Sakan al-Nubiyyah, was the wife of Imam Musa al-Kazim ('a) and the mother of Imam al-Ridha ('a). Her nickname was Umm al-Banin,1 and she was also called Arwa, Najmah, Samanah, Tuktam, al-Khayzuran, and al-Shaqra'.2 When she brought Imam al-Ridha ('a) into the world, she was called al-Tahirah.3

The author of Kashf al-Ghummah has written, "The mother of Imam al-Ridha ('a) was al-Khayzaran the Egyptian, a manumitted bondmaid, and she was also called al-Shaqra' al-Nubiyyah and Arwa Umm al-Banin.4

Her Merits

Shaykh al-Saduq based on his documents relates a tradition about her. The overall meaning of this tradition is as follows: Hamidah al-Musaffat, the mother of Imam Musa Ibn Ja'far ('a), bought a servant. This servant was from a family of nobility of the non-Arabs; however, she was born among the Arabs, grew up with their children, and was trained along with them. Hamidah bought her and gave her to her son Imam Musa ('a) and told him, "I have never seen a servant better than her. In a short time God will manifest her offspring."5

Al-Saduq has related another tradition based on his documents from 'Ali Ibn Maytham from his father. The summary of this tradition is as follows: When Hamidah the mother of Musa Ibn Ja'far ('a) bought Najmah the mother of Imam al-Ridha ('a), who was a servant at that time she saw the Messenger of God (S) in a dream. He told her, "O Hamidah, give Najmah to your son Musa, because she will bear the best creation on earth." Hamidah gave Najmah to her son. Ali Ibn Maytham says, "I heard from my father who had heard from his mother that Najmah was single when Hamidah bought her."6

The position and esteem for Umm al-Banin (Najmah) before God is clear from her situation. God gave her the blessings of marrying an Imam and being the mother of an Imam ('a). This honor and glory is enough that she was the mother of Imam 'Ali Ibn Musa al-Ridha ('a). She was a very pious and devout woman.

She has related traditions from her son, 'Ali Ibn Musa ('a); and the grandmother of 'Ali Ibn Maytham has related traditions from her.

Al-Saduq based on his documents has related from 'Ali Ibn Maytham from his father from his mother that she said, "I heard that Najmah, the mother of Imam al-Ridha ('a), saying, 'When I became pregnant with my son 'Ali I didn't feel the weight of pregnancy; however, I could hear the sounds of praising, eulogizing, and extolling of God from inside my stomach which frightened me. When I realized that I was expecting, I no longer heard these sounds. When he was born he put his hands on the ground, raised his head to the skies, his lips moved, and it was as if he were saying something. His father Musa Ibn Ja'far came into the room and told me, 'Congratulations on your Lord's blessings upon you Najmah!' I wrapped him (the baby) in a white cloth, and the Imam ('a) said the adhan (call to prayer) in his right ear and the iqamah (the prefatory part of the ritual prayers) in his left ear. He asked for some water from the Euphrates River and rubbed it on the roof of the baby's mouth and around it. He returned him to me after that and said, 'Take him. He is God's representative on earth.""7

• 1. Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 486; Kitab al-lrshad, p. 304; Kamal al-Din, vol. 1, p. 307.
• 2. Dala'il al-Imamah, p. 184; I'lam al-Wara, p. 313; Siyar A'lam al-Nubala', vol. 9, p. 387.
• 3. 'Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha, vol. 1, p. 24 - 26; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 49, p. 3 and 6.
• 4. Kashf al-Ghamah, vol. 3, p. 113.
• 5. 'Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha, vol. 1, p. 24.
• 6. 'Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha, vol. 1, p. 26; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 1, p. 29.
• 7. 'Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha, vol. 1, p. 29.