Habbabah was the daughter of Ja'far al-Asadi al-Walibi, and her nickname was Umm al-Nada or Umm al-Bara'. She passed away at the age of 230, nine months after meeting Imam 'Ali Ibn Musa al-Ridha ('a). The Imam buried her with his own shirt.1

Her Merits

Abu Basir has related from Imam al-Sadiq ('a) that he said, "When people were going to see Mu'awiyah, Habbabah went to Imam al-Husayn ('a). She was a hard-working, pious woman whose skin was stuck to her stomach (very thin)."2

From among the traditions which al-Kulayni has related it may be concluded that Habbabah was among the companions of Amir al-Mu'minin ('a), Imam al­Hasan, Imam al-Husayn, Imam al-Sajjad, Imam al-Baqir, Imam al-Sadiq, Imam Musa al-Kazim, and Imam al-Ridha ('a) and that she had lived during their times and visited with them. She was known as Sahibat al-Hasat.

When she saw Imam 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn ('a), she was 113 years old. The Imam prayed for her youth to return to her and pointed his finger towards her. She became youthful again, lived to the time of Imam 'Ali Ibn Musa al-Ridha ('a) and met him.3

Imam al-Sadiq ('a) has said that Habbabah al-Walibiyyah is one of the women who will serve in the troops of Imam al-Mahdi ('aj).4 Al-Kashi has related two traditions from her.5 Al-Barqi has said that she related traditions from Amir al-Mu'minin, "Ali Ibn al-Husayn, and Abu Ja'far (Imam al-Baqir) ('a).6

Shaykh al-Tusi has mentioned her as one of the companions of Imam al­Hasan Ibn 'Ali, Imam 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn, and Imam al-Baqir ('a).7

Ibn Dawud has said that Habbabah was one of the companions of Imam al-Hasan, Imam al­ Husayn, Imam al-Sajjad, and Imam al-Baqir ('a).8

'Allamah Mamqani has said that Habbabah was one of the companions and transmitters of traditions from Amir al-Mu'minin, Imam al-Hasan, Imam al-Husayn, Imam al-Sajjad, Imam al­ Baqir, Imam al-Sadiq, Imam al-Kazim, and Imam al-Ridha ('a). After relating a tradition from her he says, "This tradition shows Habbabah's honor and high position which is more than needed to be considered just or reliable."9

Mirza Astarabadi has also listed her among the women transmitters of traditions. One time he has referred to her as Umm al-Bara', Habbabah al­Walibiyyah, and another time as Habbabah al-Walibiyyah.10

She has related traditions from Amir al-Mu'minin 'Ali, Imam al-Husayn, Imam al-Hasan, Imam al-Baqir, Imam al-Sajjad, Imam al-Sadiq, Imam Musa Ibn Ja'far, and Imam al-Ridha ('a). 'Imran Ibn Maytham, 'Abd al-Karim Ibn 'Amr al-Kuth'ami, Thabit al-Thumali, and Salih Ibn Maytham have related traditions from her.

Muhammad Ibn Ya'qub related relying on his sources from 'Abd al-Karim Ibn 'Amr al-Kuth'ami from Habbabah al-Walibiyyah as saying, "I saw Amir al­Mu'minin ('a) among a group of his followers and... I asked him, 'May God bless you O Amir al-Mu'minin! What is the sign of Imamate?'

He answered, 'Give me that small rock, and he pointed at it with his hand.' I gave it to him and he sealed it. Then he told me, 'O Habbabah, if someone claims to be the Imam and is able to do the same then know that he is the Imam who should be followed. He is the Imam for whom there is no prevention for whatever he wants to do.'

Habbabah says, 'I left him. When Amir al-Mu'minin ('a) passed away, I went to Imam al-Hasan ('a). He was in place of Amir al-Mu'minin ('a) and people were asking him questions.

He said, 'O Habbabah al-Walibiyyah!

I said, 'Yes, O my master.'

He stated, 'Bring what you have.'

She says, 'I gave him the small rock and he sealed it in the same way that Amir al-Mu'minin ('a) had. Then, I went to al-Husayn ('a) when he was in the Prophet's (S) mosque. He called me over to himself and showed me kindness.

Then he told me, 'There is a sign for what you want. Do you want the sign of Imamate?'

I told him, 'Yes, my master.'

He told me, 'Bring what you have. I presented him with the small rock and he sealed it.'

Habbabah says, 'At a later time I went to Imam Ali Ibn al-Husayn ('a). I was old and shaking at almost 113 years old. I saw him in genuflection and prostration, and he was busy in worship. I became hopeless of seeing a sign. He pointed with his index finger to me and my youth returned. I said, 'O my master! How much of the world has passed and how much of it is left?'

He answered, 'What has passed is good, and what remains is bad.' Then he told me, 'Bring what you have with yourself.'

I gave him the small rock, and he sealed it for me. Then, I went to Imam Abu Ja'far Imam al­Baqir ('a) and he sealed the rock. At a later time, I went to Abu Abdullah al­Sadiq ('a) and he sealed the rock. Then I went to Imam Abu al-Hasan Imam Musa ('a) and he also sealed the rock. Later I went to Imam al-Ridha ('a) and he also sealed the rock for me."'11

Muhammad Ibn Masud relying on his sources relates from 'Imran Ibn Maytham as saying, '"Abayah al-Asadi and I came to a woman from the tribe of Banu-Asad who was called Habbabah al-Walibiyyah. ‘Abayah asked her, 'Do you know who this youth is who is with me?'

She replied, 'No.'

He said, 'Quiet. I am your cousin Maytham.'

She said, 'Yes by God! Yes, by God!' Then she asked, 'Shall I tell you a tradition from al-Husayn ('a)?'

We said, 'Yes.'

She said, 'I heard al-Husayn ('a) say, 'We and our followers are on the path from which God created Muhammad (S), and the rest of the people are not from this disposition.'"'12

Al-Thumali relates that Habbabah al-Walibiyyah went to Imam al-Baqir ('a) and said, "O son of the Messenger of God (S) - Tell me where you were at the beginning of creation." He answered, "Before the creation of other creatures, we were a light before God. When others were created, we praised God, and they praised Him too. We extolled Him, and they extolled Him too. We glorified Him, and they glorified Him too. This is what God has said, 'If they were firm on the (right) path, We would give them to drink from the Euphrates River. The path is love of Imam Ali ('a), and drink from the Euphrates River is the guardianship of the household of Muhammad (S)."13

وَأَن لَّوِ اسْتَقَامُوا عَلَى الطَّرِيقَةِ لَأَسْقَيْنَاهُم مَّاءً غَدَقًا

“If they [the jinn and mankind] persevere on the path [of faith], We shall surely bestow upon them water in abundance.” (Surah Al-Jinn, 72:16).

• 1. Walibiyyah is a region belonging to the tribe of Banu-Asad. (Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 75; Taj al- 'Arus, vol. 1, p. 199).
• 2. Basa'ir al-Darajat, p. 171.
• 3. Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 346.
• 4. Dala'il al-Imamah, p. 259.
• 5. Ikhtiyar Ma'rifat al-Rijal, vol. 2, p. 331.
• 6. Rijal al-Barqi, p. 62; Mu'jam Rijal al-Hadith, vol. 23, p. 184.
• 7. Rijal al-Tusi, pp. 67, 102, and 142.
• 8. Rijal Ibn Dawud, p. 69.
• 9. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 75.
• 10. Manhaj al-Maqal, p. 400.
• 11. Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 346; Kamal al-Din, vol. 2, p. 536.
• 12. For the rest of the traditions related from Habbabah, refer to Bihar al-Anwar, vol 46, p 237 and 259; and Manaqib Ibn Shahr’ashub, vol 3, p 317.
• 13. Bihar al-Anwar, vol 25, p 24 and 40.