Birth
On 11th of Zi-Qada, 148 Hijrah, a son was born in the house of Imam
Musa Ibn-e-Jaffar (A.S.) who took over the position of the Imam of
Islam, after his father. He was named Ali and titled Reza. The
honorable and gracious mother of the Imam (A.S.)was Najmiyya, who was
considered to be the most notable and distinguished lady in the realm
of wisdom and faith.
Right from the childhood period, he accompanied his father. Imam Musa
Kazim (A.S.) who repeatedly told his friends that, "He is the Imam
following him."
As such, Makhzoomi says one day Imam Musa Ibn-e-Jaffar (A.S.) summoned
and gatheredus and said, "I invited you to be witnesses that this
child (son) is my executor, and successor."
Since an extreme choking atmosphere and pressure prevailed in the
period of Imam (A.S.) he said in the end of his words, "What I said
must remain (restricted) up to you and do not reproduce it to anybody
unless that you know he is one of our friends and companions."
The Features of Imam's (A.S.) Morality
The infallible Imams werethe selected ones of the God and outstanding,
distinguished and superior to all the people. They used to become the
practical example for others during their lives. They taught the
lesson of life to the people. They did not segregate and separate
themselves fromthem and did not lead their lives on the style and
pattern of the tyrants and oppressors. They did not overlook or show
heedlessness and disrespect to anyone.
Sheikh Saduk narrates through the words of Ibrahim bin Abbas that,
"Inever saw Imam Reza (A.S.) committing excess over anyone in talking
and interrupting anybody's speech before its coming to the end. He did
not stretch his legs in the presence of others. When the meal table
was laid he invited the servants to it, and took his meals with them.
After taking rest in the nights he got up and made himself busy with
the prayers to God. Similar to his fore fathershe carried food to the
houses of the afflicted ones at the mid of nights."
"Mohammad bin Abi Ebad" says about Imam (A.S.) "He used mats of palm
date leaves, straws and marsh reed in the summer season, and woolen
carpets in the winter."
He led a simple life in his home, but when he wentout he used to
decorate himself and put on new and clean dress. He respected and
honored the guests to the extent that one night a lamp of the house
went out of order, the guest got to his feet to put it right. Imam
(A.S.) made him sit and himself set the lamp right, and said, "We do
not employ our guests (exploit) upon work."
Yasir, the servant of Imam (A.S.) says, Imam (A.S.) said to
us,"Whenever you are busy taking your meal, if I call you, do not get
up till you have finished up eating." Another friend of Imam (A.S.)
says, "One day a stranger came to Imam's (A.S.) house and said, I am
one of your friends and am also not apoor man but my money has
finished up and I do not have the expanses to return. You give me an
amount and when I return to my city I will give it out as alms on
youbehalf." Imam (A.S.) got up and went to another room, brought an
amount of two hundred dirhams and gave it to him from upside the
doorand said, "Take this and go and it is not necessaryto give it away
as alms onmy behalf."
They asked the Imam (A.S.), "Why did you do it this way that he may
not see you."
He said, "So that he does not catch my sight and get ashamed (embarrassed)."
"Suleman", one of the friends of Imam (A.S.) says, "I went along with
the Imam (A.S.) to the house. The labors were busy at work. There was
a stranger among them whom the Imam (A.S.) didnot recognize." He
said,"Who is this man?" They said we have brought him from outside, so
that he may help us. He said,"Have you concluded an agreement with him
and fixed his wages?" They said, "No, he is a good man, whatever we
pay him he accepts it and does not utter a word."
Imam (A.S.) was angry and annoyed and said, "I have always told you
thatwhen you employ someone for a job first ofall fix his wages.
Because,when his wages are fixedand you give more than that to him, he
will become happy. But if youdo not fix his wages and give him three
times the amount, he thinks you have not given him the correct wages."
Don't be Proud
Ahmed Bazanti was one of the wise men of his age. After he had written
letters to Imam Reza (A.S.)and received the answersfrom him, he became
a believer of his Imamate. One day he said to him (A.S.), "I wish to
be present with you alone for an hour and we talk to each other."
Imam (A.S.) accepted, andacceded to his request, sofar so, that he
sent to himhis personal horse so thathe arrives comfortably. That day
they had a mutual discussion till midnight. Bazanti solved his
problems and difficulties in the assembly of Imam (A.S.). In the
night, when it was time to go to bed Imam (A.S.) called his servant
and said, "bring my personal bed and prepare it for this guest, who
has a great dignity in my eyes, so that he may take rest."
The conversations of Imams ecstasies him and made the bird of his
heart fly. He said to himself, "Nobody is better than me, after the
Imam (A.S.), in this world.It is I, to whom Imam (A.S.) sent his horse
and gave his bed to me and sat along with me for hours together and
had discussion."
He was busy spinning his ideas when suddenly Imam (A.S.) returned to
the room and said, "Oh Bazanti what you came across with, never make
it a source of boasting upon others." Because, when Sassa who was
oneof the valuable friends of Imam Ali (A.S.) fell ill. He (A.S.)
visited him and treated him with great love and affection. And for the
reason that he does not become proud said to him, "Oh my kind friend
whatever you saw out of these things (love) you should not consider it
the fortress (stronghold) of boosting upon other and do not boast upon
others that I was such and such that the Imam loved me very much. I
have performed all these for the sake of my religious and human duty."
"Bazanti" says, "Imam (A.S.), by describing this story attracted my
attention towards my mistake and fault. I decided not to entertain
false ideas. Rather, I mustbe careful and vigilant about my intentions
and practices."
A man from Balkh says, "I was traveling with lmam Reza (A.S.) to
Khurrasan. When the meal cloth was spread he ordered all to come and
be present beside it. I said, "I may lay my life for you. Do allow
that the meal table of the slaves be segregated." He said,"Keep quiet!
Be aware none of us has superiority over the other. Our God is one;
ourmother and father are one. We attain superiority only under the
shade of Piety."
Jabbir Zahak says, "I was taking Imam (A.S.) along with me from Madina
to Maro upon the order of Mamoon. By God, all that time I was in the
service of Imam (A.S.) I had neverseen a man with that degree of
piety, chastity and innocence."
Imam Admonishes Brother
In the period when ImamReza (A.S.) was summoned to Khurrasan and he
forcibly accepted the special conditions of the succession of Mamoon,
Mamoon summoned his brother"Zaid" who had revolted and brought about a
riot in "Madina" to his court in Khurrasan. Mamoon kept him free as a
regardand honor to Imam (A.S.) and overlooked his punishment.
One day, when Imam (A.S.) was delivering a speech in a grand assembly.
He heard Zaid praising himself before the people, saying I am so and
so. Imam (A.S.) shouted at him saying,"Oh Zaid, have you trusted upon
the words of the grocers of Kufa and are conveying them to the people?
What kindof things are you talking about? The sons of Imam Ali (A.S.)
and Zahra (S.A.) are worthy and outstanding only when they obey the
command of God, and keep themselves away from sinand blunder. You
think you are like Musa Ibn-e-Jaffar (A.S.) and Imam Sajjad (A.S.) and
other Imams? Whereas, they took pains and bore hardships on the way to
God and prayed to God day and night. Do you think you will gain
without pain? Be-aware, that if a person out of us the Ahl al-Bayth
performsa good deed. He gets twice the reward. Because not only he
performed good deed like others also that he has maintained the honor
of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.). If he practices some thing bad and doesa
sin. He has performed two sins. One is that he performed a bad act
like the rest of the people and the other one is that he has negated
the honor of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)."
Oh brother! The one who obeys God is from us the Ahl al-Bayth and the
one who is a sinner is not ours. God said about the son of Noah (A.S.)
who cut the spiritual bondagewith his father "He is not out of your
lineage, if he was out of your lineage, Iwould have (saved) and
granted him salvation."
A discussion with other religion scholars
One of the days Mamoon decided to invite the scholars from different
sects of the world and he brought Imam Reza (A.S.) to the assembly. He
thought he might be ableto get the Imam (A.S.) invalidated and
un-credential from the knowledge point of view, thus finish his
influence.
Therefore, he ordered hisminister Fazal bin Sahal to invite all the
scholars and wise men to hold a discussion with Imam (A.S.). And he
did it. Whenthe assembly had been arranged he informed Mamoon that all
are present. Mamoon summoned Imam Reza (A.S.) inviting him to attend
the assembly.
Hassan Naufali says, before leaving the house to attend that
aggregation facing myself Imam (A.S.) said, "Iknow the aim and
objective of Mamoon in this work." But I know the time when he will
repent upon his work that is; when you see thatI talk to the
Christians from their own Book andtalk to the Jews from Torah and with
fire worshipers in Persian language. When all of them are defeated
Mamoon will become aware that he is not fit for that past. He will
repent upon this work of his. What Imam (A.S.) hadsaid exactly and
accurately took place. When Imam (A.S.) arrivedthe assembly, all of
them got up from their seats tohonor him. He seated himself beside
Mamoon. Mamoon addressing"Jasaleeq," the great Christian scholar
said,"Ask him what you feel like." "Jasaleeq" said,"What is your
opinion about Christ Essa (A.S.)." Imam (A.S.) said, "We believe he
was the Prophet of God" Jasaleeq again asked, "What proofdo you have
about your own Prophet's Prophet-hood." Imam (A.S.) said,"Have you not
read it the Bible that Yohana narrates the saying of Christ (A.S.)
that, "A Prophet will come following me, who will be the accomplisher
of the constitution of the other Prophets."
He said, "Yes, but he did not name him as to who and where he will
be." Imam (A.S.) said, "Do you wish that I may read out to you from
the Bible?"
He said, "Read it." Imam (A.S.) recited the third chapter up to the
place where Christ (A.S.) said, "Iwill proceed towards Godand
"Barklita" i.e."Mohammad (P.B.U.H.)" will come towards you and he will
break and dismantle the infidelism.
Jasaleeq became silent and did not utter a word.
Then Imam (A.S.) facing"Raasul Jalout" the chief scholar of the Jewish
religion said, "What is the proof and argument that you have about the
Prophet-hood of Moses (A.S.)?"
He replied "Moses (A.S.) had miracles such as turning the club into a
serpent, splitting the river Nile and passing through it and a light
shone from his hand."
Hazrat Imam (A.S.) said,"Why did you not believein the Prophet-hood of
Essa the Christ (A.S.)?"
He said, "They say Christ (A.S.) made the dead menalive and cured the
skin diseases but we have not seen these to have faith and belief in
it?"
Imam (A.S.) said, "Then why do you believe in the Prophets before
him?Similarly in Moses himselfhave you seen the miracles of Moses?"
He replied, "The way it has been narrated to us he has said, such
things which other have not and brought such things which have no
previous record."
Imam (A.S.) said, "From which source did you come to know that he
brought these words."
He replied, "Through the history and those who heard those words from him."
Imam (A.S.) said, "Others too seek refuge in historyand so how do you
want to invite them to your creed?"
Raasul Jalout kept calm and quiet and did not utter a word.
Then Imam (A.S.) turned to Imran the chief of the Star worshipers and
said,you too ask me what you wish. Imran questioned him regarding a
few topics about God, the philosophy of creation and got his answers
and embraced Islam at the hand of Imam (A.S.). The assembly finalized
and came to an end to the benefit of Imam (A.S.) and Mamoon did not
expect and foresee such a thing to happen. He turned and twisted like
a snake bitten person and rebuked and scolded himself for organizing
such an aggregation.
Imam's (A.S.) Arrival at Qum
When Mamoon invited Imam (A.S.) to come to Khorrasan. He went from
Madina to Basra and Basra to Baghdad and from there he arrived Qum.
The people of Qum rushed to greet and welcome him; everyone keenly
desired to invite him at his home.
Hazrat Imam (A.S.) said,"Get aside, my camel is deputed and detailed
upon her work. On the door of which ever person she stops and lies
down, the same will be my destination."
The camel moved in the turning twisting and intricate streets of Qum
till she reached a door and lay down and Imam arrived into that house
which is today one of thereligious schools (Madrasas) named
as"Madrasa-e-Rizvia."
Imam (A.S.) kept on moving in the same manner towards Khorrasan.
Wherever he reached, people warmly and lovingly gathered around him
and manifested their strong feelings and sentiments of devotion for
him.
The Imam's (A.S.) Arrival at Nishapur
Nishapur in those days was one of the thickly and densely populated
cities of Iran. The welcome that the people of that city organized and
shaped for him did not have any match or parallel in the history. In
the later days this city was perished and destroyed by the Mongols.
The wise men and scholars of Nishapur rushed to the gate of the city
with pens in their hands, so that they mightwrite down the words,
which Imam (A.S.) said.
In those times Nishapur had hundreds of traditionalists (narrators of
traditions) and jurisprudents.
A few thousand of golden pen holders were readily present to jot down
the Imam's speech and because of the fact that the series and chain of
narrators of this Hadith reached the Prophet (P.B.U.H.), Jabriel
(A.S.) and finally the God it was named the "Series of Gold."
Mohammad Bin Aslam Tusi, who was one of the great narrators of
traditions, came forward and requested Imam (A.S.) to narrate a Hadith
for the people.
Imam (A.S.) pushed the curtain of the camel's pannier up and pepped
his head out from it. No sooner people caught hissight, they shouted
the slogans of Takbir and salutations and benediction for the Prophet
and his family.
Imam (A.S.) gave a gesture and all of them got calm and silent.
Then,he started reciting the Hadith whose translation is this: God has
said"Kalima of La-ilaha-ill-Ial-lah is my fort and fortification and
whosoever says it, will enter the realm of my fort and will be safe
and sound from my torment. (Here Imam again said, but this is with its
conditions, and I am one of those conditions.)"
Imam Arrives Sana Abad
Absalat narrates that when Imam (A.S.) arrived in the town of Sana
Abadit was Zuhr (afternoon) time and he wanted to offer prayers. He
asked for water to be brought. The (inhabitants) said wedo not have
water here. Imam (A.S.) dug some earth and the water started boiling
out. He himself and those who were accompanying him,made ablution and
offered their prayers. Then he leaned against the mountain from the
rocks of which stone potsare prepared. He prayed,"Oh God bestow upon
this mountain your benediction and favors." Then he ordered that all
the pots of his house be prepared from that stone. Thereafter, he
arrived the house of"Hameed bin Qahtaba" and entered the mausoleum
where the grave of Haroon was situated. He then draw a line at the
side of his grave and said, "Here is my grave and I will be buried
here. By Lord, whosoever visits (my grave) God will bless him and
(shower his benedictions upon him) and our recommendationand
intercession will be in his fate." Then Imam (A.S.) stood facing
Qibla, offered a few (Rakats) units of prayers and then went into a
very lengthy prostration.
Imam (A.S.) arrives Maro
When Imam (A.S.) arrivedMaro, Mamoon honored him and gathered all the
chiefs and notables in hisassembly and said to him (A.S.), "I wish to
deposes myself of the caliphate and surrender the ruler-ship to you."
Imam (A.S.) said, "If God has made you wear the dress of caliphate, it
is not just and fair that you dismiss yourself and hand it over to
another person. If the caliphate was not yours, then why did you under
take it?"
Mamoon said, "This decision has already be taken and you must accept
the caliphate." Because of the fact that Imam (A.S.) was aware of the
plan of Mamoon therefore, howsoever he insisted, Imam (A.S.) did not
accept it. Then he said, "You must accept my successor-ship (for the
throne). Imam (A.S.) said, "I have heard from my ancestors that I will
leave the world before you do. Do not insist so very much upon this
matter. I will be poisoned(to death) and buried beside the grave of
your father Haroon."
When Mamoon asked,"Who will poison you?" He said, "You know it
yourself as to who he is. Do not question me." Mamoon became disturbed
and uncomfortable and wept.Then he said, "You must accept my
successor-ship this is an order. If you reject it, I will order you to
be killed."
Imam (A.S.) was forced toaccept it but he made it conditioned with
himself not having any interference in the functioning of the
government all that time.
Haroon accepted it and arranged a big and grand celebration gathering,
and made the Imam (A.S.) present in it, and addressed the people
saying, "All of youmust take the oath of allegiance for Imam (A.S.)for
he is the caliph next to me. Honor and accept his word and obey his
orders."
Mamoon ordered that the people should take off (abandon) the black
dress, which was the standard color of Abbasades and put on the green
dress, a color of "Bani Hashim." He got his daughter Um-e-Habib
married to Imam (A.S.) and engaged his other daughter Um-ul-Fazal to
his son Imam MohammadTaqi (A.S.) and this itself was a diplomacy and
politics by which he desired that both of themmust remain under his
observation.
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And Allah Knows the Best!
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Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA
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'' Our Lord ! grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter and save us from the torment of the Fire '' [Ameen]
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{in Arab} :->
Rabbanaa aatinaa fid-dunyaa hasanatan wafil aakhirati hasanatan waqinaa 'athaaban-naar/-
(Surah Al-Baqarah ,verse 201)
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