Exalted life of Lady Narjis Khatoon (S.A)
Narrator:
This is the life of the great lady Janabe Narjis Khatoon; the princess of Rome who was escorted by Bashar bin Suleiman to the house of Imam Ali un Naqi (A.S) in Samarra. Her name was Malika. She was the daughter of Joshua, the son of Caesar and ruler of Rome. Her mother was from the descendants of Shamun (Simon); one of the closest companion and disciple of Prophet Isa (A.S).
Her identity was hidden from Banu Abbas and her location was kept hidden from the rulers of Rome. The mother of our beloved twelfth Imam had to be concealed and great caution had to be exercised as the caliphs wanted to prevent the birth of our twelfth Imam.
To better know our master, the Awaited One, Imam Mahdi (as), it would be appropriate to introduce his mother Nargis Khatoon (sa) and the amazing story of her marriage to our 11th Imam.
At the age of 13, she was supposed to get married to one of her Christian cousins, but by divine intervention, this did not happen. In this scene we shall see the dream that Nargis Khatoon has on this night. Prophet Isa accompanied by Shamoon and some other disciples appear at the place where the ceremony would have taken place. But instead of the throne she sees that a very high pulpit arranged at that spot. Then Prophet Mohammed, Imam Ali and some of His grandchildren enter the castle.
This is her first dream, in a series of dreams which led to her guidance onto the right path.
Scene 1: (First dream of Nargis Khatoon where she meets Nabi Isa and HP)
Nargis Khatoon sleeping.
P Isa and Shamoon enter stage
NK (sits up): Blessed am I to be honoured with a visit by you Jesus, O son of Mary and my ancestor Shamoon.
P Isa: We bring you glad tidings.
HP enters.
P Isa and Shamoon hug the HP and greet HP
P Issa: (hug the HP) Peace be upon you Mohammed, the last Messenger of my Lord, Mercy to mankind
Shamoon: What an auspicious night this in my household, How may I be of service to you O Noble messenger of the Lord?
HP: And Peace be upon you too Isa and Shamun. O' Ruhullah! I have come on the behalf of my son Hassan Askari with a proposal of marriage for Malika the daughter of Shamoon
P Issa: (to Shamoon) Shamoon, The greatest honor has come to you. Let your relation be bonded with the house of Muhammad (s.a.w)."
Shamoon: It will be my honour to accept this proposal. I give the hand of my daughter Malika to your son Hassan.
P Issa: (to HP) we accept this auspicious union.
HP: All praise is His who has created and chosen spouses for us ...........one line of Nikah
3 men exit
NK: (Go back to sleep and then wake up from dream talking to public): Was that a dream? Who was that luminous light? Did I see the final messenger of God? Was that the Great Prophet I have read about in our scriptures? Is HE the one that has been prophesied to guide us to the truth? My soul feels lighter and elevated. My heart is throbbing with this strange feeling. The recitation of the final messenger echoes in my heart.
MUNAJAAT
Narrator: Nargis Khatoon kept her dream to herself as she was afraid to reveal her dream to her father or grandfather in fear that they might kill her, but the love for the Ahlul Bayt had set its root in her heart. Her father was still concerned about her health, for her health deteriorated. The King of Rome, her father, did everything to bring happiness to her heart. He asked her if she had any desire and Malika requested that they should stop the torture of Muslim captives and promise to release the Muslim prisoners, as this would please Mariam and her son, Isa. 14 days later she has another dream.
Scene 2: (Second dream of Nargis Khatoon, where she meets Bibi Fatema and Bibi Maryam)
NK sleeping. Maryam enters and NK sits up, watching the dream seated.
NK: Blessings be upon you Oh mother of Issa, I am indeed honored to have you grace me with your presence.
BM: And upon you be blessings my child.
BF enters stage
BM: Peace be upon you my Lady of Light Fatema, Oh daughter of the final messenger and leader of the women of the world.
BM: talking to Nargis "O Malika, let me take the honour of introducing you to Fatema, the Lady of Light, the daughter of the Final Prophet, whom you saw in your first dream. She is also the holy mother of your husband Abu-Muhammad".
Nargis: (throws herself at her feet and then hug BF, crying) oh Lady of light, may I complain to you, why is it that I still haven't had the pleasure of seeing your son, and my husband, the 11th noor from your household? When will I have the opportunity to meet him?
BF: Malika, for as long as you remain in your belief, my son, will not meet you. If you want God, Isa and Maryam to become pleased with you, and if you still want to meet your husband Abu-Muhammad then declare that: "There is no God but Allah and my father is the messenger of Allah".
Nargis Khatoon: I testify "There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is the messenger of Allah".
BF: (Hug Nargis): You will meet your husband Abu-Muhammad very soon because I will send him to you.
MUNAJAAT
Narrator: As promised by Bibi Fatema, from that day onwards, Malika, Nargis Khatoon sees the 11th Imam in her dreams every night. On one night Imam informs her, that her grandfather shall be dispatching an army to fight the Muslims at the border. She is to join the women who help behind the battle line and wear the clothes that they wear. Among these women she will be captured and in this way she will be transferred from the Roman territory to the Islamic territory. From here she will then be brought to the Imam and she will attain the honor of becoming the mother of the Awaited Imam, whom the Caliphs think will not be born.
In the next scene we shall see how the 10th Imam send his trusted friend Bashar bin Suleiman to the market in pursuit of the Narcissus Flower, Nargis.
Scene 3: 10th Imam sending a buyer to the seaside
Bashar: Salaams oh my Imam, you sent for me?
10th Imam: Wa alykum salaam Bashar, come be seated. Yes, I am entrusting you with a very important mission.
Bashar: Labayk ya Imam, what is this mission?
10th Imam: O' Bashar, you are a descendant of Janabe Ayyoub Ansari, who was a descended of the Holy Prophet. You are the most trustworthy of all and I am about to send you on a secret commission to purchase a female slave."
Bashar: I will try to accomplish this task to the best of my abillity.
10th Imam: This is a letter in Roman language which I have sealed with my seal , this bag contains 220 dinaars inside it. take this letter and this bag and go to bank of the river Euphrates at the appointed day and reach the place before noon. When you will get there you will see some ships arriving carrying prisoners of war. On board these ships will be some slave-girls and to buy them a group of agents and chiefs of the Bani Abbas and a few young Arabs will crowd to purchase them. Stand aside before the slave-dealer Umar-o-bin-Yazid meanwhile he will show a slave-girl who will wear two parts of thick knitted robes and she will refuse to step up to the buyers or to be touched by them. You will see her sitting behind a curtain crying in the roman language of her fear to be unveiled. The buyers will mark her nobility and purity so they will offer 300 dinaars but this girl will deny.
MUNAJAAT
Narrator: Bashar Bin-Sulemaan relates that he carried out all the instructions Imam Ali Naqi A.S had given him. Let us now see what happens at the seaside.
Scene 4: At the Port
Seller: Oh slave girl I have a buyer for you! He is prepared to pay me 300 dinars for you! Step forward so that he may see you and I can finalise you sale.
Nargis: (says to the seller to address other buyers):No no! Tell him, Even if he would come as a king like Suleiman son of Daoud or similar to him I would never have affection for him. So it would be better if he bought someone else instead of me and not waste his money.
Seller: (confused): :"How long should I wait , I am compelled to sell you."
Nargis: Why this hurry, It is important for me to choose my purchaser to whom my heart accept him as trustworthy and truthful".
Bashar: (addresses seller): I have a letter in roman language written by a noble trustworthy man. Please hand this over to the girl so that she can read it and then make up her mind according to this letter.
Nargis: (read letter and start crying) O Umar bin-Yazid Sell me to the writer of this letter and if you refuse I will die of grief."
Seller: (pointing to Bashar) This is the messenger of the letter.
Bashar (addressing NK): This letter is from my Holy Imam AS, who has sent a bag with 220 dinaars to pay for you.
NK: I accept, you may sell to this messenger, I shall go with him to my Master.
Seller: (to NK) Very well, as you wish. (Turn to Bashar): 220 Dinnars it is then and you may take this slave girl to your master.
Bashar gives the money to seler, and NK exits with Bashar.
MUNAJAAT
Narrator: Bashar and NK proceed towards Baghdad. Although, NK has never met the 11th Imam yet physically, she was filled with excitement and her face was lightened with joy. In the household of the 10th Imam she finds motherly love, affection and guidance under the caring watch of non other than Bibi Hakima Khatun, the beloved sister of our 10th holy Imam.
Marriage to 11th Imam (act out)
After the death of the 10th Imam our 11th Imam is imprisoned but as we all know a time comes when Mu'tamad the treacherous ruler of the time had to release our Imam as the muslims were turning to Christianity. He ordered that the Imam be kept under house arrest and that No woman shows any signs of child bearing in the household.
Allah states in Surah 9:32 ''they desire to put out the light of Allah with their mouths but Allah will perfect His Light though the unbelievers may be unwilling.
Scene 5: Birth of the Imam
BHK: My nephew Hassan it is time for me to leave now as is getting late
11th Imam:My dear aunt Hakima Kahtoon, stay the night with us. Tonight a male child, who is the Hujjat of the Almighty will be born.
BHK: How is this possible?! Who will give birth to this child? I have not seen any signs of pregnancy in your wife Nargis Khatoon.
11th Imam: As my father once said to you, the birth of my son is indeed a matter of great secrecy, but none other than Nargis shall give birth to the final Light in the household of my Grandmother Fatema.
Al dawn the sign of pregnancy will appear in Nargis because she is like the mother of Musa who never showed any sign of pregnancy and nobody knew of the birth of Musa. Do take care of her.
Lady Hakima nods and 11th Imam leave the stage.
Bibi NK walks in
BHK: Sit down my daughter, my nephew, your husband just gave me the good news. Your fate is like the mother of Musa whose birth is hidden from the people due to the fear of Firaun. The enemies are after your son who will be born tonight.
NK: How can this be oh aunt? I feel nor have any signs of pregnancy.
BHK: This is the Divine Will that protects you and your son.
BHK and NK start prayers
Narrator: The 2 ladies spent the night in prayer and Lady Hakima Khatoon kept a close eye on Nargis Khatoon.
BHK appears restless waiting for the birth to happen
11th Imam (back stage): Have no doubt oh aunt, with God's will the child shall be born as decreed by Him and you will surely see him.
BHK returns to NK who appears to be in distress
BHK: What is the matter my dear? Do you feel anything?
NK: my dear aunt I feel very strange
11th Imam (back stage): My dear aunt recite Suratul Qadr
BHK: Begin recitation of Suratul Qadr
Light to symbolize birth of Imam
MUNAJAAT
Narrator: On the morning of the 15h Sha'ban 255 A.H., at the time of Fajr , in the city of Samaraa, the world has been illuminated with a powerful ray of light, into a human form, which has now become the source of existence for the universe. Finally, the Divine promise is fulfilled and Imam al-Mahdi (a.s) is born in spite of the efforts of those who deny him. Let us look back at history and understand the circumstances in which the Imam of our time came to be amongst us.