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Chapter 42: On the Plans of Al-Ma’mun for Fending off the People From the Meetings of Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), Belittling him, and on the Cursing of Al-Ma’mun

42-1 The following was narrated by Ali ibn Abdullah ibn al-Warraq, Al-Husayn ibn Ibrahim ibn Ahmad ibn Hisham al-Mo’addib, Hamza ibn Ahmad al-Alawi and Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja’far al-Hamadani - may God be pleased with them - on the authority of Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Abdul Salam ibn Salih al-Harawi. The following was also narrated by Abu Muhammad Ja’far ibn Nu’aym ibn Shathan - may God be pleased with him - on the authority of Ahmad ibn Idris, on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Hashem, on the authority of Abdul Salam ibn Salih al-Harawi.

Al-Ma’mun was informed that Abal Hassan Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) had held speech meetings, and the people were fascinated by his knowledge. Then Al-Ma’mun ordered his commissionaire Muhammad ibn Amr al-Toosi to fend off the people from attending the Imam’s (a.s.) meetings. He also called Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) in. When Al-Ma’mun saw Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), he scolded and belittled him. Abul Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) left there in an angry state. He (a.s.) was moving his lips and saying, “I swear by the right of al-Mustafa (referring to the Prophet Muhammad (S)), al-Murtadha (referring to Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.)) and the Principal of all Ladies (referring to the Blessed Lady Fatima (a.s.)) that I will curse him in such a way so as to remove the Honorable the Exalted God’s protection and

حُظُوظَهُمْ فَلِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيهِمْ تَدْبِيرٌ وَقَدْ أَمَرَنِي بِتَرْكِ الاعْتِرَاضِ عَلَيْكَ وَإِظْهَارِ مَا أَظْهَرْتُهُ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ مِنْ تَحْتِ يَدِكَ كَمَا أَمَرَ يُوسُفَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِالْعَمَلِ مِنْ تَحْتِ يَدِ فِرْعَوْنِ مِصْرَ قَالَ فَمَا زَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ ضَئِيلاً إِلَى أَنْ قَضَى فِي عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مَا قَضَى.

42- بابُ ذِكرِ ما أَتاهُ الْمَأمُونُ مِن طَردِ النَّاسِ عَنْ مَجْلِسَ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ‏

وَالاِستِخفافَ بِهِ وَما كانَ مِن دُعائِهِ‏

1- حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ الوَرَّاقُ وَالحُسَيْنِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ هِشامِ المُؤَدِّبُ حَمْزَة بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أحْمَد العَلَوِي وَأَحْمَدِ بْنِ زِيادِ بْنِ جَعْفَر الْهَمَذانيّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ أَخْبَرنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِم، عَن أَبيهِ، عَن عَبْد السَّلامُ بْنِ صالِح الهَرَوِيِّ وَحَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّد جَعْفَرِ بْنِ نُعَيْم بن شاذان رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ، عَن أَحْمَدِ بْنِ إِدْرِيس، عَن إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ هاشِم، عَن عَبْد السَّلامُ بْنِ صالِح الهَرَوِيِّ قالَ: رُفِعَ إِلَى الْمَأْمُونِ أَنَّ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ عَلِيَّ بْنَ مُوسَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَعْقِدُ مَجَالِسَ الْكَلامِ وَالنَّاسُ يَفْتَتِنُونَ بِعِلْمِهِ فَأَمَرَ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَمْرٍو الطُّوسِيَّ حَاجِبَ الْمَأْمُونِ فَطَرَدَ النَّاسَ، عَن مَجْلِسِهِ وَأَحْضَرَهُ فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ زَبَرَهُ وَاسْتَخَفَّ بِهِ فَخَرَجَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مَنْ عِنْدِهِ مُغْضَباً وَهُوَ يُدَمْدِمُ بِشَفَتَيْهِ وَيَقُـولُ: وَحَـقِّ الْمُصْطَفَى وَالْمُـرْتَضَى وَسَيِّـدَةِ النِّسَـاءِ لأسْتَنْزِلَنَّ مِنْ حَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ

support from him so much that the dogs of this town will throw him out of here and belittle him and the chosen, the regular members of his court. Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) went home and asked for some water to make ablutions. He made ablutions and said two units of prayers. Then in the second unit when it was time to say the hands raised-up supplications (Qunut), he said, “O God! O the Possessor of the Absolute Power, Extensive Mercy, Consecutive Blessings and Continued Good! O the One for whose characteristics there can be no examples cited! O the One for whose similitude there can be no examples cited! O the One whom no assisted ones can overcome! O the One who has created and provided sustenance; revealed and made eloquent; created and guided; destined and honored; organized and perfected; designed and beautified! O the One who has provided for proofs so perfect; blessings so complete; rewards so plentiful! O the One who is at such a zenith of Grandeur that it is beyond the ability of the viewers to see! O the One who is at such a deep level of Delicacy that it is beyond the ability of the thoughts to understand! O the One who is the Only one to rule, and there is no one to compete with You in the Domain of Thy Kingdom; O the One who is Unique in Greatness and there is no one to compete with His Almightiness! O the One due to whose Grandeur the minds of the intelligent ones are at a loss, and the eyes of the onlookers have lost their sight before seeing Him! O the Knower of the thoughts of the mystics! O the Witness to the viewing of those who see! O the One for whom the faces have fallen down in prostration due to His Might; and the heads have bowed down due to His Majesty; and the hearts have beaten fearing His appalling presence; and the veins of the neck strongly pulsate due to fearing Him. O the Initiator! O the Innovator! O the Powerful! O the Impenetrable! O the Sublime! Send Blessings upon the Prophet (S) as You honored the prayers for sending blessings upon him. Take my revenge against those who have oppressed me, belittled me, and have fended off the Shiites from my door. Make him taste the bitterness of humiliation and abasement as they made me taste it. Fend him off from the Threshold of Mercy as filth and contamination is fended off!”

Abu Salt Abdul Salam ibn Salih al-Harawi said, “The quake shook the town before he had finished saying his prayers. The whole town was in turmoil. There was loud screaming and crying heard. There was a lot of dirt and dust. I did not move until my Master (a.s.) had finished saying his

بِدُعَائِي عَلَيْهِ مَا يَكُونُ سَبَباً لِطَرْدِ كِلابِ أَهْلِ هَذِهِ الْكُورَةِ إِيَّاهُ وَاسْتِخْفَافِهِمْ بِهِ وَبِخَاصَّتِهِ وَعَامَّتِهِ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ انْصَرَفَ إِلَى مَرْكَزِهِ وَاسْتَحْضَرَ الْمِيضَاةَ وَتَوَضَّأَ وَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَقَنَتَ فِي الثَّانِيَةِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ يَا ذَا الْقُدْرَةِ الْجَامِعَةِ وَالرَّحْمَةِ الْوَاسِعَةِ وَالْمِنَنِ الْمُتَتَابِعَةِ وَالآْلاءِ الْمُتَوَالِيَةِ وَالأَيَادِي الْجَمِيلَةِ وَالْمَوَاهِبِ الْجَزِيلَةِ يَا مَنْ لا يُوصَفُ بِتَمْثِيلٍ وَلا يُمَثَّلُ بِنَظِيرٍ وَلا يُغْلَبُ بِظَهِيرٍ يَا مَنْ خَلَقَ فَرَزَقَ وَأَلْهَمَ فَأَنْطَقَ وَابْتَدَعَ فَشَرَعَ وَعَلا فَارْتَفَعَ وَقَدَّرَ فَأَحْسَنَ وَصَوَّرَ فَأَتْقَنَ وَاحْتَجَّ فَأَبْلَغَ وَأَنْعَمَ فَأَسْبَغَ وَأَعْطَى فَأَجْزَلَ يَا مَنْ سَمَا فِي الْعِزِّ فَفَاتَ خَوَاطِرَ الأَبْصَارِ وَدَنَا فِي اللُّطْفِ فَجَازَ هَوَاجِسَ الأَفْكَارِ يَا مَنْ تَفَرَّدَ بِالْمُلْكِ فَلا نِدَّ لَهُ فِي مَلَكُوتِ سُلْطَانِهِ وَتَوَحَّدَ بِالْكِبْرِيَاءِ فَلا ضِدَّ لَهُ فِي جَبَرُوتِ شَأْنِهِ يَا مَنْ حَارَتْ فِي كِبْرِيَاءِ هَيْبَتِهِ دَقَائِقُ لَطَائِفِ الأَوْهَامِ وَحَسَرَتْ دُونَ إِدْرَاكِ عَظَمَتِهِ خَطَائِفُ أَبْصَارِ الأَنَامِ يَا عَالِمَ خَطَرَاتِ قُلُوبِ الْعَالَمِينَ وَيَا شَاهِدَ لَحَظَاتِ أَبْصَارِ النَّاظِرِينَ يَا مَنْ عَنَتِ الْوُجُوهُ لِهَيْبَتِهِ وَخَضَعَتِ الرِّقَابُ لِجَلالَتِهِ وَوَجِلَتِ الْقُلُوبُ مِنْ خِيفَتِهِ وَارْتَعَدَتِ الْفَرَائِصُ مِنْ فَرَقِهِ يَا بَدِي‏ءُ يَا بَدِيعُ يَا قَوِيُّ يَا مَنِيعُ يَا عَلِيُّ يَا رَفِيعُ صَلِّ عَلَى مَنْ شَرَّفْتَ الصَّلاةَ بِالصَّلاةِ عَلَيْهِ وَانْتَقِمْ لِي مِمَّنْ ظَلَمَنِي وَاسْتَخَفَّ بِي وَطَرَدَ الشِّيعَةَ عَنْ بَابِي وَأَذِقْهُ مَرَارَةَ الذُّلِّ وَالْهَوَانِ كَمَا أَذَاقَنِيهَا وَاجْعَلْهُ طَرِيدَ الأَرْجَاسِ وَشَرِيدَ الأَنْجَاسِ قَالَ أَبُو الصَّلْتِ عَبْدُ السَّلامِ بْنُ صَالِحٍ الْهَرَوِيُّ فَمَا اسْتَتَمَّ مَوْلايَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ دُعَاءَهُ حَتَّى وَقَعَتِ الرَّجْفَةُ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ وَارْتَجَّ الْبَلَدُ وَارْتَفَعَتِ الزَّعْقَةُ وَالصَّيْحَةُ وَاسْتَفْحَلَتِ النَّعْرَةُ وَثَارَتِ الْغَبَرَةُ وَهَاجَتِ الْقَاعَةُ فَلَمْ أُزَايِلْ مَكَانِي إِلَى أَنْ سَلَّمَ مَوْلايَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَبَـا الصَّـلْتِ اصْعَـدِ

prayers. Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) told me, “O Aba Salt! Go to the roof and look around. There you will see a hustler who incites the rebels. She is wearing dirty clothes. The people of this town call her Samanah since she is dumb and rude. She is using a piece of cane on which she has tied a piece of red cloth and uses it as her flag. She tries to make an army out of the rebels, lead them and guide the rebels to attack Al-Ma’mun’s palace and the houses of the army heads.”

I went up onto the roof and looked around. I could only see people with sticks in their hands and others with broken heads. I saw Al-Ma’mun leave the Shahjan Palace wearing armor and running away. I saw nothing more but noted that the apprentice of the phlebotomist threw a rock from the roof hitting Al-Ma’mun on the head. His helmet fell off and his head broke. His skull got so much injured that it seemed as if his brain was about to fall out. One of those who recognized Al-Ma’mun told the person who had thrown the rock, “Woe be to you! This is the Commander of the Faithful!” I heard Samanah tell him, “Shut up you bastard! Today is not the day to treat the people according to their ranks. If he was really the Commander of the Faithful, he would not have made pimps masters of virgins. Then they forced Al-Ma’mun and his troops out of town with the utmost degradation.

Chapter 43: On Poems About Patience and Silence in Front of the Ignorant, and Not Treating Friends With Reproach, and Attracting the Enemy So That He Becomes Friends and on Hiding Secrets

43-1 Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawakkil, Muhammad ibn Isam al-Kolayni, Abu Muhammad Al-Hassan ibn Ahmad al-Mo’addib, Ali ibn Abdullah al-Warraq, Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Imran al-Daqqaq - may God be pleased with them - narrated that Muhammad ibn Yaqoob al-Kolayni - may God forgive him - quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Ibrahim Al-Alawi Al-Jawani, on the authority of Musa ibn Muhammad

السَّطْحَ فَإِنَّكَ سَتَرَى امْرَأَةً بَغِيَّةً عُثَّةً رِثَّةً مُهَيِّجَةَ الأَشْرَارِ مُتَّسِخَةَ الأَطْمَارِ يُسَمِّيهَا أَهْلُ هَذِهِ الْكُورَةِ سَمَانَةَ لِغَبَاوَتِهَا وَتَهَتُّكِهَا قَدْ أَسْنَدَتْ مَكَانَ الرُّمْحِ إِلَى نَحْرِهَا قَصَباً وَقَدْ شَدَّتْ وِقَايَةً لَهَا حَمْرَاءَ إِلَى طَرْفِهِ مَكَانَ اللِّوَاءِ فَهِيَ تَقُودُ جُيُوشَ الْقَاعَةِ وَتَسُوقُ عَسَاكِرَ الطَّغَامِ إِلَى قَصْرِ الْمَأْمُونِ وَمَنَازِلِ قُوَّادِهِ فَصَعِدْتُ السَّطْحَ فَلَمْ أَرَ إِلا نُفُوساً تَنْتَزِعُ بِالْعَصَا وَهَامَّاتٍ تُرْضَخُ بِالأَحْجَارِ وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ الْمَأْمُونَ مُتَدَرِّعاً قَدْ بَرَزَ مِنْ قَصْرِ الشَّاهْجَانِ مُتَوَجِّهاً لِلْهَرَبِ فَمَا شَعَرْتُ إِلا بِشَاجِرْدِ الْحَجَّامِ قَدْ رَمَى مِنْ بَعْضِ أَعَالِي السُّطُوحِ بِلَبِنَةٍ ثَقِيلَةٍ فَضَرَبَ بِهَا رَأْسَ الْمَأْمُونِ فَأَسْقَطَتْ بَيْضَتَهُ بَعْدَ أَنْ شَقَّتْ جَلْدَةَ هَامَّتِهِ فَقَالَ لِقَاذِفِ اللَّبِنَةِ بَعْضُ مَنْ عَرَفَ الْمَأْمُونَ وَيْلَكَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَسَمِعْتُ سَمَانَةَ تَقُولُ اسْكُتْ لا أُمَّ لَكَ لَيْسَ هَذَا يَوْمَ الَّتمَيُّزِ وَالْمحَابَاةِ وَلا يَوْمَ إِنْزَالِ النَّاسِ عَلَى طَبَقَاتِهِمْ فَلَوْ كَانَ هَذَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَمَا سَلَّطَ ذُكُورَ الْفُجَّارِ عَلَى فُرُوجِ الأَبْكَارِ وَطُرِدَ الْمَأْمُونُ وَجُنُودُهُ أَسْوَأَ طَرْدٍ بَعْدَ إِذْلالٍ وَاسْتِخْفَافٍ شَدِيدٍ.

43- بابُ ذِكرِ ما أَنشَدَ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ الْمَأمُون مِنَ الشِّعْرَ فِي الْحِلْمِ وَالسُّكُوتِ‏ عَنِ الجاهِلِ وَتَركِ عَتّابِ الصَّديقِ وَفِي اِستِجلابِ العَدُوِّ حَتّى‏ يَكُون صَديقاً وَفِي كِتمانِ السِّرِّ

1- حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُوسَى المُتَوَكِّل رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عصام الكُلَيْنِيُّ وَأَبُو مُحَمَّد الحَسَن بْنِ أحْمَد المُؤَدِّبُ وَعَلِىِّ بْنِ عَبْد الوَرَّاقُ وَعَلِىِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِمْران الدَّقَّاق - رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ - قالُوا: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبِ الكُلَيْنِيُّ - رَحْمَةُ اللَّه - قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلىِّ بْنِ العَلَويّ الجوانِي عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ مُحَمَّد المحاربي عَنْ رَجُل ذكر اِسْمُهُ

al-Moharibi, on the authority of a man whose name he had mentioned, on the authority of Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) that Al-Ma’mun asked the Imam (a.s.), “Have the people ever recited any poems for you?” He (a.s.) replied, “Yes. They have told me a lot.” He said, “Then recite to us the best poem that they have recited to you about patience.” He (a.s.) said,

Whenever I face someone lower than me

hurt me out of ignorance

I honor myself and

do not treat him out of ignorance, too.

If he equals me in terms of intelligence

I treat him with patience so as to be nobler than him.

And if he is higher than me in terms of nobility and sagacity

Then I recognize his right of superiority and nobility.

Then Al-Ma’mun said, “How excellent! Who said it?” He (a.s.) replied, “One of our youth.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Please recite for us the best poem you have heard regarding remaining silent in the presence of the ignorant and not fighting with friends. He (a.s.) said,

My friend stays away from me to break up

I show him that there are means to break up.

I see that if I treat him with reproach

I have pushed him to break up

Then I consider to abandon reproach.

When I face an ignorant, selfish friend

Who believes in the feasibility of the unfeasible

I prefer to remain silent, perhaps

Silence is itself a form of response!

Al-Ma’mun said, “How excellent! Who has said it?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “One of our youth.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Please tell me the best poems about turning enemies into friends.” He (a.s.) said,

عَن أَبي الحَسَن الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَنَّ الْمَأْمُونَ قَالَ هَلْ رَوَيْتَ مِنَ الشِّعْرِ شَيْئاً فَقَالَ قَدْ رَوَيْتُ مِنْهُ الْكَثِيرَ فَقَالَ أَنْشِدْنِي أَحْسَنَ مَا رَوَيْتَهُ فِي الْحِلْمِ فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ:

إِذَا كَانَ دُونِي مَنْ بُلِيتُ بِجَهْلِهِ

أَبَيْتُ لِنَفْسِي أَنْ تُقَابِلَ بِالْجَهْلِ‏

وَإِنْ كَانَ مِثْلِي فِي مَحَلِّي مِنَ النُّهَى‏

أَخَذْتُ بِحِلْمِي كَيْ أُجَلَّ عَنِ الْمِثْلِ‏

وَإِنْ كُنْتُ أَدْنَى مِنْهُ فِي الْفَضْلِ وَالْحِجَى

عَرَفْتُ لَهُ حَقَّ التَّقَدُّمِ وَالْفَضْلِ‏

قَالَ لَهُ الْمَأْمُونُ: مَا أَحْسَنَ هَذَا هَذَا مَنْ قَالَهُ فَقَالَ بَعْضُ فِتْيَانِنَا قَالَ فَأَنْشِدْنِي أَحْسَنَ مَا رَوَيْتَهُ فِي السُّكُوتِ عَنِ الْجَاهِلِ وَتَرْكِ عِتَابِ الصَّدِيقِ فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ:

إِنِّي لَيَهْجُرُنِي الصَّدِيقُ تَجَنُّباً

فَأُرِيهِ أَنَّ لِهَجْرِهِ أَسْبَابا

وَأَرَاهُ إِنْ عَاتَبْتُهُ أَغْرَيْتُهُ‏

فَأَرَى لَهُ تَرْكَ الْعِتَابِ عِتَابا

وَإِذَا بُلِيتُ بِجَاهِلٍ مُتَحَكِّمٍ‏

يَجِدُ الْمحَالَ مِنَ الأُمُورِ صَوَابا

أَوْلَيْتُهُ مِنِّي السُّكُوتَ وَرُبَّمَا

كَانَ السُّكُوتُ عَنِ الْجَوَابِ جَوَابا

فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَأْمُونُ: مَا أَحْسَنَ هَذَا هَذَا مَنْ قَالَهُ فَقَالَ‏بَعْضُ فِتْيَانِنَا قَالَ فَأَنْشِدْنِي أَحْسَنَ مَا رَوَيْتَهُ فِي اسْتِجْلابِ الْعَدُوِّ حَتَّى يَكُونَ صَدِيقاً فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ:

Treating ogres with friendship I have overcome them

And have heavily burdened them under my debt by forgiving.

One who does not fend off the wicked deeds of his enemy with friendliness

Has not learned toleration from the highest ranks.

I have not seen any faster way to alleviate

Old grudges than with quick friendliness.

Then Al-Ma’mun said, “How excellent! Who has said it?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “One of our youth.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Please tell me the best poems about hiding secrets.” He (a.s.) said,

I am used to forgetting secrets

so that I do not spread them around.

Then guard the secrets you know by forgetting them.

I fear that I might remember it

And my heart may spread it around.

It is probable that one does not divulge a secret, but so often

It comes to his mind that he cannot bear to keep it imprisoned!

Then Al-Ma’mun said, “What would you say if you want the people to throw dirt over a book?”1 The Imam (a.s.) replied, “I would say: ‘Tarrab.” Al-Ma’mun said, “What if it is from ‘al-Sahha?” He (a.s.) replied, “Sahe.” He asked, “What about ‘Tayn?” He (a.s.) replied, “‘Tayyan.” Then Al-Ma’mun told his servant, “Pour dirt over this writing and fold it. Place it in clay and seal it.2 Then send it to Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl. Take three hundred thousand Dirhams from him for Abil Hassan (a.s.).”

The author of this book (a.s.heikh Sadooq) - may God be pleased with him - said, “What Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) accepted from Al-Ma’mun is similar to what the Prophet (S) accepted from the kings, and is similar to what Al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.) accepted from Mo’awiya, and the other Immaculate Imams (a.s.) accepted from the Caliphs. It is proper for one to accept things when the whole world belongs to him and they confiscate it all, but return some of it to him.”

وَذِي غِلَّةٍ سَالَمْتُهُ فَقَهَرْتُهُ‏

فَأَوْقَرْتُهُ مَنِّي لِعَفْوِ التَّجَمُّلِ‏

وَمَنْ لا يُدَافِعْ سَيِّئَاتِ عَدُوِّهِ‏

بِإِحْسَانِهِ لَمْ يَأْخُذِ الطَّوْلَ مِنْ عَلُ‏

وَلَمْ أَرَ فِي الأَشْيَاءِ أَسْرَعَ مَهْلَكاً

لِغَمْرٍ قَدِيمٍ مِنْ وِدَادٍ مُعَجَّلٍ‏

فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَأْمُونُ: مَا أَحْسَنَ هَذَا هَذَا مَنْ قَالَهُ فَقَالَ بَعْضُ فِتْيَانِنَا فَقَالَ فَأَنْشِدْنِي أَحْسَنَ مَا رَوَيْتَهُ فِي كِتْمانِ السِّرِّ فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ:

وَإِنِّي لأنْسَى السِّرَّ كَيْلا أُذِيعَهُ‏

فَيَا مَنْ رَأَى سِرّاً يُصَانُ بِأَنْ يُنْسَى‏

مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يَجْرِيَ بِبَالِي ذِكْرُهُ‏

فَيَنْبِذَهُ قَلْبِي إِلَى مُلْتَوَى حَشا

فَيُوشِكُ مَنْ لَمْ يُفْشِ سِرّاً وَجَالَ فِي‏

خَوَاطِرِهِ أَنْ لا يُطِيقَ لَهُ حَبْسا

فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَأْمُونُ: إِذَا أَمَرْتَ أَنْ تُتَرَّبَ [يُتَرَّبَ] الْكِتَابُ كَيْفَ تَقُولُ قَالَ تَرِّبْ قَالَ فَمِنَ السَّحَا قَالَ سَحِّ قَالَ فَمِنَ الطِّينِ قَالَ طَيِّنْ فَقَالَ يَا غُلامُ تَرِّبْ هَذَا الْكِتَابَ وَسَحِّهِ وَطَيِّنْهُ وَامْضِ بِهِ إِلَى الْفَضْلِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ وَخُذْ لابِي الْحَسَنِ ثَلاثَمِائَةِ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ.

قالَ مُصَنِّفُ هذا الْكِتاب رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ: كانَ سَبِيلِ ما يُقَبِّلُهُ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مِن الْمَأمُون سَبِيلِ ما كانَ يُقَبِّلُهُ النَّبِي‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مِنَ الملوك وَسَبِيلِ ما كانَ يَقبَلُهُ الحَسَن بْنِ عَلِى‏عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ مِن مُعاوِيَةَ وَسَبِيلِ ما كانَ يُقَبِّلُهُ الأَئِمَّةِ مِنْ آبائِهِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مِنَ الخُلَفاءِ وَمَنْ كانَتْ الدُّنْيا كُلِّها لَهُ فَغُلِبَ عَلَيْها ثُمَّ اُعْطِيَ بَعْضَها فَجائِزٌ لَهُ أَن يَأْخُذُه.

Other Poems Which Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) Used to Read and Draw Similitudes From

43-2 Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Imran al-Daqqaq - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Kufi quoted on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad al-Adami, on the authority of Abdul Adheem ibn Abdullah Al-Hassani, on the authority of Mo’ammar ibn Khallad and others that they went to see Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.). One of them asked Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “May we be your ransom! Why do you look so pale?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “I stayed up last night and was thinking about the following poem by Marvan ibn Abi Hafsat:

How come it could not be that

The children of the daughter inherit instead of paternal uncles.

Then I went to sleep and saw someone holding onto the door frame and saying:

How come it could not be that

The pagans be the pillars of Islam?

The children of the daughter inherit from their grandfather

While the uncle is abandoned without any share.

How could the one captured and freed inherit?3

Many of the captured confessed fearing the sword.

And the Qur’an informed you about the nobility of the one

And has told you about all the relevant decrees.

Indeed the son of Fatima, well-known by his name

Is the one to inherit from the Prophet from his paternal uncles.

But the son of Notayla4 will stand wondering on the side

Crying while the relatives sympathize.

وَمِمَّا أَنشَدَهُ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَتَمَثَّلَ بِهِ

2- حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِمْران الدَّقَّاق رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبي‏الكُوفِي عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِياد الأَدَمِي، عَن عَبْدِ العَظِيم بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه الحَسَنِيِّ، عَن عَبْد السَّلامُ بْنِ صالِح الهروي قالَ: حَدَّثَني معمر بْنِ خلاد وَجَماعَةِ قالُوا: دَخَلْنَا عَلَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُنَا جَعَلَنِيَ اللَّهُ فِدَاكَ مَا لِي أَرَاكَ مُتَغَيِّرَ الْوَجْهِ فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إِنِّي بَقِيتُ لَيْلَتِي سَاهِراً مُفَكِّراً فِي قَوْلِ مَرْوَانَ بْنِ أَبِي حَفْصَةَ

أَنَّى يَكُونُ وَلَيْسَ ذَاكَ بِكَائِنٍ‏

لِبَنِي الْبَنَاتِ وِرَاثَةُ الأَعْمَامِ‏

ثُمَّ نِمْتُ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِقَائِلٍ قَدْ أَخَذَ بِعِضَادَتَيِ الْبَابِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ :

أَنَّى يَكُونُ وَلَيْسَ ذَاكَ بِكَائِنٍ‏

لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ دَعَائِمُ الإِسْلامِ‏

لِبَنِي الْبَنَاتِ نَصِيبُهُمْ مِنْ جَدِّهِمْ‏

وَالْعَمُّ مَتْرُوكٌ بِغَيْرِ سِهَام‏

مَا لِلطَّلِيقِ وَلِلتُّرَاثِ وَإِنَّمَا

سَجَدَ الطَّلِيقُ مَخَافَةَ الصَّمْصَامِ‏

قَدْ كَانَ أَخْبَرَكَ الْقُرْآنُ بِفَضْلِهِ‏

فَمَضَى الْقَضَاءُ بِهِ مِنَ الْحُكَّامِ‏

إِنَّ ابْنَ فَاطِمَةَ الْمُنَوَّهَ بِاسْمِهِ‏

حَازَ الْوِرَاثَةَ عَنْ بَنِي الأَعْمَامِ‏

وَبَقِيَ ابْنُ نَثْلَةَ وَاقِفاً مُتَرَدِّداً

يَرْثِي وَيُسْعِدُهُ ذَوُو الأَرْحَام‏

43-3 (The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’d ibn Abdullah quoted on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Hashem, on the authority of Abdullah ibn Mogheera that he had heard Abal Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) say:

Now you live in a residence short-lived

In which your deeds are accepted indeed.

See you not how death encompasses us all

And destroys our aspirations all.

There you rush to fulfill your lustful desires

And procrastinate your repentance

But death will overcome you by surprise

But what will the intelligent learn from this?

43-4 In the year 314 A.H. (925 A.D.) Al-Hassan ibn Abdullah ibn Sa’eed Al-Askari narrated that Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Al-Fadhl - known as ibn al-Khabbaz - quoted on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Ahmad al-Katib, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Al-Husayn - Abil Fay’yaz’s secretary, on the authority of his father, “We were present in the meeting held by Ali ibn Musa (a.s.). A man complained about his brother. Then the Imam (a.s.) said,

Forgive your brother for his sins.

Cover up and hide his imperfections.

Calmly bear the accusations of the fools

And leave to time their declamations.

Be noble and do not respond

And entrust all oppressors to the Reckoner!”

43-5 Muhammad ibn Musa al-Mutawakkil narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of al-Rayyan ibn al-Salt, “Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) recited the following poem about Abdul Muttalib for me.

3- حَدَّثَنا أَبي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه، عَن إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ هاشِم، عَن عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ المغيرة قالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الحَسَن الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَقُولُ:

إنّكَ فِي دَارٍ لَهَا مُدَّةٌ

أَلا تَرَى الْمَوْتَ مُحِيطاً بِهَا

تُعَجِّلُ الْذَّنْبَ لِمَا تَشْتَهِي

وَالْمَوْتُ يَأْتِي أَهْلَهُ بَغْتَةً

يُقْبَلُ فِيهَا عَمَلُ العَامِلِ

يَكْذِبُ فِيهَا أَمَلُ الآمِلِ

وَتَأْمَلُ التَّوْبَةَ فِي قَابِلِ

مَا ذَاكَ فِعْلُ الْحَازِمِ الْعَاقِلِ

4- حَدَّثَنا الحَسَن بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ سَعِيدُ العسكري

قالَ أَخْبَرنِي أَبُو بَكْرِ أحْمَد بْنِ‏الفَضْلِ المَعْرُوف بِإِبْنِ الخَبّاز سِنَةَ أَرْبَعَ عَشَرة وَثَلاثِمائَةٍ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ أحْمَد الكاتب قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ الحُسَيْن كاتب أَبي الفياض، عَن أَبيهِ قالَ: حَضَرْنَا مَجْلِسَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَشَكَا رَجُلٌ أَخَاهُ فَأَنْشَأَ يَقُولُ:

اعْذُرْ أَخَاكَ عَلَى ذُنُوبِهِ‏

وَاسْتُرْ وَغَطِّ عَلَى عُيُوبِهِ‏

وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى بَهَتِ السَّفِيهِ‏

وَلِلزَّمَانِ عَلَى خُطُوبِهِ‏

وَدَعِ الْجَوَابَ تَفَضُّلاً

وَكِلِ الظَّلُومَ إِلَى حَسِيبِه‏

5- حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُوسَى بْنِ المُتَوَكِّل قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِم، عَن أَبيهِ، عَن الرَّيانِ بْنِ الصَّلْتِ قالَ: أَنْشَدَنِي الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لِعَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ:

The people all find fault with time

But we ourselves are the fault of the time.

We blame the time, but the fault is in us.

If the time could talk, it would make fun of us.

In fact, wolves tear down their enemies, but do not eat their meat.

But some of us clearly eat other people’s meat (gossiping).

We dress nice to fool the people well

Woe be to those who are strange and know us not well.”

43-6 Abul Abbas Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Taleqani - may God forgive him - narrated that Abu Sa’eed Al-Husayn ibn Ali al-Adawi quoted on the authority of al-Haytham ibn Abdullah al-Romani that Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) quoted on the authority of his father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad (a.s.), on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.), on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), on the authority of his father (a.s.), “The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) said,

He created the creatures with His Ability.

Some are generous and some are miserly

But the generous ones are in comfort

But the miserly has long misery.”

43-7 Al-Hakim Abu Ali Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Bayhaqi narrated that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Sowli quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn Abi Ebad, on the authority of his uncle, “Although Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) rarely recited poems, one day I heard him (a.s.) recite the following poem:

We all hope death to grant us more time

While death itself destroys all hopes.

Let not false hopes fool you.

Be moderate and abandon falsehood.

This world is like a vanishing shade

A temporary resting place for riders

Who shall depart it shortly later.

يَعِيبُ النَّاسُ كُلّهُمُ الزَّمانا

نَعِيبُ زَمانَنَا وَالْعَيْبُ فِينَا

وَإنَّ الذِّئْبَ يَتْرُكُ لَحْمَ ذِئْبٍ

لَبِسْنَا لِلْخِدَاعِ مُسُوكَ طِيبٍ

وَما لِزَمَانِنَا عَيْبٌ سِوانَا

وَلَوْ نَطَقَ الزَّمَانُ بِنَا هَجَانَا

وَيَأْكُلُ بَعْضُنا بَعْضاً عَيانَا

وَوَيْلٌ لِلْغَرِيبِ إذَا أتَانَا

6- حَدَّثَنا أَبُو العَبَّاسِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ إِسْحاق الطَّالِقانِيُ‏رحمه الله قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَعِيدُ الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِى العدوي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا الهِيْثَم بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه الرمانِي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلاىِّ بْنِ‏ِلرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبِيهِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَر عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبيهِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبيهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن الحُسيْن عَنْ أَبِيهِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَقُولُ:

خَلَقْتَ الْخَلائِقَ فِي قُدْرَةٍ

فَأَمّا السَّخِيُّ فَفِي رَاحَةٍ

فَمِنْهُمْ سَخِيٌّ وَمِنْهُمْ بَخِيلْ

وَأَمّا الْبَخِيلُ فَشُؤْمٌ طَوِيلْ

7- حَدَّثَنا الْحاكِم أَبُو عَلِي الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أحْمَد الْبِيْهَقِيُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى الصُّوْليُ‏حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبي عباد قالَ: حَدَّثَني عَمِّي قالَ: سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَوْماً يُنْشِدُ شِعْراً وَقَلِيلاً مَا كَانَ يُنْشِدُ شِعْراً:

كُلُّنَا نَأْمَلُ مَدّاً فِي الأَجَلْ

لا تَغُرَّنْكَ أَبَاطِيلُ الْمُنَى

إِنَّمَا الدُّنْيَا كَظِلٍّ زَائِلٍ

وَالْمَنَايَا هُنَّ آفَاتُ الأَمَلْ

وَالْزَمِ الْقَصْدَ وَدَعْ عَنْكَ الْعِلَلْ

حَلَّ فِيهِ رَاكِبٌ ثُمَّ رَحَلْ

Then I asked the Imam (a.s.), “May God honor you! Who recited this?” He (a.s.) replied, “An Iraqi has said it for you.” I said, “Abul al-Atahiya recited this to me regarding himself.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Call him by his own name. Abandon calling people by names that are a form of a put down. Indeed God the Glorified the Highest said, ‘…nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames…’5 Perhaps the man detests this.”

43-8 Ahmad ibn Ziyad al-Hamadani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Muhammad Al-Hassani, “Al-Ma’mun sent a young girl to Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.). Upon entering, she expressed her dislike of his white hair. When the Imam (a.s.) noticed this he returned her to Al-Ma’mun with the following poem that he (a.s.) himself composed:

My white hair informs me of the approach of my death

At old age one accepts advice

Yes, indeed youth passed and has ended now

And I will never experience its return

I cry and weep over it having gone by

And keep on calling it perhaps it hears my call

Ah! What I have lost

My lying self forces me to want it back

Beautiful women fear my white hair

But whoever stays too long will get old

I see the beautiful silver-colored women running away from me.

Now my share is their separation from me

If youth which has now gone by was my beloved friend

Now it is old age that is my friend

I will be in its company with piety until

The soon to arrive death separates us!

فَقُلْتُ: لِمَنْ هَذَا أَعَزَّ اللَّهُ الأَمِيرَ فَقَالَ لِعِرَاقِيٍّ لَكُمْ قُلْتُ أَنْشَدَنِيهِ أَبُو الْعَتَاهِيَةِ لِنَفْسِهِ فَقَالَ هَاتِ اسْمَهُ وَدَعْ عَنْكَ هَذَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى يَقُولُ وَلا تَنابَزُوا بِالأَلْقابِ وَلَعَلَّ الرَّجُلَ يَكْرَهُ هَذَا.

8- حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ زِيادِ بْنِ جَعْفَر الْهَمَذانيّ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِم قالَ: حَدَّثَني إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد الحَسَنِيِّ قالَ:

بَعَثَ الْمَأْمُونُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ جَارِيَةً فَلَمَّا أُدْخِلَتْ إِلَيْهِ اشْمَأَزَّتْ مِنَ الشَّيْبِ فَلَمَّا رَأَى كَرَاهَتَهَا رَدَّهَا إِلَى الْمَأْمُونِ وَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ بِهَذِهِ الأَبْيَاتِ:

نَعَى نَفْسِي إلَى نَفْسِي الْمَشِيبُ

فَقَدْ وَلَّى الشَّبَابُ إلَى مَدَاهُ

سَأَبْكِيهِ وَأَنْدُبُهُ طَوِيلاً

وَهَيْهَاتَ الَّذِي قَدْ فَاتَ عَنِّي

وَرَاعَ الغَانِيَاتِ بَيَاضُ رَأْسِي

أَرَى الِبيضَ الْحِسَانَ يَجِدْنَ عَنِّي

فَإِنْ يَكُنِ الشَّبَابُ مَضَى حَبِيباً

سَأَصْحَبُهُ بِتَقْوَى اللهِ حَتَّى

وَعِندَ الشَّيْبِ يَتَّعِظُ اللَّبِيبُ

فَلَسْتُ أَرَى مَوَاضِعَهُ يَئُوبُ

وَأَدْعُوهُ إِلَيَّ عَسَى يُجِيبُ

تُمَنِّينِي بِهِ النَّفْسُ الْكَذُوبُ

وَمَنْ مُدَّ البَقَاءُ لَهُ يَشِيبُ

وَفِي هِجْرَانِهِنَّ لَنَا نَصِيبُ

فَإنَّ الشَّيْبَ أيْضاً لِي حَبِيبُ

يُفَرِّقَ بَيْنَنا الأَجَلُ القَرِيبُ

43-9 Al-Hakim Abu Ali Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Bayhaqi narrated that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Sowli quoted on the authority of Abu Thakwan, on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Al-Abbas that Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) often recited the following:

When you are blessed by goodness do not get dazzled by that, but

keep on asking God to keep you healthy and perfect the blessings.

Notes

1. They used to pour some soft dirt over what they wrote in ink so that it would dry.

2. They used to place letters in clay and seal them so that no one could see the contents except for the one to whom it was addressed.

3. Referring to Abbas ibn Abdul Mottalib who was amongst the enemy troops and was enslaved by the Muslims and was later freed.

4. Bint Jinab - the mother of Abbas ibn Mottalib

5. Qur’an, 49:11