Fidda: Difference between revisions

'''Fiḍḍa al-Nūbīyya''' (Arabic: فضة النوبیة) was the housemaid of [[Fatima al-Zahra (a)]]. She was named “Fidda” by [[the Prophet (s)]]. She is mentioned in [[hadiths]] concerning the birth of [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]] and [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]], the revelation of [[al-It'am Verse]], and the [[martyrdom]] of Fatima al-Zahra (a). She could speak with verses of the [[Qur'an]] and knew [[alchemy]]. She was allegedly present in the [[Event of Karbala]] as well.

Fidda was Fatima al-Zahra’s (a) housemaid. After the revelation of the verse, “then speak to them with gentle words”, [[the Prophet (s)]] sent her to Fatima’s (a) house and called her “Fidda” (which literally means silver).

When Imam 'Ali (a) called his children to say goodbye to the corpse of their mother, Fatima (a), he addressed Fidda as well: “O [[Umm Kulthum]], O [[Zaynab b. 'Ali (a)|Zaynab]], O Sukayna, O Fidda, O Hasan, O Husayn, come on and say goodbye to your mother.

After the martyrdom of Fatima (a), Fidda served 'Ali (a). She lived for 20 years after that. She was known as a pious and righteous woman. 'Ali (a) married her to [[Abu Tha'laba al-Habashi]] from whom she had a son. After Abu Tha'laba’s death, she married Abu Malik al-Ghatfani. Her son died after this marriage. Fidda had children from Abu Malik. A girl called Shuhra bt. Muska bt. Fidda who allegedly exhibited some supernatural acts was Fidda’s granddaughter. According to some sources, her second husband complained against her to [['Umar b. Khattab]], but 'Umar judged in favor of Fidda.

Fidda talked only with verses of the [[Qur'an]] for 20 years; she answered people’s questions with Quranic verses. There is a long [[hadith]] in which she elaborates the condition of Fatima al-Zahra (a) since the demise of the Prophet (s) until her martyrdom. Imam 'Ali (a) said about her: “O God! Bless us in our Fidda”.

According to some sources, Fidda al-Nubiyya was present in [[Karbala]]. The story of the lion and Fidda is concerned with her presence there. She allegedly talked with a lion. The lion wanted to prevent horses from treading the corpse of [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]]. However, given the evidence that horses did tread the Imam’s (a) corpse, the story does not seem to be reliable.

There is a place in Karbala known as the “Lion of Fidda”.