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IMAM ALI
IBN MUSA AL-RIDHA (A.S.):
Birth: 11th Dhul-Qa’dah 148 A.H., Madina
Parents: Imam Musa ibn Ja’ffar al-Kadhim (a.s.) & Bibi Najma
(a.s.)
Titles: Al-Sabir (The Patient), Al-Zaki (The Pure), Al-Ridha
(The Satisfied)
Life
Span: 55years: 35yrs before Imamate, 17 yrs after Imamate in Madina
&
3 yrs in Khurasan.
Imam
al-Ridha (a.s) had inherited great qualities from his ancestors. He was
a versatile person and had full command over many languages.
Ibnul-Atheer al-Jazari rightly said that Imam al-Ridha (a.s) was
undoubtedly the greatest sage, saint and scholar of the second century
(AH).
On his
way to Marv and accompanied by the soldiers of al-Mamoon, Imam al-Ridha
(a.s) arrived at a place called Naishapour. Thousands of faithful
gathered to welcome him. Abu Dhar’ah al-Razi and Muhammad ibn Aslam al-Toosi,
the two great scholars of the day were also in the crowd. They stepped
out and requested the Imam (a.s) to address the gathering. The Imam
(a.s) granted the request and in his brief address informed the huge
gathering about the real interpretation of Laa ilaaha illallah
(There is no god but Allah). He (a.s) said,
“ I have heard my father Musa ibn Ja’ffar saying that he heard from his
father Ja’ffar ibn Muhammad saying that he heard his father Muhammad ibn
Ali saying that he heard from his father Ali ibn al-Husayn saying that
he heard from his father al-Husayn ibn Ali saying that he heard from his
father Ali ibn Abi Talib saying that he heard from the Holy Prophet (saww)
saying that he heard from Jibrael saying that Allah told him:
‘The kalmia (Laa ilaaha illallah) is My fortress, whoever says it enters
My fortress, and whoever enters My fortress shall be safe from My
punishment’”.
The Imam
(a.s) then paused for a moment and continued,
“There are few conditions to entitle the entrance to the fortress and I
am one of its conditions”.
(Ahsan
al-Maqaal)
What the
Imam (a.s) was implying is that the greatest of all conditions was
sincere and complete submission to the Imam of the day. He (a.s) then
very boldly and frankly explained to the people that any disloyalty to
the Holy Prophet (saww) and his descendants would withdraw the right of
the entrance to the fortress. The only way to earn the pleasure of Allah
(SWT) was to obey the Prophet (saww) and his progeny and that was the
only path to salvation and immortality.
Words of
Wisdom from Imam al-Ridha (a.s):
“Imaan (faith) means to perform obligatory duties and avoid committing
what is forbidden. Imaan is: recognizing (knowing) Allah through the
heart, confessing belief in him through the tongue, and practicing (the
commands of Allah) through the bodily parts (physical action)”.
(Tuhaf
al-‘Uqool)
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“Allah (SWT) will take pity and be merciful to the servant who revives
our affairs”.
Somebody
asked, “How are your affairs revived?” He (a.s) said,
“By learning our knowledge and teaching them
to others”. (Wasael al-Shia’h)
*******************************************************************
A person
asked Imam al-Ridha (a.s), “Who are the best servants (of God)?”
Imam (a.s) said, “Those who: When they
perform good deeds, they become glad. And when they perform bad deeds,
they seek forgiveness. And when they are blessed (with bounties), they
offer thanks. And when they are afflicted, they exercise patience. And
when they are enraged (angry), they forgive (overlook faults of
others)”. (Tuhaf al-‘Uqool)
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“Allah (SWT) has commanded three things together with three other things
in Quran:
He has commanded prayers and paying alms together. So, one who prays but
does not pay alms, his service is not accepted.
He has commanded His thanksgiving together with that of the Parents. So,
one who does not thank his parents has not thanked Allah.
He has commanded piety with maintaining relation with ones kith and kin.
So, one who does maintain his relation with his relatives is not pious”.
(A’yaan
Akhbaar al-Ridha)
Imam al-Ridha (a.s) passed away on 29th Safar 203 AH. He
(a.s) was poisoned by Mamoon al-Rasheed, the Abbaside caliph. We extend
our heartfelt condolences to our living Imam, Imam al-Hujjah (AJ) and to
all the followers of Ahlul-bayt (a.s).
Mulla
Mujaheedali Sheriff
mulla@almahdi.org.uk |