“If you are afflicted with distress and suffering...

“If you are afflicted with distress and suffering, you are to resort to Qom because it is the refuge of the Fatimites and the resort of the believers.” [15] Imam Musa al-Kadhim (s) said: “Qom is the shelter of Muhammad’s progeny and the resort of their Shia.” [16] He also said in another tradition, which was as an astonishing prediction: “There will be a man from Qom, who will invite people to the truth and great masses of people will join him.

They will not be shaken by the most violent storms.” [17] This tradition has become real after the Islamic revolution under the leadership of Imam Khomeini (may Allah be pleased with him). There is another tradition of Imam as-Sadiq (s) deserving to be pondered on. Imam as-Sadiq (s) said: “The ground of Qom is sacred. Its people are from us and we are from them. No arrogant tries to offend them, unless his punishment will be hastened to him as long as they do not betray their brothers.

If they do that, then Allah will subject them to the offenses of the arrogants.” [18] [14] The progeny of Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter. [15] Biharul Anwar, vol.6 p.214. [16] Ibid. [17] Ibid, vol.53 p.216. [18] Ibid, vol.6 p.218. There is another tradition related to Imam as-Sadiq (s) talking about Fatima al-Ma’ssooma (s). He said: “We have a sanctum. It is the village of Qom, in which a woman from my progeny will be buried.

Her name will be Fatima.” [19] Biography of Fatima al-Ma’ssooma Fatima al-Ma’ssooma (s) was born in Thil Qa’da, [20] 173 A.H. She was six years old when her father Imam al-Kadhim (s) was put in prison in 179 A.H. [21] She had several surnames but she was known as “al-Ma’ssooma”. It not known exactly why she has been surnamed as al-Ma’ssooma but there might be some reasons behind that.

The girl was pure and infallible besides that she was a daughter of the seventh imam of the infallible house of the Prophet (s), a sister of an infallible imam (Imam ar-Redha**[22]** (s)) and an aunt of an infallible imam (Imam al-Jawad**[23]** (s)). We could add another reason that she had died oppressedly far from her nation while she was still a [19] Mustadrakul Wassa’il, vol.10 p.268. [20] Thil Qa’da is the eleventh month in the Islamic calendar.

[21] Imam al-Kadhim (s) was put in prison by the orders of Haroon ar-Rasheed, the Abbasid caliph, himself. He (Imam al-Kadhim) was assassinated in one of the prisons of Baghdad in 183 A.H. [22] He is the eighth imam of the Shia. [23] He is the ninth imam of the Shia.