Sawsan was the mother of Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari ('a). Some of the other names used for her include: Hadith, Hadithah, and Salil. This woman was a manumitted servant.1 Shaykh al-Saduq quotes Jabir about the tablet of Fatimah ('a) that he said, "In this tablet the names of the Imams and their mothers were written, and the name of the mother of Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari was given as Samana with the nickname of Umm al-Hasan."2

Shaykh al-Saduq has written, "When news of the death of Imam al-Hasan al­Askari ('a) reached al-Madinah, his mother Hadith left al-Madinah for Surra­man-ra'a. Ja'far al-Kadhdhab (the liar), the brother of Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari ('a), had created many difficulties over the matter of the Imamat and inheritance. He claimed inheritance which was not his, and complained of the mother of Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari ('a) before the king.3

The time of death of this distinguished woman is not clear. However, after the death of her son, Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari ('a) (260 A.H.), she was still alive. She requested that he be buried in their house next to her husband and son (Imam 'Ali Ibn Muhammad al-Hadi and al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali al-'Askari). However, Ja'far al-Kadhdhab tried to prevent this and said, "This house is my house."

Imam al-Mahdi ('aj) appeared and asked him, "Ja'far! This house is your house?" Then he was gone.4

Her Merits

Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari's mother was a very self-constrained, pious, modest, and good woman. Imam al-Hadi ('a) has said about her, "Salil is free of evils, indecency, uncleanness, and impurities.5

Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari ('a), when making out his will to his mother, divided his inheritance between his mother and his brother, Ja'far, and recorded this with a judge. His mother claimed that he had made out his will, and the judge proved this to be true.6

This woman's distinction based on the tradition which Shaykh al-Saduq relates from Ahmad Ibn Ibrahim from Hakimah, the daughter of Imam al-Jawad ('a), is clear.

Ahmad Ibn Ibrahim has said, "I asked Hakimah that now that Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari has left this world who the Shi'ah should turn to?" She answered, "To the grandmother, the mother of Imam, may God send His greetings upon her."7

Therefore, this dear, devout, pious woman was a connection between the Imam ('a) and his people. She was also the executor of his will. Such a high and esteemed station is reserved for the Imams. However, due to the circumstances of the time, the young age of the Imam, and his Lesser Occultation, the mother of Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari was entrusted with this mission.

Mulla Qahpa'i has listed her among the transmitters of traditions with the name Haditha.8

Shaykh Mahallati has written, “Sawsan was a princess in her province.”9

A tradition which the mother of Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari ('a) related was not found. However, without a doubt this honorable woman who was the executor of the will, the mother, and the wife of the Imam must have related traditions from him.

• 1. Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 461; Kitab al-Irshad, p. 335; Ithbat al-Wasiyyah, p. 205; Kashf al­Gummah, vol. 3, p. 271.
• 2. Kamal al-Din, vol. 1, p. 307.
• 3. Kamal al-Din, vol. 2, p. 474; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 50, p. 331.
• 4. Kamal al-Din, vol. 2, p. 442.
• 5. Ithbat al-Wasiyyah, p. 205.
• 6. Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 462; Kamal al-Din, vol. 1, p. 43.
• 7. Kamal al-Din, vol. 2, p. 501.
• 8. Majm'a al-Rijal, vol. 7, p. 173.
• 9. Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 3, p. 24.