Umm Musa was the servant of Imam 'Ali ('a). She originally came from al­Kufah, and it is said that her real name was Fakhitah or Habibah.1

Her Merits

Umm Musa was one of the trustworthy transmitters of traditions from Imam 'Ali ('a) and Umm Salamah. She was charged with the raising and care of Fatimah, Imam 'Ali ('a)'s daughter.2 Isma'il Ibn Ziyad and al-Mughirah Ibn Muqsim al-Dabbi have related traditions from her.

Shaykh al-Mufid, quotes Isma'il Ibn Ziyad from Umm Musa, Imam 'Ali's servant, that Imam 'Ali ('a) told his daughter Umm Kulthum, 'O my daughter, I shall only be with you a short time.'

Umm Kulthum asked, 'How do you say this, my father?'

He said, 'In my dream, I saw the Messenger of God wiping the dust from my face and saying, 'O Ali, there is not much left3 of your life.'

Isma'il Ibn Ziyad continued, "Not more than three days later, Imam 'Ali ('a) received the blow (to his head). Umm Kulthum screamed. Imam 'Ali ('a) said, 'O my daughter, don't scream. I see the Messenger of God beckoning to me with his hand and saying, 'O 'Ali, come to us. That which is with us is better for you.4 Al-Bukhari, Abu Dawud, al-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah transmit traditions from Umm Musa.5

• 1. A'lam al-Nisa', vol. 5, p 122, Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 481.
• 2. Ibid; Kitab al-lrshad, p. 14 (text no. 6).
• 3. In the book of Kitab al-Irshad, it has been related, "(your task) was accomplished'", or "has come to an end."
• 4. Kitab al-Irshad, p. 14 (text no. 6); Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 42, p. 225.
• 5. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 481.