Fatimah Ma’sumah

Fātimah bint Mūsā' al- Kazim (commonly known as: Fatimah al-Ma’sumah i.e. Fatimah the Innocent.

Hadrat Ma’sumah  was between 1st Dhul Qidah 173 A.H – 10th or 12th of Rabi' al-Thani 201 AH; approximately March 22, 790 AD – November 7 or 9, 816 AD. She was the daughter of the seventh Twelve Shi'ah Imam, Musa al-Kazim and sister of the eighth Twelve Shī‘ah Imām, Ali al-Rida. Every year, thousands of Shi'i Muslims travel to Qom to honor Fatima Ma’sumah ather shrine and ask for the blessings of Allah through her intercession.

Fatimah Ma’sumah's character

Despite bearing the name of the infallible one but Fatima Ma’sumah is not considered one of the 14 most holy figures in Shia Islam. Yet, her brother Imam Ali al-Rida gave her the title "Ma’sumah", which means infallible or sinless. In Shi'ism, women either become saints by their own accord or because they are the sisters, daughters, or wives of other saints. Fatima Ma’sumah became a saint because of her closeness to her brother Imam 'Ali al-Rida and her father Imam Musa al-Kazim. However, Fatima Ma’sumah also has her own reputation of holiness and wisdom. She is said to have been learned in various Islamic sciences and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a), and to have transmitted many hadiths from her family members.

Fatima Ma’sumah is honored in many hadiths, or teachings, from Shi'i Imams that proclaim the benevolence of visiting her shrine in Qom,  Her brother Imam 'Ali al-Rida stated that visiting the shrine of Fatima Ma’sumah is equal to visiting his own shrine in Mash’had; demonstrating his honor of his sister. Other Imams declared that anyone who visits Fatima Ma’sumah's shrine will surely go to heaven. More miracles are reported to occur at her shrine in Qom than at the burial place of any other Prophet or Imam.

History of Fatimah Ma’sumah

It is written that even before she was born, Shi'i Imams foretold Fatima Ma’sumah's holiness and piety. Fatima was born into Shi'i legacy, raised under the care of two Imams- her father and her brother- and she is said to have absorbed their knowledge and holiness. Fatima Ma’sumah was born in Medina in 173 AH and spent the first six years of her life learning alongside her father, Imam Musa al-Kazim. Scholars have written that she had a "special giftedness" of knowledge and spiritual awareness, even in childhood. When she was ten years old, Harun al-Rashid,  the 5th caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate sent her father to prison. This separation was very difficult for Fatimah, but her brother 'Ali was 25 years her senior and took care of her.

'Ali and Fatimah are among Imam Musa al-Kazim's 37 children, but they are the only two children from the Imam's marriage to Najmah Khatun. Their mother was a former slave from North Africa who became very learned in Islamic teachings under the guidance of Imam Musa al- Kazim's mother, Lady Hamidah. Ali would later become the 8th Imam and gain the title Imam 'Ali al-Rida. The historian al-Tabari states that 'Al-Rida' means "The One Well-pleasing [to God] from the House of Muhammad." He was appointed Imam by the Abassid Caliph al-Mamun,  though he was hesitant in accepting this role. As 'Ali al-Rida gained the Imamate, many refused to accept his role amidst civil war. 'Ali al-Rida revealed the extent of this revolt to al-Mamun, stating that people considered him "bewitched and mentally deranged," were hiding reports from him, and had given their allegiance to his paternal uncle Ibrahim bint al-Madhi instead of him.

In 200 AH, al-Mamun called for 'Ali al-Rida to leave for khorasan and Fatima Ma’sumah was forced to live apart from her brother. After one difficult year apart from her brother, Fatima Ma’sumah decided to leave to join him. She did not leave solely because she longed to live near her brother; scholars also suggest that Fatima Ma’sumah's knowledge and religiosity would help her brother in his political office, especially in decisions regarding women. In 201 AH she set off in a caravan of 23 family and friends of the Imam 'Ali al-Rida, alongside another caravan of 12,000 people traveling to Khorasan Unfortunately, the caravans never made it to Khorasan and Fatimah Ma’sumah never reached her brother. They were attacked by enemies of the Shi'is while at Saveh; some fled, but many were wounded, taken prisoner, or killed. Fatimah Ma’sumah survived, but was forced to watch the murders of 23 close family members and friends. It is written that Fatima Ma’sumah was then poisoned by a woman from the enemies. Fatima became ill and asked to be taken to Qom, where she died and was buried in her host's land.

Fatima Ma’sumah Shrine

Since her death, the Fatimah Ma'sumah shrine has been embellished and reconstructed by many generations of Shi'i leaders in Iran. This shrine is one of the holiest in Iran, and is visited by thousands of pilgrims every year who exalt Fatima Ma’sumah for her holiness and innocence.