Homage to Our Innocent Lady of Qom

Date: 17 December 2018 - 21:26

News ID: ۶۰۹۳۲

By: Seyyed Ali Shahbaz

"Allah has promised the faithful, men and women, gardens with streams running in them, to remain in them [forever], and good dwellings in the Gardens of Eden. Yet Allah’s pleasure is greater [than all these]; that is the great success.” (Holy Qur’an 9:72)

According to a famous hadith, true believers laid to rest in the soil of the holy city of Qom will enter paradise straightaway on the Day of Resurrection without having to stand for the final judgement.

This is indeed a Divine Favour for those of the faithful destined to repose eternally in the city from which it is said Satan has been banished, as per a lengthy narration of the wonders encountered by the Almighty's Last and Greatest Messenger to mankind, Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), during his ascension (me'raj) to the highest point in the heavens (where no creature, not even Archangel Gabriel, have ever ventured) and back to Planet Earth in a fraction of a single night.

It is proof of the sanctity of this city on the edge of the Iranian desert whose fortune was suddenly transformed from obscurity into a centre of learning, worship, and pilgrimage by the appearance of a venerable member of the Prophet's Household, a millennium, two centuries and 39 years ago.

She was the namesake of the Prophet's Immaculate Daughter, Hazrat Fatema az-Zahra (SA), and her direct descendant in the 6th generation.

She was the daughter of the Prophet's 7th Infallible Heir, Imam Musa al-Kazem (AS), the "Bab al-Hawa'ej" or the Gateway of Boons, who reposes peacefully in the sprawling mausoleum in Kazemain, near the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

She was a lady of superior intellect, virtue, and merits, to the extent that she is considered a Pride of the Virgin Mary (SA) – the mother of Prophet Jesus (AS) – in view of her epithet, "Ma'souma", which means the Innocent Lady.

Like Mary (SA), it was Divine Providence that she remain a virgin, since in addition to the chaotic political situation of her days and her own brief life span, no man was considered worthy of her hand.
She was on her way to Khorasan to meet her dear brother, Imam Reza (AS), who was forced by the Abbasid caliph to come to the city of Marv (presently across the Iranian border in the Republic of Turkmenistan), when brigands affiliated to the Abbasid regime attacked her caravan near the town of Saveh (some 128 km southwest of modern Tehran). She enquired about the distance to the city of Qom, and on being told that it was near, decided to head for it.

The people of Qom, on learning that the 7th Imam's daughter was about to grace their city, were filled with extreme joy. The notables of the city went out to greet her, and escorted her caravan to Qom – a tradition that continues to be symbolically commemorated till this day every year on the 23rd of the month of Rabi al-Awwal.

Alas, after a brief 17-day sojourn, Fatema al-Ma'souma (SA) failed to recover from the fatigue of the long journey from Medina, and on the 10th of Rabi as-Sani, her soul flew to the ethereal heavens.

Unlike the people of Medina who in pursuit of the perishing power of the transient world had deserted the Prophet's daughter Hazrat Fatema Zahra (SA) and usurped the right of political leadership of the Ummah of her husband, Imam Ali (AS), the people of Qom clad themselves in black to mourn the daughter of the 7th Imam, and gave her a fitting burial in the garden outside the city that belonged to Musa al-Kharaj.

On hearing of the sad departure of his 29-year sister from the mortal world, Imam Reza (AS) gave the tidings: "Whoever visits her (tomb), conscious of her status, paradise is the reward."

Without the least doubt she possessed an exceptionally exalted status, and that is why Qom has become elevated in the sight of God Almighty.

Born in the Prophet's city Medina in 173 AH, her status as a scholar of repute was established when she was less than ten years old. It happened that a group of Iranian pilgrims after performing the annual Hajj to Mecca visited Medina, both for homage to the Prophet's shrine and paying of respects to the Prophet's Successor, Imam Kazem (AS).

They had a list of some very important scientific and jurisprudential questions posed by the people of Iran to the Imam. They were rather dismayed since Imam Kazem (AS) was not in Medina. They decided to hand over the list of questions to the holy household before returning, with full confidence that the answers would be sent to Iran through a messenger whenever the Imam returned.

However, to their surprise, before they could restart their long return journey, a servant of the Imam approached them with scrolls containing the answers to their queries. They glanced at the replies with satisfaction. But to their utter astonishment, when they asked who had provided such interesting answers, they were told the Imam's less than ten-year-old daughter, Fatema (SA).

The Iranian pilgrims were men of profound faith and with thanks to God Almighty for His Favours, they resumed their journey. On the way, however, they had a chanced encounter with Imam Musa Kazem (AS), who was returning to Medina.

Beaming with joy they saluted the Imam, were warmly received by him, and during the conversation showed him the answers they had received from his young daughter. The Imam read the questions and answers, and remarked with an expression of gratitude to the Almighty: "Fidaha Abuha" (may her father be her ransom).

Today, pilgrims from all over the world flock to her shrine in the city that has become the centre of diffusion of true knowledge worldwide, to pay homage to her and seek her intercession with God with the words: "Ya Fatema ishfa'i li fi'l-jannah fa inna laki ind-Allah shaanan min ash-shaan” (O Fatema intercede for me for (the reward) of paradise, for certainly you have with God a lofty status).

Condolences on the Passing Away of Hazrat Masoumah (SA)