Uyun Akhbar Ar-Ridha Volume 1

Chapter 2: Traditions About Imam Al-Ridha’'s Mother And Her Name

2-1 In the year 235 A.H. (849 A.D.) al-Hakim Abu Ali Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Bayhaqi narrated from his home in Neishaboor that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Sowly said that Abul Hassan Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) is Ali ibn Musa ibn Ja'far ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Al-Husayn ibn Abi Talib (a.s.). His mother was an Umm Walad[^1] who was called Toktam. She was named Toktam when Abul Hassan Musa ibn Ja'far (a.s.) became her master (i.e. husband).

2-2 Al-Hakim Abu Ali Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Bayhaqi quoted on the authority of al-Sowly, on the authority of Own ibn Muhammad al-Kendy quoted on the authority of Abul Hassan Ali ibn Maysam[^2] - Imam Al-Kazim's mother - who was one of the noble Persian ladies called Hamideh, bought a female slave of the Mowalledeh[^3] type named Toktam. Toktam was one of the noblest ladies in regards to intelligence, religion and respect for her master and his mother Hamideh. She respected Lady Hamideh so much that she would never sit down in her presence. Then Lady Hamideh told her son - Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.), “O my son! Toktam is a female slave. I have never seen any female slave better than her. I have no doubt that God will purify any generations from her offspring. Therefore, I will bestow her on you. Treat her with kindness. When she gave birth to Imam Al-Ridha’ (a.s.), Imam Al-Kazim (a.s.) called her Taherah.”

Then Ali ibn Maysam added, “Imam Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) drank a lot of milk and was a chubby baby. Then his mother asked for a wet-nurse to breast-feed the baby. She was asked if she had run out of milk. She replied, ‘No, I

2

1 - حَدَّثَنا الْحاكِمُ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الحُسَيْنُ بْنُ أحْمَدَ

2 - حَدَّثَنا الْحاكِمُ أَبُو عَلِيِّ الحُسَيْنُ بْنُ أحْمَد

swear by God that I have not run out of milk, but since the birth of this baby I cannot attend to my own prayers and supplications.’”

Al-Hakim Abu Ali quoted on the authority of al-Sowly, “One proof that the name of Imam Al-Ridha’'s mother is Toktam can be found in this poem composed about Imam Al-Ridha’ (a.s.):

The Noble Ali is the best of the people

Who has the best father, forefathers and tribe.

Toktam gave birth to him

Who is the eighth Leader.

With his knowledge and patience

He will stress God's covenant with the people.”

Al-Sowly said, “And some people have ascribed this to my paternal uncle - Ibrahim ibn Abbas - but no such thing has been narrated for me about him. I neither accept nor will I reject what has been narrated for me or what I have not heard. However, the following poem was undoubtedly composed by my paternal uncle - Ibrahim ibn Abbas:

The deeds of just men are just witnesses for their doers.

O yes, they have some considerable amount of new wealth

That is not at all similar to what they had before.

They[^4] give you[^5] only one percent of your own wealth,

Yet they mention it as if they are doing you a favor.

Whoever eulogizes your enemies, has not eulogized God.

You are nobler than your eighth-generation cousin (al-Ma’mun)

Just as your forefathers were nobler than his forefathers.”

Al-Sowly said, “I found these verses written in my father's notebook in his own handwriting. My father used to say that his brother had recited these poems and said that our uncle had composed them about Ali[^6]. There is a note in the margin of one of the pages of that notebook stating, ‘What is meant by eighth-generation cousin is Al-Ma’mun, since both Imam Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) and Al-Ma’mun were eighth generation descendants of Abdul Muttalib.”

Moreover, Toktam is an Arabic name that is often seen in Arabic poetry. Al-Sowly said, “My uncle - Ibrahim ibn Abbas - had composed a lot of eulogies about Imam Al-Ridha’ (a.s.). He used to recite them in public. However, he was finally forced to hide them. Later he searched for them and compiled them again.”

Some people have narrated that the name of Imam Al-Ridha’'s noble mother was Sakan An-Nawbiyeh. She was also called Arwa, Najma, and Somayeh. Her nickname was Ummul Banin.

2-3 Tamim ibn Abdullah ibn Tamim al-Qurashi - may God be pleased with him - narrated that his father quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Ali Al-Ansari, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Ali Al-Ansari, on the authority of Ali ibn Maysam, on the authority of his father, “When the mother of Imam Al-Kazim (a.s.) - Lady Hamideh - bought (the female slave) Najma who later gave birth to Imam Al-Ridha’ (a.s.), she said, ‘I had a dream. In my dream God's Prophet (S) told me to give Najma to my son Musa (a.s.). The Prophet (S) told me that Najma and Musa (a.s.) will have a child who will be the best man on the Earth. Then I gave her to my son Musa (a.s.).’ When Najma gave birth to Imam Al-Ridha’ (a.s.), Imam Musa Al-Kazim (a.s.) named her Taherah. She also had other names including Najma, Arwa, Sakan, Samaneh and Toktam. Toktam was her last name.” Ali ibn Maysam added on the authority of his father, “I heard my mother say that Najma was a girl when Lady Hamideh bought her.”

2-4 (The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa'd ibn Abdullah quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Mahboob, on the authority of Yaqoob ibn Ishaq, on the authority of Zakariya al-Wasety, on the authority of Hisham bin Ahmed that Abul Hassan the first (Imam Al-Kazim (a.s.) said, “Do you know anyone from the West who has come here?” I said, “No.” Imam Al-Kazim (a.s.) said, “Yes, a red man has come here. Let’s go to see him together.” We mounted our horses and rode over to see him. He was a Western man with several slaves. Imam Al-Kazim (a.s.) said, “Show us your slaves.” The man showed the Imam (a.s.) nine of his female slaves. About each one of them Imam Al-Kazim (a.s.) said, “I do not need her.”[^7] Then he said, “Show us the rest of them.” The man said, “I do not have any more.”

3 - حَدَّثَنا تَمِيمُ بْنِ عَبْدِاللَّه تَمِيمُ القُرَشِي رَضِىَ اللهُ

4 - حَدَّثَنا أَبي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَعْدُ بْنُ

The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes you do. Show them to us. The man swore to God and said, “I swear by God that I do not have any more. There is just an ill female slave left.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “What would happen if you also show her to us?” The man refused and then the Imam (a.s.) left. The next day Imam Al-Kazim (a.s.) sent me to that man, instructed me to ask him what the last price was for her and to accept whatever price he quoted for her. Then I went to see that man. He said, “I will not sell her for an less than so much.” I said, “O.K. I accept the amount. Here is the money. It is yours.” He said, “O.K. That female slave is ours. But please tell me who the man with you was.” I said, “He is from the Hashemite[^8] tribe.” He asked, “Which branch? “I answered, “He is from the noble men of the Hashemite tribe.” The man said, “Please explain more.” I said, “I do not know anymore than this.” Then the man said, “O.K. Let me tell you then. I bought this female slave from one of the farthest towns away in the West.” A woman of the People of the Book saw me and asked me, “What is this female slave doing with you?” I said, “I have bought her for myself.” She said, “It is neither proper nor possible for her to be with people like you. She must live with the best of the people on the Earth. She will give birth to a child after living in their house for a short while to whom all the people of the East and the West will be humble.” Hisham said, “After buying her, I took her to Imam Al-Kazim (a.s.). Then after a short while, she gave birth to (Imam) Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha’ (a.s.). Muhammad ibn Ali Majiluwayh - may God be pleased with him - quoted the same tradition in the same form for me on the authority of his uncle Muhammad ibn Ali al-Qasim, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ali al-Kufi, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Khalid, on the authority of Hisham bin Ahmed.

[^1]: Umm Walad in Arabic is used for a slave-wife who delivers her master's child.

[^2]: Al-Kindy said that he had not seen anyone more knowledgeable about the history of the Divine Leaders (a.s.) than Abal Hassan Ali ibn Maysam.

[^3]: This applies to slaves born among the Arabs and raised by them. Such slaves are familiar with Arab traditions and customs: quoted from BIHAR UL-ANWAR by Muhammad Baqir al-Majlesi.

[^4]: The Caliphs

[^5]: The Divine Leaders

[^6]: meaning Imam Al-Ridha’ (a.s.)

[^7]: Implying I do not want her

[^8]: The name “Hashem” is actually that of Qusay’s grandson, who was the great-grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad (S). The Hashemites are the direct descendants of the Prophet (S) through his daughter Fatima (a.s.) and her husband Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.). Ali (a.s.) and Fatima (a.s.) had two sons: Al-Hassan (a.s.) and Al-Husayn (a.s.). The direct descendants of their eldest son, Imam Al-Hassan (a.s.), are called the Hashemites.