Name: Fatima
Title: Masouma
Birth City and Date: Medina, on the first Day of Dhu al-Qa'dah 173 A.H.
Father's name: Imam Musa al-Kazim
Mother's name: Najma Khatoon mother of Imam Rida
Died: at the age 28, in Qum on 10th Rabi al-Thani, 201 A.H.
Buried: Qum, Iran
Noble Descent:
Hadrat Fatima Masoumaو the Blessed and the Gracious Divine Lady from the Holy Ahlul Bayt was born in the holy city of Medina on the First Day of the month of Dhu al-Qa'dah 173 A.H. Her holy father was Imam Musa al-Kazim, the Seventh Holy Imam and Imam Rida, the Eighth Holy Imam was her elder brother. Hadrat Fatima Masouma was the most learned scholar and very pious lady and was greatly revered by the Holy Imams. She was buried in the holy city of Qum (Iran) and her holy shrine is every year visited by millions of the lovers of Holy Ahlul Bayt.
She was Masouma (the Immaculate):
Hadrat Fatima bint Musa al-Kazim was most pious, noble and reverend lady. Like her holy grandmother Hadrat Fatima Zahra she was always busy in performing Salaat (prayers) and kept fast most of the days. She was greatly respected and revered by her holy father Imam Musa al-Kazim and her elder brother Imam Rida. She becomes famous as Masouma (the Immaculate) during her lifetime. Imam Rida has said about Hadrat Fatima Masouma:
Whoever performs the Ziyarah of 'Fatima Masouma' in Qum is like the person who has performed my Ziyarah.
Karimah-i Ahlul Bayt:
Hadrat Fatima Masouma is also considered as Karimah-i Ahlul Bayt (A.S.) because she was very kind and gracious. Thousands of miracles have been recorded at the holy grave of her and she fulfills the rightful wishes of the believers and she miraculously heals incurable patients. Imam Jafar Sadiq has quoted By the intercession of Fatima Masouma, all my Shias will enter the paradise.
Demise of Hadrat Masumah: The Burial Ceremonies
In the year 200 A.H. a year after the forced migration of Imam Rida from Medina to Marw in Khurasan by the reigning Abbasid caliph Mamun, Hadrat Masouma accompanied by her brothers left Medina for Khurasan to meet her elder brother Imam Rida. When they reached Saveh in central Iran they were attacked by the Abbasid army and many of his brothers were mercilessly martyred.
Hadrat Masouma became severely ill and in this condition she migrated to Qum where the Shias of the city warmly welcomed her. The effect of sickness increased during her short stay in Qum and she attained martyrdom on 10th of Rabi al-Thani 201 A.H. Hadrat Masumah had great longing to meet her brother Imam Rida but due to her sudden death she could not meet him.
Imam Rida was deeply grieved when he came to know about the demise of her beloved sister Hadrat Fatima Masouma.
The Merits of the Ziyarah of Hadrat Fatima Masumah:
There are many traditions from the Holy Imams recommending the Shias to perform the Ziyarah of the holy grave of Hadrat Masouma in the holy city of Qum.
Imam Ali al-Rida said: Whoever performs the Ziyarah of Fatima Masouma will be awarded heaven.
Imam Muhammad Taqi al-Jawad said: Whoever performs the Ziyarah of my aunt [Fatima Masouma] in Qum will enter paradise.
Imam Ali al-Rida said: Whoever performs the Ziyarah of 'Fatima Masouma' with the knowledge of her status will attain paradise.
The Holy City of Qum:
The holy city of Qum in central Iran, 150 km to the south of Tehran, became one of the first bastions of Shi'ism and till the present day it is the leading center of Islamic seminaries where more than forty thousand scholars and students are learning Islamic sciences in the numerable Islamic seminaries present in this holy city. At present about two hundred Islamic research and cultural centers are active in this holy city.
In the year 83 A.H. the Arabs belonging to the Ash'ari tribe migrated and settled in this region and laid the foundation of this city. From the beginning of its establishment the city of Qum became the dwelling place of the Shias and by the end of first century Hijrah more than 6000 Shias settled in this city.
The Shias of this city revolted against the Umayyad caliphs and after the inception of the Abbasid caliphate in 132 A.H. they also opposed the Abbasid caliphs.
In the year 200 A.H. Hadrat Fatima Masouma took refuge in this city and Her Holiness expired in the year 201 A.H. and was buried in this city. The sacred grave of Hadrat Fatima Masouma became the pilgrimage center of the Shias and this city became famous as Qum-i Muqaddas. Since then it also emerged as a leading Shia learning center in the world. The holy shrine of Hadrat Fatima Masouma and the city's reputation as a center of theological education of the Shias contributed most to its fame.