Lesson 6: Janab Narjis Khatoon (s.a.), Mother of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) – Part II

Janabe Narjis Khatoon (s.a.) continues her narration:

“The same night I dreamt that Prophet Jesus (a.s.), Sham’oon (a.s.) and a number of disciples (Hawaariyyoon) had gathered at my grandfather’s palace. They had installed a pulpit of light that was defying the heavens in height. It was the same spot where my grandfather had installed his throne. At this, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.), Imam Ali – his son-in-law and successor the Commander of the Believers (a.s.) and a number of his sons (a.s.) entered. Prophet Jesus (a.s.) went forward and embraced him. Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) said to him, ‘O Ruhallah, I have come to you to propose to your successor Sham’oon for his daughter Malika for this son of mine’, pointing towards his son Abu Muhammad (Imam Hasan alAskari) (a.s.), the son of the author of this epistle. Prophet Jesus (a.s.) looked at Sham’oon (a.s.) and said, ‘The greatest honor has come to you. Let your relation be bonded with the relation of the house of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.).’

“Sham’oon said, ‘It will be my honor to do so.’ He climbed the pulpit. Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) performed the rituals and married me to his son. Prophet Jesus (a.s.), the sons of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) and the

disciples bore witness. When I woke up, I was scared to report this to my father or grandfather, fearing they will kill me. I kept this a secret and did not reveal it to them. Meanwhile, my heart longed for Abu Muhammad (a.s.) so much that I forsook eating and drinking. I became weak and became lean and sickly. There was no physician in the cities of Rome (modern day Italy) that my grandfather did not consult for my treatment. When despair overwhelmed him, he said to me, ‘O solace of my heart, do you have any wish that I may fulfill it?’” I said, ‘Grandfather, I see the doors of relief shut on me. However, if you save the Muslim captives in your prison from torture, remove their manacles, favour them and release them, I am hopeful that Prophet Jesus (a.s.) and his mother (a.s.) will give me health.’

When he did that, I made an effort to show good recovery and ate a little food. This made him very happy and he became ever intense to confer kindness and respect upon the captives.

“I also saw in my dreams for fourteen nights the Chief of the women of the worlds, Hazrat Fatima (s.a.). She visited me along with Janab Maryam (s.a.), the daughter of ‘Imran, and one thousand serfs from the Gardens. Janab Maryam (s.a.) said to me, “This is the Chief of the ladies (s.a.), the mother of your husband Abu Muhammad, (a.s.).’ I held her, cried and complained why Abu Muhammad (a.s.) did not come to visit me. The Chief of the ladies (s.a.) said,

‘…If you desire the pleasure of Allah, the Exalted, and the pleasure of Prophet Jesus (a.s.) and his mother (a.s.), and to have Abu Muhammad (a.s.) visit you, say, I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and that my father Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.’

“When I spoke these words, the Chief of the ladies of the world embraced me and my soul was blessed. She (s.a.) said, ‘Now expect the visitations of Abu Muhammad (a.s.). I am sending him to you.’ I woke up in great excitement and expectation of meeting Abu Muhammad (a.s.)

When it was the next night, I saw Abu Muhammad (a.s.) in my dream… and his visitations to me have not ceased yet.”

Bishr says, “I said to her, ‘How did you fall amongst the captives?’”

She said, “Abu Muhammad (a.s.) told me on one of the nights, ‘Your grandfather will shortly be dispatching an army to fight the Muslims on such and such day, and he will follow them. You have to join them in the wardrobe of servants along with a number of servants from such and such route. I did that and the vanguards of the Muslims encountered us, which led to my situation that you see. None knows that I am the granddaughter of the Roman Caesar until now except you and that is because I told you. The gentleman in whose share of booty I fell, asked me of my name. I concealed my identity from him and said, ‘Narjis’. He said, ‘A name of the servants.’ I said to her, “It is amazing that you are Roman and your language is Arabic.”

She said, “Due to my grandfather’s persistence and encouragement to increase my learning, he appointed a woman, who was his interpreter, to visit me. She would come to me day and night and teach me Arabic until I became fluent and articulate.”

Bishr says, “When I brought her back to my Master Abu al Hasan (a.s.) in Saamarraa. He said to her, “How did Allah show you the Glory of Islam and disgrace of Christianity and the nobility of Muhammad and his Household?” She said, “How would I describe, O son of the Messenger of Allah, something which you know better than me?” “I would like to confer kindness on you.” He said to her, “Which one is dearer to you, ten thousand gold coins or a happy tiding of eternal grandeur?” “Happy tidings of a son for me,” she said. “Rejoice the tidings of a son who will rule the world, from the East to the West, and will fill the earth with equity and justice as it would be fraught with oppression and corruption.” “From whom?” she asked. From the one for whom the

Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) proposed for you on such and such night, in such and such year, replied my Master in Roman. He said, “To whom Jesus and his successor married you.” “From your son Abu Muhammad (a.s.)?” she asked. Do you know him?” “Has there been a night he has not visited me since I have embraced Islam at the hands of the Chief of the Ladies?”

Our Master said to Kafur, “Call my sister Hakimah.” And when she entered, he said to her, “Here she is.” Lady Hakimah embraced her and was delighted to see her. Abu al–Hasan (a.s.) said to her,

“O daughter of the Messenger of Allah, take her to your house and teach her the duties and the traditions, for she is the wife of Abu Muhammad (a.s.) and the mother of al-Qaim (a.t.f.s.).”

The names of the mother of Hazrat Hujjat (a.t.f.s.) are Malika, Susan, Rehaanah, Saiqal and Narjis as narrated by Mohammad Ibn Ali Ibn Hamzah in Behaar al-Anwaar.

Next: Birth of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s)

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Islamic Library: Introduction to Islam