BRIEF LIFE HISTORY UMMUL BANEEN
Fatimah bint Hizam al-Qilabiyya, commonly known as Umm ul-Banin ("mother
of several sons"), married Ali (Ali ibn Abi Talib), after the death of his first
wife Fatimah. Ummul Banin and Ali had four sons, of which the eldest was AlAbbas ibn Ali (the commander of Husayn ibn Ali's forces at the Battle of
Karbala). Also the other 3 sons Uthman ibn Ali, Abdullah ibn Ali and Jafar ibn
Ali.were martyred at the battle.
Bibi Fatima Binte Hazam known as Ummul Baneen (SA) came into this world in the 5th year of Hijri. She
was an accomplished and cultured lady known for her glory, honor, piety, and nobility. Later, she would
have the honor of being the wife of Imam Ali (AS), and would be called mother by Imam Hasan (AS),
Imam Hossain (AS), Bibi Zainab (SA), and Bibi Kulsom (SA).
In her marriage with Imam Ali (AS), Bibi Ummul Baneen (SA) bore four sons: Hazrat Abbas (AS), Hazrat
Abdullah (AS), Hazrat Imran (AS), Hazrat Jafar (AS). They were brought up under the direct guidance
and blessings of Imam Ali (AS). She inspired and educated her own children to act only as slaves to
Hossain (AS).
Bibi Umul Baneen's love for Imam Hossain (AS) was so intense that when she received the news about
the martyrdom of her four children, she said: "Tell me about Hossain (AS)" and when she received the
news of Imam Hossain (AS)'s martyrdom she said: "All of the arteries of my heart are torn. May all of my
children and whatever that exist under this azure heaven be sacrificed for the sake of Imam Hossain
(AS)".
Ummul Banin (SA) gathered together a number of women of Madina in her house and all cried for the
martyrdom of Imam Hossain (AS). This was the first ever Majlis conducted after the martyrdom of Imam
Hossain (AS).
A gifted poetess, she is considered as the first noha (lamentation poetry) reciter for the martyrdom of
Imam Hossain (AS). The nohas recited by Bibi Ummul Baneen for the martyrdom of Imam Hossain (AS)
are recorded in history and are considered as masterpieces in Arabic literature.
After the Battle of Karbala, Bibi Ummul Baneen (SA) became very weak as she was mourning for
relentlessly. The grief was taking its toll and she finally left this world on the 13th Jamadi us-Sani 64 AH.
She is buried in Jannat al-Baqi.
http://www.ziaraat.org/madina/ummulbaneen.php
13th Jamadi-us-Sani - the death anniversary of Hazrat Fatima bint-e-Hazm bin Khalid
(also known as Umm-ul-Baneen) – the wife of Imam Ali(a.s.) and mother of Hazrat
Abbas(a.s.)
On the sad occassion of her death anniversary, we extend condolences to Prophet
Mohammad(sawaw), Imam Zamana(a.s.), the Ahl-e-Bait(a.s.) and to all Momineen
and Mominaat.
Hazrat Fatima binte Hizam 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 A.H. Some years after the martyrdom of lady Fatima Zahra(s.a.),
Imam Ali(a.s.) expressed his desire to his brother Aqil bin Abi Talib(a.s.) 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 A.H., Imam Ali(a.s.) had been given the prophecy by Prophet
Mohammad(sawaw) of a brave son who would be martyred alongside with his brother
Imam Hussain(a.s.) on the day of Ashura. Ever since then, Imam Ali(a.s.) had been
waiting for the birth of that son which came in the person of Hazrat Abbas(a.s.).
Hazrat Umm-ul-Baneen came to the house of Imam Ali(a.s.) knowing very well that
before her the chief of the women of paradise, Hazrat Fatima Zahra(s.a.) was living in
that house. She served Imam Ali(a.s.) in the same manner as Hazrat Umm-e-Salma
had served the Holy Prophet(saw) after the demise of Hazrat Khadija(a.s.).
Immediately stepping in the house, she vowed herself to act as a slave of the children
of Hazrat Fatima(s.a.). Her sincerity was much respected by the children of Hazrat
Fatima(s.a.) 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 Husain. After their
martyrdom, she requested people not to call her 'Ummul Baneen' ever again.
When Imam Husain(A.S.) was leaving Madinah for Iraq , Ummul Baneen asked her
four sons, Hadrat Abbas(A.S.), Abdulla, Ja'far and Usman to sacrifice their lives in
the sacred cause of Imam Husain(A.S.).
On 10th Muharram 61 A.H.,the day of martyrdom of Imam Husain(a.s.) and his 72
faithful companions at the battlefield of Karbala when Hadrat 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 Husain" Ya Husain" and declared that
Imam Hussain(a.s.) has been martyred according to the prophecy foretold to her by
the Holy Prophet(saw) about the martyrdom of Imam Hussain(a.s.).
Then Ummul Baneen gathered women of Madinah in her house and all cried for the
martyrdom of Imam Hussain(a.s.).This was the first ever Majlis conducted after the
martyrdom of Imam Husain(a.s.).Ummul Baneen had such sincerity toward the Holy
Prophet's progeny that she loved Imam Hussain(a.s.) more than her own children. A
feeling which was from the bottom of her heart. It was to the extent that when she
received the news stating the martyrdom of her four children, she said: "Tell me about
Hussain (A.S.)" and when she received the news of Imam Hussain (A.S.)'s martyrdom
she said: "All of the arteries of my heart are torn. May all of my children and what
ever that exists under this azure heaven be sacrificed for the sake of Imam Hussain
(a.s.).
She loved the Children of Fatimah Zahra(sa), daughter of Mohammed the messenger
of God, from her heart. She requested her husband Ali Ibn-e Abee Talib, not to call
her Fatimah after her marriage to him, partly because of sanctity she bore for Fatima
al-Zehra, and partly because it evoked the grief in the hearts of children of Bibi
Fatema al-Zehra.She inspired and educated her own children to understand the fact,
that they were slaves to Imam Hussain. Her sons never claimed to be brothers of
Husain, rather claimed to be his slaves, as their mother wished. She died at the
youthful age of 59 lunar years in year 64 AH.
<<< The First Noha Recitor of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain(a.s.) >>>
She was the first one to hold a congregation [Majlis] for Imam Husain bin Ali right
after his martyrdom. She was a poetess, and wrote the first latmiyyah in his honour.
After the arrival of Imam Sajjad(a.s.) and Hazrat Zainab(s.a.) in Madinah Hadrat
Ummul Baneen used to gather women in her house and used to narrate them how
Imam Husain(a.s.) and his companions were martyred by Yazidi forces.
Hadrat Ummul Baneen was a great poet and she is considered as the first Noha
(lamentation poetry) reciter for the martyrdom of Imam Husain(a.s.).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.
She transformed the Jannat al-Baqi cemetery in Madinah as "the Centre of Azadari of
Imam Husain(a.s.)". The Nohas recited by Hadrat Ummul Baneen for the martyrdom
of Imam Husian(a.s.) are recorded in history and are considered as masterpieces in
Arabic literature.
Lady Ummul Baneen died on 13th Jamadi us-Sani 64 A.H. and was buried in the
Jannat al-Baqi cemetery in the holy city of Madinah.
We pray for the early reappearance of the Awaited Saviour & restoration of the Grave
into a masolueum .