Umm al-Fadl's name was Lubabah, but she was known by her epithet. Her father was al-Harith Ibn Hazan Ibn Bujayr al-Hilali, and her mother was Hind (Khawlah Bint 'Awf Ibn Zuhayr). She was the sister of Maymunah, the Holy Prophet's wife, of Asma Bint 'Umays, the wife of Ja'far Ibn Abi Talib, and of Salma, the wife of Hamzah Ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib. And, Umm al-Mu'minin Zaynab Bint Khuzaymah was her maternal half sister.1

Her husband was al-'Abbas Ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib, and her sons were al-Fadl, 'Abdullah, Ma'bid, 'Ubaydullah, Qutham and 'Abd al-Rahman. It has been written that her son al-Fadl was a person of great excellence, a scholar, and one of those closest to Amir al-Mu'minin ('a). He used to fight at his side during wars. Sayyid Muhsin al-Amin speaks of him in his book, and has written a poem which al-Fadl composed in support of Imam 'Ali ('a) and against Mu'awiyah.2

Her other son, 'Abdullah, was, according to a saying by the Holy Prophet (S), 'the ink of the Islamic nation' and 'the most learned Islamic scholar of Banu­Hashim.' His excellence, magnanimity, knowledge, and integrity towards Amir al-Mu'minin ('a) were clear and known to all. Mahallati writes about the death of Umm al-Fadl, "She died before her husband 'Abbas during the reign of 'Uthman Ibn 'Affan. Al-Zarkali and Dihkhuda have recorded the date of death of 'Abbas as 32 A.H., so, Umm al-Fadl must have passed away before that date.

Her Merits

Umm al-Fadl was one of the first women to become Muslim after Lady Khadijah in Makkah, and was a modest woman. The Holy Prophet (S) used to visit her and have his afternoon nap in her house. Ibn Sa'd, relying on his own documentation and quoting Kurayb, transmits that the Holy Prophet (S) said about Umm al-Fadl and her sisters, "Verily, these sisters are believers. "3

He also quotes 'Ikrimah as relating from Ibn 'Abbas that he said, "My mother used to fast every Monday and Thursday. She didn't fast the other days." Or: "My mother became pregnant while fasting Mondays and Thursdays."4

Ibn Sa'd also writes, "Umm al-Fadl migrated to al-Madinah after her husband became Muslim. The Holy Prophet (S) used to visit her frequently."5

Shaykh al-Saduq, relying on his own documentation, quotes Abu Basir that Imam al-Baqir ('a) said, "May God have mercy on the sisters, who are among the inhabitants of Paradise: Asma' Bint 'Umays... and Umm al-Fadl, the wife of 'Abbas and..."6

Al-Majlisi, quoting the book al-'Adad,7 transmits the following tradition from Umm al-Fadl, the wife of 'Abbas, "'O Messenger of God (S), in my dream I saw that a limb of your body was lying in my room.' The Holy Prophet (S) answered, 'Fatimah will bear a child, for whom you will be responsible (e.g. you will nurse the child).' Later, al-Hasan ('a) was born, and the Holy Prophet (S) entrusted him to Umm al-Fadl for nursing."8

Shaykh al-Tusi, Ibn Sa'd, Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, Ibn al-Athir and Ibn Hajar list Umm al-Fadl among the companions and transmitters of traditions from the Holy Prophet (S).9

Mamqani writes, "She was a noblewoman. She bore 'Abbas six sons, unlike any other sons. I consider her to be one of the true followers."10

'Umar Ridha Kahhalah writes, "She was one of the best women of her time.11

She related traditions from the Holy Prophet (S). 'Abdullah Ibn 'Abbas (her son), Tammam Ibn Abbas, 'Umayr Ibn al-Harith (Umm al-Fadl's servant), Anas Ibn Malik, Qabus Ibn Abu al-Mukhariq, 'Abdullah Ibn al-Harith Ibn Nawfal, Kurayb (the servant of Ibn 'Abbas, Shaddad Ibn 'Ammar, Hind Bint al­Harith al-Kuth'amiyyah and Shurahbil have related traditions from her.

Ibn al-Athir, relying on his own sources, transmits a tradition from Ibn 'Abbas, quoting his mother, Umm al-Fadl, that she said, "The Holy Prophet (S) came upon us. He had wrapped his head due to his illness. He said the sunset prayer, reading the chapter 'The Emissaries'. After that he did not pray again before joining the Glorious God.''12

Ibn Sa'd, relying on his own sources, quotes Salim Abu al-Nadr as relating from Umm al-Fadl that she said, "On the day of 'Arafah, she sent a bowl of milk to the Holy Prophet (S), and he drank it while astride his camel."13

Ibn Sa'd, relying on his own sources, quotes Sammak Ibn Harb as transmitting a tradition from Umm al-Fadl, the wife of 'Abbas Ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib, that she said, 'O Messenger of God, in my sleep I saw a limb of your body in my house.' The Holy Prophet (S) answered, 'What you saw is good. Fatimah is going to give birth to a boy, and you will nurse him with the milk you have from your son Qutham.' Sammak continued, "Al-Husayn ('a) was born, and Umm al-Fadl was responsible for his care." Al-Majlisi has quoted a similar tradition from Umm al-Fadl.14

He relates another tradition, relying on his own sources and quoting Shurahbil that Umm al-Fadl said, "The Holy Prophet (S) became ill with the disease, from which he died. He was feeling slightly better. We were crying, and he asked, 'Why are you crying?

'We said, 'We aren't crying for just one reason. Our crying is because we will soon be far from you, and contact with the heavens (revelation) will soon be stopped. We cry for what will happen to the (Islamic) nation after you.'

He said, 'Surely after me, you will experience sadness and oppression.15

Al-Tabarani quotes 32 traditions from Umm al-Fadl, some of which are similar to the ones quoted here.16

Al-Sihah al-Sittah also transmit the traditions of Lubabah (Umm al- Fadl).17

• 1. Tahdhib al-Kamal, p. 298.
• 2. A'yan al-Shi'ah, vol. 8, p. 404.
• 3. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 278.
• 4. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 278.
• 5. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 278.
• 6. Al-Khisal, vol. 2, p. 363.
• 7. The book al-'Adad was written by Shaykh Abu al-Qasim Ja'far Ibn Muhammad Ibn Musa Ibn Qawlawayh, the teacher of Shaykh al-Mufid. Shaykh Abu al-Qasim died in 367 according to al-Najjashi. (al-Dhari 'ah, vol. 15, p. 231)
• 8. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 43, p. 242
• 9. Rijal al-Tusi, p. 33; al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 277; al-Jami fi'l-'Ilal wa­Ma'rifat al-Rijal, p. 245; al-Isti'ab, vol. 4, pp. 1950 and 1907; Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, pp. 539 and 608; al-Isabah, vol. 4, p. 461.
• 10. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 73 (the chapter about women).
• 11. A'lam al-Nisa', vol. 4, p. 272.
• 12. Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, p. 540.
• 13. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 279.
• 14. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 278; Bihar al-Anwar, vol 43, p. 242.
• 15. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 28, p. 40.
• 16. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 25, pp. 17 - 28.
• 17. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 449.