Umm Kulthum al-Sughra was the daughter of Amir al-Mu'minin ('a); and her mother was a bondmaid. Ibn Abu al-Hadid and Ibn al-Athir list Umm Kulthum al-Sughra among Imam 'Ali's children; but her mother is not Lady Fatimah ('a).1

Ibn 'Anbah writes about the daughters of Imam 'Ali ('a), quoting from the book al-Mujdi, "Nafisah was (also called) Umm Kulthum al-Sughra. She married 'Abdullah Ibn 'Aqil al-Asghar."2

However, he mentions only Muhammad and Muslim as 'Aqil's sons, while he considers 'Abdullah to be Muhammad's son and hence 'Aqil's grandson. Muslim was martyred in al­Kufah. He also writes a little bit further on in the section about 'Aqil, "The mother of 'Abdullah Ibn Aqil is Hamidah Bint Muslim Ibn Aqil; and, the mother of Hamidah was Umm Kulthum Bint 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib.3

According to this account it seems that the Umm Kulthum who was present during the battle of Karbala' was Umm Kulthum al-Sughra, the wife of Muslim Ibn 'Aqil, who followed her husband and her eminent brother, Imam al­Husayn ('a), to Karbala'. Some historians call her Umm Kulthum al-Wusta.4

Al-Tabari lists Nafisah and Umm Kulthum al-Sughra among the children of Imam 'Ali ('a) and mentions their mother was a bondmaid, but he does not say that Nafisah is the same person as Umm Kulthum al-Sughra.5 We do not know her date of death or where she has been buried.

Her Merits

Lady Umm Kulthum al-Sughra is the paternal sister of Imam al-Husayn ('a) and Zaynab al-Kubra ('a). She joined them and stayed at their side during the suffering of the battle of Karbala'. Her husband Muslim Ibn 'Aqil was martyred fighting for Islam and Imam al-Husayn ('a) during this battle. Umm Kulthum was of great patience and obedient to God and the Imams. She was a very eloquent woman, and the speeches she made in al-Kufah, Damascus and other places, as well as her poems, are recorded in historical works and especially in the book Balaghat al-Nisa'.6

Sayyid Ibn Tawus writes, "When Imam al-Husayn bade farewell with his family, Umm Kulthum exclaimed, 'Woe (upon us), O Ahmad (one of the names of the Holy Prophet), woe (upon us), O 'Ali, woe (upon us), O my brother, woe (upon us), O Husayn, woe (upon us) we are lost after you, O Abu­'Abdullah!' Imam al-Husayn ('a) comforted her and said, 'O my sister, derive strength from the solace of God. Verily the inhabitants of the skies will cease to exist, all people on the earth will die, and every living creature will perish.' He then continued, 'O my sisters, O Umm Kulthum, and you, O Zaynab, and you, O Fatimah, and you, Rabab, take heed. If I am killed, do not tear the collars of your dresses in grief for me, do not scratch your faces and do not speak vain talk."7

Umm Kulthum was a very modest and chaste woman. When the prisoners, accompanied by the cut-off heads of the martyrs, entered the city, she requested Shimr to choose a certain route, and take the heads to the front of the procession. In this way people would not be likely to look at her and the other women as much.8

She has related traditions from Imam al-Husayn ('a) and Mihran, the slave freed by the Holy Prophet (S). 'Ata' Ibn al-Sa'ib has related traditions from her.

Ibn Hajar, relying on his own sources, quotes Ata' Ibn al-Sa'ib as relating that someone brought a gift of charity for the prisoners of Karbala'. Umm Kulthum did not accept this donation and said, "A freed slave of the Holy Prophet (S), by the name of Mihran, related to me that the Holy Prophet said, 'Verily, we, the family of Muhammad, are not allowed to accept gifts of charity (Sadaqah).9

In the speech Umm Kulthum made in front of ('Ubaydullah) Ibn Ziyad, the governor of al-Kufah, some sentences refer to actions of the Holy Prophet (S) that may be accepted as traditions. Umm Kulthum said, "O Ibn Ziyad, while you are happy because al-Husayn was killed, the Holy Prophet was happy whenever he saw him. He used to kiss him, caress his lips, and carry him and his brother on his back."10

• 1. Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah, vol. 2, p. 475; al-Kamil fi'l-Tarikh, vol. 3, p. 263; Muruj al­Dhahab, vol. 2, p. 92.
• 2. Al-Mujdi, p. 18; 'Umdat al-Talib, p. 83.
• 3. 'Umdat al-Talib, p. 49.
• 4. A'yan al-Shi'ah, vol. 3, p. 484; A'lam al-Nisa' al-Mu'minat, p. 202.
• 5. Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 3, p. 162.
• 6. Balaghat al-Nisa', p. 37; Nasikh al-Tawarikh, (chapter about Imam al-Husayn); Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 3; al-Lahuf. p. 67; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 45, pp. 112 & 115.
• 7. Al-Lahuf, p. 32.
• 8. Al-Lahuf, p. 67; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 45, p. 127.
• 9. Al-Isabah, vol. 3, p. 372; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 45, p. 114.
• 10. Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 3, p. 250, quoting Nasikh al-Tawarikh.