11^th December 2024 – 17^th December 2024

13^th December

Death Anniversary of Lady Umm al-Banin (peace be upon her)

Fatimah Kalabiyah, known as Umm al-Banin, was the wife of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) after the martyrdom of Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her). She was the mother of Abbas, Abdullah, Ja’far, and Uthman (peace be upon them), all martyred at Karbala alongside Imam Hussain (peace be upon him). Her tomb lies in the Baqi’ Cemetery in Medina.

Her exact birth date is unknown, though some suggest around the 5th year of Hijri. Her father, Hizam ibn Khalid, was renowned for bravery, honesty, wisdom, and generosity. Her mother, Thumamah (or Layla), was the daughter of Suhail ibn ‘Amir.

Imam Ali sought a wife from a lineage of brave Arab warriors. His brother, Aqil, a genealogy expert, recommended Fatimah Kalabiyah due to her noble ancestry. Aqil praised her maternal grandfather, Abu Bara’ ‘Amir ibn Malik, a legendary warrior known as “The Spear Player” for his unparalleled valor, and stated that none among the Arabs, except Imam Ali, surpassed his courage.

Umm al-Banin passed away on the 13th of Jumada al-Thani, either in 64 AH or 70 AH. She was buried in the Baqi’ Cemetery, near Imam Hasan and Fatimah bint Asad. She is remembered for her piety, humility, and as the devoted mother of the martyrs of Karbala, particularly Hazrat Abbas, whose bravery is legendary.

14^th December

Birthday of Mulla Ahmad Naraqi 1245/1830

Ahmad Naraqi, also known as Fadil Naraqi (1185–1245 AH), was a prominent Shia scholar of the 13th century and the son of Mulla Mahdi Naraqi. After his father’s passing, he became the religious leader in Kashan, gaining respect and influence.

He authored numerous works across various Islamic sciences, with Mustanad al-Shi‘a, ‘Awa’id al-Ayyam, and Mi‘raj al-Sa‘ada being some of his most renowned. Naraqi also wrote Al-Khaza’in, a miscellany on esoteric sciences, later edited by Ali Akbar Ghafari and Hassan Zadeh Amoli. He was fluent in Arabic, Hebrew, and Latin, and his mastery of various sciences allowed him to produce a wide range of books. One such work, Seyf al-Umma and Burhan al-Milla, was a response to the doubts raised by the English priest Henry Martin, showcasing Naraqi’s knowledge of Christianity and his commitment to countering misguided ideologies.

In 1205 AH, Naraqi traveled with his father to the holy cities of Iraq, where he studied under prominent scholars. After attaining the rank of ijtihad, he began teaching, writing, and engaging in scholarly discussions. Following his father’s death in 1209 AH, he returned to Kashan and assumed leadership, becoming known as “the absolute leader.”

Mulla Ahmad Naraqi passed away on 23rd Rabi’ al-Thani, 1245 AH, due to a plague. His body was transferred to Najaf and buried next to his father in the shrine of Imam Ali (peace be upon him). It is said that during the journey, a pleasant fragrance was noticed around his body, which remained unchanged until his burial, despite concerns about the heat causing decay.

15^th December

Martyrdom of Ayatollah Mohammad Moffatteh

Ayatollah Dr. Mohammad Mofatteh (1307–1358 SH) was a Shia cleric and a prominent supporter of Imam Khomeini during the Iranian Revolution. He was active in political and religious affairs, with Mosque al-Jawad and Quba Mosque being central to his activities. In 1979, he led a massive Eid al-Fitr prayer in Tehran attended by thousands. After the revolution, he became a member of the Revolutionary Council and oversaw the Faculty of Theology at the University of Tehran. He was also a member of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom and served as secretary of the Tehran Combatant Clergy Association for a time.

In 1979, Ayatollah Dr. Mofatteh was martyred by the Furqan group. His martyrdom is commemorated annually on 27th Azar in the Islamic Republic of Iran as Unity of Seminary and University Day. He is buried at the Lady Masoumeh Shrine in Qom.

In 1968 (1347 solar calendar), Ayatollah Dr. Mofatteh was expelled from the Ministry of Education for spreading revolutionary thought and conveying it to students. Following his expulsion, he was exiled to the southern parts of Iran. During his exile, he travelled to several cities, including Zahedan, Abadan, Ahvaz, Khorramshahr, Dezful, Isfahan, Yazd, Kerman, Shiraz, Bandar Abbas, Hamedan, and Kermanshah, where he engaged in missionary and revolutionary activities.

The Furqan group, in their campaign to eliminate intellectual opponents of Ali Shariati, carried out the assassinations of prominent figures such as Ayatollah Morteza Motahhari, Haj Mehdi Araqi, (in 1980), and Ayatollah Dr. Mofatteh.

Ayatollah Mofatteh was assassinated in December 1979 at 9:00 AM at the Faculty of Theology by three members of the Furqan group. He was buried in one of the rooms of the Lady Masoumeh Shrine in Qom. Imam Khomeini issued a message of condolence upon hearing of his martyrdom.