IMAM ‘ALI
AL-RIDHA (A.S.)
Parents: Imam
Musa al-Kadhim (a.s.) & Bibi Najma (a.s.)
Birth: 11th
Dhul-Qa’dah 148 AH in Madina
Titles: Al-Sabir
(The Patient), Al-Zaki (The Pure), Al-Ridha (The Satisfied)
Death: Safar
203 AH, poisoned by Mamoon al-Rasheed
Buried: Mashad
al-Muqaddas,
Iran
SOME
MORAL LESSONS FROM HIS NOBLE LIFE
‘Ali bin Shua’yb once
visited Imam ‘Ali al-Ridha (a.s.) and the following conversation ensued:
Imam (a.s.):
“O
‘Ali! Do you know whose subsistence is the best?”
‘Ali replied,
“Master, you know
better than me.”
Imam (a.s.):
“It is
that of one through whom the subsistence of others is improved. O ‘Ali!
Do you know who has the worst subsistence?”
‘Ali replied,
“Master, you know
better than me.”
Imam (a.s.):
“It is
that of the one who does not include others in it.”
Then the Imam (a.s.)
continued and said,
“O ‘Ali!
Be thoughtful about the boons for they are wild. If they leave people,
they never come back. O ‘Ali! The worst of men is he who stops his
contributions to charity, eats by himself, and whips his slave.”
(Bihar
al-Anwaar)
Imam (a.s.) was once
asked about the good people and he (a.s.) said,
“They
are those who:
-Are
delighted when they do good
-Seek
Allah’s forgiveness when they do evil
-Offer
gratitude when they receive (Allah’s) favours
-Are
patient when they are tried
-And
pardon (others) when they are angry.”
(Tuhaf al-‘Uqool)
Imam (a.s.) has been
reported to have said,
“Do not expect any good in this world and in the
hereafter from a person who lacks five qualities:
-One
whose nature lacks generosity
-One
whose temper lacks balance
-One
whose conduct is not noble
-And
one who does not fear his Lord.”
(Tuhaf al-‘Uqool)
One day somebody
praised Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) saying,
“By Allah, you are the
best person (on earth).”
In reply, the Imam
(a.s.) said,
“You
should not be taking an oath by Allah. If there is any one else who is
more God-fearing than me, then he is better (than me), for Allah (SWT)
says:
‘The most
honourable in the sight of Allah is one who is most God conscious’”
(Ahsanul-Muqaal)
Mamoon al-Rasheed
appointed Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) as a heir apparent after him. Despite
this title and status, Imam (a.s.) continued to exhibit his humility
towards the people in different manners. It is reported that the Imam
(a.s.) would mostly be seen having his meals with his slaves and
attendants. Once somebody said, “O Master! If a separate arrangement
is made for these attendants to have their meals, there will be no
problem in it.” Imam (a.s.) responded by saying:
“Our Creator is One. Our mother is Hawwa (Eve)
and father Adam. Everyone of us shall be rewarded or punished according
to our deeds (that we perform in life), then why the division?” (Ahsanul-Muqaal)
On the auspicious occasion of the birth of our
eighth Imam, Imam ‘Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (a.s.), we extend our heartiest
greetings and felicitations to Imam al-Hujjah (AJ) and to all the
followers of Ahlul-Bayt (as).
Mulla Mujahidali
Sheriff
mulla@almahdi.org.uk