The Journey of Lady Fāṭimah al-Maʿṣūmah (س) to Qom

When Imām ʿAlī al-Riḍā (as) was compelled by the Abbasid ruler al-Maʾmūn to leave Medina for Khurāsān, his sister Lady Fāṭimah al-Maʿṣūmah (pbuh) was left behind. For her, separation from her brother was more than the loss of a sibling; it was the absence of the Imām of her time (pbuh), the guide chosen by Allah. Her heart ached with longing, and she resolved to travel from Medina towards Khurāsān to be reunited with him.

Accompanied by several of her brothers and a group of companions, she set out on the arduous desert route. The journey was long and dangerous, but her intention was pure, every step driven by love for Allah and His proof on earth.

When the caravan reached the city of Sāveh, they were attacked by agents loyal to the Abbasids who sought to harm the family of the Ahlulbayt ((pbut)). Many of her brothers were martyred. The grief of these tragedies weighed heavily upon her, and she herself became seriously ill. Some narrations mention that she was poisoned by her enemies.

At this moment of trial, she asked those around her: How far is Qom from here?”

When told it was near, she requested to be taken there, saying she had heard that Qom was the centre of the Shīʿa, where the followers of her grandfather the Prophet (ﷺ) and her father Imām Mūsā al-Kāẓim (as) resided.

The people of Qom, upon hearing of her arrival, rushed out in joy and reverence. The noble Mūsā ibn Khazraj, one of the leaders of the city, took her into his home. There, though ill, she spent her final days in devotion and prayer, turning her heart completely to Allah. For seventeen days she remained in Qom, her presence blessing the city.

On the 10th of Rabīʿ al-Thānī 201 AH, at the age of just 28, Lady Fāṭimah al-Maʿṣūmah (pbuh) departed this world. She was buried in Qom, and over time her resting place became a shrine of light, crowned with the golden dome that stands today.

Her journey, though cut short, gave Qom its sanctity. From her grave blossomed a city of knowledge, a centre of Hawza learning, and a beacon for lovers of the Ahlulbayt (pbut). She is remembered as Karīmat Ahl al-Bayt – the noble lady of the Prophet’s family.

Her life teaches us that even in pain, separation, and illness, devotion to Allah and loyalty to the Imām of the time (pbuh) can turn suffering into eternal light.