BIBI HEYBAT (FATIMA AL-SUGHRA, DAUGHTER OF IMAM MUSA AL-KAZIM A.S.)

 

According to Allama Majlisi (r.a.), Hazrat Fatima al-Sughra was buried in Bibi Heybat Mosque. The historical mosque is known by many names; Bibi Heybat Mosque, Pir Bibi Heybat, Mosque of Fatima al-Zahra. According to Sibt ibn Jawzi, the Infallible Imam Musa al-Kazim (a.s.) had named four of daughters as Fatima. Of these, Fatima al-kubra is popularly known as Masooma Khumm. The shrine of Fatima al-Wusta and Fatima al-Ukhra are less known despite being in Iran. Some say, when Imam Ali al-Reza (a.s.) was martyred, his relatives fled to different regions. Fatima al-Sughra, also called Bibi Heybat, was separated from her sister Fatima al-Kubra, and moved to Baku in Azerbaijan during the Abbasid oppressive rule. Soon she earned great respect among the locals as a blessed woman from the House of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.). She was buried outside Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Religious people from Muslim countries started settling near the site. It was built during the Safavid Dynasty and was destroyed in 1936 by Bolsheviks. After 60 years the mosque was rebuilt.

Famous French writer, Alexandre Dumas, who visited the site in 1840 A.D. in his book “The World”: The Mosque- a place of worship for infertile women, they come here on foot, worship, and within a year gain the ability to give birth.”

The mosque earned the name of Bibi Heybat, for it was not considered proper to call a woman by her first name during medieval period. Hence the locals gave it the name of Bibi Heybat as Fatima al-Sughra had a servant named Heybat. In Azeri language Bibi means aunt.

Haji Sheikh Sharif was among many Muslims who is buried near the mosque. He arrived in Baku to spread Sufism. The mention of this mosque is also found in the local and European travelers.

In 1911, the patron of Baku, Alasgar Agha Dadashove with architect Haji Najaf, constructed the new building of the mosque. In 1994, after Azerbaijan gained independence, the then President Heydar Aliyev, ordered the construction of a new building for the Bibi-Heybat Mosque at the same place where it was destroyed.

The mosque has three domes and two minarets. The domes are decorated with the green and turquoise mirrors, which are bordered with glided inscriptions from the Glorious Qur’an. The men’s praying room is located on the south side of the complex, while women – on the north side. Between them is the mausoleum.

 

Sources: WIKISHIA, WIKIPEDIA