Umm Kulthum was the daughter of Abu Ja'far Muhammad Ibn 'Uthman Ibn Sa'id al-'Umari. During the first occultation of Imam al-Mahdi ('aj), her father was the second representative of Imam al-Mahdi ('aj). Umm Kulthum was the maternal grandmother of Abu Nasr Hibatullah Ibn Muhammad al-Katib.1

Her Merits

Umm Kulthum was a woman of great excellence and a transmitter of traditions. Shaykh al-Tusi relates several of her traditions, as related by her grandson, which will be quoted in the section on traditions.

She has related traditions from Muhammad Ibn 'Uthman (her father) and al­Husayn Ibn Ruh al-Nawbakhti. Abu Nasr Hibatullah Ibn Muhammad (her grandson) has related traditions from her.

Shaykh al-Tusi, relying on his own sources and quoting Hibatullah Ibn Muhammad, relates that Umm Kulthum said, "Abu al-Qasim al-Husayn Ibn Ruh was the representative of Abu Ja'far al-'Umari for many years. He monitored Abu Ja'far's property and relayed his secret messages to the eminent people among the Shi'ah. He was so close to him, that because of his closeness and confidence in him he (Abu Ja'far) even informed him about his intimate relations." She continued, "Abu Ja'far used to pay him thirty Dinar every month for his living expenses. And this was in addition to the amount he received from the ministers and eminent people from among the Shi'ah like the family of Furat and others (who used to extend financial support to him), due to his high rank and standing, his sublime position, his disseminating information about his (Abu Ja'far's) virtues and religion, and the duties on his shoulder."2

Shaykh al-Tusi, quoting Ibn Nuh, relates that Abu Nasr Hibatullah, the son of Umm Kulthum Bint Abi Ja'far's daughter, said, "Abu Ja'far Muhammad Ibn 'Uthman al-'Umari was the author of books on jurisprudence. The books contained what he had heard from Abu Muhammad, Imam al-'Askari, ('a) and Imam al-Mahdi ('aj). It also contained what his father 'Uthman Ibn Sa'id had heard from Imam al-'Askari ('a) and his father 'Ali Ibn Muhammad ('a). Among these books are some which I have named Books about Drinkable Substances. The eminent lady Umm Kulthum Bint Abi Ja'far told me that these books were transferred al-Husayn Ibn Ruh when she met with him in order to make her last testament." Abu Nasr continued, "I think she said that after Abu al-Qasim, they were (to be) given to Abu al-Hasan al-Samari."3

• 1. Abu Nasr Hibatullah Ibn Muhammad al-Katib was known as Ibn Barniyyah. He has related traditions from his grandmother Umm-Kulthum the daughter of Abu Ja'far Muhammad Ibn 'Uthman. He was a religious authority, transmitter of traditions, and author. (Rijal al-Najjashi, p. 308).
• 2. Al-Ghaybah, p. 227.
• 3. Al-Ghaybah, p. 221.