The Importance and Excellence of Lady Masouma Pilgrimage

Introduction

Enthusiasm and strong desire for visiting a friend, or the same pilgrimage, is among the most important signs of affection and fondness. Since pilgrimage is an innate and perfectionist affair, the more you grow fond of it, the more eager you are to visit a friend. This fondness of visiting goes one as he/she passes away and thereafter it turns to his/her works specially his/her resting place or shrine. Thus in Islam visiting such places has been seriously taken into consideration. A shining example of that is the manner of the holy prophet (P.B.U.H. & H.F.) who used to visit the resting places of Muslims. Abu Harire says: “The Prophet (P.B.U.H. & H.F.) used to visit his mother’s resting place and wept for her and caused others to weep and said: I have taken permission from Allah for visiting her. Likewise, he visited the resting place of the martyrs of Ohod at the beginning of each year and recited this phrase: Peace be upon you for what you have tolerated, what a great place is the afterlife for you.”
Our infallible Imams (P.B.U.T.) specially Lady Zahra (P.B.U.H.) and their followers were in the tradition of this great manner and afterwards it is carried on by religious authorities until now. Despite the deceitfulness of some people, visiting resting places of Muslims or shrines is not a newly established manner by Shiites. It is nothing but the manner and tradition of the holy Prophet (P.B.U.H. & H.F.).

A Brief Look at the Life of Lady Fatima Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.)

Before mentioning the merits of Lady Ma’souma’s pilgrimage, we would better get familiar with her life and great characters. This leads us to better understanding of the importance and excellence of her pilgrimage.
Lady Fatima Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.) was born on the first of Ziqada in 173 A.H. in the city of Medina. This great lady was grown up in a family of high merits and science. After the Martyrdom of her magnanimous father, Imam Musa Kazim (P.B.U.H.), his honorable brother, Imam Reza (P.B.U.H.), became responsible for her teaching. Through his teaching, Lady Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.) could reach high levels of erudition, so that after a while she was regarded as one of the learned ladies of Ahl-ul-Bait. The very learned scholar Mohammad Tostori says in this regard: “Among many children of Imam Kazim (P.B.U.H.), After Imam Reza (P.B.U.H.) no one is the equal of Lady Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.).”
One year after Imam Reza’s emigration to Khorasan, Lady Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.) could not tolerate her brother’s absence, so she emigrated to Khorasan so that she can help her brother.
Since Mamun had ordered extermination of Alavis, a lot of Alavis who had emigrated to Iran were martyred. 23 members of the caravan with which Lady Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.) was traveling were martyred by attack of cruel agents of Bani Abbas in the city of Save. Some believe that Lady Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.) was also wounded and poisoned in this attack.
After the martyrdom of becoming wounded of some people in the caravan, Lady Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.) asked about the distance from Save to Qom and then ordered the caravan to move to the city of Qom. Getting to Qom, people welcomed them with open arms, so that Musa-ibn-Khazraj, one of the great men of Qom, handled the bridle of her mount.
The great lady stayed in Qom for 17 days. She was busy praying and worshipping Allah during this period of time. Finally she was martyred on the 10th of Rabi-ul-Aval 201 A.H. whether by poison or due to grief and deep sorrow.

The Honorable Descent of Lady Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.)
Her magnanimous father is Imam Musa-ibn-Jafar (P.B.U.H.), the seventh glorious star of Imamate and Wilayat, and her mother is “Najma". Accordingly, it is concluded that Lady Ma’souma and Imam Reza (P.B.U.T.) were from the same mother. Lady Ma’souma’s attachment to the brother caused her emigrate from Medina to Iran to visit her brother. In some historical sources lots of other names such as Toktam, Kheizaran, Marziya, Tahera, Samana, and so on have been mentioned for lady Najma.

Titles of Lady Fatema Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.)

Since titles are indicators of characters of a person, there have been mentioned a lot of titles for Lady Fatima Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.) some of which are Karima, Ma’souma, Marziya, Naghiya, Taghiya, Tahera, Sadiqa, Hamida, Rashida, Sayeda Nesa-al-Alamin, Okht-ul-Reza.

Some Traditions from Lady Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.)

As mentioned before, Lady Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.) was grown up in the family of Imamate and Wilayat, specially that after the martyrdom of her honorable father, Imam Kazim (P.B.U.H.), Imam Reza (P.B.U.H.) took on her responsibility. Imam Reza (P.B.U.H.) who was given the title “Alim Ale Mohammad” did his best to teach her Islamic instruction.
The following story is a clear evidence of her high level of knowledge. Once, a group of Shiites went to the illuminated city of Medina in order to visit Imam Musa-ibn-Jafar (P.B.U.H.) and ask them some questions. Since Imam was on a trip, they delivered their questions to Lady Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.). The next day they went to Imam’s house again, but Imam had not returned from the trip. They took their questions back out of necessity and decided to ask them in their next trip to Imam, not knowing that his daughter, Fatima Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.), had written answers to the questions. They became so happy, thanked her and left Medina. Incidentally, they came across Imam Musa-ibn-Jafar (P.B.U.H.) on the way home and explained what happened to them. Studying Lady Ma’souma’s answers to the questions, Imam repeated this phrase three times: “Her father devotes himself to her daughter.” To get more aware of her high level of knowledge, here are some traditions from Lady Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.).

1. Virtues of the Shiites
The following tradition which is about the virtues of the Shiite is among traditions narrated by Lady Fatima Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.) quoted from the daughters of Imam Musa-al-Kazim (P.B.U.H.) (kown as Favatem Arba’a):
Fatima Ma’souma, daughter of Musa-ibn-Jafar (P.B.U.H.) … quoted from from Fatima, daughter of the Prophet Mohammad who said:” In my Ascension to heavens, I was taken to Paradise. There, I found a palace of white pearl with a ruby and pearl door on which a curtain was hung. I raised my head and found this phrase written on it: There is no God but Allah, Mohammad is the messenger of Allah, Ali is a friend of community.”

2. Purity of Imam Husain (P.B.U.H.)
Hassan, the son of Yazid, from Fatima, the daughter of Musa-ibn-Jafar (P.B.U.H.), from Omar, the son of Husain, from Fatima, the daughter of Imam Husain (P.B.U.H.), from Asma, the daughter of Abubakr, from Safiya, the daughter of Abd-ul-Motallib (the Prophet’s aunt) quoted:"When Husain was born from her mother, I cared for him. The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) told me:"My aunt! Please bring my son to me” I said:” Oh the messenger of Allah, we have not washed and cleaned him yet". The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said astoundingly:” Oh my aunt! Are you the one who wants to purify him?! Allah has purified him"".

3. Love of Mohammad’s Offspring (P.B.U.T.)
Lady Fatima Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.) from Fatima, the daughter of Imam Sadeq (P.B.U.H.)…from Zeinab, the daughter of Amir-ul-Momenin (P.B.U.H.) from Fatima Zahra (P.B.U.H.) quoted that the messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H. & H.F.) said:” Be aware that whoever dies with the love of Mohammad’s offspring in his/her heart, he/she has died as a martyr.”

The Importance and Excellence of Lady Ma’souma’s Pilgrimage
A lot of traditions have been quoted even before Lady Ma’souma’s birth on the merits of her pilgrimage, so that after the pilgrimage of the 14 infallibles, Lady Ma’souma’s pilgrimage has been most recommended among other offspring of Imams. This shows high importance of her pilgrimage. Here are some traditions about the merits of the pilgrimage of this great lady.

1. Allame Majlesi quoted from Imam Reza (P.B.U.H.) addressing Sad Ashari Qomi in Bahar-ul-Anvar:"” Oh Sad: There is a grave of one of the members of our family in your city", I asked Imam Reza (P.B.U.H.) if it is the grave of Fatima, the daughter of Imam Musa-ibn-Jafar (P.B.U.H.)? Imam Reza (P.B.U.H.) said:” Yes” and continued:” whoever makes a pilgrimage to her while knowing her truth, would meet Paradise. So whenever you visited her grave, stay on top of her grave and recite Allaho Akbar 34 times, Sobhan Allah 33 times, and Alhamdo Lillah 33 times and then say Assalamo ala Adama Safvatillah …to the end of the recitation of prayers.”
As it is obvious, according to this honorable tradition, firstly, Prayers book of Lady Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.) is narrated by her brother Imam Reza (P.B.U.H.) and is so called Ma’thure. Secondly, Paradise is regarded as the reward of her pilgrimage by Imam Reza (P.B.U.H.) which shows its importance. And thirdly, among the females of Ahl-ul-Bait (P.B.U.T.), after Lady Fatima Zahra (P.B.U.H.), Lady Fatima Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.) is the only lady who has Ma’thure prayers.

2. Referring to the amount of spiritual reward given to the pilgrimage of Lady Fatima Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.), Imam Reza (P.B.U.H.) said: “Whoever makes a pilgrimage the shrine of Lady Fatima Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.) in Qom, is like the one who has made a pilgrimage to me.” Therefore in this tradition, Imam Reza (P.B.U.H.) regarded the pilgrimage of Lady Fatima Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.) equal to his own pilgrimage.

3. Imam Javad (P.B.U.H.) said: “Whoever goes on a pilgrimage to my aunt in Qom, he/she would meet Paradise.”
As you see in your tradition, Imam Javad (P.B.U.H.) has regarded Paradise as the spiritual reward to her pilgrimage.

4. Imam Sadeq (P.B.U.H.) addressed a group of Shiites coming from Rey: “Welcome welcome to our brothers from Qom", they said: “We are not from Rey", Imam repeated the same sentence several times and every time they gave the same reply. Imam repeated the same sentence another time and said:” There is a shrine for Allah and that is Mecca, there is a shrine for the messenger of Allah and that is Medina, there is a shrine for Amir-ul-Momenin and that is Kufe, there is a shrine for we, Ahl-ul-Bait and that is Qom. Soon, a lady named Fatima from my family would be buried there; whoever makes a pilgrimage to her would certainly meet Paradise.”
The important point in this tradition is that, these words have been mentioned by Imam Sadeq (P.B.U.H.) when Fatima Ma’souma had not still been born.

5. Imam Sadeq (P.B.U.H.) regarding the merits of the pilgrimage of Fatima Ma’souma (P.B.U.H.) said:” Pilgrimage of Lady Ma’souma is equal to Paradise.”

References

1 Samhudi, Ali ben Abdullah. (1374). Vafa Alvafa be akhbar Dar ul Mostafa, Dar ul Ihya Alturath Alarabi, Bayrut, 4th edition, VOL.ol. 3, 932 “سلام علیکم بما صبرتم فنعم عقبی الدار”
Boyuk Vaiz, Mir Abutalib. (1371). Vasilat-ul-Masoumiya, Tabriz, p. 65.
Mahdi poor, Ali Akbar, Karima Ahl-ul-Bait, p. 21.

Refer to:,Ameli, Jafar Morteza. (1362). Alhayat-ul-Siyasiya lil Imam AlReza, Qom, Jamee Modarresin, p.418
Bohrani, Abdollah. (1408). Avalem-ul-Olum val Maaref val Ahval menal Ayat val Akhbar val Aghval, Isfahan, Al Imam-ul-Mahdi school, vol.21, p.328
Mahallati, Zabih-ul-lah. (1366). Riyahain al Sharia, vol.5, p.32; Seyed Javadi, Ahmad, Tashayo Encyclopedia, Tehran, Taher Islamic Foundation, vol.2, p.163
Refer to: Karima Ahi-ul-Bait, p.47.
Abtahi, Sayed Mortaza. (1416 A.H.). Alshia Fi Ahadith Alfarighain, 1th edition, Moallef Publication, p.119,; Namazi, Ali. (1419 A.H.). Mostadrik Safinat-ul-Behar, Qom, Jamee Modarresin, vol.6, p.14
لمّا أسری بی إلى السماء دخلتُ الجنة فإذاً أنا بقصر من درة بیضاء مجوفة، وعلیها باب مکلل بالدُرّ والیاقوت، وعلى الباب ستر فرفعت رأسی فإذاً مکتوب على الباب “لا إله إلا الله، محمد رسول الله، علی ولی القوم”
Shakeri, Husain, Al aghila val Favatim, Qom, Hekmat Publication, p.197
” لما سقط الحسین من بطن أمه و کنت ولّیتُها قال النبی: یا عمة! هلمّی إلیّ ابنی، فقلت: یا رسول الله إنما لم ننظفه بعد، فقال: یا عمة أنتِ تنظفیه؟! إن الله تبارک وتعالى قد نظّفه وطهّره”
Razi, Mohammad. Ganjine Daneshmandan, vol.1, p.16.
“اَلا مَن ماتَ عَلَی حُبّ آل مُحمّد ماتَ شَهیدا”
Majlesi, Mohammad Baqir. (403 A.H.). Behar al Anvar, Bairut, Dar Ihya Alturath Alarabi, pp,265_267 “
یا سعد عندکم لنا قبر. من زارها عارفا بحقها فله الجنة، فاذا اتیت القبر فقم عند راسها مستقبل القبلة، و کبّر اربعا و ثلاثین تکبیرة، و سبّح ثلاثا و ثلاثین تسبیحة، و احمد الله ثلاثا و ثلاثین تحمیدة، ثم قل: السلام علی آدم صفوة الله …
Moalem, Mohammad Ali. Alfatimat-l-Ma’souma, (no date and publication is available), p.64; Sepehr, Mohammad Taghi Khan Sepehr. Nasikh Altavarikh, vol.3, p.68.
” من زارَ المَعصومةَ بِقم کَمنْ زارَنی “
Quluye, Jafar Ibn, Kamil alziyarat. (1356). Najaf, p.324.
” من زار عمتی بقم فله الجنه “
Qomi, Hasan. (1385). The History of Qom, Hazrat Ayatullah Marashi Najafi Library, Qom, p.114
”مرحبا بإخواننا من اهل قم؛ مرحبا بر برادران ما از اهل قم. ان لله حرما و هو مکه، و لرسوله حرما و هو المدینه، و لامیر المؤمنین حرما و هو الکوفه، لنا حرما و هو قم، وستد فن فیه امراة من والدی تسمی فاطمه، من زارها وجبت له الجنة “
The History of Qom, p.215.
“ان زیارتها تعادل الجنة”