I m A M Z A D E H -DESCENDANTS OF IMAMS

*Imamzadeh � Bibi Zubeida Khatoon (sa)*

Bibi Zubeida Khatoon�s shrine is situated in Naragh at Kohan E Zar (Mountain Of Treasure), in the picturesque valley of Isfahan province in Iran.

Imam Taqi Al-Jawad�s first marriage was with Umm Al-Fazl, daughter of Al Mamun Al-Abbasi. There were no kids from the first marriage After few years, Imam Al-Jawad married a French lady Samana Al-Maghribiyya, (Shiekh Abbas Qummī, Muntahā l-āmāl, vol. 2, p. 497). According to al-Shaykh al-Mufid al-Irshād, vol. 2, p. 284, Imam al-Jawad (a) had four children from Samana Al-Maghribiyya (2 sons and two daughters) with the names, 'Ali (Imam al-Hadi (a)), Musa Al Mubarqa , Fatima and Amama. However Ibn Shahrāshūb in his book Manāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib, (vol. 4, p. 380) and other sources regarded three daughters for Imam (a) with the names of Hakima, Khadija, and Umm Kulthum. It is Musa Al Mubarqa only who is the father of All Rizvi Saadats spread across India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and across the globe. Bibi Zubeida Khatoon was the youngest daughter of Imam Jawwad (as).

There were five major migrations of Ahlulbayt (as) saadat to Iran over the course of time. The one that took place in the 9th century during the time of Imam Ali Raza (as) and Imam Mohammad Taqi (as) was the fourth collective migration. In all, more than 6000 of them migrated to Iran, to be by the side of Imam Ali Raza (as), after he was forced to move to Iran by the Calipg Mamun Al-Rasheed or to take refuge due to the persecution suffered by many of them, back in Arabia.
As far as Abbasid Caliphs were concerned, they left no stone unturned, when it came to oppressing, torturing, butchering and slaughtering the Ahlulbayts (as), the very progeny of Prophet Mohammed (saw), that they claimed to love and follow.

After the martyrdom of Imam Mohammed Taqi Al Jawwad (as) who was poisoned by the Abbasid Caliph Al Mustasim, a caravan that comprised of many Alavi Saadat left Madina to take refuge in Iran. Amongst them was a 9 years old daughter of Imam Mohammad Taqi (as). Her name was Fatimah Soghra and her title was �Bibi Zubeida Khatoon�.

The mother of Bibi Zubeida Khatoon was Bibi Samana Al-Maghribiyya, a French lady. Bibi Samana was a maidservant who was bought for 70 dinars by the order of Imam al-Jawad (a). She fasted and prayed a lot. In a hadith, Imam al-Hadi (as) mentioned her mother a true knower of his rights and a dweller of paradise. Bibi Samana's grave is in the Shrine of 'Askariyyayn (as) in Samarra, beside the graves of Imam al-Hadi (as) and, Bibi Narjis Khatoon (mother of Imam Al Mehdi atf), Bibi Hakima (Imam al-Jawad's (a) daughter) and Bibi Hudayth (Imam Al-Askari�s mother (as)).

Nothing much is written about her in history, except that a caravan stopped over in Qum while passing through the city of Naragh (Isfahan) they were attacked by the army of the tyrant Caliph, Mutawakkil. In the cold blooded massacre that followed, Bibi Zubeida Khatoon, the little daughter of Imam Taqi (as) was mercilessly killed. In all, 200 were slaughtered including men, women and children. Most of them were thrown in a mass grave. Those who were captured, were immediately executed on the sopt with sharp knives. They were all buried in the close vicinity of the shrine. It is because of the presence of these Imamzadgaans, thse hills are called �KOHAN E ZAR� or the Mountain of Treasure.

The influence of Ahlulbayt (as) along with the presence of large number of shias in Iran, instilled such fear in the then state establishment, that they ordered the killing of any number that they could find; be it men, women or child. This is a gruesome part of history that has been unheard of for ages and therefore has been ignored.

Bibi Zubeida Khatoon was slaughtered on the day of Arbaeen (40th day of martyrdom of Imam Hussain Ibne Ali a.s). Her shrine lies in Naragh, a place which is about 3 KMs drive from Qum and about 1 � hours drive from Kashaan. In fact any taxi driver from Kashaan can get you to the shrine easily.

Apart from religious and spiritual significance, the location of the sight is a true delight.

Every ziarat has its own significance, importance and specialty. The Ziarat of Bibi Zubeida Khatoon (sa) is known for two main reasons :
1. Granting children to childless couples
2. Curing terminal illness specially CANCER

One incident, which is mostly spoken about this shrine is of a British lady, who was cured in the last stage of cancer, She was brought to the shrine by her husband who was a resident of Naragh and knew about the miracle of the shrine.

Agha Mohammad Mahdi Naraghi is the current Head of the shrine, a warm host, and a great source of information.