Tributes to our innocent Lady of Qom
Dec 07, 2019 09:03 UTC
Condolences to you on the doleful day of the departure from the world of Our Innocent Lady of Qom, Hazrat Ma’soumah al-Fatema (peace upon her), the Immaculate Daughter of Imam Musa Kazem (AS), the 7th Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny).
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 forever, as per a lengthy narration of the wonders encountered by the Prophet of Islam during his Me’raj or ascension to the highest point in the heavens and back to Planet Earth in a part 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 and two centuries years ago.
She was the namesake of the Prophet's Immaculate Daughter, Hazrat Fatema az-Zahra (peace upon her), and her direct descendant in the 6th generation. She was the daughter of Imam Musa 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'soumah", which means the Innocent Lady.
She was on her way to Khorasan to meet her dear brother, Imam Reza (AS), who was forced to reside by the caliph in 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 – the 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'soumah (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. On hearing of the said departure of his 29-year sister from the mortal world, Imam Reza (AS) gave the tidings: “Whoever visits Ma’suma in Qom is like the one who has visited me.”
The fact that Imam Reza (AS), uses the term “Ma’soumah”, instead of the proper name of his sister, speaks volumes of the lofty status of this Immaculate Lady.
Without the least doubt Ma’soumah 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 with them, 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, at a caravanserai on the highway they chanced to meet 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" which means ‘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 all over the world, to pay homage to her and seek her intercession with God with the words: O Fatema intercede for me for (the reward) of paradise, for certainly you have with God a lofty status. Here are a few phrases from the standard form of salutation at her holy shrine:
“Peace on you, O daughter of Musa son of Ja’far! May Allah shower His mercy and blessings on you! Peace on you. May Allah grant us your companionship in Heaven, and place us in your group, and lead us to your Prophet’s Fountain, and quench our thirst out of 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 grandfather, 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…”
AS/MG
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