Islam proudly annulled all kinds of racial segregation and...

Islam proudly annulled all kinds of racial segregation and considered them as factors of backwardness and declination in society because they divided the nation into fighting sects and parties. Therefore, the imams of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s) married bondmaids in order to do away with malicious feuds and remove the causes of separation amongst Muslims. Imam Ali bin al-Husayn Zaynol Aabideen (as- Sajjad) (a.s) married a bondmaid who gave birth to the great revolutionary martyr, Zayd.

Imam ar-Ridha’ (a.s) married a bondmaid who gave birth to Imam al-Jawad (a.s). The situation of the infallible imams in their marriages with bondmaids was a decisive refutation towards the enemies of Islam who tried their best to keep Muslims divided. As for the name of the mother of Imam al-Jawad (a.s), historians disagree, and each group says something different. Here are some of the historians’ accounts: Her name was al-Khayzuran.

Imam ar-Ridha’ (a.s) named her so when her actual name was Durrah.[^5] Her name was Sukaynah al-Nawbiyyah, or al-Muraysiyyah[^6], as was said by historians. It was said that her lineage belonged to Maria al-Qubtiyyah the wife of (a.s).[^7] Her name was Rayhanah.[^8] Her name was Sabeekah.[^9] Some sources of history neglect mentioning her name and just call her “Umm Walad.”[^10] Anyhow, it is not of great importance to know what her actual name was.

Of greater interest is her life history; however, unfortunately, the sources at hand have not mentioned anything about her life. The Great Newborn Imam ar-Ridha’ (a.s) took much care of his (wife) bondmaid because he had perceived through the unseen that she would give birth to a boy that Allah had chosen for the imamate and the general guardianship of the Holy Prophet (a.s). He would be one of the Prophet’s twelve successors. Imam ar-Ridha’ (a.s) had informed his close companions of that.

Imam ar-Ridha’ (a.s) entrusted his honored sister Hakeemah bint Imam Musa bin Ja’far al-Kadhim (a.s) to remain with his wife until she gave birth to her child.1 [^11] Lady Hakeemah carried out everything her brother had asked her to do. When the bondmaid felt she was about to give birth, Imam ar-Ridha’ (a.s) asked his sister to come with a midwife. Imam ar-Ridha’ (a.s) lit a lamp in the house[^12] and remained in expectation of the great newborn.

It was not long until his bondmaid gave birth to a great figure of intellect and jihad in Islam.