey towards Khurasan and decided to go towards Qum which is near Saveh. Hadrat Masoumah (AS) narrated while going towards Qum that her father, Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS) has said that city of Qum is the centre of the Shi'ites.
The inhabitants of Qum who were Shi'ites became very happy that Hadrat Masoumah (AS) is visiting their city and they gave warm welcome to her. Musa bin Khajraj, the doyen of Ashari family in Qum took the rein of the she-camel litter in his hand in which Hadrat Masoumah (AS) was travelling and large number of people gathered around the she-camel litter. Hadrat Masoumah (AS) entered the city of Qum on 23rd Rabi al-Awwal, in the year 201 A.H./816 A.D.
She then resided in the house of Musa bin Khajraj in the locality which is now called as "Maidan Mir".
She remained alive only for 17 days because she was poisoned in Saveh.But even in this condition she spent most of her time in praying and supplicating to Allah .
The place of her stay and worship in Qum is now situated in the Madrasa Sittiyah and is known as "Bait al-Nur" and is a place of ziyarah for the Shi'ites.
She passed away on 10th Rabi al-Thani, in the year 201 A.H./816 A.D., and she could not meet her elder brother before death. The Shi'ites in Qum greatly mourned her death and she was buried in a place called Bagh-i Babelan, which at that time was located outside the city.
When the grave was ready there arose a difference that who should keep the body of Hadrat Masoumah (AS) in the grave. It is reported that suddenly two men whose face were covered and riding the horses came to that place and performed the Salaat-e Mayyit ( the prayers for the dead person) and then one of them went in the grave and the other person gave the body of Hadrat Masoumah (AS) to that standing person in the grave who laid her to rest in the grave.
After the burial ceremony was over both those persons without talking to anybody sat on their horse and went away.
It is said that those two holy personalities who performed the burial ceremony for Hadrat Masoumah (AS) were Imam Reza (AS) and Imam Muhammad Taqi al-Jawad (AS). According to sacred rules the burial ceremony of an infallible has to be performed by another infallible person for example the burial ceremony of Hadrat Fatima Zahra (AS) was performed by Amir al-Muminin Imam Ali (AS).
After the burial of Hadrat Masoumah (AS), Musa bin Khajraj built a shed over the grave made out of mat. In the year 256 A.H./869 A.D., Hadrat Zainab (AS), the daughter of Imam Muhammad Taqi al-Jawad (AS) constructed a dome over the grave of her aunt Hadrat Masoumah (AS).
Since the burial of that divine lady of Islam in Qum, the holy grave of her have become a centre of ziyarah for the lovers of the Holy Ahlul Bayt (AS)
Noble Descent:
Hadrat Fatima Masumah (S.A.) the Blessed and the Gracious Divine Lady from the Holy Ahlul Bayt (A.S.) was born in the holy city of Medina on the First Day of the month of Dhu al-Qa'dah 173 A.H. His holy father was Imam Musa al-Kazim (A.S.), the Seventh Holy Imam and Imam Reza (A.S.), the Eighth Holy Imam was her elder brother. Hadrat Fatima Masumah (S.A.) was the most learned scholar and very pious lady and was greatly revered by the Holy Imams (A.S.). She was buried in the holy city of Qum (Iran) and her holy shrine is every year visited by millions of the lovers of Holy Ahlul Bayt (A.S.).
The Learned Divine Lady from the Holy Ahlul Bayt (A.S.):Hadrat Masumah (S.A.) was brought up in a very noble family. She was daughter of the Holy Imam [Imam Musa al-Kazim (A.S.)], the sister of the Holy Imam [Imam Reza (A.S.)] and the aunt of the Holy Imam [Imam Muhammad Taqi al-Jawad (A.S.)].
She was taught all the Islamic sciences by Imam Musa al-Kazim (A.S.) and Imam Reza (A.S.) and she transmitted Ahadith (traditions) from them. She became famous as Aalimah (the Learned Lady) and Muhaddithah (the Learned Lady who transmitted Ahadith).
The traditions quoted by Hadrat Masumah (S.A.) are among the most authentic traditions which are present in various books of traditions.
She was Masumah (the Immaculate):
Hadrat Fatima bint Musa al-Kazim (A.S.) was most pious, noble and reverend lady. Like her holy grandmother Hadrat Fatima Zahra (S.A.) she was always busy in performing Salaat (prayers) and kept fast most of the days. She was greatly respected and revered by her holy father Imam Musa al-Kazim (A.S.) and her elder brother Imam Reza (A.S.). She becomes famous as Masumah (the Immaculate) during her lifetime. Imam Reza (A.S.) has said about Hadrat Fatima Masumah (S.A.)
"Whoever performs the Ziyarah of 'Fatima Masumah' in Qum is like the person who has performed my Ziyarah".
Karimah-i Ahlul Bayt (A.S.):
Hadrat Fatima Masumah (S.A.) is also considered as Karimah-i Ahlul Bayt (A.S.) because she was very kind and gracious. Thousands of miracles have been recorded at the holy grave of her and she fulfills the rightful wishes of the believers and she miraculously heals incurable patients. Imam Jafar Sadiq (A.S.) has quoted "By the intercession of Fatima Masumah (S.A.) all my Shias will enter the
paradise".
Demise of Hadrat Masumah (S.A.):
In the year 200 A.H. a year after the forced migration of Imam Reza (A.S.) from Medina to Marw in Khurasan by the reigning Abbasid caliph Mamun, Hadrat Masumah accompanied by her brothers left Medina for Khurasan to meet her elder brother Imam Reza (A.S.). When they reached Saveh in central Iran they were attacked by the Abbasid army and many of his brothers were mercilessly martyred.
Hadrat Masumah (S.A.) became severely ill and in this condition she migrated to Qum where the Shias of the city warmly welcomed her. The effect of sickness increased during her short stay in Qum and she attained martyrdom on 10th of Rabi al-Thani 201 A.H. Hadrat Masumah (S.A.) had great longing to meet her brother Imam Reza (A.S.) but due to her sudden death she could not meet him.
Imam Reza (A.S.) was deeply grieved when he came to know about the demise of her beloved sister Hadrat Fatima Masumah (S.A.).
The Merits of the Ziyarah of Hadrat Fatima Masumah (S.A.):
There are many traditions from the Holy Imams (A.S.) recommending the Shias to perform the Ziyarah of the holy grave of Hadrat Masumah (S.A.) in the holy city of Qum.
Imam Ali-e-Reza (A.S.) said: "Whoever performs the Ziyarah of Fatima Masumah (S.A.) will be awarded heaven".
Imam Muhammad Taqi al-Jawad (A.S.) said: "Whoever performs the Ziyarah of my aunt [Fatima Masumah (S.A.)] in Qum will enter paradise".
Imam Ali-e-Reza (A.S.) said: "Whoever performs the Ziyarah of 'Fatima Masumah' with the knowledge of her status will attain paradise".
The Holy City of Qum:
The holy city of Qum in central Iran, 150 km to the south of Tehran became one of the first bastions Shi'ism and till the present day it is the leading center of Islamic seminaries where more than forty thousand scholars and students are learning Islamic sciences in the numerable Islamic seminaries present in this holy city. At present about two hundred Islamic research and cultural centers are active in this holy city.
In the year 83 A.H. the Arabs belonging to the Ash'ari tribe migrated and settled in this region and laid the foundation of this city. From the beginning of its establishment the city of Qum became the dwelling place of the Shias and by the end of first century Hijrah more than 6000 Shias settled in this city.
The Shias of this city revolted against the Umayyad caliphs and after the inception of the Abbasid caliphate in 132 A.H. they also opposed the Abbasid caliphs.
In the year 200 A.H. Hadrat Fatima Masumah (S.A.) took refuge in this city and Her Holiness expired in the year 201 A.H. and was buried in this city. The sacred grave of Hadrat Fatima Masumah (S.A.) became the pilgrimage center of the Shias and this city became famous as Qum-i Muqaddas. Since then it also emerged as a leading Shia learning center in the world. The holy shrine of Hadrat Fatima Masumah (S.A.) and the city's reputation as a center of theological education of
the Shias contributed most to its fame.
In June1963 Imam Khomeini (R.A.) started Islamic movement against the rule of Shah from the holy city of Qum. The uprising of people of Qum in January 1978 convulsed the whole of Iran and led to the victory of Islamic revolution and the establishment of Islamic Republic in Iran in February
source : sibtayn
