A Page from the Life of Lady Fatima al-Ma’suma (Peace Be Upon Her)
The brightest star among the women of the seventh constellation of divine guidance is Fatima al-Kubra, the pure daughter of Musa ibn Ja’far (peace be upon him).
Lady Fatima al-Ma’suma (peace be upon her) and Imam al-Rida (peace be upon him) were both born to the same mother, named Najma (“Star”). Historical sources have mentioned ten names and titles for the mother of Lady al-Ma’suma: Najma, Takattum, Khayzaran al-Mursiyya, Urwa, Umm al-Banin, Tahira, Sakan, Samana, Shaqra, and Saqr.
The author of Mustadrak Safinat al-Bihar, when discussing the year of Lady al-Ma’suma’s birth, writes: “Fatima al-Ma’suma was born on the first day of Dhu al-Qi’dah in the year 173 AH.”
The author of History of Qom mentions only the year of her passing, 201 AH. Some later scholars have identified the tenth day of Rabi’ al-Thani as the anniversary of her passing.
The Migration of Lady Fatima al-Ma’suma (Peace Be Upon Her)
Imam al-Rida’s (peace be upon him) journey from Medina to Merv took place through Basra, Ahvaz, and Fars. Lady Fatima al-Ma’suma (peace be upon her), however, traveled one year later along a different route.
Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn Hasan al-Qummi writes:
“Among the descendants of Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (peace be upon them) who came to Qom was Fatima, the daughter of Musa ibn Ja’far. Some of the scholars of Qom have related that when Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (peace be upon them) was forced to leave Medina and travel to Merv in the year 200 AH to accept the pledge of allegiance to the position of heir apparent, his sister Fatima, the daughter of Musa ibn Ja’far, set out in the year 201 AH to join him. When she reached Saveh, she fell ill. She asked, ‘How far is it between me and the city of Qom?’ They told her, ‘Ten farsakhs.’ She instructed her servant to take her to Qom, and the servant brought her there…”
The Residence of Lady Fatima al-Ma’suma (Peace Be Upon Her) in Qom
The house of Musa ibn Khazraj, where Lady al-Ma’suma (peace be upon her) stayed for some time, later became known as the famous “Satiyya School.” This residence was located in the Maydan Mir neighborhood, in the center of Qom, in one of the city’s old quarters.
Her place of worship, known as Bayt al-Nur (“House of Light”), was located within the residence. After the passing of this noble lady, Musa ibn Khazraj preserved her prayer niche in its original condition and converted the other parts of his house into a mosque out of respect for her.
The original prayer niche of Fatima al-Ma’suma (peace be upon her), popularly known as the “Tannur,” still stands today. For generations, people have visited the site seeking blessings and reciting prayers and the Ziyarat of Lady al-Ma’suma.
The prayer niche, which was originally only a small chamber, has since been rebuilt and beautifully restored. A religious school for students of Islamic sciences was also established beside it, known as Satiyya School.
The Virtues of Lady Fatima al-Ma’suma (Peace Be Upon Her)
The highest station of intercession belongs to the Noble Messenger of Islam, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). In the Holy Qur’an, this station is referred to as Maqam Mahmud (“the Praised Station”), and its vast scope is expressed in the verse:
“And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied.”
Among the women of the household of the Noble Messenger, two are described as possessing an exceptionally broad and universal power of intercession, capable of encompassing the people gathered on the Day of Judgment:
- The Lady of the Day of Judgment, al-Siddiqa al-Tahira, Lady Fatima al-Zahra (peace be upon her).
- The Intercessor on the Day of Judgment, Lady Fatima al-Ma’suma (peace be upon her).
Regarding the extensive intercession of Lady Fatima al-Zahra (peace be upon her), it is sufficient to note that intercession is described as her dowry. It is narrated that at the time of her marriage, the Angel of Revelation brought a silk cloth from God upon which was written that God had appointed the intercession for the sinners of the community of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) as Fatima al-Zahra’s dowry. This narration has also been transmitted through Sunni sources.
After Lady Fatima al-Zahra (peace be upon her), no one—and at least no woman—is described as possessing a broader scope of intercession than Lady Fatima al-Ma’suma, the daughter of Musa ibn Ja’far (peace be upon her). Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), the authoritative Imam, is reported to have said:
“Through her intercession, all of our Shi’a will enter Paradise.”
Miracles and Spiritual Blessings of Lady Fatima al-Ma’suma (Peace Be Upon Her)
Muhaddith Qummi, in Fawa’id al-Radawiyya, writes in his biography of Mulla Sadra:
“Due to certain difficulties, he migrated from his place of residence in Shiraz to a village in the vicinity of Qom called Kahak, four farsakhs from Qom. Qom is a refuge of the family of Muhammad and a sanctuary of the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them. Whenever certain scholarly matters became difficult for him, he would travel from Kahak to visit the noble Lady Fatima, daughter of Musa ibn Ja’far, peace be upon them. Through the spiritual blessings of that sacred shrine, divine grace would be bestowed upon him and his difficulties would be resolved.”
Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani also related one such spiritual experience concerning Lady Fatima al-Ma’suma (peace be upon her):
“There was a matter that arose for me many years ago. Whenever I came across the following noble verse, a question would arise in my mind:
‘Indeed, Allah only desires to remove all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and to purify you completely.’
This matter occupied my mind for years and eventually became a scholarly problem for me. Until one day, I sought the intercession of Lady al-Ma’suma (peace be upon her). After performing the Ziyarat, I said: ‘I have come today, and I have no worldly request such as money, a home, or anything else. I have only one request: that I receive your grace in understanding the Verse of Purification—that I may understand it correctly, write about it, and resolve this difficulty.’
We then returned and began studying and writing about the Verse of Purification. Through the blessing of Lady Fatima al-Ma’suma (peace be upon her), certain matters and insights became clear to us that, even if we had studied for another fifty years, would not have become clear to us.”
Source: Hawzah.net — “The Passing of Lady Fatima al-Ma’suma (Peace Be Upon Her)”
