Fatimah or Qaribah, was the daughter of al-Qasim Ibn Muhammad Ibn Abi­Bakr1 and the mother of Imam al-Sadiq ('a).2 She was known by the nicknames of Umm Farwah and Umm al-Qasim. Her mother was Asma' Bint 'Abd al­ Rahman Ibn Abi Bakr. Abu Bakr was thus her maternal as well as her paternal grandfather. She is buried in the Baqi' cemetery alongside her son, Imam al­Sadiq ('a), and Imam al-Baqir ('a), Imam Zayn al-'Abidin ('a), Imam al-Hasan ('a), and her mother, Asma' Bint 'Abd al-Rahman Ibn Abi Bakr.3

Her Merits

Umm Farwah was well-versed in Gnosticism, and was a virtuous, scholarly woman who possessed great piety and fear of God. Imam al-Sadiq ('a) said about her, "My mother was among those who had faith and piety and did good works, and God loves those who do good works."4

Muhammad Ibn Yahya, relying on his own sources, transmits that 'Abd al-'Ala' said, "I saw how Umm Farwah circumambulating around the Ka'bah in inconspicuous clothes. She touched the black stone with her left hand. A man who was also circumambulating the Ka'bah told her, 'O servant of God! You are carrying out the Islamic tradition incorrectly.' Umm Farwah answered

him, 'We have no need for your knowledge. "'5

Al-Barqi counts her among the transmitters of traditions from Imam al-Sadiq ('a).6 'Allamah Mamqani also mentions her as one of the women transmitters of traditions. After relating a tradition about her, he writes, "With regard to this tradition I can say that it proves Umm Farwah's trustworthiness, because she was a pious woman doing good works all her life. Therefore, I consider her to be highly trustworthy."7

Al-Mas'udi8 writes, "She was one of the most pious women of her age, and she has transmitted traditions from 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn ('a)."9 She has also related traditions from Imam Muhammad Ibn 'Ali al-Baqir ('a). And, Imam Ja'far Ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq ('a) has related traditions from her.

Imam al-Sadiq ('a) said that his mother quoted his father as saying, "O Umm­Farwah, verily, I pray to God for those among our followers who are guilty of a sin a thousand times every day. We are patient in the face of calamities that befall us with the knowledge that we will be richly rewarded. However, they are patient without having that knowledge."10

• 1. Al-Qasim Ibn Muhammad Ibn Abi Bakr has been listed among the companions and transmitters of traditions from Imam 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn ('a) and Imam al-Baqir ('a) by Shaykh al-Tusi. Al-Qasim Ibn Muhammad was the cousin and strong companion of Imam 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn ('a), and one of the Shi'ah jurisprudents who was among the descendants of the Messenger of God (S). He passed away in the year 101 A.H.L. He was also a descendant of the daughter of King Yazdigard. (Rijal al-Tusi, pp. 100 and 133; Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 2, p. 23).
• 2. Al-Mujdi, p. 94; 'Umdat al-Talib, p. 225.
• 3. Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 472; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 47, p. 1.
• 4. Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 472 (Kitab al-Hujjah, the chapter about the birth of Abu 'Abdullah Ja'far Ibn Muhammad).
• 5. Al-Kafi, vol. 4, p. 428 (Kitab al-Hajj); Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 46, p. 367.
• 6. Rijal al-Barqi, p. 62; Mu'jam Rijal al-Hadith, vol. 23, p. 179.
• 7. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 73 (the chapter about women).
• 8. 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn Ibn 'Ali, known as Abu al-Hasan, was the son of 'Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud. He was a historian and an expert on lineages living in the 4th century A.H. He was from Baghdad, and lived in Egypt. He passed away there in 346 A.H.L. He was the author of many books including, Muruj al-Dhahab, Dhakha'ir al-'Ulum wa-ma-kan fi Salif al-Dahur, and al-Tarikh fi Akhbar al-Umam min al-'Arab wa'l-'Ajam. [Al-A'lam by al-Zarkali, Lughat Nama Dihkhuda].
• 9. Ithbat al-Wasiyyah, p. 152.
• 10. Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 472 (Kitab al-Hujjah, the chapter on the birth of Abu 'Abdullah Ja'far Ibn Muhammad ('a); Ithbat al-Wasiyyah, p. 153.