Najma Khatun: Difference between revisions

Najma Khatun was the wife of Imam al-Kazim (a) and the mother of Imam al-Rida (a) and Lady Fatima al-Ma’suma (s). She was a maidservant bought by Hamida, Imam al-Sadiq’s (a) wife and was gifted to Imam al-Kazim (a).

She was a maidservant of non-Arab nobility who was born among Arabs. Some sources have mentioned that she was originally from Nubih in north Africa and some considered her from Marseille, south of France. Therefore, she is also known as Marsiyyeh and Shaqra’.

Her most famous name is Najma Khatun, but other names of Sakan Nubiyya Arwa, Samana, Taktum and Khayzuran have been mentioned for her.

Her title was Shaqra’ and her kunya was Umm al-Banin. According to a report by Shaykh al-Saduq, when Najma was gifted to Imam Musa al-Kazim (a), he (a) named her Tuktam and after she gave birth to Imam al-Rida (a), he (a) named her Tahira.

The date of marriage between Najma Khatun and Imam al-Kazim (a) is not known. It is narrated that Hamida, mother of Imam al-Kazim (a) saw the Prophet (s) who ordered her to prepare the marriage of Najma with her son, Musa and gave her the good news that soon, she will deliver best of children. And thus, she did as she was ordered.

Hamida, wife of Imam al-Sadiq (a) told Imam al-Kazim (a), “I have seen no maidservant more meritorious than her and there is no doubt that soon, God the Almighty will reveal her descendants.”

According to a report, the one from whom they bought Najma said that a woman of the Book foretold the news of the birth of a great child from this maidservant.

Shaykh Saduq also narrated a hadith from Ali b. Maytham in which he mentioned a dream of Hamida Khatun, in which she saw the Prophet (s) told her, “O Hamida, gift Najma to your son, Musa, because she will give birth to the best of people on the earth.” Following this dream, Hamidah gifted Najma to her son and she was a virgin by then. Imam al-Kazim (a) as well mentioned about buying Najma as a follow-up of the order of the Prophet (s).

In a hadith from Imam al-Rida (a), it has been said that during her pregnancy, Najma Khatun did not feel the weight of bearing and when sleeping, she heard the sound of praising of her child.

It is mentioned in another report that, Najma requested a babysitter for Imam al-Rida (a) and she mentioned her wish for spending time for prayer and worshipping as her reason for that request.

There is no report about the time of her demise, but the place of her burial, according to some reports,  is beside the grave of Hamida, the wife of Imam al-Sadiq (in Mashraba Umm Ibrahim) located in al-‘Awali area in the east of Baqi’ cemetery.