13th Jamadi-us-Sani - the death anniversary of Hazrat Fatima bint-e-Hazm bin Khalid (also known as Ummul Baneen) – the wife of Imam Ali(as) and mother of Hazrat Abbas(as).

On the sad occasion of her death anniversary, I wish to extend my
condolences to Prophet Mohammad(sawaw), Imam Zamana(atfs), the Ahl-e-Bait(as) and to all Momineen and Mominaat.

Birth and early life

Hazrat Fatima binte Hazam bin Khalid Ibn-e-Rabi'e Ibn-e-Amer Kalbi belonged to the clan of Banu Kilah, which was one the noblest families amongst the Hashimites and famous for the bravery and valour of its warriors.

She was born in 5 AH, some years after the martyrdom of Hazrat Fatima Zehra(sa), Imam Ali(as) expressed his desire to his brother Aqil bin Abi Talib(as) to marry a women of a brave and warrior tribe.

Hazrat Aqeel was a very knowledgeable in tribe genealogy and he immediately proposed the name of Hazrat Fatima binte Hazam bin Khalid and the marriage took place soon after.

Much earlier during 8 AH, Imam Ali(as) had been given the prophecy by Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) of a brave son who would be martyred alongside with his brother Imam Hussain(as) on the day of Ashura. Ever since then, Imam Ali(as) had been waiting for the birth of that son which came in the person of Hazrat Abbas(as).

Hazrat Umm-ul-Baneen came to the house of Imam Ali(as) knowing very well that before her the chief of the women of paradise, Hazrat Fatima Zehra(sa) was living in that house. She served Imam Ali(as) in the same manner as Hazrat Umm-e-Salma had served the Holy Prophet(sawaw) after the demise of Hazrat Khadija(as).

Immediately stepping in the house, she vowed herself to act as a slave of the children of Hazrat Fatima(sa). Her sincerity was much respected by the children of Hazrat Fatima(sa) that they always gave her a high status and respect.

Fatima Binte Hazam was an accomplished and cultured lady, and bore Hazrat Ali's four sons, Abbas, Abdullah, Jafer and Usman. The meaning of 'Ummul Baneen' is 'Mother of Sons'. All of her sons were martyred along with Imam Hussain. After their martyrdom, she requested people not to call her 'Ummul Baneen' ever again. When Imam Hussain(as) was leaving Madinah for Iraq Hazrat Ummul Baneen asked her four sons, Hazrat Abbas(as), Abdulla, Ja'far and Usman to sacrifice their lives in the sacred cause of Imam Hussain(as).

On 10th Muharram 61 AH,the day of martyrdom of Imam Hussain(as) and his 72 faithful companions at the battlefield of Karbala when Hazrat Umme Salamah witnessed that the earth in the bottle given to her by the Holy Prophet(sawaw) had turned into blood she raised the cry of "Ya Hussain, Ya Hussain" and declared that Imam Hussain(as) has been martyred according to the prophecy foretold to her by the Holy Prophet(sawaw) about the martyrdom of Imam Hussain(as).

Then Ummul Baneen gathered women of Madinah in her house and all wept over the martyrdom of Imam Hussain(as).This was the first ever Majlis conducted after the martyrdom of Imam Hussain(as).
Ummul Baneen had such sincerity toward the Holy Prophet's progeny that she loved Imam Hussain(as) more than her own children, A feeling, which was from the depth of her heart, to the extent that when she received the news stating the martyrdom of her four children, she said: "Tell me about Hussain (as)" and when she received the news of Imam Hussain's(as) martyrdom she said: "All of the arteries of my heart are torn. May all of my children and whatever that exists under this azure heaven be sacrificed for the sake of Imam Hussain (as)."

The first noha recitor of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain(as)

After the arrival of Imam Sajjad(as) and Hazrat Zainab(sa) in
Madinah Hazrat Ummul Baneen used to gather women in her house and used to narrate to them how Imam Hussain(as) and his companions were martyred by Yazidi forces.

Hazrat Ummul Baneen was a great poet and she is considered as the first Noha (lamentation poetry) and marsia reciter for the martyrdom
of Imam Hussain(as).She used to visit regularly the famous Jannat al-
Baqi cemetery in Madinah and recite her Nohas in a very sad voice that everybody present there used to weep bitterly. Her poetry on the events of Karbala are recorded in the book mentioned below.

She transformed the Jannat al-Baqi cemetery in Madinah as "the Centre of Azadari of Imam Hussain(as)". The Nohas recited by Hazrat Ummul Baneen for the martyrdom of Imam Husian(as) are recorded in history and are considered as masterpieces in Arabic literature.

It is recorded in historical accounts that Hazrat Ummul Baneen died on 13th Jamadi us-Sani 64 AH and was buried in the Jannat al-Baqi
cemetery in the holy city of Madinah.