1. Narjis is believed by the Twelvers to have been the mother of their Hidden Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi.
11 Facts About Narjis
1. 2.
Narjis's birth is said to have been providentially concealed by his father, Hasan al-Askari, out of fear of Abbasid persecution as they sought to eliminate an expected child of the eleventh Imam, whom persistent rumors described as a savior.
3.
The origin of Narjis is recorded as the Byzantine or Nubia and her tomb is believed to be located in the al-Askari shrine in Samarra, Iraq.
4.
The origin of Narjis is recorded by some sources as the Byzantine empire or Nubia.
5.
Possibly the correct account is the one given by al-Mufid, who writes that Narjis was a slave, born and raised in the house of Hakima Khatun, daughter of al-Jawad and paternal aunt of al-Askari.
6.
Narjis was given in marriage to al-Askari by his father, al-Hadi, when the former was about twenty-two years old.
7.
Narjis was named Abu al-Qasim Muhammad, the same name and as the Islamic prophet, though he is more commonly known as Muhammad al-Mahdi.
8.
Narjis's birthdate is given differently, but most sources seem to agree on 15 Sha'ban, which is celebrated by the Shia for this occasion.
9.
The account describes that the pregnancy of Narjis miraculously had no physical signs, similar to Moses' mother, and that Hakima Khatun was brought in as midwife only when the birth was due.
10.
Narjis's escape from the palace placed her at the center of disputes between Uthman and his son, on one side, and a brother of al-Askari, on the other side.
11.
The tomb of Narjis is located in the al-Askari shrine in Samarra, Iraq.