Fatimah was the daughter of Hazam Ibn Khalid Ibn Rabi'ah Ibn 'Amir, who was also known as Walid Ibn Kalab Ibn 'Amir Ibn Sa’sa'ah. Her mother was Layla Bint Malik Ibn Ja'far Ibn Kalab, and her uncle was Lubayd, the poet. Her sons were 'Abbas, Ja'far, 'Abdullah and 'Uthman, all of whom achieved martyrdom with Imam al-Husayn ('a) in Karbala'.1 Umm al-Banin passed away

in 70 A.H.L.

Her Merits

It is narrated that Amir al-Mu'minin ('a) told his brother 'Aqil, who was well­acquainted with the lineage and temperament of the Arab families, 'I want you to ask for a woman for me in marriage who comes from a valiant and brave family, so that she may give me sons who will be brave horsemen.' 'Aqil introduced Fatimah al-Kalabiyyah (Umm al-Banin) to him and said, 'Among the Arabs, I know of no family who is braver than hers.'

'Ali Ibn Abi Talib ('a) married her and she bore him al-'Abbas, Ja'far, 'Abdullah and 'Uthman.2 This mother raised her sons to be devoted to their elder brother Imam al-Husayn ('a) and they all were martyred at his side.3

Umm al-Banin was not present during the battle of Karbala'. When Bashir returned to al-Madinah, he went to see Umm al-Banin and wanted to give her the news about the martyrdom of her sons. However, Umm al-Banin said, 'Tell me about Abu 'Abdullah al-Husayn ('a).' Bashir described how each of her three sons was killed. Umm al-Banin replied, 'You have torn open my heart. May my children and everything under the sky be sacrificed for Abu 'Abdullah ('a). Tell me about al-Husayn.'

Umm al-Banin went every day to the Baqi' cemetery accompanied by 'Ubaydullah, the son of al-'Abbas ('a), to lament and weep for those who were martyred at Karbala'. She composed this poem:

O he who saw 'Abbas descending

Upon the multitude of the weak-hearted

And after him the sons of Haydar followed

Each like a lion with a rousing mane

I heard my son received a blow

To his head, when he had lost his arms

Woe upon me that his head was bowed

By this blow to his head

If he had had a sword in his hand

No one could have approached him

Marwan Ibn al-Hakam - despite the deep animosity he felt towards the family of Banu-Hashim - stood and wept beside Umm al-Banin for her sons alongside the other people who were present mourning them.4

Mamqani, after descriBintg Umm al-Banin's reaction during her meeting with Bashir, wrote, "The reason for her love and devotion to Imam al-Husayn ('a) was because of his position as Imam. She was ready to tolerate the death of her four sons if al-Husayn was safe and sound. This kind of devotion shows her high degree of faith. I consider her to be among the sincere followers."5

• 1. Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 3, pp. 162, 262 and 343; Jamharat al-Ansab, p. 37; Bihar al­Anwar, vol. 42, p. 91; Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 70. (Al-Tabari has recorded the lineage of Hizam as follows, Abu Mijal Ibn Khalid Ibn Rabi'ah Ibn al-Walid Ibn Ka'b Ibn 'Amir Ibn Kalab.)
• 2. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 70.
• 3. Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 3, p. 343; Jamharat al-Ansab, p. 37.
• 4. A'yan al-Shi'ah, vol. 7, p. 429 and vol. 8, p. 389; Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 70; Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 3, p. 294.
• 5. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 70.