Tributes to the Innocent Soul
Dec 18, 2018 06:07 UTC
Condolences everybody on a doleful day. Today the city of Qom is draped in black. The shrine that sits in the centre of the city is bustling with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. Many of the visitors have come from different parts of Iran. There are people from other lands as well. They have assembled to commemorate an event that occurred in 202 AH – a millennium, two centuries and twenty-six years ago.
On that day in history a tragedy had struck this once remote city in the Iranian desert. The citizens found themselves in a state of shock as their joy suddenly gave way to grief. Barely 17 days ago they had considered themselves fortunate to host a virtuous member of the Prophet’s Household in those dark days of Abbasid oppression. They had gone almost en masse to the outskirts of the city to welcome the caravan bringing in the honoured guest astride a canopied camel – a tradition that continues to be marked with fervour in Qom every year with the young and old turning out in large numbers to accord reception to a symbolic caravan that enlivens the past.
But today on the 10th of Rabi al-Akher a torrent of tears streamed down the eyes of the people of Qom, as the soul of the Prophet’s descendant ascended to the ethereal heavens from their city leaving the body to be buried in the garden beside the stream.
Does it mean fortune deserted the people of Qom with the end of the physical life of the visitor from distant Medina who had graced their city for a brief sojourn?
Nay, it has in fact multiplied manifold. Not only the people of Qom, but all those living in Iran have continued to remain fortunate. This is proven by their commemoration today of the day on which the daughter of Imam Musa al-Kazem (AS) – on her way to meet her brother Imam Reza (AS) in Khorasan – succumbed to the fatigue of the journey from far away Hejaz and the wounds she had received, when agents of the regime had attacked her caravan near the city of Saveh.
Thus the expression of grief this day is not out of frustration. It is a manifestation of profound reverence and evidence of the deep affection down in our hearts for the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Muhammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny) – respect for whom is an article of faith.
No wonder, the sprawling golden-domed mausoleum of Fatema al-Ma’soumah (peace upon her), or the Innocent, that soon inspired Qom to be transformed into the centre of knowledge for diffusion of the genuine teachings of Islam, is today the cynosure of all eyes around the globe.
The first sparks of the Islamic Revolution that saved Iran and the Iranians from monarchial tyranny and foreign hegemony were lit here.
No wonder, the decision of the 29-year lady (born in 173 AH) to choose Qom as a pathway to paradise proved true the famous hadith of her grandfather, Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS), who over seven decades before her arrival had called the city a sanctuary of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt. His exact words read:
“Indeed, God has a sanctuary and that is Mecca (the Holy Ka’ba); the Messenger of God (Prophet Muhammad – SAWA) has a sanctuary and that is Medina; the Commander of the Faithful (Imam Ali – AS) has a sanctuary and that is Kufa (in Iraq)’ and we (the Ahl al-Bayt) have a sanctuary and that is Qom.”
The epithet “Ma’saumah” (Innocent) was given to her by her brother, Imam Reza (AS). It is worth noting that this was awarded to her posthumously, which disproves the erroneous view of her sudden death on learning of the martyrdom of Imam Reza (AS). The 8th Imam, who performed her funeral prayer, had remarked: “Whoever visits Ma’sumah in Qom is like the one who has visited me.”
The ziyarat or standard form of salutation for this noble lady, which has been recorded on the authority of Imam Reza (AS), contains the phrase: “O Fatema! Intercede for me (on the Day of Judgment), so that I enter Heaven, for indeed you have a great status in the sight of Allah.”
As for her other famous epithet “Karima-e Ahl al-Bayt”, which means the Munificent Lady of the Prophet’s Progeny, it was given to her by her great grandfather Imam Muhammad al-Baqer (AS) in a dream to Ayatollah Seyyed Mahmood Mar’ashi Najafi (father of the famous bibliophile Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Shahab od-Din Mar’ashi).
When the elder Mar’ashi Najafi supplicated for forty consecutive nights with the intention of being blessed with the sight of the location of the grave of Hazrat Fatema Zahra (SA), he had a dream after completion of the prayers. He saw himself in the presence of Imam Baqer (AS), who said to him: “Tidings to you of the Karima-e Ahl al-Bayt.”
He thought the term Munificent Lady of the Ahl al-Bayt meant the Prophet’s Immaculate Daughter, at which the 5th Imam remarked: “I mean the holy grave of Fatema al-Ma’sumah (SA) in Qom.”
The Imam added, “It is Allah’s Will that the location of the holy grave of Lady Fatema az-Zahra (SA) be hidden from everyone.”
On waking up, the Ayatollah understood and informed his family that all the honour and grandeur reserved for the concealed grave of the Prophet’s Immaculate Daughter has been accorded to the tomb of Lady Fatema al-Ma’sumah (SA). He, however, soon passed away in holy Najaf, but his illustrious son, Grand Ayatollah Shahab od-Din Mar’ashi Najafi, migrated to Iran and often cited that one of the reasons for his settling in Qom was the dream of his father.
For over sixty years, every morning, the late Ayatollah Shahab od-Din Mar’ashi, used to be the first person to perform the pilgrimage at the shrine of this noble lady. He would wait outside her shrine for the doors to be opened. Even during his final illness before his death, he requested to be carried to her shrine in order to perform her pilgrimage.
Now we understand the prediction of her grandfather, Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS): “A lady from my offspring whose name will be Fatema, daughter of Musa, will be buried in Qom. On the Day of Judgment she will intercede for my true followers.
No wonder, pilgrimage to the Namesake of the Prophet’s infallible daughter is considered pilgrimage to her peerless ancestress, Hazrat Fatema az-Zahra (SA), the noblest lady of all time whose grave has remained concealed as per the Will of God.
No wonder, a hadith from her brother Imam Reza (AS) and nephew Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (AS) says: “Whoever visits her (tomb), aware of her position, Paradise is the reward.”
Let’s pay our homage to Our Blessed Lady of Qom by reciting the following passage mentioned in the ziyarat that is recited at her sanctuary:
“Salutations to you O Daughter of Imam Musa ibn Ja’far; may God grant acquaintance between you and us in paradise, raise us in your company, guide us to the fountain (kowsar) of your Prophet, and quench our thirst through the hands of your ancestor Imam Ali ibn Taleb (AS).”
AS/MG
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