I wish death had deprived me of life!

I wish death had deprived me of life! My mother, Fatima (‘a), has just died followed by my father ‘Ali (‘a) then my brother al-Hasan (‘a)![^6] O vicar of the past generations and the best remnant of those that remain!' Al-Husayn (‘a) consoled her and admonished her to persevere, telling her, ‘O sister! May Allah console you! Be informed that earthlings die, and that even those who live in the heavens do not live forever.

Everything shall perish except His countenance; my consolation, and that of every Muslim, is that the Messenger of Allah (S) is our best example.' She, peace be upon her, said to him, ‘Do you force yourself on it? This causes my heart to swell even more, and it surely is harder on my soul.'[^7] The women wept when they saw her weeping, beating their cheeks. Umm Kulthum cried out, ‘O Muhammad! O ‘Ali ! O mother! O Husayn! How lost we are after you!' Al-Husayn (‘a) said, ‘O sister! O Umm Kulthum!

O Fatima! O Rubab! Pay attention to me. Once I am killed, you should not tear your pockets nor scotch your cheeks nor utter any verbal abuse.'[^8] Then al-Husayn (‘a) instructed his sister, Zainab, to refer to ‘Ali Ibn al-Husayn (‘a) with regard to any ahkam and to convey the same to the Shi’as as a measure to protect the new Imam.” Ahmad Ibn Ibrahim testifies to the authenticity of the above; he has said, “I visited Hakima daughter of Muhammad son of [Imam] ‘Ali al-Riďa (‘a) and sister of [Imam] Abul-Hasan al-’Askari (‘a) in 282 A.H (895 A.D.) in Medina, and I spoke to her from behind a curtain.

I asked her about her religion, so she named the Imams whom she emulated, naming one of the sons of [Imam] al-Hasan (‘a). I asked her whether she was emulating them due to her observation or on account of what is reported on their behalf.

She said, “By way of what is transmitted by Abu Muhammad who recorded it for his mother.” I asked her, “Should I emulate one who instructs a woman?!” She said, “It is emulating al-Husayn Ibn ‘Ali in Abu Talib (‘a) who instructed his sister Zainab in the open;” so I realized that anything which was being attributed to Zainab was done only to protect the identity of ‘Ali Ibn al-Husayn (‘a). Then she said, “You are people who record what goes on.

Have you not reported saying that the ninth from among the offspring of al-Husayn (‘a) shall distribute his estate during his own lifetime?”” She was actually referring to p. 275, chapter 49, first edition of as-Saduq's book Ikmal ad-Din wa Itmam al-Ni’ma .