She is chaste...

She is chaste, but she has given birth to a black child who has wide-open nostrils, curly hair, and flat nose, who is unique in my ancestral family.’ The holy prophet (SAW) asked the woman: ‘What do you say?’ The woman said: ‘I swear by Him Who has sent you with the truth, that I have never slept with anyone other than him since I have got married to him.’ Lowering and then raising his head towrds the sky, the holy prophet (SAW) turned to the man and said: ‘O man, there is no one except that between him and Adam there has been ninety-nine veins (genes) affecting the lineage.

Therefore, when the fetus is placed in the womb, these generations become active, asking God the child would resemble them. So, this child is from those generations whom your ancestors have not seen. This is your child then.’ The woman said: “You have delivered me, o messenger of Allah!” [^4] A similar story has been reported by Imam Sajjad (AS) on the authority of the holy prophet (SAW).

Imam Sadiq (AS) has reported the messenger of Allah (SAW) as saying: “Beware of Khadhra’ud-diman!” He was asked what Khadra’ud-diman was and he said, “A beautiful woman brought up in a bad family.”[^5] Imam Ali (AS) has been reported as saying: “Avoid marrying a woman of little wisdom and intellect, for associating with her is a disaster and her child is wasted.”[^6] Imam Sadiq (AS) has been reported as saying: “A group of people came to Imam Ali, saying to him: ‘We want to marry so-and-so man to so-and-so woman.

We would like you to pronounce the marriage formula.” Imam Ali (AS) recited a sermon which included praise to Allah and advice of piety.”[^7] Imam Ali (AS) recommends piety in marriage which is a prelude for reproduction. Imam Sadiq (AS) has been reported as saying: “Whoever intends to get married should perform a two-rak’a prayer, praise Allah, and say: O Lord! I have intended to get married.

I hope You have decreed a pure son from that woman, who shall be pious in my life and after my death.”[^8] In relation to sexual intercourse, Imam Baqir (AS) has been reported as saying: “Avoid sexual intercourse (with your spouses) when a child is present (watching you), for if you have a child, he will be infamous of debauchery and lewdness.”[^9] Imam Ali (AS) has been reported by Imam Sadiq (AS) as saying: “Name your children before they are born.