Janabe Hakima Testifies to the Birth of Imam Mahdi (as)

This report is mentioned in Beharul Anwar volume 51, chapter 1, tradition 14. Janabe Hakima Khatoon (sa) is the daughter of Imam Taqi (as), the sister of Imam Naqi (as). She is buried in Samarrah next to the graves of the 10^th and 11^th Imam and Janabe Narjis Khatoon (sa).

Apart from establishing the circumstances for the birth of Imam Mahdi (as), this narration also brings forth several truths regarding the Imamate of Imam Hasan (as) and Imam Husain (as), the superiority which Allah has granted to Aimmah (sa) and also the fact that Imam Mahdi (as) has the same excellences of the knowledge of the unseen, even at his young age which are a proof for his Imamate.

Ibne Idris has narrated from his father from Mohammed bin Ismail from Mohammed bin Ibrahim Kufi from Mohammed bin Abdullah Mutahhari that he said:

“I went to see Hakima Khatoon after the demise of Imam Hasan Askari (as) to ask her about the Hujjah and the confusion in which people had split many ways. She said to me, “Sit down.” I sat down and she said: “O Mohammed, verily Allah, the Exalted, does not leave the earth without a Divine Proof, be he a speaking one or a silent one. He has not put it in two brothers after Hasan and Husain, as a token of distinction for Hasan and Husain and to mark their superiority, lest there will be their peer on earth. However, Allah, the Exalted, gave excellence to the progeny of Husain over the progeny of Hasan, as He gave excellence to the progeny of Harun over the progeny of Musa, though Musa was Divine Proof over Harun. And this excellence is for his progeny until Judgment Day.

“There must be a trial for the Ummah,” said she, “in which falsifiers will fall in doubts, and in which verifiers will find salvation, lest people will have an argument against Allah after the apostles. This trial has occurred after the demise of Imam Hasan Askari (as).”

I asked her, “My lady, did Hasan (as) have a son?” She smiled and then said: “If Hasan Askari (as) did not have a son, who is the Divine Proof after him? Considering I told you that Imamate will not be in two brothers after Hasan and Husain, (as).”

So I said: “My lady, tell me about the birth of my master and his occultation.” She said: “Yes, there was a slave girl of mine called Narjis. My nephew came to visit me. He came forward intensely looking at her. I said: ‘My Master, perhaps you have a desire for her. So, I will send her to you.’ He said: ‘No, Aunt, on the contrary I wonder at her.’ I asked, ‘What makes you wonder’?’ he said: ‘She will give birth to a boy, who is much dignified before Allah, the Exalted, who would fill the earth through him with equity and justice as it will be fraught with corruption and oppression.’ I said: ‘So, I will send her to you, O my master.’ He said: ‘Seek my father’s permission in that regard.’

I put on my clothes and came to the house of Imam Ali Naqi (as). I greeted him and sat down. He initiated the conversation saying: ‘Hakima, send Narjis to my son.’ I said: ‘My Master, I came for this purpose to you to seek your permission.’ He said: ‘O blessed lady, Allah, the Exalted, desired to give you a share in the reward and put a stake for you in the good.’ Lady Hakima said: “I did not stand and returned to my house and adorned her and gave her to Abu Mohammed, (as). I facilitated the union between them at my house and he stayed with me a few days and then went to his father. I sent her with him.”

Lady Hakima said: “Imam Ali Naqi (as) passed away and Imam Hasan Askari (as) took his father’s seat. I would visit him like I visited his father. One day Narjis came to me to take off my shoes and said: ‘My mistress, allow me to take off your shoes.’ I said: ‘Rather you are my mistress and the mistress of my household. By Allah, I will not forward my shoes to you so you take them off. Nor will you service me. Rather, I will serve you with pleasure.’ When the Imam heard this, he said: ‘May Allah reward you aunt.’ I stayed at his house until sunset. Then I called the slave girl and said: ‘Bring me my garment so I may leave.’

Imam (as) said: ‘Aunt, stay with us, for tonight the infant who is dignified before Allah, the Exalted, will be born, through whom Allah, the Exalted, will revive the earth after its death.’ Not seeing any sign of pregnancy in Narjis, I asked, ‘From whom, my Master’?’ He said: ‘From Narjis; not from anyone else.’ Lady Hakima says, “I went to Narjis and I turned her on her abdomen, but I did not see any sign of pregnancy. I returned to him and told him of my observation.

Imam (as) smiled and said: ‘Her example is the similitude of the mother of Musa. Pregnancy did not appear in her and none knew of it until the time of delivery, because Firaun was cutting the abdomens of pregnant women in search of Musa. This is like Musa (as).”

Janabe Hakima said: “I was constantly watching her until the time of dawn. She was sleeping before me and was not moving from one side to the other. When it was the end of the night near the dawn, she got up nervously. I pulled her to my breast and took the name of Allah on her. Imam (as) called out, ‘Recite Inna Anzalnah on her.” I began reciting that and asked her, ‘How do you feel?’ She said: ‘The affair of which my Master has informed you has approached.’ I began reciting the verses, as had ordered me my Master. At this, the baby answered back to me from her abdomen; he was reciting like I was reciting and he greeted me.”

Janabe Hakima said: “I was shocked when I heard that. So Imam Hasan Askari (as) called out, ‘Do not wonder from the Command of Allah, the Exalted; He gives us speech at infancy and makes us proof on earth at maturity.’

These words had not yet finished that Narjis disappeared from me. I did not see her, as if a veil had been erected between me and her. I ran to the Imam crying. He said to me, ‘Return, O aunt, you will find her in her place.’ She said: “I returned and it was but a moment that the veil was removed from between me and her. I saw her as glows of light on her strained my eyes. I was seeing the baby (as) that was prostrating on his face, hobbling on his knees, raising his forefingers towards the heavens and saying, ‘I bear witness that a deity other than Allah, the One without a partner, is not; and that my grandfather is the Messenger of Allah; and that my forefather is Ameerul Momeneen (as).’ He then counted each and every Imam until he reached himself and said: ‘O Allah, fulfil me my promise, complete my enterprise for me, strengthen my position, and fill the earth through me with equity and justice.’

Imam Hasan Askari (as) called out saying, ‘Aunt, bring him here.’ I took the blessed baby to his father. When I appeared with him in my hands before his father, he greeted his father. Imam (as) took him as birds were striking wings over his head. He called to one of the birds and said: ‘Carry him and protect him and return him to us every forty days.’

The bird flew away with him to the heavens, with the rest of the birds following. I heard Imam Hasan Askari (as) say: ‘I entrust you to the one that mother of Musa entrusted.’ Seeing this, Narjis wept, so he said to her, ‘Relax, he will not suckle but from your breasts. He will be returned to you as Musa was returned to his mother. It is His word, “So We gave him back to his mother that her eye might be refreshed, and that she might not grieve.” (Surah Qasas, verse 13)

Janabe Hakima said: “I asked, ‘What is this bird?’ He said: ‘It is the Holy Spirit (Ruhul Qudus), who is assigned to the Imams to make them successful and firm and to facilitate their growth through knowledge.’

“When it was forty days, the boy was returned. My nephew (as) sent for me and called me over. I went to him and saw a child moving about in front of him. I said: ‘My Master, this is a boy of two years.’ He smiled and then said: ‘The sons of apostles and successors, when they are Imams, they grow differently than others. A child of ours talks in the womb of his mother, recites the Quran, and worships his Lord. At the age of suckling, angels obey him and descend to him every morning and evening.’

Janabe Hakima said: “I always saw that child every forty days until I saw him as a grown man in a very few days prior to the demise of his father. I did not recognize him. I asked the Imam, ‘Who is this man that you ask me to sit in front of?’ He said: ‘The son of Narjis. And he is my heir after me. Soon you will not find me amongst you. So listen to him and obey him.’

The Imam (as) passed away after a few days and people split different ways as you see. By Allah, I see him every day and night and he informs me of what you people ask about so I may answer you. By Allah, when I want to ask him about something, he answers me before I ask him. If something comes up, his answer comes to me immediately without my asking. He told me just yesterday about your coming to me and ordered me to inform you of the truth.”

The narrator, Mohammed bin Abdullah says: “By Allah, Janabe Hakima told me of things that no one knew, except Allah, the Exalted. So I realized that this is the truth and rightfulness from Allah, the Exalted, and that He has informed him of which He has not informed anyone in His creation.

For more details on the birth of Hazrat Imam Mahdi (as), readers can refer to the following articles –