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Najma Khātūn was the wife of Imam al-Kazim (a) and the mother of Imam al-Rida (a) and Lady Fatima al-Ma'suma (a). 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, Tuktam and Khayzuran have been mentioned for her.
Her title was Shaqra' and her teknonym was Umm al-Banin. According to a report by al-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, in a dream, the Holy 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 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......
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