Iranians celebrate National Day of Girls on the occasion of birthday anniversary of Hazrate Fatimah Masoumeh, (the daughter of Imam Reza (AS), eighth Imam of Shiis).
In the holy city of Medina, the Holy Household was awaiting the arrival of a new born.
In the house of Imam Kazem (AS), Najma, the wife of the honorable Imam was eagerly looking forward to the arrival of the child.
Finally, the day arrived, on the 1st of Dhil-Qa’dah 173 (A.H.) when Allah blessed the 7th Imam Musa Kazem (AS) with a daughter.
The child’s appearance was brilliant and cheerful and she opened her pure bright eyes to this world in the house of Imam. All the members of the Holy Household were in utter happiness for the newborn and after the Imam, may be there was not anybody as happy as his wife Najma. This was because this was the second child that was granted by the grace of Allah to Najma after 25 years.
25 years ago, in the same month of Dhil-Qa’dah, Najma had given birth to a baby boy who after his father was to become the Imam and was to shoulder the responsibility of Imamate and guiding the Muslims.
Yes! That was 148 (A.H.), when the eight Imam, Ali (AS) was born and who was given the title of Reza. Najma got immense pleasure in her first child and after years God blessed her and her husband Musa Kazem (AS) with a daughter and a sister to Imam Reza (AS).
Imam Musa Kazem (AS) named his daughter Fatimah, for the sake of love and special attachment he had with his grandmother Fatimah Zahra (SA). Fatimah’s purity, modesty, and piety were such that after sometime she was referred as “Masoumeh” (the infallible). This was because like her honorable Father, she used to keep away from all evils and sins.
Fatemah, was a name that was remembered among the Ahlul bayt who had hundreds of sad and sweet memories of the life of Bibi Fatimah (SA).
Imam Musa Kazem (AS) also followed this tradition and used to love the new girl very much and never failed to show and express his kindness to and love for her.
Fatimah Masoumeh was growing under the shelter of her father and dear mother and was day by day learning new things from both of them. If the father of Fatemah was the Imam of the Muslims and was matchless in his piety and chastity, then her mother was also pious and faithful who had accomplished her essential studies of Islam in the school of the wife of Imam Ja’far Sadiq (AS).
In those days she was the most intelligent amongst all women and it was for reason that the mother of Imam Kazem (Hamideh) asked him to propose and marry her.
Hazrat Fatimah Masoumeh took advantage of studying in the presence of her father, brother and pious mother. All her young life was full of Islamic education. Every Friday Muslims would come to Medina with their religious questions. After getting their questions answered by Imam Kazem (AS), they would return to their town. Incidentally, once Imam Kazem was away and Imam Reza (AS) was also not around. The Muslims without getting their question answered were returning home very sad.
Fatimah Masoumeh noticed the sadness and took the papers from them and answered their questions. The Muslims became happy and left. On the outskirts of Medina they met Imam Kazem (AS) and they informed him of all that had transpired in his house. The Imam asked to read his daughter’s answers and after reading expressed his happiness, praised her and in a short sentence said, "May her father be sacrificed for her."
At that time, the Prophet’s offspring were tortured by the governors and the kings, especially Imam Kazem (AS) who was also being continuously suffered at the hands of the cruel Khalifas. Fatimah Masoumeh’s heart hurt to see her father in discomfort and pain. She was grieved and very sad and it was only her brother, Imam Reza (AS) who calmed and comforted her and her other family members.
Three years of Harun’s caliphate had elapsed when Fatimah Masoumeh was born. The Alawites were either imprisoned or exiled and some were put in cages and tortured till they suffered martyrdom. Later he also used his strength and power to arrest Imam Kazem (AS).
After his arrest, till his death, Fatemah Masoumeh (SA) could not meet her father. She, who was brought up and educated by her father, was now deprived of meeting her father and also getting the education. Her father’s arrest saddened her. She was less than 10 years old at that time and was always in grief and parting from her father saddened her even more.
As for Imam Kazem (AS) it was difficult for him to call or see his pure and pious children, Imam Reza and Masoumeh. The dark room of his prison became bright and scented with his prayers.
On the 25th of Rajab 183 (A.H.) as the Imam had predicted the day of his martyrdom had come. Nothing could console them on the loss of this noble Imam. Also amongst them was a ten year old girl, Fatimah Masoumeh (SA) who was engrossed in grief.
She sat and waited in hope for years that one day the door of the house would open and her father would enter and hug her. But finally her little heart accepted this grief as she had no choice but to be patient.
Merv is the name of a city in Khorasan. After Imam Kazem’s death, Imam Reza (AS) assured the office of the Imamate. The Imam said goodbye to his children, brothers and sisters including Fatimah Masoumeh and left Madina for Merv. There was a sad atmosphere as the whole family was unwilling to see their protector and guide leave them but had no choice.
For Fatimah Masoumeh this separation was very difficult as after the passing away of her father, the 7th Imam she was continuously under the guardianship of her brother Imam Reza (AS). Now he had to leave Madina and for her the happy days were over.
Mamun had devised a plan for the Imam’s journey. He had made sure that on Imam’s route to Merv the Imam’s caravan should not pass the two towns of Shias, which were Kufa and Qom. He was afraid that if the Imam passed these places there could be a revolution and he would be overthrown. He also knew that the Shiis of Kufa and Qom had a great love for the offspring of the Prophet. So the Imam should under no circumstances take this route.
One year had passed since the 8th Imam had left for Merv. Fatimah Masoumeh had waited long enough and now her patience was running out and like the other family members she could only get peace if she met her brother.
During that time Imam Reza (AS) wrote a letter to his sister Fatimah Masoumeh and sent it to Medina with one of his slave. The slave arrived with the letter as fast as he could, and in Medina he immediately delivered to Fatimah Masoumeh. Fatimah Masoumeh, her brother and other family members decided to go to Merv to visit the Imam. They started preparations for their journey and taking water and minimum provisions decided to leave the city of the messenger of Allah (that is Medina) for Merv.
Amongst all the people, Fatimah Masoumeh was the most excited. That dear Lady with her five brothers and their brothers’ children and servants and slave girls were all part of this journey. This caravan of the lovers of Imam Reza passed hills, mountains, and deserts and day by day went further away from Medina. In those days there was a lot of looting of the caravans. These thieves would take away all belongings and even the camels.
This thought frightened Fatemah Masoumeh but putting trust to Allah, they carried forward and gradually progressed towards their goal. Now the distance to Iran was becoming closer. The difficulties of the journey affected Bibi Masoumeh a lot. For this young woman also there was a lot of suffering. But despite all this the thought of meeting her brother was worth all the pain.
Finally, the difficult part of the journey ended and the caravan reached Iran. Before reaching Merv (later Toos and now Mashhad) they passed through many villages where they would rest and then proceed, finally they reached. The caravan reached Sawa (name of a city in Iraq) and it was here that Fatimah Masoumeh became very sick. She was so sick that she refused to continue with the journey. She made a decision now to proceed to Qom and inquired from people the distance to Qom. They replied 10 miles. Hearing that the distance was not too much they decide to proceed.
The people of Qom who had strong unity decided to go to receive Fatimah Masoumeh and to bring her to Qom. A person called Musa ibn Khazraj undertook this task of going and inviting the daughter of seventh Imam to Qom and requesting her to stay with them in Qom and Fatemah Masoumeh agreed to the request and the caravan left from Sawa to Qom. Musa ibn Kharaj himself held the camel’s reins and led this noble woman with pride and respect to the people of Qom who were eagerly waiting her arrival.
Fatemah Masoumeh and her companions finally entered the town of Qom on 23rd Rabi ul-Awwal 201 (A.H.). The people of Qom were elated to have the daughter of the seventh Imam among them. He had also a big home and offered Fatemah Masoumeh to stay at his home and taking the reins led the caravan to his house, excited and happy to be a good host for his guest.
Her sickness spread in the whole body and finally on the 10th of Rabi ul-Akher this noble lady with tears in her eyes at the thought of her brother, left this perishable world.
(Source: Islamic occasions.com)
http://english.iribnews.ir/IranVision_body.aspx?ID=286
No comments:
Post a Comment