Umm Khalid's name, 'Abdiyyah, is obtained from a tradition which Shaykh al-Kulayni and al-Kashi have related.1

Her Merits

Al-Kashi, relying on his sources, relates the following tradition about her, quoting Abu Basir as saying, "I was sitting with Imam al-Sadiq ('a) when Umm Khalid, whose hand had been cut off by Yusuf Ibn 'Amr2 asked to be admitted. Abu 'Abdullah inquired, ·would you like to listen to Umm Khalid's speech?'

I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you, yes.'

He said, ·she has asked to be admitted just now.'

Imam al-Sadiq ('a) asked me to sit on a mat. Then, Umm Khalid entered and spoke. I noticed that she spoke with great eloquence and she asked Imam al-Sadiq ('a) about different issues. In front of Imam al­Sadiq ('a), Umm Khalid expressed her disgust with Kathir al-Nawwa'3 who had been among the companions of Imam al-Sadiq ('a) in the past, but had later become of the Batri4 faith.5 From this tradition, we can conclude that Umm­Khalid was among the companions of Imam al-Sadiq ('a).

Imam al-Sadiq ('a) has said that Umm Khalid will be one of those who arise with Imam al-Mahdi ('aj).6

Al-Kashi quotes 'Ali Ibn al-Hasan as saying, "Umm Khalid was a virtuous woman of the Shi'ah faith; (however), she had an inclination towards the Zaydiyyah sect."7 Mamqani writes, "What al-Kashi says proves her reliability, because he describes her as being virtuous and a Shi'ah. An inclination towards Zayd's sect is no reason to consider her to be outside the Shi'ah faith."8

She has related traditions from Abu 'Abdullah Ja'far Ibn Muhammad ('a), and Abu Basir has related traditions from her.

Al-Kashi, relying on his own sources, relates that Abu Basir said, "I was sitting with Abu 'Abdullah ('a) when Umm Khalid, whose hand had been cut off by Yusuf, asked to be admitted. Imam al-Sadiq ('a) asked, ·would you like to hear what she says?'

I replied, ‘Yes, may I be sacrificed for you.'

He said, 'If you grow weary, tell me.' He had me sit on a mat, and Umm Khalid entered. She talked with remarkable eloquence, and asked Abu Abdullah how to behave towards this and that person.

He answered, 'Be friendly with them.'

She said, ‘whenever I meet my Lord, I shall tell Him, that you advised me to be friendly with them.'

'Yes,' he said.

She continued, 'Verily, this person who is sitting here with you on the mat has advised me to keep away from them, while Kathir al-Nawwa' has advised me to be friends with them. Which of these two is better to you?'

He answered, 'I swear to God that this person and his friends are dearer to me than Kathir al-Nawwa' and his friends. If this person becomes someone's enemy, he (still) says, 'Those who do not judge by God's revelations are unbelievers. Those who do not judge by God's revelations are oppressors. Those who do not judge by God's revelations are transgressors.'

After Umm Khalid had gone, Abu 'Abdullah said, 'I was worried that she would go and give the news to Kathir al-Nawwa'. Then, he would slander me in al-Kufah and ruin my repute. O my Lord, I seek refuge with you from Kathir al­Nawwa' in this world and the Hereafter.9

• 1. Al-Kafi, vol. 6, p. 413; lkhtiyar Ma'rifat al-Rijal, vol. 3, p. 509.
• 2. Yusuf Ibn 'Amr was killed by Zayd Ibn 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn in al-Kufah and was the governor of Iraq. He cut off the hand of Umm-Khalid for the accusation of being Shi'ah.
• 3. Shaykh 'Tusi, al-Kashi and al-Barqi list Kathir al-Nawwa' among the companions of Imam al-Baqir ('a), although he was a Sunni. Later, he joined the Batri faith, which led to complete estrangement between him and Imam al-Sadiq ('a). (Jami' al-Ruwat, vol. 2, p. 28).
• 4. The Batriyyah is a sub-sect of the Zaydiyyah sect led by al-Mughirah al-Abtar Ibn Sa'd, a companion of Kathir al-Nawwa'.
• 5. Ikhtiyar Ma'rifat al-Rijal, vol. 3, p. 509.
• 6. Dala'il al-Imamah, p. 259.
• 7. lkhtiyar Ma'rifat al-Rijal, vol. 3, p. 511.
• 8. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 71, from the chapter about women.
• 9. Ikhtiyar Ma'rifal al-Rijal, vol. 3, p. 509.