By: Seyyyed Ali Shahbaz

Today, the 1st of Zil-Qa’dah, is the birth anniversary of a very noble lady, who despite the passing of centuries remains an inspiration for all virtuous women.
Her birthday is celebrated in the Islamic Republic of Iran as the Day of the Virtuous Daughters, and today all roads lead towards her blessed shrine in the city of Qom, where pilgrims from the various cities, towns, and villages of Iran, as well as from other countries have flocked to pay their sincere respects.
She is none other than Fatema Ma’soumah (SA), the exemplary daughter of Imam Musa al-Kazem (AS), the 7th Infallible Heir of the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger to mankind with the universal mission of Islam, Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).
No wonder, the overwhelming majority of Iranian girls and women adhere to the values preached by this Excellent Model of Feminine Virtues, as is evident by their piety and patriotism, including their decent dressing within the framework of the freedom of the Hijab.
Since this eleventh month of the Islamic lunar calendar is one of the four sacred months of the year, its sanctity is observed by the faithful with acts of worship, both personal and public, such as prayers, fasting and arranging of charities for the have-nots of the society. There are several hadith from the Prophet and the Infallible Imams encouraging us to increase our goodness, benevolence, philanthropy, and munificence in this month.
This is reason, the Iranian people begin Zi’l-Qa’dah with the “Dah-e Karamat” (Ten Days of Munificence) in honour of the birthday of Hazrat Ma’soumah (SA) – the “Karima-e Ahl al-Bayt” or the Munificent Lady of the Prophet’s Household – with celebrations reaching climax on the 11th, the birth anniversary of her illustrious elder brother, Imam Reza (AS), who reposes in peace in the grand mausoleum in Mashhad. Indeed, these two blessed birth anniversaries have added to the significance of the month of Zi’l-Qa’dah
This virtuous lady was born in 173 AH (789 AD) in the holy city of Medina. Imam Kazem (AS), although blessed with several children, including his eldest son and heir, Imam Reza (AS), regarded the birth of this radiant daughter as a boon from the Almighty Creator. He named her “Fatema” in honour of his Infallible Ancestress, the Noblest Lady of all times, Hazrat Fatema az-Zahra (SA) – the Immaculate Daughter of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).
As she grew up she acquired the bezels of wisdom from her father. In the absence of the 7th Imam, because of intermittent periods of imprisonment by the tyrannical caliphs of the usurper Abbasid regime, she imbibed knowledge from her beloved brother, Imam Reza (AS), who was 25 years her senior.
On one occasion, while her father was away and her brother was also not present, her God-given qualities came to the fore when a group of pilgrims from Iran happened to knock at the door of Imamate in Medina with a list of questions regarding various religious issues. To their surprise, the queries they had were answered on paper from behind the curtain by a little girl.
Feeling satisfied, the Iranian pilgrims started their journey back home and chanced to meet Imam Kazem (AS) on the way. When they showed the answers provided to their questions by his little daughter, the Imam remarked in appreciation “Fidaha Abuha” – an Arabic phrase meaning “may her father be sacrificed for her”.
Without the least doubt, the group of Iranians on reaching their homeland, may have briefed their friends and families on the virtues of the little girl of the Prophet’s Household, who unknown to them was destined to find her permanent resting place, over twenty years later in their midst in the desert city of Qom, which would one day achieve global fame with scholars coming from all over the world to acquire genuine knowledge about Islam.
With such impeccable knowledge and wisdom beyond years, it was but natural for the talents of this child prodigy to flower. She was to shine resplendently from the land of Iran, and her radiance was destined to enlighten people from all over the world.
While in Medina, the little girl suffered separation from her father when he was forcibly taken to Basra and thence to Baghdad on the orders of Haroun ar-Rasheed, the self-styled caliph of the usurper Abbasid regime. When she reached the age of ten, this separation became permanent, as news reached home of the martyrdom of Imam Kazem (AS) in the dungeon of Baghdad through a fatal dose of poisoning in the year 183 AH.
As she grew up, so did her nearness and proximity to God Almighty. So great was her piety that her brother Imam Reza (AS) conferred upon her the epithet ‘al-Ma’soumah’ which means “The Innocent”, and which became synonymous with her name. Like the Virgin Mary (SA), the mother of Prophet Jesus (AS), she attained such lofty degrees of virtue that no person was considered worthy of her blessed hand.
In 201 AH, after Imam Reza (AS) was forced to leave Medina for the distant land of Khorasan by the crafty Abbasid tyrant Mamoun, the sister decided to journey to northeastern Iran in the company of several of her siblings to meet her brother.
When the caravan neared Saveh (120 km west of modern day Tehran), it was attacked by the enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt. As a result some of her brothers and kinsfolk were martyred, while she sustained injuries and turned towards the city of Qom, which was noted for its attachment to the cause of the blessed Ahl al-Bayt.
She was accorded a warm welcome by the people of Qom and the elders of the city came out to receive her. She stayed for 17 days in the city which her grandfather, Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS), had hailed several decades ago as “the sanctuary of us, the Ahl al-Bayt”. From here her soul flew to the ethereal heavens, making Qom the staircase to paradise – in fulfillment of the Prophet’s saying that of the 8 Gateways to Paradise, one opens through Qom.
Today her shrine, as the second most holy spot in Iran (after her brother’s shrine in Mashhad), beckons pilgrims from all over the world, granting boons for all those seeking the proximity of the One and Only Creator of the universe.
Numerous miracles have taken place at the shrine of Hazrat Ma’soumah (SA) and many persons have seen their problems solved and have been cured of fatal diseases, as confirmed by medics who had lost hope in the health of the patients. These miraculous powers, coupled with the spiritual aura of the shrine, have made many non-Muslim visitors, including those from Europe, the Americas, and Africa, embrace the truth of Islam.
Since it is the Will of the Almighty Creator that the grave of the Infallible Fatema Zahra (SA) in Medina remains concealed till the reappearance of the Prophet’s 12th and Last Successor, Imam Mahdi (AS) and establishment of the global government of peace, prosperity and justice, it is Qom and the shrine of Ma’soumah (SA) that bestow the same rewards on the pilgrims desirous of paying homage to the Prophet’s Daughter.
Here is a passage worth pondering upon from the “ziyarah” or standard form of salutations for Our Innocent Lady of Qom:
“Peace unto you, O daughter of Musa the son of Ja’far! May Allah shower His mercy and blessings upon you! May Allah grant us your companionship in Heaven, and place us in your group, and lead us to the Prophet’s Fountain to quench our thirst from your grandfather’s own cup, in the hand of Ali. May Allah bless you all! I ask Allah to grant us, through you, happiness and ease, and to place us and you into the group of your ancestor, Muhammad. May Allah bless you all! Truly, He is the Guardian and is All-Mighty. I seek nearness to Allah through my devotion for you, and through my enmity for your enemies… O Fatema! Intercede for me, so that I enter Heaven, for indeed you have a great status in the Sight of Allah!”