Shaykh al-Saduq and Allamah al-Majlisi have related traditions which show the existence of a woman by the name of Fatimah the daughter of Imam al-Ridha ('a), while others are of the belief that Imam al-Ridha ('a) had no other children besides Imam al-Jawad ('a). Shaykh al-Mufid has written, "Imam al-Ridha ('a) passed away leaving no other child besides Imam al-Jawad ('a)."1

The genealogical books in listing the children of the Imams only list the male children. The book Kashf al-Ghummah lists Imam al-Ridha's children as five boys and one girl by the names of Muhammad, Qani', Hasan, Ja'far, Ibrahim, and 'A'ishah.2

There is a section about Fatimah Bint 'Ali al-Ridha Ibn Musa al-Kazim Ibn Ja'far al-Sadiq ('a) in the book Nur al-Absar. There is a tradition related from Bashir Ibn Sa'id al-Jawhari that Fatimah said, "One year there was a large drought and my husband died." The author has written, "On the way to the grave of Fatimah Bint 'Ali al-Ridha Ibn Musa al-Kazim Ibn Ja'far al-Sadiq ('a) is the grave of al­Buyiti."3 & 4

However, in al-Mujdi it is written that the children of 'Ali Ibn Musa ('a) were Ishaq, Muhammad, and Fatimah, and that Ishaq had no children.5 Therefore, based on these words and the documentation on the traditions, Fatimah is the daughter of Imam 'Ali Ibn Musa al-Ridha ('a) and the sister of Imam al-Jawad ('a).

Shaykh Mahallati in introducing Fatimah the daughter of Imam al-Ridha ('a) writes, "Her husband was Muhammad Ibn Ja'far Ibn Qasim Ibn Ishaq Ibn 'Abdullah Ibn Ja'far Ibn Abi Talib.”6

She has related traditions from Imam 'Ali Ibn Musa ('a) and the daughters of Imam Musa Ibn Ja'far ('a). While the people who have related traditions from her are: Bakr Ibn Ahmad Ibn Malik al-Ashajj al-'Asri (Basri) and Bakr Ibn Ahnaf.

Shaykh al-Saduq based on his documents relates from Bakr Ibn Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn... al-Ashajj al-'Asri from Fatimah Bint 'Ali Ibn Musa ('a) as saying, "I heard my father say from his father from Ja'far Ibn Muhammad, and him from his father and uncle Zayd, and those two from their fathers 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn, and him from his father and uncle, and those two from 'Ali Ibn Abi­Talib that he said, 'It is not permissible for a Muslim to frighten another Muslim."7

Using the same documentation al-Saduq relates from the Prophet (S) that he said, "Whoever controls his anger, God will remove punishment from him. And, whoever corrects his disposition God will give him the status of one who continually fasts."8

Al-Majlisi based on his documents relates from Bakr Ibn Ahnaf from Fatimah Bint 'Ali Ibn Musa al-Ridha ('a) from the daughters of Musa Ibn Ja'far ('a), Fatimah, Zaynab, and Umm Kulthum, from Fatimah Bint Ja'far Ibn Muhammad from Fatimah Bint Muhammad Ibn 'Ali from Fatimah Bint 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn from the daughters of al-Husayn Ibn 'Ali ('a), Fatimah and Sukaynah, from Umm Kulthum Bint 'Ali ('a) from her mother Fatimah the daughter of the Messenger of God (S) that she said, "I heard the Messenger of God (S) say, 'The night I was taken to the heavens, I entered Heaven and saw a palace made of white diamonds. It had a door decorated with pearls and rubies. There was a curtain over the door. I raised my head, and on the door it was written, 'There is no god besides God, Muhammad is the Messenger of God, and 'Ali is the master of his nation.' Also, it was written, 'Lucky are the followers (Shi'ah) of 'Ali'"9

• 1. Kitab al-Irshad, p. 316 or 308 [Note, there being no other child alive besides Imam al-Jawad ('a) at the time of the death of Imam al-Ridha ('a) doesn't prove that there was no other child during the time of Imam al-Ridha ('a). Fatimah may have passed away before her father, Imam al-Ridha ('a)].
• 2. Kashf al-Ghummah, vol. 3, p. 57.
• 3. Yusuf Ibn Yahya al-Buyiti has related from Abu Ya'qub from al-Shafa'i. He is the author of the book Mukhtasar al-Kabir, Mukhtasar al-Saghir and al-Fara’id. [Lughat Nama Dihkhuda; Al-A’lam by al-Zarkali].
• 4. Nur al-Absar, p. 362.
• 5. Al-Mujdi, p. 128.
• 6. Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 5, p. 31.
• 7. 'Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha, vol. 2, p. 76, # 327; Wasa'il al-Shi’ah, vol. 12.
• 8. 'Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha, vol. 2, p. 76, # 328.
• 9. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 65, p. 76.