Her name was Habibah, and was given the nickname of Umm Dawud because of her son, Dawud Ibn al-Hasan Ibn al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib.1 She was also called Umm Khalid al-Barbariyyah. It has also been said that her real name was Fatimah Bint 'Abdullah Ibn Ibrahim. Perhaps Fatimah was the mother of Dawud, and Habibah was his wet nurse.2

Her Merits

Umm Dawud has related the worship acts which Imam al-Sadiq ('a) taught her in order to save her son Dawud from prison. She also nursed Imam al-Sadiq ('a) when he was an infant.3 She related traditions from Imam al-Sadiq ('a).

'Allamah al-Majlisi has written, "Know that most of the worship acts recommended for the 15th of Rajab are the supplications of Umm Dawud which Ibn Babawayh, Shaykh al-Tusi and Sayyid Ibn Tawus have related with dependable chains of transmission. They are useful for fulfilling needs, relief from sorrow, and repelling the injustice of oppressors. Imam al-Sadiq ('a) taught these worship acts to Umm Dawud.

A summary of the tradition is as follows: Al-Mansur al-Dawaniqi, the 'Abbasid tyrannical ruler, imprisoned a number of the descendants of the Prophet (S) and their followers, and Dawud was among them. His mother requested a special supplication for his freedom from Imam al-Sadiq ('a). The Imam replied, "Why have you neglected the supplication in Asking God for Assistance and Victory', and the 'Supplication for Relief and Prosperity?' This is a supplication which opens the doors of heaven to those who read it. They will be welcomed by the angels who convey the glad tidings of their supplication having been accepted. O Umm Dawud, the month of Rajab is a month in which supplications will be accepted and..."

After her son was released from prison, Umm Dawud said, "I took Dawud to visit Imam al-Sadiq ('a), and Imam al-Sadiq said to him, 'The reason you were released was that al-Mansur saw Amir al-Mu'minin ('a) in a dream. Amir al­Mu'minin ('a) told him, 'Release my son. If you don't release him, I am going to throw you into the fire.' When he looked about, he saw a sea of fire beneath his feet and regretted what he had done."4

• 1. 'Umdat al-Talib, p. 120; A'yan al-Shi'ah, vol. 3, p. 476; al-Mujdi, pp. 36, 89 (Dawud was the son of al-Hasan Ibn al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali ('a) and monitored the Islamic taxes which were given to Imam 'Ali ('a).
• 2. A'yan al-Shi'ah, vol. 3, p. 476 & 477; Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 3, p. 389.
• 3. Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 3, p. 389.
• 4. Zad al-Ma'ad, a stone print without page numbers; Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 3, p. 390.