Salimah was the servant of Imam al-Sadiq ('a) and a transmitter of traditions from him. Her name has been mentioned in several different ways such as: Salimah Mawlat Abu 'Abdullah ('a),1 Salma Mawlat Walad Abi 'Abdullah,2 Salimah Mawlat Walad Abi 'Abdullah,3 and Salma Mawlat Abi Ja'far.4

Although it is possible that Salma Mawlat Abi Ja'far is another person, the books about the transmitters of traditions have not listed her separately. It is possible both of these names belong to one person who served Imam al-Baqir (Abu Ja'far) and Imam al-Sadiq (Abu 'Abdullah) ('a).

Ibn Dawud had introduced her with the name Sa'imah in his book on the transmitters of traditions,5 which is a mistake.6

Her Merits

She was freed by Imam al-Sadiq ('a) and she thus served him. Al-Barqi has listed Salimah Mawlat Abi 'Abdullah among the people who transmitted traditions from Abu 'Abdullah ('a) in his book Rijal.7

Shaykh al-Tusi has mentioned Salimah Mawlat Abi 'Abdullah as one of the companions of Imam

Al-Sadiq ('a) in his book on the transmitters of traditions.8

'Allamah Mamqani has written, "Her being Shi'ah is obvious, however we found no praise of her in order to be able to count her among the virtuous."9 She has related traditions from Abu 'Abdullah Imam al-Sadiq ('a).

Ibrahim Ibn 'Abd al-Hamid has related traditions from her. Shaykh al-Kulayni has related based on his documents from Ibrahim Ibn 'Abd al-Hamid from Salimah Mawlat Abi 'Abdullah ('a) as saying, "I was with Imam al-Sadiq ('a) at the time of his death. He became unconscious. When he became conscious again he said, 'Give al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali Ibn 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn (al-Aftas) 70 dinars. And, give so and so this much, and to so and so that much.'

I said, 'Are you going to help him who raised a sword on you?'

He said, 'Woe on you, do you read Qur'an?'

I said, 'Yes.'

He said, 'Have you heard this verse where God says, 'Those who observe the ties of relationship as God has ordered and fear their Lord, and fear doing evil."

Then he said, 'Don't you want me to be one of those people about whom God has revealed this verse? Yes, O Salimah, God created heaven and virtues along with the breeze of His good smell. That breeze can be smelled from a distance of 1000 years, but someone who is disclaimed by his parents or cuts the ties of relationship will not smell it."'10

Al-Majlisi quotes from the book Kashf al-Ghummah that Salma Mawlat Abi­Ja'far said, "His brothers would visit him and they wouldn't leave until the Imam ('a) had fed them with a good and pure food, dressed them in appropriate and good clothes, and granted them some money. I would tell him to reduce doing this.

He said, 'O Salma, good in this world is nothing but giving a reward to one's brothers and doing good.'

He would give 500, 600, or 1000 Dirhams as a prize, and didn't weary of sitting with his brothers. He said, 'The friendship and closeness of a brother to you may be seen by what is in your heart in relation to him.' A sentence such as: 'O beggar may God bless you', or 'take this you beggar' was never heard. Rather he called them with good names.11

• 1. Al-Kafi, vol. 7, p. 55, (Kitab al-Wasaya); Rijal al-Tusi, p. 341.
• 2. Man-la-Yahdaruhu 'l-Faqih, vol. 4, p.231.
• 3. Tahdhib al-Ahkam, vol. 9, p. 246.
• 4. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 46, p. 290, No. 15.
• 5. Rijal Ibn Dawud, p. 224.
• 6. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 80
• 7. Rijal al-Barqi, p. 62; Mu'jam Rijal al-Hadith, vol. 23, p. 191.
• 8. Rijal al-Tusi, p. 341.
• 9. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 80.
• 10. Al-Kafi, vol. 7, p. 55; Man la Yahdaruhu al-Faqih, vol. 4, p. 231; Tahdhib al-Ahkam, vol. 9, p. 246.
• 11. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 46, p. 29 (The history of Imam al-Baqir).