Umm Salamah was the mother of Muhammad Ibn Muhajir. She was a narrator of traditions, but nothing is known about her biography.

Her Merits

She is one of the trustworthy narrators of traditions from Imam al-Sadiq ('a). Shaykh al-Tusi's writings about her husband and son prove that they were among the trusted companions of Imam al-Sadiq ('a).

Shaykh al-Tusi has brought the name of her son in his book on distinguished men under the companions of Imam al-Sadiq ('a). He has listed him as Muhammad Ibn Muhajir Ibn 'Ubayd al-Azdi, Abu Khalid al-Kufi.1

He has also written in his book Fihrist: "He and his father have related traditions from Abu­Ja'far (Imam al-Baqir). Both of them are reliable, Shi'ah and from al-Kufah."2

'Allamah Mamqani has written, "Umm Salamah, the mother of Muhajir is trustworthy. The fact that Ibn Abi 'Umayr quotes from her (in his chain of narrators) proves her trustworthiness. "3

Sayyid Muhsin al-Amin, after quoting a tradition narrated by Ibn Abi 'Umayr from Umm Salamah has written, "As may be seen, it is clear that she is a Shi'ah. Her status is proven by the existence of her son, Muhammad Ibn Muhajir who was one of the companions of Imam al-Sadiq ('a)."4

Shaykh Mahallati has written about Umm Salamah, "She is an erudite and scholarly woman, a narrator of traditions from Imam al-Sadiq ('a), and people like Ibn Abi 'Umayr transmit traditions from her."5

She has related traditions from Abu 'Abdullah Ja'far al-Sadiq ('a), and her son, Muhammad Ibn Muhajir, has related traditions from her.

Al-Kulayni relates the following tradition, quoting Ali Ibn Ibrahim, from his father from Ibn Abi 'Umayr from Muhammad Ibn Muhajir that his mother, Umm Salamah, said, "I heard Abu 'Abdullah ('a) (Imam al-Sadiq) say, 'Whenever the Prophet of God (S) read the ritual prayer for a deceased person, he would say 'allahu-akbar (God is the Greatest; takbir)' and 'ashhadu-an-la­ ilaha-illa 'llah (I bear witness that there is no god save Allah; shahadah)'. Then he would repeat the takbir statement again, and invoke God's blessings upon the prophets (salawat). He would say takbir again and say invocations for the believers. He would then say takbir a fourth time and say invocations for the deceased. He would say takbir again and finish his prayer. After the Glorious God forbade the Holy Prophet (S) from praying for the hypocrites, he would say takbir and salawat for the prophets in the prayer for a deceased person then say takbir and send invocations for the believers. Then, he would say takbir for the fourth time and finish his prayer without saying invocations for the deceased. "'6

• 1. Rijal al-Tusi, p. 302.
• 2. Al-Fihrist, p. 55.
• 3. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 73, from the chapter about women.
• 4. A'yan al-Shi'ah, vol. 3, p. 479.
• 5. Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 3, p. 396.
• 6. Al-Kafi, vol. 3, p. 181, the chapter on the deceased, tradition no. 3; Tahdhib al­Ahkam, vol. 3, p. 189, the chapter on ritual prayer for the deceased, tradition no. 431.