Zahra' was one of the companions of Imam al-Jawad ('a). No description of her life was found.

Shaykh al-Tusi, Mirza Astarabadi and Ardabili have called her Zahra' Umm­Ahmad Ibn al-Husayn1 and said that she was one of the companions of Imam al-Jawad ('a).2

'Allamah Mamqani has said, “In the book Rijal by Shaykh al­Tusi, the names Zahra' and Umm Ahmad Ibn al-Husayn have been listed one after the other. Thus, Mirza Astarabadi and others thought that these two are one person and have listed them as one (which is incorrect)." Then he writes, "It would appear that she was Shi'ah; however, there is no information available on her life.3

Mamqani's words are correct; because, in studying the manuscripts it may be seen that the names of transmitters of traditions from one Infallible are listed one after the other.4

• 1. Ahmad Ibn al-Husayn is Ahmad Ibn Dawud al-Baghdadi.
• 2. Rijal al-Tusi, p. 409; Manhaj al-Maqal, p. 400; Jami' al-Ruwat, vol. 2, p. 457.
• 3. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 78.
• 4. Handwritten manuscripts of Rijal al-Barqi, number 6955, in the central library of Tehran University.