The sister of the Imam
Fatima bint Musa (a) was born in Madinah on 1 Dhu l-Qa'da 173 AH, the full sister of Imam al-Rida (a) and the most honoured of the many children of Imam al-Kadhim (a). Her father was imprisoned in Baghdad through most of her childhood and martyred when she was ten, and she was raised by her brother, who gave her the title al-Ma'suma. Hadith transmitted through her, and stories of her learning, survive in the Shia collections.
Qom
When al-Ma'mun took Imam al-Rida (a) to Khurasan she followed him in 201 AH, fell ill on the road at Saveh and died in Qom, where she was buried. Imam al-Sadiq (a) is reported to have foretold that a woman of his descendants would die in Qom and that by her intercession all the Shia would enter Paradise; the visitation of her shrine is recommended in hadith from the Imams, and the seminary city that grew around it is the centre of Shia learning in Iran.
Observance
Her birthday opens the Daha-yi Karamat, the ten days of honour that run to the birthday of Imam al-Rida (a) on 11 Dhu l-Qa'da, celebrated in Qom and Mashhad with lights, gatherings and gifts. In Iran the day is Girls' Day.
Written for Shia Online Community. Dates and facts are checked against the references listed under Research & books; where the tradition records more than one date, all are given.