Kabshah, also known as Umm Sulayman, was the servant of Imam al-Husayn ('a). He had bought her for one thousand dirhams, and she worked in the house of Umm Ishaq al-Taymiyyah, the wife of the Imam ('a). After her marriage with Abu Razin1 she brought Sulayman into the world. Sulayman was the servant of Imam al-Husayn ('a).

Kabshah set out for Karbala' along with her master Imam al-Husayn ('a). After the events at Karbala' she was taken to al-Kufah in Damascus as a captive along with the other women and the rest of the Prophet's household. Then, she was returned to al-Madinah.

Her Merits

It is a tribute and honor to Kabshah and her son that they served Imam al­ Husayn ('a). Her husband too was one of the companions of Imam al-Husayn ('a). Sulayman, her son, was the carrier of the message from Imam al-Husayn ('a) to the aristocrats of Basra and Egypt. 'Ubaydullah Ibn Ziyad ordered his head to be cut. Sulayman is the servant of Imam al-Husayn who is mentioned in the famous form of ziyarah known as ziyarat al-nahiyah: Peace be upon Sulayman, the servant of al-Husayn.

Umm Sulayman was a learned, virtuous, righteous woman, and she went with her master Imam al-Husayn ('a) to Karbala'. She witnessed all of the difficulties and persecutions which came upon the Ahl al-Bayt ('a) and forbore all of these in the way of God.2

A tradition which Kabshah had related was not found. However, it is quite clear that someone like her who was in the service of Imam al-Husayn ('a) must have said something about the words or deeds of Imam al-Husayn ('a).

• 1. Mas'ud, the servant of Abu Wa'il, was nicknamed Abu Razin. Shaykh al-Tusi introduces him as one of the companions of Imam al-Hasan ('a). (Rijal al-Tusi, p. 70).
• 2. A'lam al-Nisa' al-Mu'minat, p. 602.