Hakimah was the daughter of Imam Muhammad Ibn 'Ali al-Jawad ('a), the sister of Imam 'Ali Ibn Muhammad al-Hadi ('a), and the aunt (father's sister) of Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari (a). Books such as 'Umdat al-Talib and al-Mujdi list Hakimah amongst the children of Imam al-Jawad ('a).1

Her husband was Abu'l­Hasan al-Muhaddith, the son of Abu al-Hasan 'Ali al-Mura’ash Ibn 'Ubaydullah Ibn Abu al-Hasan Muhammad al-Akbar Ibn Muhammad Hasan al-Maddith Ibn al-Hasan al-Aghar the son of Imam 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn al­Sajjad ('a). Hakimah had three sons.2

Her Merits

This honorable woman was raised in a family that was pure and infallible. At the time of the birth of our leader and last Imam, Imam al-Mahdi ('aj), she was present. Hakimah met with this Imam ('aj) many times during the lifetime of his honorable father. She was one of the ambassadors and communicators for Imamate after the death of Imam al-'Askari ('a). She has related many traditions about the marriage of Imam al-'Askari ('a) with Narjis and the birth of Imam al-Mahdi ('aj).

Shaykh al-Saduq relates from his documents from Muhammad Ibn 'Abdullah al-Tahuri3 that he said, "I decided to go to Hakimah Bint Muhammad ('a) after the death of Abu Muhammad ('a) and ask her about the new Imam (al-Hujjah) which the people were differing about. She told me, 'Sit down.', and I sat down.

Then she said, 'O Muhammad, the Blessed and Exalted Lord doesn't leave the world empty of an argument-person. This leader may be silent or he may speak openly. The Lord put no difference between al-Hasan and al-Husayn other than that He has given superiority to the children of al-Husayn over the children of Hasan in the same way that He gave superiority to the children of Prophet Aaron over the children of Prophet Moses. This was even though Moses was the leader of Aaron..."'

Muhammad said, "I asked, 'O my master, did al-Hasan (Imam al-'Askari) have any children?'

She laughed and said, 'If Hasan didn't have a child, then who would be the leader after him? And I tell you that after al-Hasan and al-Husayn ('a) there are no two brothers who are both Imams.'

After this I asked her about the birth and occultation of our leader, the Patron of the Age ('aj), and she explained this for me."4 This account shows the sagacity, knowledge, and faith of Hakimah.

Shaykh al-Tusi relates a report which establishes the presence of Hakimah at the time of the birth of Imam al-Mahdi ('aj).5 'Allamah al-Majlisi has written, "Under the holy dome, where there is the grave of the two Imam al-'Askari is (Imam 'Ali Ibn Muhammad and his son), there is the grave of a chaste, generous, scholarly, learned, pious, content, wise woman. She is Hakimah, the daughter of Abu Ja'far al-Jawad ('a). It is a mystery why there is no ziyarah (a form of salutation said when the tomb of a saint is visited) listed to be read when making a pilgrimage to her grave considering her evident dignity, magnificent position, and that she was the holder of the secrets of Imamate."

Then he continues, "It is suitable to use appropriate terms for her esteemed position when making a pilgrimage to her shrine."6

'Allamah Mamqani said, "Mulla Wahid Bihbahani has also objected to there being no special prayer to be read when making the pilgrimage to her shrine." And, he has written, "It is even stranger that Shaykh al-Mufid has not listed Hakimah among the children of Imam al-Jawad ('a). Also, some of the historical and genealogical books have neglected to mention her."7

She has related traditions from Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari ('a) and Imam al­ Mahdi ('aj). Musa Ibn Muhammad Ibn Qasim Ibn Hamzah has narrated traditions from her.

Shaykh al-Saduq has narrated, based on his documentation, from Musa Ibn Muhammad Ibn al-Qasim Ibn Hamzah Ibn Musa Ibn Ja'far Ibn Muhammad Ibn 'Ali Ibn al-Husayn Ibn 'Ali from Hakimah Bint Muhammad Ibn 'Ali ('a) that she said, "Abu Muhammad al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali ('a) sent for me and said, 'O Aunt, stay with us for breaking your fast tonight. Tonight, is the middle of the month of Sha'ban. The Blessed and Exalted Lord will make his argument­person to appear tonight. He will be the reason (proof) of God on the earth.'

Hakimah said, 'Who is his mother?'

He answered, 'Narjis.'

Hakimah said, 'May I be sacrificed for you. There are no signs of pregnancy in her.'

He said, 'It is as I have told you.'

Subsequently Hakimah continued, "She and I fell asleep. Then, I awoke at the sound of my master. The cover was removed from him; and, I saw him in prostration on the ground. I picked him up in my arms and found him to be clean and unpolluted.

Then, Abu Muhammad ('a) said with a loud voice, 'O Aunt, bring my son to me.'

I took the new born to him. Then he said, 'Speak my child.'

The new born ('aj) said, 'I witness there is no God but one and He has no partner; and, I witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God.' Then he sent praise and greetings to Amir al-Mu'minin ('a) and each of the Imams after him till he came to his father."8

Al-Mas'udi also relates a similar tradition from a group of the religious authorities like Allan al-Kalabi, Musa Ibn Muhammad al-Ghazi, and Ahmad Ibn Ja'far Ibn Muhammad based on his documents from Hakimah Bint Abi Ja'far ('a), the aunt of Abu Muhammad ('a).9

Shaykh al-Kulayni according to his documents relates a tradition from Musa Ibn Muhammad Ibn Qasim Ibn Hamzah Ibn Musa Ibn Ja'far from Hakimah Bint Muhammad Ibn 'Ali ('a), who was the aunt of his father, saying, "Hakimah visited the Imam ('aj) on the night of his birth and after that too."10

• 1. 'Umdat al-Talib, p. 228.
• 2. Rayahin al-Shari'ah, vol. 4, p. 158.
• 3. In some copies, al-Tahuri has been listed; and, in others al-Zahuri or al-Mutahhari has been given. He was one of the companions of Imam al-Ridha ('a). None of these names have been found anywhere except in Jami' al-Ruwat, so his identity is vague.
• 4. Kamal al-Din, p. 426, tradition no. 2.
• 5. Kitab al-Ghaybah, p. 141.
• 6. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 99, p. 79.
• 7. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 76, Chapter, Women.
• 8. Kamal al-Din, p. 424, Chapter 42, tradition no. 1.
• 9. Ithbat al-Wasiyyah, p. 216.
• 10. Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 266, Kitab al-Hujjah.