Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Story of the Sun: A Look at Imam al-Ridha Life

Author(s): Sayyid Muhammad Najafi Yazdi

Translator(s): Ahmad Rezwani

Publisher(s): Islamic Research Foundation Astan-e Quds Razavi

www.alhassanain.org/english

Notice:

This work is published on behalf of www.alhassanain.org/english

The typing errors are n’t corrected.

Table of Contents

Preface 6

Introduction 8

Brief History of Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Life 9

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Date of Birth 9

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Noble Mother 9

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Children 9

The Auspicious Birth of Shams al-Shumus (the Radiant Sun among all the suns), ‘Ali b. Musa al-Ridha (a.s.) 10

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.), Wishing to See Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) 10

The Childhood and Adolescence Period of Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) 11

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Religious Authority in His Youth 11

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) High Status in the Divine Presence 12

My Son in a Strange Land 12

Devotional Sira of Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) 12

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Devotional Schedule in his Journey to Khurasan 13

Imam al-Ridha‘s (a.s.) On-Time Prayers 15

Notes 15

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Social Sira and his Good Conduct towards People 17

Imam al-Ridha‘s (a.s.) Generosity and Munificence 17

Imam al-Ridha‘s (a.s.) Special Attention and Favor towards the Needy 17

Saving the Face of the Needy 18

Imam al-Ridha‘s (a.s.) Treatment of his Subordinates 18

Imam al-Ridha‘s (a.s.) Favor and Grace towards the Shi‘a 19

Notes 20

The Greatness of Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Personality in the Words of Dignitaries 21

Notes 21

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Scholarly Status and Personality 22

Notes 23

Some Examples of Imam al-Ridha‘s (a.s.) Wise Answers 25

Notes 26

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Knowledge of Various Languages 27

1. Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Familiarity with Various Current Languages of the Time 27

2. Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Familiarity with the Language of the Birds and Animals 27

3. Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Widespread Knowledge in Occult Sciences 28

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Predictions concerning the Barmakids 28

Various Predictions 29

Awareness of Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) of Children in Mother’s Wombs 29

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Knowledge of How he would be Martyred and where he would be buried 30

Notes 30

Imam al- Ridha‘s (a.s.) Cultural Measures 32

1. Confrontation with Zealotry and the Zealots 32

2. Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Struggles against Sufis 34

3. Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) and the Importance of Imam from the Viewpoint of Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.) 35

4. Imam al-Ridha and Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) 36

Forty Traditions Related from Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) on the Virtues of Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) 36

5. Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) and Her Holiness Fatima (a.s.) 39

6. Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) and Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) 40

Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) and the Visitation (Ziyara) of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) 41

Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) and the Soil of Sayyid al-Shuhada’s (a.s.) Grave 42

Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) and the Importance of Mourning for Sayyid al-Shuhada (a.s.) 42

Pouring Tears for Sayyid al-Shuhada’s (a.s.) Afflictions 42

Weeping for Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) 42

Notes 43

Major Problems of His Holiness Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) in the Time of his Imamate 46

The First Problem: Waqifites and Imam al-Ridha‘s (a.s.) Struggle against them 46

The Waqf Sect and the Reason behind its Creation 46

Most of the Shi‘as Deviated due to the Waqf Misconception 47

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Measures against the Waqifites 47

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Negotiation with the Chiefs of the Waqifites 47

Commanding to Distance from the Waqifites 48

Some of the Miraculous Acts of Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) for Guiding the Shi‘as 49

The Fate of some Followers of the Waqifites in Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Words 49

The Second Problem: Delay in Imam al-Jawad’s (a.s.) Birth 50

The Third Problem: The Issue of Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Heir Apparency 51

Notes 52

Plot to Assassinate Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) 54

Note 54

Report about the Tablet and the Names of the Purified Imams (a.s.) 55

Notes 56

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Historical Emigration 57

Farewell to Medina 57

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Itinerary 57

Nabaj Village 57

Ahvaz 58

Departure toward Fars 58

Moving toward Khurasan 58

Nayshabur 59

Hadith of Silsilat al-Dhahab 59

Healing a Sick Person in Rubat Sa‘d 60

Dihsurkh (al-Hamraʾ) 61

Tus 61

Sarakhs 61

Marv 62

Notes 62

The Issue of Heir Apparency 64

Notes 65

Fulfillment of Pledge 66

Note 66

The Abbasid Ma’mun and his Ominous Objectives 67

Ma’mun’s Problems 67

‘Id al-Fitr Prayer 68

The Story of Diʿbil al-Khuza’i 69

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Gift to Diʿbil 69

The Healing Robe 70

Ma’mun’s Disappointment, Problems, and New Policy 71

The First Step, Killing Fadhl b. Sahl 71

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Murderer 72

Unsuccessful Assassination of Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) 73

Notes 73

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Martyrdom 74

Notes 75

A Review of the most Important Events during the Imamate of Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) 77

Notes 81

The High Excellence of Visitation (Ziyara) to Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Holy Shrine 82

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Intercession 82

The Pilgrim of Paradise 82

The Pilgrim of the Prophet (S) 83

Reward of the Martyrs 83

The Pilgrims of God 83

The Fulfiller of Needs and Remover of Sorrows 84

Better than Optional Hajj 84

Secure from the Fire 84

Best of Allah’s Guests 85

In the Same Rank as the Imam (a.s.) 85

The Pilgrim of Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) and Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) 85

The High Value of Enduring Hardship on the Way to Pilgrimage 86

Notes 86

Some of Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Words of Wisdom 87

Punishment of the Impious and Unrestrained Women on the Day of Resurrection 88

Reward for Goodness 89

Notes 90

Preface

Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.) are the treasure-keepers of knowledge. The rivers and streams of knowledge, which have inundated and refreshed the farms of human souls in the past fourteen centuries, have originated from the heavenly pinnacles of this mountain of light. ‘Ali (a.s.), the Imam of the learned and the mystics said, “The flood water [of knowledge] flows down from me and no bird [flight of mind] can soar up to me.”

The prosperity and freshness of the land of knowledge and awareness is because of the glittering radiance of this Household’s divine knowledge; as the Great Prophet (S) said, “I am the city of knowledge and ‘Ali is its gate.”

The Ahl al-Bayt’s (a.s.) knowledge is of perceptive rather than learnable type, and this is because they have perceived the truth of knowledge by their heavenly souls. Imam ‘Ali (a.s.) describes mystics (of whom he is the master) as: “Knowledge has led them to real understanding, so they have associated themselves with spirit of conviction.”

The Great Prophet (S) was the original founder of this dynasty of light and luminescence, and although unschooled, his message was knowledge and his mission was recitation and reading, erudition, and awareness.

His mission started with iqra’ (recite), and continued with knowledge and insight, which filled up souls with rapture and bliss.

It is He who sent to the unlettered [people] an apostle from among themselves, to recite to them His signs, to purify them, and to teach them the Book and wisdom. ﴿ Qur’an: 6/60.

With his prophetic mission, he led the dead souls out of their mundanity and misguidance into the heavenly gardens of life and livelihood; and called the mankind gone astray and lost in the crooked roads of corruption to the highways of guidance and straight path and breathed a new soul into mankind’s dead body:

…when he summons you to that which will give you life.Qur’an: 8/28.

He relieved them of the heavy burdens of ignorance

…and relieves them of their burdens and the shackles that were upon them. Qur’an: 7/157.

Having drunk their fill from his fountain of life, the household of his Holiness, like him, held up the torches of knowledge and awareness aflame and radiant to the seekers of knowledge and spiritual insight over the centuries; and with the aid of his Divine Lights, illuminated the way for seekers and made their souls radiant and replete with celestial splendor.

And today, in the age of modern paganism, what settles down the dust from the path before the perfection-seekers and can illuminate their way is the return to the fountainhead of that same knowledge and spiritual insight that the great Prophet (S) and his holy and pure Household presented to mankind. Perhaps today, more than ever before, human beings are in dire need of what the Prophet of mercy presented to humanity.

There is no doubt that delving into the Ahl al-Bayt’s (a.s.) fountainheads of light and re-reading the life-story (sira) and teachings of those noble figures in our days – like in all eras – is a great service to humanity, which is incomparable to any other services.

Therefore, it is incumbent on all those whose hearts throb for human beings that by mulling over and delving into the Ahl al-Bayt’s (a.s.) Gnostic knowledge, to extract the pure pearls and liberating doctrines of this splendid Divine treasure and present them to the contemporary desperately sorrowful and thirsty mankind.

We are duty-bound, as neighbors to the Holy Shrine of the learned one of the Prophet’s household [Imam ‘Ali b. Musa al-Ridha (a.s.)], to wish prosperity and best of health for all the followers of this path and all those who make endeavors in revitalizing directives of Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.) and their divine teachings and knowledge, particularly the noble and esteemed authors who have contributed to the writing and compilation of this precious collection, and pray for their success from the All-Knowing and Ever-Living Allah.

Also, we ask the respected pilgrims to transform the unique opportunity of paying pilgrimage to the blessed body of the progeny of Rasul Allah (S) into a chance for fulfilling their spiritual and intellectual requirements through enjoyment of the thoughts, words, and life history of that magnanimous Imam; and by studying valuable works such as the present collection, to store up provisions of bliss and perfection for their present world and Hereafter, remembering to pray for their servants in this Holy Sanctuary, as well.

Islamic Propagation and Relations Directorate

Astan Quds Razavi

Introduction

Islamic Iran is proud to host the blessed body of the Apostle of Allah (S)’s progeny, Imam al-Ridha (a.s.), the learned of the Prophet’s household, the source of blessings, and the eighth infallible Imam. Each year it receives millions of eager and enamored pilgrims who come here to pay homage to the affectionate and gracious Imam.

With the blessings of this benevolent Imam, divine graces are dispensed to all devotees of Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.), especially to the followers and Shi‘as of his holiness; and this piece of land in Khurasan is a piece of paradise which prides itself on the world of angels and is ever the focus of attention to the heavenly cherubim, just as it is a focus of attention and guidance for the people of the world. Divine angels frequent around the sacred mausoleum along with his earnest pilgrims.

And what great blessings and graceful effects has the Almighty God imparted on behalf of this magnanimous Imam and his pilgrimage to his pilgrims and enthusiasts.

Paying pilgrimage to Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) and the torrential presence of the pilgrims in his heavenly sanctuary does always strengthen religious spirit and spirituality, and the remembrance of the Hereafter, concentration on Almighty Allah and His ordinances in the hearts of people and the Islamic society.

In that pure atmosphere radiating with the light of Imamate and wilaya, the eager pilgrims feel peace and purity of the heart, express their needs, and enjoy plenty of divine blessings through the noble Imam.

Thus, in order to provide better and deeper enjoyment of this pilgrimage, we would draw the attention of the interested pilgrims to a brief account of that noble Imam’s precious life and attributes so that they may go on pilgrimage with more knowledge and, thereby, receive more divine blessings and attention from the Eighth Holy Imam ‘Ali b. Musa al-Ridha upon whom be thousands of salutations and praises.